Vampires versus Werewolves
Joy Fleishhacker -- School Library Journal, 1/28/2009
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (R), presented by Lakeshore Entertainment and Screen Gems, premieres this month in theaters. Following Underworld (2003) and Underworld: Evolution (2006), both directed by Len Wiseman, this film is the third installment in a fantasy/horror series that depicts the ongoing conflict between two powerful races. The prequel, directed by Patrick Tatopoulos (with Wiseman as producer), delves into the past to reveal the origins of the blood feud between the aristocratic vampires and their one-time slaves, the lycans (werewolves). In the Dark Ages, an intelligent and brave lycan named Lucian (Michael Sheen) steps forward as a charismatic leader, uniting his people to rise up against Viktor (Bill Nighy), the merciless Vampire Elder who has enslaved them. Lucian is joined in his cause by his secret lover, Viktor’s daughter Sonja (Rhona Mitra), a fierce warrior who is torn between her responsibilities as a vampire noblewoman and her sympathy for Lucian and his kind. Together, they initiate a courageous crusade for lycan freedom. Teens can visit the official Website to watch previews and access downloads. Viewers can explore a panorama of melded-together movie images, moving the mouse to investigate the shadowy depths of the vampire stronghold or travel across an eerie forest. The atmospheric scenes shimmer with the blacks, silvers, and slate grays of a well-worn suit of armor. Icons sequestered throughout provide access to information about the characters, a photo gallery, and several games including “Guard the Castle” and “Catacombs Maze.”
Pocket Star Books has published a tie-in novelization (January, 2009) written by Greg Cox and based on the
screenplay by Danny McBride, Dirk Blackman, and Howard McCain. Cox, the author of numerous best-selling Star Trek novels, begins by describing the origins of these preternatural beings, setting the scene for readers unfamiliar with the “Underworld” series. The prologue tells how a plague raged through Eastern Europe during the Middle Ages, killing all in its path except for Alexander, Duke of Corvinus, to whom the virus brought eternal life. One of his immortal sons, bitten by a wolf, became the first werewolf while the other became the first vampire. Cox presents a vivid history of the evolution of the two races and the relationship between them, explaining how and why vampires forced the lycans into servitude. Lucian and Sonja—and the danger of their forbidden (and candidly detailed) romance—are vibrantly depicted, as is the authoritarian and cruel-hearted Viktor. There is plenty of fast-paced action with battle scene-gore galore, as swords clash and enemies are violently dispatched. This book may grab fantasy enthusiasts with its combination of suspenseful storytelling and carefully delineated descriptions of a fully realized imaginary world. Movie fans may also be interested in the previous volumes by Cox, Underworld (2003), Blood Enemy (2004), and Underworld: Evolution (2006, all Pocket Star).For graphic novel devotees, Underworld: Movie Trilogy collects comic-book versions of all three films in one easy-to-circulate volume. Underworld and Underworld: Evolution, both adapted by Kris Oprisko, are set in the modern day and follow the adventures of Selene, a vampire Death Dealer, who continues her quest to destroy all lycans and discovers secrets about the origin and evolution of both species. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, is adapted by Kevin Grevioux, who originated the “Underworld” premise, wrote the screenplay for the first film along with Wiseman, and appears in the movies as the lycan character, Raze. This book follows the story arc of the prequel, focusing on Lucian’s development as a leader and his taboo relationship with Sonja. In all three adaptations, crisp dialogue and plot lines keep pace with slick, drama-packed images. Dark-hued backdrops are punctuated with bright oranges, splashes of red (mostly blood), and the gleam of steel weapons and werewolf teeth. Strong language and scenes of violence make this graphic novel most appropriate for more mature readers.
Pub Info
COX, Greg. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans. Pocket Star Books. January 2009. pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-1-4391-1284-7.
_____. Underworld. Pocket Star Books. 2003. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-7434-8071-0.
_____. Underworld: Evolution. Pocket Star Books. 2006. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-7434-8073-4.
_____. Blood Enemy. Pocket Star Books. 2004. pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-0-7434-8072-7.
Underworld: Movie Trilogy. IDW Publishing. 2008. pap. $19.99. ISBN978-160010414-5.
