 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
- Review Date: January 22, 2009
- R
- Genre: Horror
- 2009
Common Sense Media says
Vampire vs. werewolf prequel is heavy on gore, low on fun.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that teens might be clamoring to see this movie after the succcess of Underworld and Underworld: Evolution -- not to mention the increased interest in all things vampire thanks to Twilight -- but this is no angsty teen love story. It's an all-out class war between vampires and werewolves, and it's loaded with extreme special-effects violence (from decapitations to being cut in half) and oceans of blood. There's also a sex scene in which little is left to the imagination, but it's more comical than explicit.
What's the story?
Set long before the events in Underworld, UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS establishes the vampires vs. werewolves clash of the saga's plot. It depicts both the creation of the first intelligent werewolf, Lucian (Michael Sheen), born into bondage at the hands of the vampire ruler Viktor (Bill Nighy), and his secret passion for Viktor's daughter, Sonja (Rhona Mitra). When Viktor discovers their love, he's furious -- and, with the imprisoned Lucian leading a revolt of his fellow werewolf slaves, facing other problems as well. ...
Is it any good?
The first two Underworld films have been guilty pleasures for many moviegoers, and while Underworld: Rise of the Lycans features much of the same blood-drinking, neck-biting Romeo-and-Juliet Gothic romanticism of the first two films, it lacks the goofy pleasures of the first two movies' monsters-in-our-modern-world setting.
Sheen (who's far from the prestige of films like The Queen and Frost/Nixon here) makes for an adequate male lead -- haunted, heroic, hairy, and hunky -- while Mitra evokes some of the pouting hauteur that Kate Beckinsale brought to the earlier films. But Underworld: Rise of the Lycans never quite has the guts or glory to be much more than what it is: a bloody-but-bland cash-grab of a prequel made on the cheap in the name of a quick buck.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about whether on-screen violence is less problematic when it depicts supernatural beings fighting, rather than regular people. What about when the supernatural beings look human? What's the impact of watching this kind of violence? Families can also discuss the movie's slaves-versus-rulers plotline -- how does the film's central conflict parallel race differences? And
why do you think Hollywood likes making prequels and sequels to popular franchises? Is it just to make money?
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AGE
e.g. perfect for dora-loving children
love it! show it to your toddeler
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AGE
violent not scary
average flick but xtremely violent nothin else though.
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AGE
People need to know that this "Underworld" serves as a Prequel to the first two, and in that, it does more clearly define the rise of the Lycans and the conflict between them and the Vampires. Of course its violent, but anyone familiar with the series would know that, anyway
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AGE
Great
This movie is great. It has a story that leads into a very strong issue that should be investigated by kids. Unless you are into slavery then fine don't let your kids watch it. Its starts from love and full circles to murder but you know its kinda hard not to when its a story that particularly revolves around prejudice, discrimination and slavery. I this if a kid can understand those concepts then they will be okay to watch it.
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AGE
Amazing
I don't know what the heck is wrong with CS. This is the BEST Underworld movie that has been made. It's way better than the Twilight movie. This is defiantly for older/mature teens. My favorite movie. Very good for vampire and werewolf fans or action horror movie fans. Don't listen to CS! They're screwed in the head.
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AGE
NOT INAPPROPRIATE!!!! SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN RATED R!!!
SOOOOO APPROPRIATE!!! GREAT MOVIE TOO!!!
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AGE
not the worst in the series but close
this a close call between this one and underworld evolution this dark gory violent yet good film underworld fans go see it please
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AGE
good movie
common sense are you crazy,this movie deserve like a 15+ not no kids scream is way worst than this and it's 16+ common sense you have to change ur rating!!! my 10 year old brother watch it
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AGE
IF YOU DON'T CHANGE YOUR RATING,I'M LEAVING CSM FOR GOOD!
THIS IS THE MOST BIASED REVIEW CSM HAS EVER WROTE.I MEAN IT.WTF NOT FOR KIDS????????ARE YOU PEOPLE CRAZY??!!??IT DESERVES AT LEAST OFF FOR 16 OR EVEN 17!!WONDER WHY IT'S RATED R???
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| Studio: | Screen Gems |
| Director: | Patrick Tatopolous |
| Cast: | Bill Nighy, Michael Sheen, Rhona Mitra |
| Genre: | Horror |
| Run time: | 92 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | January 23, 2009 |
| DVD release date: | May 12, 2009 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | bloody violence and some sexuality |
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