Underworld Extended Cut (WMV-HD-DVD)

Release date: 19.11.2004

Get it at a good price at XJuggler.de

Notice: Because this movie is rated 18 by the german FSK (MPRS NC-17 or 18), we have to withheld the best bits and pieces. At least we can't ensure that only adult visitors will read this review.

Plot

Behind inconspicious mediaeval facades of an unknown city a power struggle has been raging between two clans of creatures. The aims of the vampires and the lycans (werewolves) have not been changed, but their methods to achieve it.
Wooden stakes gave way to modern weapons, and even the lycans are not depending on the full moon for their metamorphosis. The beautiful vampire Selene (Kate Backingsale) fights among this conflict and encounters a plan by the lycans, which has something to do with the unsuspecting Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman), which could threaten the balance of powers in favour of the lycans. She is able to rescue Micheal from the hostile claws for a short time before Lucian (Micheal Sheen), the leader of the werewolf pack, is finally able to bite him. This can not be tolerated by the rest of the vampires. Also Micheal is involuntary included in the conflict, Selene helps him escaping because she fell in love with him.
To find out more about Michael's role in the chess game of power and the conspiracy inside the vampire clan, Selene awakens the powerful vampire elder Viktor (Bill Nighy). But this makes things worse and Selene starts to grasp the magnitude of Michael's significance...

The almost 15 minutes longer version reveals more and extended background stories of the relationship between vampires and werewolves and does not differ in production quality in comparison to the original theatrical version. The added scenes partly contain more violent content and raise the German movie rating from FSK 16 to 18 years (equal to the motion picture rating system "UK18" or US MPRS "NC-17"), however the portrayal of exaggerated violence stays within limits. The whole movie is a re-imaginded remake of the horror classic with some intersting new ideas and a lacquer and leather based fetish fashion, which all perfectly fit and bring fresh wind into the rusting theme.

Video

Underworld relies strongly on using a stylish comic book related image composition. This is made clear by the lacquer and leather clothes, great camera shots [28], and the usage of tones of black and gray, appropriate for a movie about creatures of the night. These dark scenes have a lack of image details, some slight noise and in some parts low contrast, but otherwise the scenes are saving bandwidth and spoiling the audience with displaying a full black without recognizable shading.

The film was thoroughly mastered and there does not appear to be any damages (cracks, lines or dust). The image is rich in details, except some intentionally blurry flashbacks [47] and the mentioned dark scenes, and surpasses the also high-quality PAL-DVD.

Colours are cannily used, but have a more luminous effect, primarily the tones of red on some of the coloured ornaments.

There are no compression artefacts, even in fast action scenes, but there are some slight aliasing effects ("stairs") here and there [01].

The movie is marked as 720p, but is encoded with 544 horizontal lines (1280x544 - the active image area of a 2.35:1 1280x720 frame) at 24 progressive frames per second. The video gets 8.5Mbits of 9Mbits and this for a WMV-HD movie relatively high bandwidth has an overall positive effect on the whole video.

All in all, Underworld benefits from a skillful usage of filming techniques, and the high-definition scanning enriches the atmosphere exquisitely.

Audio

Underworld sports an excelent soundtrack, the techno-metal mix of which is worth listening to, and harmoniously matches the scenes.

As for all current high-def.de releases, WMA-9 Pro is used as the audio codec and the original English sound track is complemented by an additional German sound track. The surround mix of the two sound tracks does not differ noticeably, but the German track sounds a little less airy. Both tracks have a bitrate of 256kbit, which has some negative influence on the surround channels.
The sound effects are well done, but do not sound completely dynamic. Highlights are the shootings with their bidirectional diffuse rebound echoes and the choice of high audio frequencies on some weapon sounds. The front and rear speakers are permanently used to create an immersive soundfield. The splatter of rain and the mentioned rebound sounds contribute to the nice ambience. Even in uneventful scenes the speakers do not remain silent and spoil you with the rumblings of a thunderstorm. Nevertheless a little bit more dynamics and a few more directly locatable sound effects would be preferable. The background bass in action sequences, the music and the howling of the werewolves complete the experience.

For a WMA-9 Pro 5.1 track with a low bitrate it reaches an acceptable level, although it does not reach the quality of the Dolby Digital and DTS tracks on the PAL-DVD.

