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| "You're not afraid of the dark are you?" |
Although it isn't easy tearing everything down to the very core, none can argue that it gets results. Sometimes taking things back to basics is the only way to get back to what really matters. Who you are, or where your'e from is irrelevant, life can be a dangerous thing; so re-honing that edge can be paramount to survival in almost any capacity.
For the Riddick franchise, getting that edge back is its most imperative goal. It's been almost ten years since the critical/box office flop The Chronicles of Riddick hit theaters, and it's fairly obvious from the start that the latest film in the series is a bold attempt at bringing the character of Richard B. Riddick back to his former glory.
While this is far from being my favorite movie of the year, I can say that Riddick is an enjoyable ride while it lasts. If you're a fan of the Riddick character, than you're more than likely going to love this film. If you have found yourself longing for the series to get back its darker thematic, then your wait is over. Riddick is a refreshing return to form.
The approach it takes to being like its previous cult hit installment (Pitch Black) gives this flick the familiar feel that long time fans have been wanting, and are sure to enjoy. Riddick successfully brings the franchise back on track to what it always felt like it was about; a dangerous man surviving in an even more dangerous world.
Five years after the events of The Chronicles of Riddick, Richard B. Riddick has grown weary with his role as Lord Marshall of the ravenous Necromonger forces. Dissent has been forming in the ranks due to Riddick's refusal to take the Lord Marshall's oath; a move that would swear Riddick into the Necromonger faith forever. Wanting nothing more in his life at this point than to find his long lost home planet of Furya, Riddick offers to peacefully sever ties with the Necromongers, and give his position as Lord Marshall to Commander Vakko. Vakko (Karl Urban) excepts the offer, but sends Riddick to a desolate planet where Riddick's escorts are ordered to kill him upon arrival. Riddick manages to survive the betrayal, but finds himself marooned on an unknown planet with highly dangerous indigenous lifeforms.
Contemplating his position, Riddick comes to the conclusion that the only reason Vakko managed to successfully betray him is because he has grown too soft over the years. He resolves that if he is to survive this ordeal, he must get back in touch with his animal side. In his search for transport off world Riddick finds an empty mercenary facility, and sends out an open channel distress signal. The signal attracts two separate groups of mercenaries, both looking to claim the bounty on Riddick. Knowing that the mercenaries' ships are the only way he is ever going to get off the planet to find Furya, Riddick prepares for what could be his most deadly encounter yet.
David Twohy (writer/director of both Pitch Black & The Chronicles of Riddick) reprises his role as director for this sequel. I think he does a fairly good job here, creating a film that manages to fall in line with the rest of the franchise. In spite of being the third installment in the series (and having a good deal of pertinent exposition, a diverse roster of characters, and numerous call backs to the previous films) Riddick comes off as a fairly simple and straightforward piece, much like last year's cult hit Dredd. Screenwriters Oliver Butcher and Stephen Cornwell (Unknown) craft an enjoyable script that manages to stay accessible for the more casual viewing crowd. The story presents itself with a rather interesting three act structure that makes the film feel tight, and always interesting. It's hard to describe without going into too many spoilers, but the structure makes every act feel like its own unique segment. Some see this as if Riddick is three different movies strung together, but I rather enjoy the build of the narrative.
Perhaps the best thing about Riddick though is that this movie also reinstates an R rating to the franchise. Riddick's trademark brutality, innuendo, and morality are all brought to the forefront of the story, and are even a subject of focus. As a fan of the character, I couldn't be more happy to see Riddick return to his classic ways. Riddick is a character that separates himself from the standard Hollywood fair by being a far more darker, abrasive, and outright lethal personality. There are some great meta lines in the script early on that help to set up this film's stance, like an old fighter who finds that much needed spark to get back in the ring and kick some ass once more.
This isn't to say that I don't enjoy The Chronicles of Riddick, but that (PG-13) film takes too much away from what makes the character of Riddick so appealing. Even though he is a very Conan-like character, Riddick works best when he is in a world more akin to that of the Alien franchise, than say Star Wars. The previous film's problem is that it tries to place Riddick's character in a more accessible space adventure story, when he is more so built for survival horror scenarios. Much like Dredd, Riddick opts to tell a simpler story that focuses on retaining the spirit of the franchise than it does at making a movie that casts a wider net.
