Kate Beckinsale returns as Selene in Underworld: Awakening

A most welcome return for Kate Beckinsale as vampire warrior Selene in the 4th Underworld movie. Kate played the part of Selene in the first two movies but bowed out of the third, as it was a prequel. Well she's back now and judging by the previews, hasn't lost a step when it comes to taking out lycans (werewolves). The movie opens this Friday and I'm stoked to see it as Underworld is one of my favorite movie series.

DOG SOLDIERS is one hell of a movie...

Back off kitty....

I have one holdover from Halloween to talk about. I just re-watched 2002's Dog Soldiers and it's even better than I remember. The story has a British squad on a training exercise in the Highlands of Scotland. They're supposed be simulating war games with an elite Special Ops squad but things get deadly when they come across the bloody remains of the ops soldiers save for the wounded captain. Then all hell breaks loose as savage creatures attack. The creatures turn out to be werewolves on the hunt. The British soldiers are rescued by a zoologist named Megan in her jeep and haul ass to a farmhouse. It's here where they will make their last stand. Dog Soldiers mixes action with horror extremely well. Writer/director Neil Marshall would go on to make the even better film, The Descent. But here he borrows a little from Aliens with the plot and situations but then puts his on spin on this creative werewolf tale. And speaking of werewolves, these are some cool looking creatures. Best I've seen in recent memory. The action is fast and furious and the dialogue is crisp and humorous with a British/Scottish accent. The cast are all solid especially Sean Pertwee as Sgt Wells, the leader of the British Squad; Emma Cleasby as Megan; Kevin McKidd as Private Cooper who steps up to take charge; and Darren Morfitt as Private Spoon (the wild soldier who has a memorable one on one fight with one of the beasties in the kitchen). Pure awesomeness! And plus it has a cute little dog too.
B+

Spoon and a werewolf about to go a few rounds...

Cooper and Megan on their first date...

Man, I knew I should have just stayed in bed this morning...

Megan thinking...what the hell am I doing here?

31 Days Of Horror: Day 11 (THE HOWLING - 1981)

Along with An American Werewolf in London, this film set a new standard in werwolf effects. In The Howling, news reporter Karen White (played by Dee Wallace) helping the police trap psychopath Eddie Quist (played by Robert Picardo). Karen's confrontation with Eddie causes her to have selective amnesia and admits herself to this posh recovery resort ran by Dr. Waggner (Patrick Steed). Little does Karen know, this place is a haven for werewolves. And she realizes she has to let the world know they exist. But surviving the night is her first step. Wicked horror movie that has some amazing werewolf transformation scenes and also some black humor. Followed by several inferior sequels. Stick with the original. It's by far the best. And does it not have one of the coolest movie posters ever? Hell yeah!

31 Days of Horror - Day 17 (UNDERWORLD)

Selene (an awesome Kate Beckinsale), a beautiful vampire warrior, is entrenched in a war between the vampire and werewolf races. Although she is aligned with the vampires, she falls in love with Michael, a werewolf who longs for the war to end. Cool action pulsates throughout this entertaining movie. Beckinsale, usually known for English dramas, cuts loose as Selene. And Bill Nighy is awesome as Victor, lord of the Vampires. Michael Sheen is equally good as the werewolf leader, Lucian.

(2003) Stars Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Bill Nighy, Michael Sheen, Sophia Myles.