Unfortunally, you just get the benefit of real 5.1 surround sound by taking the AC3 realtime encoding feature of the AC3Filter, which can only be used by the Windows Media Player 9/10 and the ZoomPlayer, because of DRM.

Extras

The only feature which could be called an extra in the broadest sense is the DVD-menu and the included chapter and audio navigation menu. Yet, it is difficult to switch between the audio streams during the running movie. This switching causes some latency because of loading the buffer until the movie starts from the same time code with another language. Windows Media Player 10 restarts from the very beginning. If you can not live without extras like making-ofs and several sound tracks you should additionally buy the PAL-DVD (german release).

DRM

The DRM is still linked to the DVD and the acquired licence is valid for 7 days, but the MS-DRM 2.0 had been raised from level 1000 to 2000. This higher DRM level prevents older versions of ZoomPlayer from acquiring the licence. Not until instlalling Windows Media Player 10, ZoomPlayer was able to play Underworld by using WMP10 software. There had been some reports, that ZP needed an active connection to the internet, but rather to get a generel authorisation to get the DRM 2000 library. Playback with other wmv-hd capable software (PowerDVD or MediaPlayerClassic) is not possible, because of the lack of DRM support.
ecause ZP has limited features it does not have all the comfort you are used to, for example the AC3Filter, which is just active in combination with the WMP10 software, does not work accurately.
It still remains unexplained, why my old AMD XP1800+ with WMP9 was not able to let it play smoothly, but after installing WMP10 it was able to run the AC3Filter and smoothly play the movie.

Alternative operating systems like Apple and Linux are also fully ignored.

Conclusion: Underworld is a good movie and an interesting remake of vampire vs. werewolf theme. It possesses a first class image, which raises it above the PAL-DVD in many aspects. The sound is good and perfectly fits, but does not reach the quality of the Dolby Digital and DTS pendants. Sadly, the compatibility issue causes some deductions in the review, because alternative software and operating systems are not allowed to play the movie. Thereby the handling has been made difficult. Additionally, increased resources are needed, because of the higher DRM level. The intricate switching between the two audio streams with the integrated player could be realised in a more user friendly way and the long load times during the change of audio streams definitely do not have to be: During the movie back to the main menu, into the audio menu and than restarting the movie again, or even back to the very beginning, because of using WMP10, is not comfortable. An otherwise first class movie is cocked up by overstated DRM and thereby caused restricted and user unfriendly handling. For all these reasons we just can give a restricted recomendation for the WMV-HD version, but for all the film fans with adequate software and operating system this is a must have! Lacquer and leather have never shone more beautifully in high definition! Your opinion on this movie and our review is desired. Please feel free to discuss it in our forums at Underworld Extended Cut WMV-HD-DVD.

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Editorial commentaries

Horn, Where-wolf?: I like horror movies, and these new elements, which Underworld are adding to the antique theme of vampire vs. werewolves, do really fit and are interesting, so that the plot stands out from other movies like this.
The brilliant image, at least for WMV-HD, is a feast for my eyes, because the smallest structures are visible, which are not in the PAL-DVD release, like the ornaments of the corsages. Did I mention that I find corsages appealing [43]?
he sound still remains underachieved and I would prefer to simultaneously play the AC3 or DTS track of the DVD. I am looking forward to see the sequel, which will be released on DVD in the near future. The open end of Underworld 1 makes me lust for more and I will have to warn a friend of mine, because on the list of the descendents of Corvinus is also the name Kerwins, and my friend's surname is Kerwien [17].

I have to leave now, the full moon is arising right now....... ahoooooooooo!

Blacky, leader of the Ghetto Wolfgang: I can not chunter about the moving picture or sound, because as a Winwolves 2000 user I am excluded from playing WMV-HD-DVDs. But after a change (no, not to WindowsXP) this will not bother me any longer. You are pondering why? I will refer to it later. I just give away this: Sometimes you have to abdicate something to gain something more important, and what is more important than freedom?

Now I have to hurry up with my new article before the moon rises and the Ghetto Wolf-gang strays again to make an example of DRM maintainers.

Update: The article is now online: HDCP? Do we wear handcuffs while driving a car?!