THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDOCK

"Pitch Black" was a surprise hit in 2000, and deservedly so. It had a fine ensemble cast of second string actors doing a first rate job in what was essentially a sci-fi reworking of the classic western, "Stagecoach." Vin Diesel’s intergalactic criminal Riddick was modeled after John Wayne’s Ringo Kid, with the night creatures who attacked the stranded space travelers replacing the marauding Indians. The fans of the movie wanted more Riddick. After Diesel’s star turns in "The Fast and the Furious" and "xXx" they’ve finally gotten their wish with "The Chronicles of Riddick."

Anyone looking for Vin Diesel to sneer, wisecrack and kick ass won’t be disappointed by "The Chronicles of Riddick" but sci-fi purists may be put off. "Pitch Black"’s basic plot may not have been unique, but writer/director David Twohy enveloped it with a scientific logic that made it plausible. The same can’t be said of the sequel. It is more fantasy than sci-fi. Riddick has a speed, an agility, and physical prowess that was never hinted at in the first installment. The one constant is his survival instinct.

Riddick’s intergalactic bad guy reputation has increased and so has the price on his head. He escapes from grungy, intergalactic bounty hunters, volcanic jails, and a synthetic race of comatose, brain drained automatons ruled by the self proclaimed Lord Marshal. Riddick jumps from the frying pan into the fire, figuratively and literally time and again. He’s like Batman on steroids. This character enhancement is more of a gimmick than a logical component in what could have been a first class sci-fi flick.

"The Chronicles of Riddick" succeeds as a pure high adrenaline action movie. Vin Diesel looks the part. That’s all he had to do in "Pitch Black" but he was part of an ensemble. He was a man of mystery. There’s no mystery here. He does more with a look and the flex of a pec than he does with some of the inane dialogue he’s forced to say. His wisecracks are forced at best. The bad guys fare much better: Colm Feore ("Paycheck") is the all powerful fearful despotic Lord Marshal who has devised a way to destroy whole civilizations laying once populous planets to waste; Karl Urban is his right hand man who has aspirations of his own to rule; and Thandie Newton is Urban’s Lady Macbeth.

Amidst the action is a shape shifting spirit - Judi Dench - who foretells of a warrior who will bring peace to the planets. It’s no secret that Riddick is the One. There have been comparisons of the Lord Marshal’s necromongers to the Orcs of the Ring Trilogy but I found a closer resemblance to the plot of "Conan the Barbarian" from 1982. Conan is sold into slavery after witnessing the death of his parents and everyone in his village at the hand of Thulsa Doom. He is sworn to avenge them. Riddick wants to be left alone but the course of events puts him road to his destiny comparable to Conan. After the capture of his sparring soul mate - Kyra - played with Vin Diesel-like gusto by Alexa Davalos, a fight to the death with the Lord Marshall is inevitable. The final shot of Diesel as Riddick accepting his fate is almost identical to that of Arnold Schwarzeneger at the end of "Conan the Barbarian."

I would be a liar if I said I didn’t enjoy "The Chronicles of Riddick" although I couldn’t heartily recommend it. The action moved at lightning speed. The bleak visuals had the overall effect of bringing an adult comic book to life. David Twohy has a firm handle on how to achieve a ‘look.’ I just wish he had paid more attention to the things that made "Pitch Black" pitch perfect and follow suit with this long awaited sequel.

Copyright 2004

"Pitch Black" (2000) - The prequel to "The Chronicles of Riddick" worth seeing for it’s blend of sci-fi originality and tried and tru plot of people stranded at a remote outpost - this time on a planet in a galaxy far, far away. Remember! This was an ensemble and Vin Diesel already proved himself as an ensemble player in "Saving Private Ryan" (1998)

"The Arrival" (1996) - Charlie Sheen is an astronomer monitoring signals from outer space only to discover that aliens are already here. Lottsa’ fun!

"Waterworld" (1995) - Kevin Costner is a web footed guy with gills battling pirates on a futuristic Earth swallowed up by the oceans of the world. The good guys are in search of a mythical land mass. This got a bad rep because it went wildly over budget. But it did eventually recoup its $200,000,000 - barely - from its overseas distribution.

"Impostor" (2002) - Terrific story by Philp K.Dick marred by director Gary Felder’s ("Runaway Jury" - 2003) over-direction. The camera bounces around so much it’s enough to make any cinephile seasick. But the story! Gary Sinise is an engineer on the trail of a sleeper alien in human form who may turn out to be him. Is he or is he not who or what he thinks he is?

"G. I. Jane" (1997) - Ridley Scottt’s over-the-top look at Navy Seal Training through the eyes of the Seals first female candidate. The brass do all they can to drive her out, but this is a Demi Moore film as much as it is the directors so you know she’s gonna’ make it.

"Terminal Velocity" (1994) - Charlie Sheen is a skydiver who watches a student plunge to her death on her first jump, but the student is Nastassia Kinski, so you know she’s gonna show up later. But why the ruse? Charlie wants to know and so will you in this tongue in cheek, cloak and dagger comic/thriller.