Released: 01/20/06

Viewed: 12:30 pm 01/21/06

Starring: Kate Bekinsale, Scott Speedman, Tony Curran,

Directed by: Len Wiseman

Sony pictures Official Site of the movie

About the comic: Ok, before I get a ton of e-mails telling me to "get a room", this strip is fictional. I do not make my fianc? dress up like a vampire; I just felt this situation served the joke better. Laugh it up! Now, on to the review:

I admit to being nervous about Underworld: Evolution last Friday night. The first one was interesting, but had moments that were dangerously close to boring. Even good ideas, when dragged out can lose all their appeal. What Underworld did have in spades was a lot of cool visuals and stylized action. I would assume that these would be the big draws for the sequel as well, but the trailers revealed nothing as extraordinarily cool as the original. So? I was worried.

The good news is that there are a lot of cool visuals and stylized action. It's just all so brutal that they can't put it in the trailers. In the 2 years between films, director Len Wiseman certainly learned that extreme violence is an extreme crowd pleaser. Not to say that it's used excessively, but when it gets violent, it gets real violent.

Fine by me, I love it. It's why I'm there. I can appreciate a good vampire story, and Kate Bekinsale redefines "foxy", but when I go to a late night showing of a newly released action film with a sold out crowd, I want to see some vampires go boom! Mission accomplished.

The movie picks up right where the original left off with Selene (Bekinsale) and Michael (Scott Speedman) on the run after killing two vampire nobles. The threat of the return of the first vampire Marcus ( Tony Curran) hanging over their heads.

A fine job is done of giving you all the information you need to know from the original. Underworld was very heavy with content, which I felt was part of it's downfall, but in a few quick flashbacks the filmmakers are able to get you right up to speed.

Thankfully Evolution is much less complicated than Underworld. They set up a situation, and let it play out. There are very few loose ends to worry about once everything is explained and the action begins. What they do explain throughout the movie, they tend to over explain, which ends up separating the action sequences with too much jibber jabber. I listened carefully, foolishly thinking it would be important, but so much of it was nonsense with no pay off. Something for the vampire nuts to get off on.

It's fine though; it has its place here. I just wish they could have built a better vampire/werewolf mythology. What mythology they do create is interesting but completely crumbles apart at the end, as everything they established has no consequence whatsoever. They told us twice that if (A) happens it will result in (B). But (A) DOES happen and the result is (C).

Now, I went to art school so I don't know your fancy city math, but that doesn't add up! Instead of met expectations the movie ends with a whole set of new questions. In a way that can be good because it's a surprise. It keeps you guessing, makes you wonder what the third movies going to be like. On the other hand it's a cop out. Instead of answers that explain (or even partially explain) the ending, they don't bother addressing anything, which just leaves the fans wondering. Say what you want, but when Empire ended I "got" that Vader was Luke's father.

I bet this seemed like such an awesome idea. Something fans could get excited about, something they could go online and endlessly speculate about, something to keep the interest buzzing. I for one would have liked a few more clues? but it's not like I haven't participated in a few of those online conversations already.

I have a lot of questions, which leaves me jaded because they spend a lot of time explaining things that didn't matter. Still, I think vampire fanatics will certainly find love in the world created. It's full of death, destruction, and blood sucking fun.

6.5 out of 10 mainly for the action, but the movie really does deliver what you want. Bekinsale is still stunning, Speedman is still cool, and the werewolf transformations still rile up the crowd. Pretty much what you knew you'd get.

DVD worthy?: Well, it's less complicated than the first and there's some cool action, but the bits between run a little long. Still, ever since seeing it I've really wanted to see it again, and that's rare. If the price is right, I'd pick it up for sure.

If you liked this movie check out: Resident Evil

Ok, for me the best parts of Underworld are the parts where they're kicking in a werewolf face. I know a lot of the fans get wrapped up in the romanticism of vampires and werewolves, and bloodlines, and goth-tasticness. But those parts always play a little slow. It's plenty interesting, but I'm always waiting for the fight.

If that's you're perspective as well, than I highly recommend Resident Evil. Milla Jovovich pounding on Vampire's is just as entertaining as Bekinsale pounding on vampires. The story has its faults, but I feel in love with its modern technology take on action and terror. Both are very effective. The sequel to it was unfortunately weird, but the original hold true. She kicks a freakin' dog.

Trailer Hitch: Ultraviolet

So other than an early contestant for lamest title of the year, what is Ultraviolet? It's another movie taking place in the not so distant future where a small group of rebels try to over throw the greater power that created them. So what makes it special? Well Milla Jovovich stars as the lead character Violet, but as flashy or fantastic as it is it will have to be pretty damn good to top her role in (and the actual film itself) The Fifth Element. Loved that movie.

Truth be told it does look pretty good, and it makes me believe that Jovovich may be one of our strong action queens. How many girls can actually kick ass and look that good while doing it. Sadly after watching this trailer my biggest feeling was ? this is what Aeon Flux should have looked like. I had nothing against the style and look of Flux, but whatever filters they used on Ultraviolet added a fantastic futuristic/artificial quality to the film that would have been great on Flux. Hindsight.

Voting today will get you an extra laugh out of today's comic, as Yeo studies up. Thanks for the continued voting. I'm working on something special for next month.

Non movie related stuff:

Last week we got linked by Ryan North over at Dinosaur Comics and it was a true display over the power he wields. A lot of great folks came over and had a good look around. Big thanks to Ryan, and thanks to everyone that read the strips of Digital Pimp for the first time. I hope you enjoyed. It makes me think I should be spreading the love more often when a comic tickles me.

That's it for now. Got some ground to cover this week, after a pretty solid weekend of films. But I'm actually looking forward to Big Momma's House 2, God help me.