IMDb > Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
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Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009) More at IMDbPro »

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Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009) -- An origins story centered on the centuries-old feud between the the race of aristocratic vampires known as Death Dealers, and their onetime slaves, the Lycans.
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009) -- Clip: We have to go
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009) -- Interview: Rhona Mitra "On the experience of making the film"
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009) -- A war between vampires and lycans in this prequel
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009) -- A war between vampires and lycans in this prequel

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Overview

User Rating:
6.5/10   21,743 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 4% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Danny McBride (screenplay) and
Dirk Blackman (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for Underworld: Rise of the Lycans on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
23 January 2009 (USA) more
Plot:
An origins story centered on the centuries-old feud between the race of aristocratic vampires and their onetime slaves, the Lycans. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
NewsDesk:
(181 articles)
Local teen mistakes ‘New Moon’ for ‘Underworld 4′
 (From Reel Loop. 21 November 2009, 6:51 AM, PST)

New 'Underworld 4' Writer On Board
 (From Reel Empire. 21 November 2009, 1:24 AM, PST)

User Comments:
You know, I really enjoyed it. Michael Sheen is superb in a film where great performances normally don't happen. more (129 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Underworld 3: Rise of the Lycans (USA) (working title)
Untitled Underworld Prequel (USA) (working title)
Inframundo 3 - La rebelión de los Lycans (Argentina) (Peru) [es]
Anjos da Noite - A Rebelião (Brazil) [pt]
Karanliklar ülkesi: Lycanlarin yükselisi (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Teispoolsus: Libahuntide mäss (Estonia) [et]
Underworld - Aufstand der Lykaner (Germany) [de]
Underworld - Bunt Lykanow (Poland) [pl]
Underworld - La rebelión de los Licántropos (Spain) [es]
Underworld - La ribellione dei Lycans (Italy) [it]
Underworld - Pobuna Likana (Croatia) [hr]
Underworld 3 - Le soulèvement des Lycans (France) [fr]
Underworld 3 - Vzpoura Lycanu (Czech Republic) [cs]
Underworld Begins (Japan: English title) [en]
Underworld: A Revolta (Portugal) [pt]
Underworld: I exegersi ton lykon (Greece) [el]
more
MPAA:
Rated R for bloody violence and some sexuality.
Runtime:
92 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
While filming this movie, Michael Sheen was asked by Ron Howard if he could record a quick moment of dialog for Frost/Nixon (2008). Sheen, covered in fake blood from the days filming, went to his trailer and recorded the dialog, he asked someone to take a picture of him doing it and sent it to Ron Howard, who had it framed and displayed. more
Goofs:
Continuity: In Underworld (2003), Sonja was blonde. more
Quotes:
Viktor: [Noticing Raze fighting being bitten by a Lycan] Do you not realize that what I am giving you is a gift?
Raze: It's a curse!
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Board Up the House (Renholder Remix) more

FAQ

2009? Why such a delay?
Is "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" based on a book?
If William lead the original unchangable Lycans, why were both Viktor and Marcus awake at the same time to discuss imprisoning him?
more
118 out of 146 people found the following comment useful.
You know, I really enjoyed it. Michael Sheen is superb in a film where great performances normally don't happen., 23 January 2009
8/10
Author: Splinter_Spy from United States

Very rarely do prequels match up with their predecessors. As I'm not the biggest Underworld fan, I can honestly say that I wasn't expecting much. However, I should've expected more, as the latest, yet earliest installment is easily my favorite in the series. It ain't art, but it's the shining example of why we go to the movies: to escape into a world of mythology, fantasy, and crazy vampire/werewolf action.

For the first time in the series, the filmmakers have decided to leave out the rock that probably was the reason the films have been successful: Kate Beckinsale. I'm guessing this was a production risk/choice, but it seems to have paid off. Selene's absence from the story is necessary to tell the story of how the Lycans rose to power, how Viktor was driven insane (though we pretty much already know how), and, as off topic as it may be, how simply awesome Michael Sheen is.

Very rarely do the actors make an action movie good. Most action movies rely on explosions and (surprise!) action to enhance the quality and generally feature run of the mill copycat characters. Sheen's Lucian and Bill Nighy's Viktor will always stand out in the realm of action/fantasy characters to me, and it's easy to see why. Sheen's turn as Lucian is fierce, determined, and one of my favorite performances in an action movie I've seen in years. Despite playing a (mostly) villainous role in the first film, Lucian is the hero of this film, and it totally gives you a new spin on things. Sheen's brave and dedicated performance really makes the character work, while Bill Nighy is once again effectively creepy as Viktor. Rhona Mitra's presence as Sonja is welcome, though she doesn't carry the same charisma that Beckinsale does, making her an ill advised choice to be Selene's replacement (as she so obviously is).

The action in Underworld, though obviously restrained by a lower budget, is once again great. There's some nice dueling, the obvious gore and blood galore, and a nice Lord of the Rings style battle at the end. What it comes down to is that Underworld does nothing new, but does everything right in maintaining a steady river of entertainment. I was never bored, and I don't think you will be either.

The film does answer a lot of questions and provides some nice insight to the Lycans (which were my favorite parts about the first two films), though it suffers from the same fate as most prequels do...even a casual viewer of this series knows which characters will live, which will die, and how it will end. The film isn't really about the resolution, but rather the journey to the end. In fact, it's made in such a way that you can certainly watch the trilogy in chronological order.

When it comes down to it, I liked 'Lycans' a lot. It's a worthy installment in the series, and certainly not a disappointment to me. It's got good action, a wonderful lead performance from Michael Sheen, and should satisfy fans of the series and fans of mythological stories altogether.

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