The Chronicles of Riddick [DVD] [2004]

The story includes Dune-like intricacies (prophecy, conflicting character motives, foreshadow, plots within plots, weakness, multiple heroes, patience, questionable morality, rituals, inner challenges, sacrifice, etc.) but without the extended, drawn-out politics to slow the story. It is fast paced and entertaining along with the important issues and messages. The art in this film is breathtaking including the rocky fins and caves of the ice planet, the Necromonger ship; the sparkling seas, sands, and architecture of Helion Prime; and the brutal beauty of the jagged, glassy, and blistering Crematoria. The DVD version really showcases the artistic elements of this movie.

The film has a Conan flavor with the non-traditional and non-innocent hero doing the right thing instead of the easy thing, and getting involved though he doesn't have to. The superhero (and regular hero) qualities of the Riddick character are also a nice addition to the story: speed, protection of the weak, strength, ease of killing, frequent flying through the air during attacks/escapes, quick thinking, resistance to Necromonger mental intrusion, enhanced eyes for night vision (Achilles heel being light sensitivity), precision, gracefulness despite bulk, piloting skills, use of varied weaponry, respect for life, risk taking, etc. The combination of weaponry is also interesting - unique craftsmanship blades mixed with Sci-Fi technology weapons. However, the violence in this film is very tasteful, similar to the Zatoichi movies, where our hero is able to kill without a lot of blood and gore. There is also a similarity to Kurosawa stories as well, specifically Yojimbo and Sanjuro regarding the flawed hero and the motives of the characters.

The acting is first-rate. All of the actors did a fine job, but Vin Diesel's performance is truly exceptional. I had no idea he was so incredibly talented. (I always thought he was mainly an "eye candy" actor. Not so.) He is amazingly expressive throughout the movie without the use of his eyes at all. (They are surgically enhanced with no pupils and covered with goggles part of the time.) And his voice, diction, and inflection are obviously a product of natural talent, serious training, and careful attention to his craft. I now have a new appreciation for the quality of his work.

I would rank this film right up there with some of the greatest Sci-Fi movies of all time including Metropolis, Blade Runner, and Forbidden Planet; and the story itself merits comparison to classic Sci-Fi books such as the Robot novels, Dune, The Chronicles of Amber, and the Foundation series. I recommend people watch this film and judge its merits for themselves. I don't think the critics of this movie watched it very carefully.

J.H. Sweet, author of The Fairy Chronicles

The Necromongers were a fresh idea, although the Lord Marshall could have been better cast as Colm Fiore was just not intimidating enough. Karl Urban as Lord Vaako did a much better job of playing someone who will do anything, no matter how evil, to get themselves were they want to be. Vaako and his wife (Thandie Newton) scheme throughout the movie to try and get Vaako as the new Lord Marshall. Watching them throughout is very entertaining.

I've heard people having a go at the prison Crematoria sequence and most notably the armour plated dogs. People think there is no reason for them to be in the prison, well this is just short sightedness by an audience more eager to pick out mistakes than enjoy themselves, a traight more and more people seem to be undertaking. Crematoria is a triple max prison, meaning only the most hardened criminals in the universe get sent there. There are about 8 guards in the prison and they seem like normal guys. How else would these people get the some of the most dangerous people in the universe back into their cells? Hello armour plated dogs!

Now, Riddick is by no means a brilliant film, and only the most eager of fans would genuinely give it five stars and mean it. But it is certainly not the disaster that some people and a lot of critics are calling it. It is an entertaining start to what will hopefully become a great trilogy. Any loose ends should be tied up in the next two movies, so maybe people need to have another look at The Chronicles Of Riddick. If you dont like the theatrical cut, then i recommend checking out the Directors Cut, which is undeniably a better movie. And who would deny that that ending was superb.

The wider plot is the standard 'bad guys taking over worlds for their own evil ends' scenario but what this film is really about (imho) is the relationship between Riddick and Jack. It is a shame that they didn't stick to that rather than diluting it with so much of the Necromonger storyline.

After escaping the monster infested planet in Pitch Black, Riddick left young Jack in the care of Imam on New Mecca and heads off with mercs on his tail as ever. Now, years later, he is forced to return to them only to find that Jack resented his leaving so much that she went looking for him, did some unsavoury things and ended up in the Slam. She is calling herself Kyra now.

At the end of Pitch Black we knew that Riddick was struggling to find the last piece of humanity he had and that he was protective of the young Jack/Kyra but now we see that relationship has taken on a brother/sister feel. Riddick is still a killer but the circumstances of this film make him seem less of an amoral monster than he was. Not everyone will welcome the change but I always liked the Riddick/Jack dynamic and was interested to know how it would play out.

Vin Diesel is back as Riddick and Keith David reprises his role as Imam but we have a new actress as Jack/Kyra which is a pity. The acting is good enough to sell the story and the direction makes good use of the lavish sets.

So, points for the look, the Jack/Riddick stuff and the surprising ending. Points off for the Necromonger storyline. I enjoyed it overall and it didn't deserve the panning it got in the press. Give it a chance and you might be surprised.