Review of The Chronicles of Riddick (2004) by Sergi E — 08 Jun 2013

An overcrowded, overproduced mess. Pitch Black is no classic, but it has a nice horror movie/and-then-there-were-none/linear/character-based simplicity to it (plus some bad ass action). And the best bits in the pretentiously-titled "The Chronicles of Riddick" are (predictably more bad ass action) and when the titular anti-hero is contrasted again against diverse, fleshed out characters.

Unfortunately, in Twohy-Diesel's misguided attempt to create a space operatic "mythology" there's too many aloof, pompous regal-spiritual characters. Thanks to Diesel's sizeable ego, Riddick himself becomes even more superhuman than before, and while some of the action sequences are fun, they take place in a messy, repetitive story with characters we are given little reason to care about.

Diesel brings the goods physically, of course, and despite him delivering dialogue like he's got a mouth full of marbles, he does have at least one good one-liner ("It's an animal thing").

But trying to hang an entire franchise on this breathing lump of testosterone alone...geez, well I guess it's working with the Fast/Furious franchise by combining him with a BIGGER lump of testosterone.

But I hope the Riddick installment due later this year is more refined than this "Chronicles". It's ok, I guess, but just far too much portentous "mythology" at the expense of character.

And, for my taste anyway, too much Riddick...