Underworld: Awakening

This fourth entry of the Underworld franchise delivers on what it promises: gothic action-porn with vampire warrior Kate Beckinsale twirling about in pleather, kicking ass among the explosions. This time around, the war between vampires and werewolves is interrupted when humans finally take notice of the conflict and do what humans do best when confronted with what scares them: kill ’em all. There’s no plot, of course. But the movie fills in the blanks with stoner-friendly mayhem, an emphasis on hyperkinetic visuals and pounding soundtrack. Unfortunately, the action bogs down in the second act as the characters pause to vogue and deliver leaden exposition to bring the audience up to speed on the back, front and side stories. Personally, I prefer my monsters to just moan and eat people, not stand around waxing existential. But then, this franchise wasn’t meant for my tastes. (Well, aside for the Beckinsale in pleather part.) Fortunately, the yapping is kept to a minimum as the flick shifts back into gear and resumes delivering with the fireworks to the end. Cinemark 14, Feather River Cinemas and Paradise Cinema 7. Rated R