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Underworld: The Rise of the Lycans (2009)

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Top Critics

Average Rating: 4.3/10
Reviews Counted: 77
Fresh: 23 | Rotten: 54

Despite the best efforts of its competent cast, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is an indistinguishable and unnecessary prequel.

Average Rating: 4.5/10
Critic Reviews: 12
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 9

Despite the best efforts of its competent cast, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is an indistinguishable and unnecessary prequel.

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Average Rating: 3.6/5
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Movie Info

The Underworld series gets the prequel treatment with this third outing that fleshes out the story of the ancient war between the vampiric Death Dealers and their wolfman counterparts, the Lycans. F/X technician Patrick Tatopoulos (Godzilla, Independence Day) steps out of the effects lab and into the director's chair with this entry, which sees stars Bill Nighy returning as Viktor, the king of his vampire clan and father to Sonja (Rhona Mitra), a free-minded heir who tests her parent by heading

R, 1 hr. 33 min.

Action & Adventure, Horror, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed By: Patrick Tatopoulos

Written By: Dirk Blackman, Howard McCain, Danny McBride (I)

In Theaters: Jan 23, 2009 Wide

On DVD: May 12, 2009

Box Office:$45.8M

Sony Pictures/Screen Gems

It is not necessary to have seen the first two Underworld films to fully enjoy the third. It might be helpful, however, to first see a bartender.

January 26, 2009 Full Review Source: Newark Star-Ledger

| Comments (4)

Stephen Whitty

Newark Star-Ledger

Top Critic

The storyline essentially replicates that of Underworld and Underworld: Evolution, meaning that if you've seen one or both of them, there's no compelling reason to spend your hard earned dollars on the third.

January 26, 2009 Full Review Source: ReelViews

| Comment

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Top Critic

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is as unnecessary as it is uninvolving. Only fans desperate to learn how the whole vampire-werewolf conflict began are likely to get anything out of this viewing experience.

January 26, 2009 Full Review Source: Toronto Star

| Comment

Jason Anderson

Toronto Star

Top Critic

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is surprisingly campy fun, mostly succeeding through the power of its lead performances.

January 26, 2009 Full Review Source: USA Today

| Comments (3)

Claudia Puig

USA Today

Top Critic

Unlike Mr. Nighy, who puts an amusing camp spin on his every line and gesture, Mr. Sheen appears to have taken his monster duties seriously.

January 26, 2009 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comments (3)

Manohla Dargis

New York Times

Top Critic

The third film in Screen Gems' grimly competent, vampires-versus-wolves franchise.

January 26, 2009 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times

| Comment

Glenn Whipp

Los Angeles Times

Top Critic

Left with only a small pocket of timeline to embroider, the prequel manages to develop a breezy, bloody, operatic experience. Even better, it wipes away the toxic awfulness of Evolution. It's now safe to return to the Underworld.

June 2, 2010 Full Review Source: BrianOrndorf.com

| Comment

Brian Orndorf

BrianOrndorf.com

Lacks the Gothic coolness that made the original such an underground hit.

August 2, 2009 Full Review Source: Moviedex

| Comment

Anders Wotzke

Moviedex

...can't help but come off as an obvious high point within this progressively low-rent series...

June 28, 2009 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews

| Comment

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

[Blu Ray] The series has remained a fun, violent, monster-laden ride and it only shows signs of getting better.

June 25, 2009 Full Review Source: Dread Central

| Comment

Steve "Uncle Creepy" Barton

Dread Central

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is a fun, if overly effects-ridden entry into the gothy-emo film series.

May 13, 2009 Full Review Source: Horror.com

| Comment

Staci Layne Wilson

Horror.com

Vampire vs. werewolf prequel is heavy on gore, low on fun.

May 8, 2009 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

James Rocchi

Common Sense Media

Enquanto seus realizadores contam o dinheiro que ganharam com o projeto, farei o mesmo que fiz com rela��o aos dois primeiros cap�tulos: publicarei este texto e esquecerei imediatamente do filme que o tornou necess�rio.

April 17, 2009 Full Review Source: Cinema em Cena

| Comment

Pablo Villaca

Cinema em Cena

(Has) a fidelity to the style of the originals without the tangled, overstuffed narrative.

April 7, 2009 Full Review Source: Paste Magazine

| Comment

Jeffrey Bloomer

Paste Magazine

Borrows from 'Romeo and Juliet,' 'The Passion of the Christ' (there are two, count 'em, two gory scourging scenes) and, especially, 'Spartacus'...

February 10, 2009 Full Review Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

| Comment (1)

John Beifuss

Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

Feels like a superfluous placeholder until Kate Beckinsale and Len Wiseman are available and ready to make a true third installment in the series.

February 6, 2009 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com

| Comment (1)

Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

At least we're spared a lot of the "legacy this" and "prophecy that" stuff that slows down both of the previous Underworld adventures.

February 2, 2009 Full Review Source: FEARnet

| Comment (1)

Scott Weinberg

FEARnet

The creators seem to have abandoned all hope of manufacturing anything that's even coherent, let alone imaginative.

February 1, 2009 Full Review Source: EricDSnider.com

| Comment (1)

Eric D. Snider

EricDSnider.com

Awkward camera angles, editing and pacing of some fight sequences gives a direct-to-video at times. If you're a fan of the last two Underworld movies and are willing to suspend your disbelief and to check your brain at the door for 93 minutes, you'll at l

January 30, 2009 Full Review Source: NYC Movie Guru

| Comment (1)

Avi Offer

NYC Movie Guru

Parental Content Review

January 30, 2009 Full Review Source: Screen It!

| Comment

Jim Judy

Screen It!

Nothing special, but it convincingly transports viewers into its Medieval realm of vampires vs. werewolves.

January 30, 2009 Full Review Source: Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA)

| Comment

John Wirt

Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA)

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Underworld: The Rise of the Lycans

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I went in to this expecting nothing good. No Kate Beckinsale?? How could it be good. well i was surprised. Solid sci fi/ fantasy with decent acting. Good effects and an effective telling of the backstory of the original Underworld.

May 27, 2009

John Manard

Super Reviewer

A surprisingly decent and enjoyable film that is a departure from the previous two entries. I really didn't enjoy the second film, and I was skeptical about this one. I was surprised it wasn't a total waste. The film was better, but it also had its fare share of flaws. The film although interesting in its idea, shows

August 14, 2011

Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski

Super Reviewer

Underworld: The Rise of the Lycans Quotes

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1. Lucian: I love you.
2. Sonja: And I love you. Your face will not be here when this is over will it? Goodbye my love.
– Submitted by Ceara R (4 months ago)
1. Raze: Lucian, it is finished!
2. Lucian: No, this is just the beginning.
– Submitted by Lucas M (4 months ago)
1. Lucian: I saw what you did out there... very brave... for a human. Have you come across them before?
2. Raze: Only in stories...
3. Lucian: Were you not afraid of them?
4. Raze: Yes, but I wanted to live.
5. Lucian: Are you afraid of me?
6. Raze: Yes.
7. Lucian: Well, do not be. I will not bite... much.
– Submitted by Celeste C (9 months ago)
1. Lucian: I have no wish to remove one shackle from around your necks, only to replace them with one of my own. You'll have a choice: you can run and hide, or you can stay and fight. Any man who fights with me shall have his freedom and, if he wishes it; immortality.
– Submitted by Lea L (12 months ago)
1. Viktor: [to Sonja] Without the loyalty between us, we are no better than the beasts at our door.
– Submitted by Lea L (12 months ago)

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