Violent femme Selene definitely delivers the gory goods in Underworld: Evolution. We first met Selene (played by Kate Beckinsale and her black leather corseted catsuit) in 2003’s Underworld, in which the vampy vampire who fell for what should have been her sworn enemy, a werewolf called Michael (dude-in-distress Scott Speedman).

Underworld wasn’t so much about flesh and blood characters as it was about stone and leather – preoccupied with gloomy architecture and kick-ass knock-down-drag-outs between the bloodsucking deathdealers and the howling lycans, the first film was definitely style over substance.

Underworld: Evolution evolves a bit, in that there is more about the characters and they do “evolve” (Selene learns a few things about herself, and Michael comes into his own and embraces his supernatural killing powers). But not too much. The movie is still very much about chase scenes, explosions, shootouts, car wrecks, and showdowns (yep, there is more than one “showdown” in Underworld: Evolution, but they do save the best one for last).

Costars Bill Nighy, Shane Brolly, and Derek Jacobi don’t have huge roles but they are there for a reason. It’s Tony Curran as uber-vampire and nemesis Marcus who steals the show. He’s ruthless and relentless, yet somehow likable. Kudos to the moon for creature designer Patrick Tatopoulos’s handiwork, but they really should have lightened up on the latex — Curran is at his evil, seething best when he is not in his bat-monster mode, but even when he does morph, less would have been more. (There is also a little too much CGI.)

There are some terrifically wild fight scenes (though so many, they start to lose impact toward the end), some obviously, er, homages to films that have gone before. One vaguely reminded me of the freeway chase scene in Matrix: Reloaded, and another strongly brought to mind King Kong (both the original, and the remake). The weaponry and the sets are magnificent eye candy (though some might want to plug their ears).

The story was a little too heavy on flashbacks and reminders (OK, I get it!), but overall I was entertained by Underworld: Evolution and I thought it was a fun action flick with a good supernatural/royal intrigue twist. If you liked the first Underworld, you will definitely have more of the same, but on a grander scale.

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Reviewed by Staci Layne Wilson