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Movie: The Chronicles of Riddick
Director: David Twohy
Actors: Vin Diesel, Colm Feore, Thandie Newton, Judi Dench, Karl Urban, Alexa Davalos
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"I'll kill you with my teacup."
Vin Diesel and director David Twohy made a little science fiction-horror flick called Pitch Black. Their little breakthrough movie didn't do that well at the box office but was very successful on a cult-level. 4 years later, Diesel is going to wear the goggles again of anti-hero Richard B. Riddick with David Twohy back onboard as writer-director. Their intention; to make their own little epic sci-fi trilogy in the likes of Star Wars, but will they succeed...
The story in a nutshell:
Riddick is being chased by several bounty hunters but they're not able to catch him. The killer is getting curious and wants to know why he's being wanted. He finds the contractor of the hunters, a mysterious human-ghost called Aereon (Judi Dench). She's convinced that Riddick is the only one who can protect the human race against the dark forces of the Necromongers who systematically destroy galaxies.
The Chronicles of Riddick was set up as Twohy's Star Wars Episode IV, followed by two other Riddick films. The movie is indeed visually stunning, it delivers the mysterious planets, impressive sets, weird creatures and cool spacecrafts. There are plenty of big action sequences but they are also the movie's weakness. Pitch Black was a gritty R-Rated action-horror flick, centered on a ruthless killer who doesn't take any crap. His persona has been softened in the sequel, simply because of a rating change and a younger target audience. The action is mild and camouflaged by extremely irritating fast editing during the fight sequences.
The story is a bit too simple and hasn't been build up that well but that's maybe beacause Twohy wrote this film as the first chapter of a trilogy. Diesel's performance is fine and knows how to give the corny one-liners a little charme. Thandie Newton and Colm Feore as the leaders of the Necromongers are okay but their characters needed more depth, Judi Dench as Aeron is wonderful.
The Chronicles of Riddick doesn't have the magic of the Star Wars classics but it does deliver the epic battles and sci-fi elements. Hopefully this movie is just the beginning of a bigger Riddick universe.
Written by Reggy 25/08/04
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