The Underworld franchise is the classic tale of vampires versus werewolves (Lycans) but it adds the twist of two members of the opposing sides falling in love (how Shakespearean) and their clans turning on them. In the first outing, it was vampire "death dealer" Salene (Kate Beckinsale) who found recently turned Lycan Michael (Scott Speed) and fell in love with him. She also turned him into a hybrid vampire/werewolf (it's complicated) which is what ultimately led to her banishment from the vampire ranks. In outing 2, we got to see Salene and Michael on the run from the original vampire who wants to free his brother who was the first werewolf. All of them are being pursued by the father of all of them. Confused yet? The third outing was a prequel, which filled in the blanks of the back-story to the first outing and told of how the Lycans and Vampires came to be at war.
The fourth outing Underworld: Awakening takes place 12 years after the events of the first two films in a world where humans have discovered both species and has declared war on both of them, called "The Purge". Salene is awakened from a frozen stasis to find herself in a lab and having visions from another one like her. She believes it to be Michael but soon discovers that it is her born-in-a-lab child. Who, like her father is also a hybrid but more powerful than all of them. She meets other vampires who have taken refuge from the world and comes across a werewolf that is bigger and stronger than any she has ever met. When the Lycans take her child from her, she learns a secret that threatens to destroy mankind and the Vampire clans forever and it lies within her daughter's DNA.
There's not much to expect from Underworld: Awakening because it doesn't expect much from the viewer. It's just an action film to sit back and enjoy. The action begins from the beginning and maintains a steady pace of it throughout the entire movie. I was hesitant to see it in 3D because it's often not worth the extra price but it surprised me. I wouldn't say you must see it in 3D but you won't be disappointed if you do.
Like I said before, it's just a mindless, easy to watch action flick just like the rest of the franchise. The casual fan will enjoy that it ties up some loose ends and opens up some new ones which should allow it to continue for at least another film. If you haven't seen the rest of the franchise, you'll get caught up with a nice prologue.
I give Underworld: Awakening seven stars out of eleven.