Year of Release: 2004
Director: David Twohy
Starring: Vin Diesel, Karl Urban, Thandie Newton, Colm Feore, Judi Dench, Keith David, Alexa Davalos, Linus Roache, Yorick van Wageningen, Nick Chinlund, Mark Gibbon, Roger Cross, Terry Chen, Christina Cox, Nigel Vonas
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5
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Synopsis and Review:
"Pitch Black" fared well enough and gained a cult following which allowed for the creative partnership of actor/producer Vin Diesel and writer/director David Twohy, to extend that partnership to this second chapter of the adventures of the Riddick character. The film once again finds Riddick being targeted by a group of bounty hunters, intent on capturing him for the bounty on his head. Riddick manages to escape them, and goes back to the planet Helion Prime, in the hopes of uncovering who placed the bounty on him. While there he reunites with Imam, the religious leader he saved from "Pitch Black", and discovers he is part of a possibly extinct race of warriors, under the designation Furians. He also realizes that the planet is under the threat of Necromongers, a race who goes from planet to planet, religious fanatics who seek to convert everyone and kill those who refuse, who have in the past destroyed planets and civilizations in the process. As Imam gets killed, following the invasion, Riddick finds himself once again being taken to a prison, this time around with the Necromongers on his tail. At this "impossible to escape" prison, he also uncovers Jack (from "Pitch Black"), now under the guise of Kyra is there, and they soon hatch an escape plan. The Necromongers however have plans of their own, and it's up to Riddick and his allies to challenge their unstoppable domain.
"The Chronicles of Riddick" benefited from having a much heftier budget and ambitions than the first film in the series. If "Pitch Black" was an "Alien" inspired, taut and somewhat effective B-movie, this second chapter goes in the direction of building a much larger canvas, mythology and in the process, an epic space saga, with influences of Frank Herbert's "Dune". If the script never quite manages to reach the heights of the ambition of the creative team, there's still some elements to enjoy and admire on this unbalanced film. Visually the film benefits from the added budget, with far more sophisticated visual effects, costume design, production design and cinematography from the late Hugh Johnson. The cast is also more diverse, even if they don't get much to do. The wonderful Judi Dench, Thandie Newton, are always wonderful to watch, but sadly have little to do. Karl Urban, Linus Roache and Colm Feore, likewise solid actors, while adding color, can't overcome the fact that they don't have much to do. For all the sub-plots that the script sets in motion, the film needed more time with these characters to truly expand on their motivations, backdrops, as opposed to simply being there to support Riddick's narrative. Vin Diesel once again keeps Riddick as the anti-hero with the granite facade but with a hidden heart. Even if his range is limited, he still manages to keep the character somewhat consistent from the first film. It's a flawed film, one that could have benefitted from a slightly revised script, and possibly a director with a different point of view, but there's something to admire for its lofty ambitions.
"The Chronicles of Riddick" benefited from having a much heftier budget and ambitions than the first film in the series. If "Pitch Black" was an "Alien" inspired, taut and somewhat effective B-movie, this second chapter goes in the direction of building a much larger canvas, mythology and in the process, an epic space saga, with influences of Frank Herbert's "Dune". If the script never quite manages to reach the heights of the ambition of the creative team, there's still some elements to enjoy and admire on this unbalanced film. Visually the film benefits from the added budget, with far more sophisticated visual effects, costume design, production design and cinematography from the late Hugh Johnson. The cast is also more diverse, even if they don't get much to do. The wonderful Judi Dench, Thandie Newton, are always wonderful to watch, but sadly have little to do. Karl Urban, Linus Roache and Colm Feore, likewise solid actors, while adding color, can't overcome the fact that they don't have much to do. For all the sub-plots that the script sets in motion, the film needed more time with these characters to truly expand on their motivations, backdrops, as opposed to simply being there to support Riddick's narrative. Vin Diesel once again keeps Riddick as the anti-hero with the granite facade but with a hidden heart. Even if his range is limited, he still manages to keep the character somewhat consistent from the first film. It's a flawed film, one that could have benefitted from a slightly revised script, and possibly a director with a different point of view, but there's something to admire for its lofty ambitions.
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