Evolution
begins with the explanation that there were twin brothers, Marcus and
William, who were each granted immortality in different ways, one
bitten by bat (Marcus), and the other bitten by wolf (William), but
both cursed to war with each other's clans throughout the centuries.
Starting off in 1202 A.D., Viktor (Bill Nighy), one of the
high lords of the Vampires, and Marcus (Tony Curran), along with their
army of Vampires, are tracking down William (Brian Steele), who has
been ravaging villages throughout Europe, and in turn, spreading his
Lycan blood to all those who are bitten.
After a
spectacular (and bloody) battle between the two armies, William is
captured, but after a betrayal from Viktor, is sentenced to eternal
imprisonment away from his brother.
The events then
turn to the moments that ended the first film, as Leather-clad Vampire
Selene (Kate Beckinsale), and Lycan/Vampire hybrid Michael (Scott
Speedman) are on the run from their own kind, after killing the
traitorous Viktor. Selene's plan is to get back to her coven, and
awaken Marcus from his sleep, so that everything can be set right.
However, when she discovers that Marcus is already awake, and
intent on destroying his own kind by releasing his entombed brother to
help create a new breed, Selene and Michael must race against time to
ensure their own survival, and that of the human race, by enlisting the
help of people such as the exiled history keeper of the Vampires, Tanis
(Steven Mackintosh), and a recluse with a vested interest in profiting
from both sides of the conflict, Alexander (Derek Jacobi), along with
his squad of soldiers.
Kate Beckinsale is gorgeous
in both the Underworld films, and seems suited to a
tee to play the conflicted Selene, who in the past day has been forced
to kill the only family she has ever known, and has partnered up with
what should be her enemy in Michael. She seems to be extremely
comfortable in the role now, and carries the film well.
Scott
Speedman, who appeared very awkward in the first outing is obviously
given more to work with here, and it shows, bringing forth the kind of
presence that originally won over his fans on TV's 'Felicity' - I'd go
so far to say that his hybrid Michael could give Hugh Jackman's
Wolverine a run for his money. Even more of a bonus is the fact that
the near non-existent chemistry between Beckinsale and Speedman first
time out, has been replaced by some pretty spicy action. And
considering Kate is married to Len Wiseman in real life says something,
whether that's something pretty kinky is another thing....
But
to get back to it, even the returning cast from the original film, who
only have smaller roles this time out give so much more energetic
performances that you want to keep supplying them with whatever
drinking water they had on hand, and roll on into a third story
straight away.
Evolution is to
the first picture what Blade 2 was to its
franchise. It manages to pick up and run with every single cool idea
and story concept that the first had, and amplify them to become a
follow-up that blows the original completely out of the water.
Enjoying a film more than the first just because the original
was mediocre would be one thing, but Evolution is
not only a far superior movie than the original, it is a superior movie
in its genre, with action sequences surpassing
even those witnessed in the Matrix trilogy, and a
tight pace that never feels bogged down in the plot.
In
this outing, screenwriter Danny McBride has kept things simple; Selene
and Michael are on the run from Marcus, and have to somehow try to stop
him. There is no recurrence of pointless background characters coming
to the forefront, gaping holes in the plot, and the slow third act that
bogged down Underworld.
It is
through watching Evolution that you realise the
kind of movie Len Wiseman could have made in the first place if given
complete control, and hopefully can be replicated in another outing
providing this one does well at the box office.
If
you were a fan of Underworld make sure you get in
to see Evolution, but more importantly, if you weren't
a fan, make damn sure you get in to see it.