Vin Diesel reprises his role as the titular Riddick, and impressively enough injects a few more bits of subtlety into the character for this time around. Diesel really sells up the character's code of conduct, while also making him very believable, and sometimes humorous. Even though there is a dingo-like companion brought in for Riddick to interact with, Diesel's performance never makes it seem like Riddick is so vulnerable as to outright sacrifice his default personality or skill set.
The supporting cast is competent enough. Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck from the recent Battlestar Galactica series) is brought in as the female lead Dahl, but she lacks in any real chemistry with Diesel. The script obviously implies that there is some degree of sexual tension between her character and Riddick, but it comes off as forced whenever they share screen time. Jordi Molla portrays a fun villain with the character Santana, and is perhaps one of the most entertaining characters in the movie next to Riddick himself. The notable role for me though goes to Matthew Nable as the leader of a rival mercenary gang to Santana. Nable's performance juxtaposes Diesel's so perfectly that I almost wish the story could be exclusively about his character and Riddick having to work together to survive. The other cast members play their roles well, but they lack in any real impact. When the time inevitably comes for them to start being picked off, you don't have much investment when they die.
Another area that Riddick excels in is its action. The monster fights are the stand out pieces due in part to their beautifully rendered designs, naturally flowing pace, and hard hitting ferocity. By the the time the second act starts (and the mercs come hunting for Riddick) the action takes a bit of a hit, but not by much. Riddick stalks his enemies as if he were a predator stalking prey, and kills them with such deadly precision that you're left with no questions about how dangerous someone like Riddick actually is. Add the fairly solid character analysis of the script into the mix, and you've got a flick that manages to create an endearing, yet still very threatening protagonist.
Cinematography is fairly solid throughout the experience. With competent framing, tracking, and lighting on the action scenes, nothing ever feels lost in the commotion. Sadly though, the special effects are a bit of a mixed bag. Creatures designs have a good degree of inspiration to them, with their rendering being topnotch. Several scenes depict the creatures having excellent interaction with the actors, making for a very convincing illusion that they're actually there. Backgrounds pop with a limited, yet very appealing color palette that feels appropriately alien and desolate. A large planetoid in the skyline adds a nice touch of sci-fi iconography to the mix, with several shots becoming instantly desktop wallpaper worthy.
Tech designs are a different story altogether. By the second act a set of hover bikes are brought in for the mercenaries to ride as they hunt Riddick. While the idea for them isn't bad, the special effects on these bikes are outright cheap. These effects are not even acceptable by early 2000's standards, let alone 2013. While I do understand that this movie doesn't have the highest budget, it's sad to see them do so well on bringing the creatures and backgrounds to life, only to have such lackluster work on the vehicles. In fact, there is a scene by the third act with the bikes that is so egregiously bad that I can't help but laugh at how poor it looks.
Riddick's score compliments the film well enough. Graeme Revell (music composer for Pitch Black & The Chronicles of Riddick) delivers a composition that serves most of the sequences well, matching a lot of the emotion on screen. Sadly I do feel that it isn't quite as memorable, as the previous film's scores. Thankfully it does hearken back to a lot of the more iconic sounds of Pitch Black, but this somewhat sacrifices this movie's sense of personal identity.
Overall, I can recommend Riddick if you're a fan of the series and character. It's a much needed return to form that can hopefully salvage the franchise. If you're a fan of sci-fi and are in the mood for a more simpler genre film, this will be right up your alley as well. However, I don't exactly see this winning over new fans as Riddick isn't exactly impressive enough to mark itself as a notable piece of fiction. In fact, some may see its similarities to Pitch Black as being far too strong, leaving this installment as nothing more than a case of the series now repeating itself. If anything else, Riddick is the perfect film for this time of year. A fun picture that's there to help bring you down after all the hustle and bustle of the summer blockbuster season.
