Quick Look: Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)

This is the third installment of the Underworld series, and is a prequel to the original Underworld film.  It centers on the origins of the vampire/lycan (werewolf) feud that we have already been witness to in the two prior films.  The main characters are Lucian (Michael Sheen), Viktor (Bill Nighy), and Sonja (Rhona Mitra), and it takes place in the Dark Ages (it is not really more specific), mainly in and around Viktor's castle.  It is directed by Patrick Tatopoulos.
**Spoiler Alert**
The movie opens with Lucian being born to a captured female werewolf.  He is the first lycan that can switch from his human form to werewolf and back again.  But rather than kill him, Viktor imagines using Lucian and all his future kind as slaves to the vampires - both as daytime protectors and laborers.  The film cuts quickly ahead; Lucian is now an adult working as a blacksmith and is portrayed as the "Uncle Tom" of the lycans, almost gladly accepting his role as slave to the vampires.  We learn that the vampires protect the local human population from werewolf attacks in exchange for protection money, and that Sonja, Viktor's daughter, appears to be the fiercest warrior among the vampire clan.  Sonja and Lucian are also having a highly forbidden romantic relationship, which they have been keeping hidden from all others.  Sonja becomes pregnant, and Viktor condemns her death because "there can be no mixing of the bloodlines".  As a result of this and all the other prior abuse, Lucian escapes captivity, frees and leads the shape shifting slave lycans, as well as all the "werewolves of the wild" into a large battle against the vampire clan.
Having seen the prior two Underworld installments, this film's formula and plot were fairly predictable, but the on-screen product, as well as Nighy and Sheen's excellent performances, made this one very much worth seeing, in fact, I hold this one dead even with Underworld 2 as far as entertainment value.  Mitra, very much resembling Kate Beckinsale's Selene from the 2 prior Underworld's also holds her own as a good supporting actor to Sheen and Nighy.  The lack of guns and high tech weapons is made up for with better action sequences, great physical work from the actors, and attractive looking swordplay.  The dreary medieval era is illustrated well with good sets, costumes, and filming. Portraying Lucian as the hero-figure also gives very nice contrast to his character in the original Underworld.

I definitely recommend for fans of the Underworld series, fans of vampire and werewolf movies, and for fans of dark ages/fantasy type movies.  This movie also can easily stand by itself (meaning you would not have to see the two prior Underworlds to enjoy it). 'R' rating is for violence, and one scene of sexuality.