Set six-hundred years in the past (at least that is when I believe the war began), we discover Viktor (Bill Nighy) ruling the vampire clan with the Lycan's safely controlled and serving as their daytime protectors and nighttime laborers, with Lucian (Michael Sheen) as the favored Lycan son. From this stage is set into motion the events that lead directly into the events of the first two films and the connection is quite interesting.
The story is told on three fronts. Viktor is power hungry and perhaps a bit overconfident in his dealings with the Lycans and his daughter and results in the start of the war. Sonja (Rhona Mitra) and her forbidden love, which leads to her betraying her father. Finally there is Lucian, the Lycan slave who rises up on the power of his love for Sonja to lead the Lycans to their freedom from bondage. Together, these three form the basis for what will happen for generations to come.
Less complex than the first two films, Rise of the Lycans sole purpose is to put full-bodied action to the dawn of the war merely glimpsed in earlier films. It fails to engage the brain in any meaningful way, leaving it content to wander around the familiar blue-tinted frames watching the performances play out.
The movie surges forward in fits and spurts, long-winded exposition sequences sandwiched around CGI laden battle scenes. The exposition tries to make it sound more grand and important than it is, while the fights reach for the epic scale of Lord of the Rings. None of it works completely, but for a B-grade movie, it certainly fills a need.
Rise of the Lycans is in a good position, meaning it does not matter if you see it first or third. If you are new to the series, prepare to see the setup that will be paid off in the next two films. If you are a fan of the other films, this will finally show you the things that have merely been told about in those other two films.
All together, this does exactly what it sets out to do. Director Patrick Tatopoulos keeps everything going, doing decent work filling in for Len Wiseman (who helmed the first two films). Although, I have to say that this movie felt awfully short. I have to wonder if much was left on the cutting room floor? There seems to be plenty of places with opportunity for expansion.
Bottomline. Whatever the case may be, the movie does pay off in entertainment value. There is plenty to enjoy, from the cool werewolf design and transformation, to some good battles, to respected actors taking it over the top, to some seriously unintentional hilarity. It is fun and sometimes that is all that matters.
Mildly Recommended.
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