While this is far from being my favorite movie of the year, I can say that Riddick is an enjoyable ride while it lasts. If you're a fan of the Riddick character, than you're more than likely going to love this film. If you have found yourself longing for the series to get back its darker thematic, then your wait is over. Riddick is a refreshing return to form.
The approach it takes to being like its previous cult hit installment (Pitch Black) gives this flick the familiar feel that long time fans have been wanting, and are sure to enjoy. Riddick successfully brings the franchise back on track to what it always felt like it was about; a dangerous man surviving in an even more dangerous world.
Five years after the events of The Chronicles of Riddick, Richard B. Riddick has grown weary with his role as Lord Marshall of the ravenous Necromonger forces. Dissent has been forming in the ranks due to Riddick's refusal to take the Lord Marshall's oath; a move that would swear Riddick into the Necromonger faith forever. Wanting nothing more in his life at this point than to find his long lost home planet of Furya, Riddick offers to peacefully sever ties with the Necromongers, and give his position as Lord Marshall to Commander Vakko. Vakko (Karl Urban) excepts the offer, but sends Riddick to a desolate planet where Riddick's escorts are ordered to kill him upon arrival. Riddick manages to survive the betrayal, but finds himself marooned on an unknown planet with highly dangerous indigenous lifeforms.
Contemplating his position, Riddick comes to the conclusion that the only reason Vakko managed to successfully betray him is because he has grown too soft over the years. He resolves that if he is to survive this ordeal, he must get back in touch with his animal side. In his search for transport off world Riddick finds an empty mercenary facility, and sends out an open channel distress signal. The signal attracts two separate groups of mercenaries, both looking to claim the bounty on Riddick. Knowing that the mercenaries' ships are the only way he is ever going to get off the planet to find Furya, Riddick prepares for what could be his most deadly encounter yet.
David Twohy (writer/director of both Pitch Black & The Chronicles of Riddick) reprises his role as director for this sequel. I think he does a fairly good job here, creating a film that manages to fall in line with the rest of the franchise. In spite of being the third installment in the series (and having a good deal of pertinent exposition, a diverse roster of characters, and numerous call backs to the previous films) Riddick comes off as a fairly simple and straightforward piece, much like last year's cult hit Dredd. Screenwriters Oliver Butcher and Stephen Cornwell (Unknown) craft an enjoyable script that manages to stay accessible for the more casual viewing crowd. The story presents itself with a rather interesting three act structure that makes the film feel tight, and always interesting. It's hard to describe without going into too many spoilers, but the structure makes every act feel like its own unique segment. Some see this as if Riddick is three different movies strung together, but I rather enjoy the build of the narrative.
Perhaps the best thing about Riddick though is that this movie also reinstates an R rating to the franchise. Riddick's trademark brutality, innuendo, and morality are all brought to the forefront of the story, and are even a subject of focus. As a fan of the character, I couldn't be more happy to see Riddick return to his classic ways. Riddick is a character that separates himself from the standard Hollywood fair by being a far more darker, abrasive, and outright lethal personality. There are some great meta lines in the script early on that help to set up this film's stance, like an old fighter who finds that much needed spark to get back in the ring and kick some ass once more.
This isn't to say that I don't enjoy The Chronicles of Riddick, but that (PG-13) film takes too much away from what makes the character of Riddick so appealing. Even though he is a very Conan-like character, Riddick works best when he is in a world more akin to that of the Alien franchise, than say Star Wars. The previous film's problem is that it tries to place Riddick's character in a more accessible space adventure story, when he is more so built for survival horror scenarios. Much like Dredd, Riddick opts to tell a simpler story that focuses on retaining the spirit of the franchise than it does at making a movie that casts a wider net.
