Underworld opens with an explanation that a war has been raging between Vampires and Lycans (werewolves) and that the werewolves have been hunted almost to extinction.

Michael Corvin, played by Scott Speedman, is a medical student who finds himself in the middle of what appears to be a gang war going down in the middle of the subway. What Corvin does not know is that he has just witnessed a battle between the Vampires and the Lycans.

Leading the battle is Selene, played by Kate Beckinsale, member of the Vampire Death Dealers. Their job is to hunt and kill all Lycans.

After the battle, Selene realizes that the Lycans seem to be hunting Corvin. Selene begins to follow Corvin and finds herself falling in love with him. Selene becomes convinced that the Lycans are planning an attack against the Vampires, and it somehow involves Corvin. Kraven (Shane Brolly), the leader of the Vampires, is convinced that Selene is mistaken concerning the Lycan attack.

As Selene is shadowing Corvin and falling deeply in love with him, Corvin is bitten by Lucian (Michael Sheen), the leader of the werewolves, now leaving her in love with someone who will be transformed into one of her sworn enemies.

The drama does not stop there. The reason the Lycans are hunting Corvin is because he has a rare genetic make-up that will allow him to become both a Lycan and a Vampire. Lucian hopes to use Corvin to bring an end of the war and save his kind from extinction.

This movie is Romeo and Juliet meets The Matrix/Blade. The plot is interesting enough to hold your attention between the action scenes.

The movie is intense, and the violence percentage is great. The only problem with the movie is that at times it is so dark you can hardly see the actors. Kate Beckinsale does a wonderful job with her character, Selene, and it doesn’t hurt that she spends the whole movie running around in a skin-tight outfit.

Overall, I recommend that if you have time this weekend, go and enjoy. There’s plenty of action for the guys and a love story for the ladies.

Underworld is directed by Len Wiseman, written by Danny McBride, and produced by Lakeshore Entertainment. It’s rated R and can be seen at Cine Theater.