Underworld

Note: This is NOT a spoiler to the latest Underworld 3: Rise of the Lycans.

In 2003, when the first sequel of the Underworld movie was released, I thought I'd have a change of taste. Vampires and warewolves are a bunch of craps, but perhaps there're some special effects worth watching. Well, indeed the movie had lots of special effects in it.

The story of that first Underworld movie basically revolved around some sort of war between vampires and warewolves. But at the end of it, I found myself somewhat lost. I didn't quite get the full picture, if you know what I mean. So many questions remained unanswered in my mind. I couldn't really decide who're the bad guys and who're the good guys. Lots and lots of killings, and yet the ending was left hanging.

After watching that movie, I thought the story teller left plenty unexplained. In particular, there was a cloud of mystery on how or why did the two clans clashed in the first place. And so, I was not surprised when its sequel, Underworld: Evolution, came onto the scene in 2006. Because of my curiosity, I went for this second movie too in the hope to get some answers still hanging in my mind from the first movie. Instead, by the end of that second movie, although I became more familiar with the main characters of the story, I also found myself having even more questions to ask. There was still nothing much on where and how it all started. Lots of killings still, and impressive special effects, but if you are like me, you'd insist to know where it all began.

Therefore, I was pleased to know last December, that another sequel of the Underworld would be released this month. Over the Chinese New Year holidays, I went to watch Underworld: Rise of the Lycans. I am happy to report that instead of a sequel, it's a prequel. The story goes back to the beginning, even before the original Underworld story—how it all started; how and why the vampires and warewolves have been fighting all these while. Most of my questions have been answered—I can now appreciate some finer points of the story. Last night I watched the original Underworld again, and this time I was able to enjoy it even more. And it's not only because of that hottie, Kate Beckinsale! I can now decide which side I'd choose as the good guys.

Those of you who've watched Underworld and Underworld: Evolution, I'd recommend that you watch the Rise of the Lycans too. You'll be happy to know that a lot of your questions would be answered; or least your perceived explanations would be confirmed. The only questions remaining in my mind are very petty; y'know, things like how Beckinsale gets into that tight catsuit—whether she needs to take a deep breath in order to pull up the zippers—that kind of stuff.