Favourite Films

[SpaceCadet]

Last night I experienced that rarity-of-rarities: I channel-surfed onto an absolute fave and it wasn't ten minutes before the end. It was "Underworld," and it was at the very beginning. OOOoooyeah!

"Underworld" is one of those movies that sucks you in and makes you watch no matter how many times you've seen it, because it's just great storytelling and great filmmaking. And it's got Kate Beckinsale in spandex.

My litmus test for an excellent movie is if I find myself flashing back to scenes and characters from it days after the fact, at the most incongruous times. 'Been having UW flashes all day...

That whole "vampires vs. werewolves" schtick has been beaten to a bloody pulp in both books and movies in recent years, which makes UW all the more outstanding IMO. A film is only as good as the story at its core, and this one has great internal logic, compelling characters, phenomenal casting and acting, inventive and beautiful production design despite the overtly malevolent-universe premise. The sequel, "Underworld: Evolution" was as good if not better; the third one, "Rise of the Lycans," was pure and utter crap, presumably the work of a different writer/director? ('Have to check IMDB but it has to be.)

Anyhow, if you're gonna watch any monster movie, "Underworld" is the top of the heap - and probably the single best vampire flick since Lugosi.
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