 Tagline: Pitch Black's darkest star is back. Tagline: All the power in the universe can't change destiny. The Unrated Director's Cut -- Includes 15 minutes of footage not shown in theaters! Vin Diesel (XXX, The Fast and the Furious) stars in this electrifying, special-effects-fuelled action spectacular! After years of outrunning ruthless bounty hunters, escaped convict Riddick suddenly finds himself caught between opposing forces in a fight for the future of the human race. Now, waging incredible battles on fantastic and deadly worlds, this lone, reluctant hero will emerge as humanity's champion - and the last hope for a universe on the edge of annihilation. Powered by groundbreaking visual effects and pulse-pounding, thrill-a-minute action! Storyline: Riddick, now a hunted man, finds himself in the middle of two opposing forces in a major crusade. Colm Feore plays Lord Marshal, a warrior priest who is the leader of a sect that is waging the tenth and perhaps final crusade 500 years in the future. Judi Dench is Aereon, an ambassador from the Elemental race. She is an ethereal being who helps Riddick unearth his origins. Written by Jade Maxim Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Martin Liebman on March 28, 2009 -- In normal times, evil would be fought by good, but in times like these . . . well, it should be fought by another kind of evil. --- Three cheers for another "only one man can save the universe" movie. OK, not really. The Chronicles of Riddick is a highly disappointing follow-up to 2000's Pitch Black, this sequel foregoing all that made the original a great Science Fiction film. It lacks the originality of the first for one, this film taking an interesting and complex character and transforming him into just another musclebound Action hero. While the transition makes sense logically based on Riddick's self-proclaimed transformation at the end of Pitch Black, The Chronicles of Riddick violates the independent feel and spirit of the first film by going down a road paved with lavish production values and practically incessant CGI, each frame boasting only dull characters, a bland plot, and tiresome action sequences. Bigger doesn't always mean better, and no truer words may be spoken when it comes to The Chronicles of Riddick. After escaping the unending night and deadly creatures of Pitch Black, Riddick (Vin Diesel, xXx), finds himself on the run from a new bounty hunter, Toombs (Nick Chinlund), and learns that the one man he entrusted with his whereabouts -- Imam al-Walid (Keith David, Delta Farce) -- has betrayed his location. Riddick heads to Helion Prime where he confronts the Imam, who in turn tells Riddick that the fate of the entire universe is at stake. A race of powerful beings known as Necromongers, who hope to conquer the universe and enter another dimensions known as the "Underverse," have next in their sites Helion Prime. Riddick soon learns from an Elemental named Aereon (Judi Dench, Quantum of Solace) that he is the embodiment of a prophesy that foretells of a Furyon saving the universe from the Necromongers. Riddck must choose between standing on the sidelines or defeating true evil in the universe before it's too late. In this film's defense, the Riddick character is carried over from the first one with few alterations to his psychological make-up. In Pitch Black, the character slowly transforms from hardened, viscous, and unrepentant killer ("escaped convict, murderer," being the exact words Riddick uses to describe himself) to a hero with a conscience, and in The Chronicles of Riddick, information slowly comes to light that paints him as a man now concerned for the welfare of others, particularly those he trusts, even to his own detriment. So, The Chronicles of Riddick gets its main character right, but it seems to get just about everything else wrong. The film feels like something of a cross between Star Wars and Dune when it comes to the backstory created for Riddick. Of course, he can no longer just be a bodybuilding criminal-turned-hero with a "surgical shine job." The story requires of him more than physical strength, cunning, and night vision to save the universe, so it is revealed that he is of a line of peoples that a prophesy foretells will put an end to the tyranny and devastation wrought by the evil Necromongers. Riddick instantly transforms from a mysterious, strong, cunning, and even cool character to just another hero that -- surprise, surprise -- will save the universe one sliced-up bad guy at a time. Despite the added layers, there is no depth to the character this go-round, and even his best lines are recycled from the first film ("cute kid" and "you're not afraid of the dark, are you?"), serving as a nice homage to those still paying attention whenever they crop up in Chronicles. The Chronicles of Riddick foregoes the utilitarian and desolate world of Pitch Black in favor of intricately constructed and detailed starships, cities, and enemy army uniforms. Because Pitch Black only focused on an insignificant sliver of the whole universe, it stands to reason that most anything presented in a sequel that vastly expands the scope of the timeframe could conceivably exist. The visuals in most every scene are impressive, offering a scope that is nothing short of immense and highly detailed. Director David Twohy has created entire worlds that revel in intricate detail, a true asset in selling a film such as this. That also may be the film's biggest downfall. Often, it just feels too lavish and lush. The sweeping vistas and massive starships seem too artsy, complex, and involved, and it seems like the film's visuals and production design were the driving force behind the film rather than a strong, original plot. Indeed, "complex" and "involved" describe the plot very well. It's too detailed and convoluted for what is ultimately a flashy Action/Sci-Fi picture, and there is no real sense of cohesion or flow. The film is sluggishly paced, and although it offers an abundance of action sequences, they all begin to mesh together, none of them playing as the least bit memorable. The Chronicles of Riddick is a classic example of style over substance, and while the film earns high marks for its visuals, a lackluster story, dull characters, and repetitive action sequences rank it far lower than its esteemed predecessor. The Chronicles of Riddick is a disappointing sequel to a great film. While it sees the return of several characters, none of them, even Riddick, are particularly compelling this time. Riddick has been turned into another run-of-the-mill hero and provided a backstory that is unoriginal at best and completely unfitting the character at worst. The film also offers tremendous attention to detail in its visual design, but often to the detriment of the story. Style dominates substance throughout, and while the stylization is noteworthy and interesting to behold, it overshadows every other aspect of the film. Universal's Blu-ray release of this lackluster film is exceptional. The disc features strong video and a reference-quality soundtrack, not to mention a plethora of bonus materials. Fans should not hesitate to pick this one up. See also: Pitch Black (2004) See also: Riddick (2013) Cast Notes: Vin Diesel (Riddick), Colm Feore (Lord Marshal), Thandie Newton (Dame Vaako), Judi Dench (Aereon), Karl Urban (Vaako), Alexa Davalos (Kyra), Linus Roache (Purifier), Yorick van Wageningen (The Guv), Nick Chinlund (Toombs), Keith David (Imam), Mark Gibbon (Irgun), Roger R. Cross (Toal), Terry Chen (Merc Pilot), Christina Cox (Eve Logan), Nigel Vonas (Merc). IMDb Rating (05/27/13): 6.6/10 from 120,731 users IMDb Rating (07/05/12): 6.5/10 from 89,499 users
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