Lovely Wife went out with her galpal last night to get nails done and do some kbitzing. That gave me just enough time for an abbreviated Guy's Movie Night. I decided to watch Underworld. I'd heard mixed reviews on it but since Susie recommended it I knew it had to be good (five points for Susie, by the way).

As far as vampire movies go it wasn't very good. As far as werewolf movies go it wasn't very good. As far as action movies go it was awesome. The vampire/werewolf thing was really just used as a story device and to add flavor and I thought it did really well as such. The action was excellent with lots of nifty Matrix-like effects.

Sidenote (or centernote? what sort of note is it when it's in a blockquote?)

Why is it that when I read professional reviews of action movies they always say things like "with the expected Matrix-like effects" or "with the standard Matrix style effects"? The Matrix set the bar on F/X to a higher notch and these later movies are meeting the new standard. It seems like these reviewers are ripping on them as copycats or something.

Do any of y'all remember what science fiction special effects were like before Star Wars? That movie forced every movie made after it to either strive for "Star Wars like effects" or be dismissed as crap. Personally I'm holding action movies to a Matrix standard now and screw the reviewers.

Granted there were some sizeable plot holes but none of them defied a suspension of disbelief. Plus it had Kate Beckinsale in skin tight vinyl and leather for the whole movie. I first fell in lust with Kate in Serendipity. Actually, I think that was the only movie I'd seen her in before this one. Yup, a quick look at her filmography verifies my suspicion. Mostly foreign work with that Pearl Harbor deal that I'll never see. She does have a couple of big feature items coming out this year though. Excellent.

In any case, her performance of exceptionally finely showcased booty in this movie has officially moved her ahead of Elizabeth Hurley on my "Hottest Brit Chick" list. Sorry, Liz. I know you've held top spot on the list for many a year but Kate's got this innocence and vulnerability that you somehow lost (*cough* *Hugh Grant* *cough*). Besides, you've never done an entire movie in skin tight vinyl and leather. Don't worry though, you're still my number two. Dry those eyes now.