The “Underworld” saga has lost what made it great 14 years ago.
STARS: 2/5
The campiness of the first installment of the Kate Beckinsale-led film franchise made for distinctive and entertaining cinema. “Underworld: Blood Wars,” the fifth installment in the series, follows Selene yet again at the center of a centuries-old battle between Lycans and Vampires.
She and her fellow bloodsucker David must battle not only the werewolves but also other vampires in order to defeat the Lycan leader Marius.
Directed by Anna Foerster, a longtime collaborator of Roland Emmerich, “Blood Wars” has more female badassery than the previous four films because of the new roles of Semira and Lena.
Foresters direction gives life to a relatively dry script by Cory Goodman, whose dialogue is on the same level as soap opera dramas. However, nothing Forester does manages to breathe life back into the franchise.
After last summer’s “Love and Friendship,” it’s rather depressing to see Kate Beckinsale’s comedic abilities continually wasted by a long dead franchise. Unfortunately, this installment brings in other world-class actors, like Charles Dance of “Game of Thrones,” and forces them to indulge in the exposition-heavy script.
I can forgive the franchise and say that, if you’re a fan of “Underworld,” you’ll enjoy this film. Kate Beckinsale is still just as strong and empowering as she was in 2003, and the evolution of the Lycan characters is compelling in “Blood Wars.”
But if you’re not familiar, and should find yourself curious about this decades-old saga, quickly run away in search of better films to spend your money on.