Key Takeaways:
– The movie Underworld: Awakening returned the franchise to its roots by featuring its original death dealer, Selene.
– The fourth movie was shot using the latest Red Epic digital cameras.
– Despite numerous script changes and production issues, the film still reached the top spot at the box office.
– Critics were not too kind, but the movie offered mindless entertainment.
The world of Hollywood franchises is often a chaotic one. Known for squeezing every last drop of potential from a particular storyline or character, many of these franchises evolve into sprawling series with multiple sequels, prequels, and even spin-offs. At the same time, they often face the challenge of maintaining their original charm while still being fresh and innovative. The Underworld series, which introduced us to the widely loved ‘death dealer' Selene, is no stranger to these challenges.
Starting strong with its first three installments, the series moved to make a prequel with its third. However, this prequel did not please everyone and led to a significant slump in box office figures. So, what do you do when faced with such adversity? Well, in true Hollywood fashion, you make another movie rich with hairy swearwolf and vampire action. And voila, we have Underworld: Awakening, a sincere attempt to revive the franchise.
Given the narrative hit and miss of its predecessor, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, the success of the Awakening hinged on the return of Kate Beckinsale as Selene. She was back in action with her combat skills and stylish black ensemble. Unfortunately, this fourth movie bore the brunt of a troubled scriptwriting process. With several changes along with production, some plot points didn't match up with the initial promotional material, creating a level of narrative inconsistency.
Despite these hurdles, the Swedish filmmakers Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein left no stone unturned to make the film visually appealing. The transition from 35mm to digital projection led to the inclusion of 3D elements in the movie. Despite being an expensive gimmick most of the time, it only added to the film's cinematic charm.
Underworld: Awakening introduced a fairly straightforward plot. With the human forces setting out to destroy the vampire and swearwolf clans, our hero Selene jumps back into the fray. Equipped with her witty one-liners and the desire to save her superpowered daughter from the corrupt scientists, Selene's character provides the film with much of its charisma and intrigue.
While the film delivered some impressive action sequences, it was criticized for its reliant on an overly simple plot and occasional poor CGI effects. However, this didn't stop fans from flocking to the cinemas. In fact, the movie managed to gross over $160 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film in the franchise!
Despite the film's monetary success, it didn't find much favor among critics who were looking for more than just mindless entertainment. The movie currently has a score of 25% on Rotten Tomatoes, with many critics pointing out the movie's narrative flaws. However, it still had its admirers who appreciated it for what it was – a fun escape from reality fueled by vampire and swearwolf action.
In conclusion, while the path to movie success in Hollywood is not always smooth, the Underworld: Awakening serves as an example of a franchise that managed to resurrect itself despite significant odds. The film might not have been the most advanced in terms of storytelling, but it certainly entertained its fans and secured its place in the hall of fame for action-packed vampire flicks. As a fan, one can't wait to see if this much-loved franchise will emerge from its slumber to resume its fight between the swearwolves and vampires. If it does, we can all look forward to more cinematic excitement.
