Riddick – Review

This review comes at you from a fan who’s not only seen Pitch Black and the original Riddick, but also the animated short Dark Fury.

Vin Diesel has created a strong character in Riddick. A feared convict, and while no one seems to know his origins, they all seem to know of the sheer danger that’s always present around him. In Pitch Black, we got to see him lead a team out of an alien infested planet to some degree of success (although I don’t think he really cared who lived or died at the get-go), to fighting his way off a merc ship in Dark Fury, before finally fighting back against an unstoppable empire before becoming the figure-head, all the while the convict leaves a bloody trail of bodies in his wake.

The movies have been very different from one another. Pitch Black was more of a sci-fi horror film, where darkness is the backdrop and a group of survivors attempt to make it out alive; Riddick can see in the dark, so it makes sense that he’d be their best chance at survival. Dark Fury merely told a story that was too short to be its own movie, but too long to be properly incorporated into something bigger. However, the Chronicles of Riddick was much more of a pure science fiction adventure romp with Riddick being met with challenge after challenge as he slays the competition and seems to be control of every situation. The newest Riddick is something between two, although it bears a grant many similarities to Pitch Black very purposefully, but that’s not to say it’s the same story, only different characters.

Without giving too much away, Riddick is betrayed by the Necromongers, the force he dethroned and by extension claimed as his own. While Riddick is seemingly untouchable, anyone falling down a cliff is really going to take some damage and the first section of the movie shows Riddick operating more or less like a caveman as he builds himself back up in order to find a way off the planet. There’s a bigger focus on the planet’s native creatures, not unlike Pitch Black. However, Riddick finally finds a mercenary outpost which he activates by sending out a distress call with his face as bait. Of course, ships come calling, and Riddick only needs one to get off the planet. However, Diesel’s character can’t work at his leisure where the planet’s environment will soon change, something else directly like Pitch Black.

Something that Riddick has that Pitch Black didn’t is a much better cast. I enjoyed the people in the first movie, but it might be the star-laden cast of Starbuck from Battlestar Galactica and Batista that I remember back in the days when I watched WWE. Character lines are a bit better as well, and there’s a big distinction written in the lines that helps to separate mercs, who before now were all worthless money-grabbers willing to gut a girl and use her as bait. Pitch Black was the first installment in the series and didn’t have a lot of lore or backstory; Riddick has taken all that has been presented in the series and built upon it, including featuring a character that’s really interesting that’s related to a character in the past, but I won’t tell who.

Granted, with every movie, there are some less than stellar moments, such as nonsensical decisions by characters. Having the native American-like mercenary realize a new danger is coming, only to make some stupid comment and be killed in a humiliating way makes a viewer feel awkward. Starbuck, called Dahl in the movie (pronounced Doll) is used a bit more as a sex symbol, including a shot of her fully exposed breasts in the movie. It made me feel as though her character become just a little cheaper, and her ending in the movie doesn’t help the case either. Nonetheless, her ridiculous attitude towards other characters amused me more than it hurt. Other characters were almost one- or two-dimensional, which isn’t that bad when you realize most, if not all, are going to be killed.

The last, and potentially most important question is this: is this the best Riddick movie made thus far? It has the potential, particularly with the fun scenario as Pitch Black had and the lore and backstory The Chronicles of Riddick boasts. It’s tough to say, mainly because this movie doesn’t add too much story itself, allowing it to be summarized in about three easy sentences. However, with advancements in graphics, this movie is easily the most modern. It’s tough to say, and I’m not sure I can say one way or another.

There are numerous reasons to see this movie. If you liked Pitch Black, this movie features a lot of the same with many improvements. If you just like Riddick movies, you should see this as well.  Any kind of fan of science fiction and/or action should as well. Don’t go into this movie assuming some great philosophical enlightenment, and don’t expect this to be the most fantastic film you’ve ever seen. But, be prepared to have fun.