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| Riddick, he rules the dark. |
The supporting cast is competent enough. Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck from the recent Battlestar Galactica series) is brought in as the female lead Dahl, but she lacks in any real chemistry with Diesel. The script obviously implies that there is some degree of sexual tension between her character and Riddick, but it comes off as forced whenever they share screen time. Jordi Molla portrays a fun villain with the character Santana, and is perhaps one of the most entertaining characters in the movie next to Riddick himself. The notable role for me though goes to Matthew Nable as the leader of a rival mercenary gang to Santana. Nable's performance juxtaposes Diesel's so perfectly that I almost wish the story could be exclusively about his character and Riddick having to work together to survive. The other cast members play their roles well, but they lack in any real impact. When the time inevitably comes for them to start being picked off, you don't have much investment when they die.
Another area that Riddick excels in is its action. The monster fights are the stand out pieces due in part to their beautifully rendered designs, naturally flowing pace, and hard hitting ferocity. By the the time the second act starts (and the mercs come hunting for Riddick) the action takes a bit of a hit, but not by much. Riddick stalks his enemies as if he were a predator stalking prey, and kills them with such deadly precision that you're left with no questions about how dangerous someone like Riddick actually is. Add the fairly solid character analysis of the script into the mix, and you've got a flick that manages to create an endearing, yet still very threatening protagonist.
Cinematography is fairly solid throughout the experience. With competent framing, tracking, and lighting on the action scenes, nothing ever feels lost in the commotion. Sadly though, the special effects are a bit of a mixed bag. Creatures designs have a good degree of inspiration to them, with their rendering being topnotch. Several scenes depict the creatures having excellent interaction with the actors, making for a very convincing illusion that they're actually there. Backgrounds pop with a limited, yet very appealing color palette that feels appropriately alien and desolate. A large planetoid in the skyline adds a nice touch of sci-fi iconography to the mix, with several shots becoming instantly desktop wallpaper worthy.
Tech designs are a different story altogether. By the second act a set of hover bikes are brought in for the mercenaries to ride as they hunt Riddick. While the idea for them isn't bad, the special effects on these bikes are outright cheap. These effects are not even acceptable by early 2000's standards, let alone 2013. While I do understand that this movie doesn't have the highest budget, it's sad to see them do so well on bringing the creatures and backgrounds to life, only to have such lackluster work on the vehicles. In fact, there is a scene by the third act with the bikes that is so egregiously bad that I can't help but laugh at how poor it looks.
Riddick's score compliments the film well enough. Graeme Revell (music composer for Pitch Black & The Chronicles of Riddick) delivers a composition that serves most of the sequences well, matching a lot of the emotion on screen. Sadly I do feel that it isn't quite as memorable, as the previous film's scores. Thankfully it does hearken back to a lot of the more iconic sounds of Pitch Black, but this somewhat sacrifices this movie's sense of personal identity.
Overall, I can recommend Riddick if you're a fan of the series and character. It's a much needed return to form that can hopefully salvage the franchise. If you're a fan of sci-fi and are in the mood for a more simpler genre film, this will be right up your alley as well. However, I don't exactly see this winning over new fans as Riddick isn't exactly impressive enough to mark itself as a notable piece of fiction. In fact, some may see its similarities to Pitch Black as being far too strong, leaving this installment as nothing more than a case of the series now repeating itself. If anything else, Riddick is the perfect film for this time of year. A fun picture that's there to help bring you down after all the hustle and bustle of the summer blockbuster season.
Positive Factors
- A return to form for the franchise and character. R rating brings the old Riddick back with a vengeance.
- Script presents a unique three act structure that feels fresh and interesting.
- Vin Diesel reprises his role as Riddick, adding even more to like about the character.
- Supporting actor Matthew Nable's performance really adds to the film's feel.
- Solid cinematography. Ferocious creature battles are worth the price of admission.
- Creature and background effects look great. Plenty of iconic shots worthy of any sci-fi franchise.
Negative Factors
- Supporting cast is nothing more than competent. Katee Sackhoff's chemistry with Diesel is practically non-existent.
- Questionable special effects on vehicles. The hover bikes are a laughable effect at best.
- The score is too similar to Pitch Black's to really stand out with its own identity.
- Overall similarities to Pitch Black can make the series feel like it's repeating itself now.
- Probably won't bring in any new fans to the franchise.
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