Review of Riddick (2013) by Noah N — 05 Sep 2014

'Riddick' (2014) is the third installment to David Twohy's mixed-reviewed franchise. 'Pitch Black' (2000) was the successful run-of-the-mill sci-fi survival that really helped launch Vin Diesel's career.

Four year later came 'The Chronicles of Riddick' (2004) which really tried too hard to morph the franchise into a space opera whereas it was initially made to be gritty. Now with this movie, 'Riddick' (2014), it's neither a step back nor a step up from its two predecessors.

In fact it's right in the middle. I'm glad Twohy set the franchise back to the initial 'Pitch Black' (2000) ambiance, but writing-wise, at least for the characters, it's just a tattered seesaw.

Vin Diesel remains fiercer than ever, but actors like Katee Sackhoff, Jordi Molla, and Nolan Gerard Funk are more than less reincarnations of 'Alien Resurrection' (1997) characters. Sure there's much spectacle as there are fun thrills and kills, but overall these aspects do not save this from being an unexceptional movie.