Underworld: Awakening

Das schnelle Tempo und die kurze Länge sorgen für eine nonstop Unterhaltung, die aber im Vergleich zu den ersten zwei Teilen nur wegen der Trägheit funktioniert. Man hat sich um keine Invention bemüht (der Übergang aus den Wäldern in die Stadt und die Korridore eines modernen Gebäudes ist eher eine Inspiration von Resident Evil oder dem ersten Matrix). Ein zweitklassiger Film, welcher das Publikum nicht beleidigt, der aber auch keine Actionszenen anbietet, die man sich merken würde. Im zweiten Teil war es die mit dem Lastwagen. Die Effekte sind manchmal prima, manchmal unterdurchschnittlich. Kates hautenger Anzug und ihre von einer braunhaarigen Frisur umrahmte blauen Augen sind immer noch cool. Genau zwischen zwei und drei Sternen. Der Priest vom letzten Jahr war visuell origineller und mutiger. (20.01.2012)

Die Rückkehr von Latex-Kate in die Reihe ist ein totaler Reinfall und nicht nur das, sondern wahrscheinlich der Beginn von immer mehr Fortsetzungen. Ihr Kostüm ist zwar hübsch, aber es könnte auch etwas in den Filmen passieren, wenn es jetzt schon mal so viele davon gibt. Aber einen potenziellen Liebhaber durch eine potenzielle Tochter ersetzen? Dies ist auch nicht der Weg zu einer Verbesserung. Aber dass Stephen Rea (Neil Jordans Liebling, besonders gut in Interview mit einem Vampir) und Sandrine Holt (Once a Thief, Mutant X und The L Word) mitgespielt haben, war eine Freude. (31.07.2012)

I feel that Kate Backinsale is made for the world of Underworld the same way Mila Jovovich is made for Resident Evil. It is and always will be that way, and it will always have a lot to do with latex. I haven’t seen Underworld in a very long time and I missed some instalments, but despite that I thought I might watch the latest one and that it might surprise me. The action wasn’t bad, but it was the only thing saving an absolutely terrible screenplay. It’s simply a horrible bullshit. (03.04.2013)

No mythology, no juice, no beginning, no end. A very peculiar film where you can enjoy decent action, editing and sound, an excellent Kate Beckinsale and a few of her moves, which are truly worth it. Otherwise, it's a disgraceful made-in-Hollywood routine. Everything is further intensified by the short running time that doesn’t leave room to attempt anything. The first one was good, it was more stylish and larger, which is ironic considering the budgets. (25.02.2012)

I found the fourth installment of the Underworld saga to be the grittiest and bloodiest yet. The plot this time follows more the first and second parts, which was not a bad thing at all, although some might argue that the drastic jumping in time between the episodes does not benefit the series, but it didn't. I welcomed the return of Kate Beckinsale, as I didn't really like Rhona Mitra very much, and Kate is already a part of this series. What bothered me most were the somewhat poorly done effects in places, which were most noticeable with the lycans, but the superlycan was handled well visually. Aside from that, I must point out that in terms of logic, Awakening was the most stupid episode so far (Selene manages to both tip over a van and shoot her way through the bottom of a rapidly falling elevator in a matter of seconds), but my weakness for this series prevents me from giving it less than an average three stars. At times the plot is a bit wilder, but it still has a proper dose of action, chases and shoot-outs (albeit sometimes very out there and into the void). (25.02.2012)

Awakening? More like Falling Asleep. The script was weak, the dialogue lackluster. Although Kate Beckinsale entered the scene like a Terminator, clad only in her determination, she couldn't save this dysfunctional piece of crap. Why Theo James was cast in the film is beyond me. His character did nothing to help the plot. Similarly, the casting of Charles Dance, who was clearly supposed to replace Bill Nighy, didn't work for me. And the rest – the daughter, the giant Lycan, the huge war against vampires – make for a very unappealing combination. (18.04.2017)