Without the loyalty between us... We are no better than the beasts at our door.

Underwold: Rise of the Lycans

(2009)

I found the first two passable entertainment, what with Kate Beckinsale's arse and wall-to-wall Brit thesps. This second sequel/prequel works less well, not least because some bright spark decided to promote Michael Sheen to male lead, and thus the dubious title of action hero. Sheen gets all bare torso-oiled up in preparation, but never succeeds in looking anything other than slightly surprised by this turn of events.

Rhona Mitra fails to find any of the charisma she’s been searching for, so it's left to Steven Macintosh and Bill Nighy to ham things up with vigour. Patrick Tatopoulos is a shit-hot effects designer (and his werewolves for Underworld are the best of their kind since The Howling, even if the CG-execution leaves something to be desired) but he's got a long way to go as a director.

**1/2

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Now In Full Color, with a Happier Ending

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