Underworld: Evolution, which hit theaters in 2006, picks up where the first movie ended. Selene and Michael are now being hunted by the vampires, led by the last surviving elder, Marcus (Tony Curran). Marcus, who is also a direct descendant of the first immortal, Corvinus (Derek Jacobi), has tasted lycan blood and now possesses powers far beyond that of a normal vampire. His main goal is to free his long entrapped brother, William, the progenitor of the lycans. It falls to Selene and Michael to stop this from occurring. During the journey, Selene partakes of Corvinus' blood, causing her to gain far greater powers in order to be able to face Marcus. The final battle is set and the stakes are high, because if both Marcus and William are freed upon the world, humanity cannot long survive.
The third installment of the series is actually a prequel set centuries before the events related in the first two movies. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is a retelling of the events which eventually led to the war between the vampires and the lycans. Somewhat shown in the first movie, this movie is the tale of the forbidden love between Lucian, a one-time favored slave of the vampires, and Sonja (Rhona Mitra), the daughter of the vampire Viktor. The story follows how the lycans, looked down upon and used as guardians, laborers and entertainment by their vampire masters, eventually escape bondage by following the leadership of Lucian.
All three movies are quite enjoyable and fun, even if often predictable. The special effects are nicely done and the cast is well-chosen, especially Michael Sheen and Bill Nighy. The original concept was scripted by Kevin Grevioux, who stars as the lycan Raze in all three movies. The extended scenes in the original Underworld do a nice job of filling in a few details without destroying the pacing of the movie. In the package are three discs, each including a movie and related special features. Many of these bonuses are the standard fare; director's commentaries, behind-the-scenes looks at stunts and make-up and how sets are created. There are also a couple of music videos, some outtakes and a featurette that explores the historical evidence of vampires and werewolves. All told, it is a nice set to have if you are a fan of the movies or the genre. If you already own the first two movies, there is nothing new offered on the discs containing them, so you would likely be better served in just purchasing Underworld: Rise of the Lycans individually. However, if you do not already own both, it is nice to have them all in the same package.
