Underworld: Evolution

Episode 2 of The Underworld series, Selene has chosen her human lover over her vampire family. They are pursued by Markus (last remaining vampire elder). Human lover Michael turns out to be the last blood line descendent of the father of the vampire/werewolf origin, hence containing blood that could be valuable to both. So pursuit, battle, treachery, death... lots of death... The storyline is progressed, but we see (as we usually do with movie franchises) that the movie is not part of a grand plan, but the plan/plot is being made up in service to the movie.

3 stars (out of 5)

Underworld

Kate Beckinsale is Selene, a vampire warrior who is a trained "death dealer" tasked with hunting and killing the Lycans (werewolves). This is the first in what turns out to be a 5 film series playing out over more than a decade. The vampires have 3 elders that rotate through leadership, and when not on rotation, are hibernating. Selene encounters a couple of difficulties - she falls in love with a human, the human is sought after by the Lycans, and her trusted mentor is not so trustworthy. A nice fantasy world is created that has some possibilities for story telling.

3 stars (out of 5)

The Doorman

 Ruby Rose is a decorated marine on leave after a traumatic experience on a protection detail. She gets a temp job as a doorman at a New York building only to find that her brother-in-law and niece/nephew live there, and they happen to live in the apartment that contains the secret target of a violent art thief. So she gets to protect her family and redeem her abilities at protection all in one go. Predictable in the genre.

2 stars (out of 5)

Ava

 Female assassin struggling with identity and purpose. Badass femme fatale a la Old Guard, Hanna, or Anna. She is good at her job, wants to get out, wants to stay in, wants a normal relationship with her family, and knows she can't have what she wants.

3 stars (out of 5)

Mulan

 Live action story of a young Chinese girl who has all the makings of a warrior. But women aren't warriors, and she is told to suppress her gift. Until she sneaks into the Imperial army and ends up saving the dynasty. I kinda appreciated the story, the pacing, the scenery, the chemistry between the characters. It didn't try to do too much. It just did enough.

4 stars (out of 5)

Kapp to Cape

A documentary following a couple of friends who ride their bikes from the northern tip of Norway to Cape Town. They are trying to do it in world record time (something like 100 days). Maybe what makes this enjoyable is the fact that they don't dwell on the trauma of riding so many miles. Instead, they are meeting people, enjoying scenery and encountering the difficulties of bike travel in general. The visuals were striking, particularly Ethiopia and Northern Iran, before either got into desert. Very different scenery than my mental stereotypes expected.

3 stars (out of 5)

Endeavor (serial)

Season 1-6

Based on the characters in BBC Inspector Morse, this follows Endeavor Morse during his first few years with the Oxford city police. He is to smart by half for his colleagues, but they all recognize his effectiveness at putting together cases. The plot pattern is to have 3 or 4 seemingly independent crimes or events happening that ultimately (over the course of 4 episodes) connect together, and only Morse sees the strings. What is particularly fun is the intro to each episode that shows several people/scenes that are clearly foreshadowing the storyline. 

4 stars (out of 5) 

Young Wallander (serial)

Based on the Swedish cop character made famous in the English version by Kenneth Branagh, this version is set in the current time, but follows Wallander in his rookie year as a cop. He lives in a bad part of town, and is drawn into a nationally important homicide. Still Swedish in its feel, but sometimes it feels put on (how can I be dark and brooding, etc.). Nice short season that wraps everything up, but not necessarily with a bow on. 

3 stars (out of 5)