The Chronicles of Riddick

This is an overblown sequel to a slick little horror/sci-fi film Pitch Black. Pitch Black was low budget and very effective; it established a simple and elegant premise, played faithfully by its own rules, and treated the audience to a fun time. In every conceivable way, The Chronicles of Riddick is the opposite of its predecessor.

Riddick is an overblown, illogical mess. The production design is muddy and derivative; it's like Ozzy Ozborne's house: everything is very expensive, but you can't buy good taste. The "story" lurches from one silly and illogical scene to the next, looking for excuses to kill things. The action is shot and edited in accordance with a principle seemingly wide-spread in Hollywood these days: confusing=exciting.

Vin Diesel has become a dull parody of himself, and he's one of the least intimidating "tough guys" in history. (Note to Vin's trainer: you really need to work on bulking up the delts. Can't Hollywood stars get good steroids anymore?) His gravel-voiced delivery is just embarrassing. Fortunately he doesn't speak much here.

This film is very impressed with its own pomposity. It weaves an elaborate "mythology," and the ending essentially announces that a sequel is on the way. As if sequels didn't have a bad enough reputation already.

The Chronicles of Riddick (2004)
GRADE: D