After a hiatus of six years, Kate Beckinsale is back as Selene. Despite missing the third instalment (a prequel to the Underworld series), she comfortably slips back into the black corset and boots and begins hunting the Lycans.
The reason for her aggression after being in captive for twelve years is to protect her daughter whom she never knew existed. Her daughter is a hybrid between the Vampires and Lycans, and is apparently more powerful than the pure breeds. It is puzzling why Selene has to protect her, instead of the other way round. Overlooking that, the plot merely serves as a vehicle to move the relentless action sequences, which is taking the route down gory lane. There is more blood and awful decapitation that characterise this film as compared to the previous three instalments. Even the imagery of Selene's daughter when she is provoked is reminiscent of little girls in horror movies; she appears more scary than powerful.
While the action scenes are impressive, the 3D technology fails to enhance them. There is really little reason to watch this film in 3D, save for a couple of scenes where glass shreds fly toward the audience. While directors Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein have kept this movie to under an hour and a half, it feels like a missed opportunity to add a little emotional element between mum and daughter. That said, it would have been a challenge since the dialogue is filled with cheesy one-liners.
With Kate Beckinsale and action scenes alongside each other, guys will love it but it should be a pretty mundane affair for the girls.
|