Kate Beckinsale has finally found a role she can really sink her teeth into -- that of a leather-clad, butt-kicking vampire warrior whose aristocratic blood-sucking race is under attack by the vicious lycans. Conducting herself with a no-nonsense combination of toughness and grace that would give a certain tomb raider a run for her money, Beckinsale delivers even if "Underworld" doesn't quite manage to follow through on its initial promise. While problematic pacing and bits of unintended silliness ultimately rob the British-German-Hungarian-U.S. co-production of its intriguing potential, it should still be regarded as fresh blood to the "Buffy" crowd, who'll likely generate enough boxoffice to ensure that Beckinsale returns to fight the good fight.

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