Underworld: Evolution is a 2006 action/horror film, directed by Len Wiseman. It is a sequel to the 2003 film Underworld, and follows on from the plot of the first film, continuing the conflict between vampires and lycans, also highlighting the beginnings of the feud.
Underworld: Evolution is an immediate followup to Underworld (2003). Therefore, the events of Evolution take place during the same night of the first film's finale, and the next few days after.
The film begins with a flashback scene that brings revelation to the nature of the relationship between Marcus and the other Elders, which was not established in Underworld. It is revealed that Marcus is cheated in his deal with Viktor, the leading Elder, to capture his brother, William, who is the first and most powerful Lycan. Against Marcus' wishes, William is ambushed and captured to be locked away for all time. Viktor's betrayal earns Marcus' hatred towards him and all those loyal to him, and as a result, Marcus swears revenge.
In present day, Kraven immediately executes his final bid for power, as he returns to the Orghodaz mansion to attempt to assassinate the last remaining Elder, Marcus, after witnessing the death of Viktor, the foremost threat to his plans. Unknown to Kraven, the blood of the Lycan, Singe, has dripped into Marcus' resting chamber, and has not only awakened him with full knowledge of Kraven's treachery, but also granting him newfound powers as a Hybrid. As Kraven enters the Elder Room with his soldiers, Marcus breaks through the floor and effortlessly kills all of Kraven's men, leaving Kraven, himself, for last. However, before killing Kraven, Marcus drinks his blood, thereby absorbing his memories and learning of the operation to lock up William, in addition to Selene's ties to a mortal family that was murdered under Viktor's order, in connection with the construction of William's prison, which was unilaterally kept a secret from him. As the final piece of the puzzle, he discovers that the key to William's cell is now in the hands of Selene. The opportunity for Marcus to reap his revenge has come, and he uses his new powers to destroy Viktor's entire coven. Immediately afterwards, Marcus engages to find Selene and the key to ultimately free his imprisoned brother, the first and most powerful lycan, with an infinite capacity and insatiable appetite for destruction. Meanwhile, hours before sunrise, Selene and Michael head for a Vampire safehouse in the mountains. In the safehouse they find a dead Lycan and new ammunition. Selene tells Michael to stay while she goes to the mansion to plead for sanctuary; they do not know yet that Marcus destroyed the coven. Selene explains to Michael that his life has changed and can never go back to his human ways. Selene leaves the hideout while Michael stays to drink the cloned blood.
Viktor, in the first film, was proven a master of deceit. Throughout the second film, his character has been used as a kind of Deus Ex Machina. In other words, all information he provided in the first film can be dismissed as lies, therefore validating any alterations in plot. This, however, does not cover all contradictions:
According to what we learned in the first film, Viktor's schedule of rule was before Amelia and after Markus. Since Amelia ruled for the entire 20th century, and Marcus was to rule the 21st, in stands to reason that Viktor would be in power, supposedly, during the 2100s, 1800s, 1500s, and 1200s, assuming the chain had started at that time. It is also proved in the first film that key events in the plot (execution of Sonja, death of Selene's family, etc.) took place during Viktor's rule; this was very plausible, especially since Selene proved to not be alive long enough to know any truths whatsoever. However, even though it was never disclosed in the first film exactly how old Selene was, she stated in the second that she was 600 years old, which would place her mortal life and turning during the 1400s. It is also implicitly stated that the execution of Sonja and Lucian's fake death both took place around the same time. We are left with an open question of when the chain started and who was first in the progression, but know that Viktor was awake for many key events.
When Selene states the war has been raging for "the better part of a thousand years", she confirmed that the execution of Sonja/escape of Lucian happened between 1000 and 1500, presumably during Viktor's rule. In the first film, Selene narrates that Lucian was presumed dead "6 centuries" ago, which was also how old she was in the second film. This implies she was not alive to witness the capture of Lucian, but was merely told of it. The progression of events is confusing, and widely open to interpretation, but only contradictory under certain interpretations.
Although it was only implied the Corvinus Clan was long dead and partially forgotten, they all proved to be alive in the second film. It is almost unacceptable to believe an entire family of immortals lived, died and fell into legend among other immortals within two centuries, but the intentional deception of all vampires (excluding the elders) by Viktor can explain this. On the other hand, it cannot be denied that a lot can happen in two centuries, immortal or not. Up to ten generations of Convinuses could've been born and even asassinated. Furthermore, the birthdates of the Corvinus brothers and the dates of their prospective bites were never confirmed, only adding doubt to any depiction of Underworld history. So in the first film, a lot can happen in very little time, while in the second film, very little can happen in a great amount of time.
Why is Selene so suprised that Alexander Corvinus was alive? It is implied that the Elders (such as Markus) knew that he was still around, but who did she think was doing all the cleaning up after the battles? Alexander Corvinus states that he has been using his resources to help conceal the Vampire/Lycan conflict for centuries, it seems odd that the most prominent Death Dealer had never been privvy to this information.
It is never quite explained how an elder, or any vampire for that matter, would be bled and essentially mummified and still be capable of resuscitation. Also, the rules behind viral transmission and genetic memory are only brushed. In the first film, a lycan can bite and infect a human with his own memories, while a vampire can acquire memories through the drinking of blood. Selene also mentioned that most humans die from an immortal's bite, yet this seemed to only occur when convenient (Tanis).
Andreas Tanis is a character created to "fill in the holes" for Selene to help her with her objectives. Tanis was the official vampire historian, who could've very well have been just as old as Viktor himself.
In the first film there is no mention of the primal breed of permanently transformed lycans that preceeded the lycan adaptation of changing during the full moon, which is odd. Note: According to Greg Cox in his prequel novel, Lucian developed the first lycan ability to change upon demand.
It is painfully clear that the pendant worn by Lucian in the first film is not the same pendant in the second. If the pendant/key was as important as the second film depicts, it is puzzling how its whereabouts is not an overwhelming concern for Viktor when Lucian is presumed dead.
Greg Cox, who novelized the first film, also wrote a prequel that not only was loyal to the information provided in the first film, but solidified many dates and events in the story. He was even good enough to take liberties in the novelization of this film. For example, he included a small thought on Selene's part concerning the Cleaners: "She had heard of these so-called Cleaners before; the Death Dealers had been aware for centuries that a secret society of mortals was determined, for reasons unknown, to conceal the existence of the immortals from their fellow humans. The origins and motive of the Cleaners had been the subject of constant rumor and speculation, but the Elders had always discouraged Selene and the other Death Dealers from probing too deeply into the matter."
Filming took place in Vancouver, Canada, and is a departure from the setting of Underworld, which was filmed in Budapest, Hungary, and also had a much larger budget than the first film. It was originally set to be released in late 2005, however it was delayed until January 19, 2006.
The film was pre-viewed in a panel at Comic-Con in San Diego, in July of 2005. It was well received as hundreds of fans waited hours to see a clip of the film as well as Kate Beckinsale and the other stars of the movie.
The film opened with a weekend box office (January 19 - 21 2006) intake $27.6M.
As of March 12, 2006, the film grossed a total of $62.3 million dollars in the domestic box office and $108.9 million worldwide. |
