Sort By: By Genre  |  By Rating  |  By Year

The Chronicles of Riddick

Starring: Vin Diesel
Director: David Twohy
Genre: Science Fiction
Year: 2004
Rating: 3 / 5

You either believe in Vin Diesel or you do not. When it comes to one of Hollywood’s latest action stars, film fans are pretty evenly divided. (Judging by more poor box office results of late, it appears that the divide might not be so equitable.) For reasons beyond comprehension, but owing in large part to the 2000 science fiction flick Pitch Black, I count myself among those who support Vin Diesel. In fairness, I have supported the likes of Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal for years, and, at the very least, Diesel belongs in this category. He is capable of truly inspired offerings, but he is also capable of releasing barely redeemable drivel. When Pitch Black surfaced as one of the truly impressive science fiction efforts of the last decade, I decided the give Diesel – and, by extension, The Chronicles of Riddick – the benefit of the doubt.

Taking place more than five years after Pitch Black, fugitive Riddick (Vin Diesel) is still on the run from scores of bounty hunters. It seems that one of the people attempting to bring him in is Imam (Keith David), a priest whose life he saved. Imam’s planet, Helion Prime, is in danger of being subjugated by the Necromongers, a race of half-human creatures intent on laying waste to the galaxy. Their leader, Lord Marshal (Colm Feore), intends to lead his people to the Underverse, a place few besides him have even seen. Standing in his way are the remaining planets in this solar system and others, not to mention a troublesome lad named Riddick.

With little or no history and lacking a family of his own, Riddick has never had a place in the world, always running into and out of trouble. As Chronicles of Riddick unfolds, we begin to learn that Riddick may in fact be the fulfillment of a thirty-year-old prophecy foretelling the end of the Necromonger reign. With a bit of help from Kyra (Alexa Davalos) – Jack from Pitch Black - Riddick skips across the universe, battling bounty hunters, prison guards, and the Necromongers themselves. It soon becomes apparent that Riddick will have to join the Necromongers, giving himself up to their way of life, or fight. Knowing Riddick as we do, there really is not much of a choice…

Vin Diesel may not have achieved the success of some of his action star forefathers, but his bank account would argue differently. Unfortunately, heaps of cash from a Hollywood machine desperate for a star have not helped Vin Diesel achieve the sort of success he found with Pitch Black. The grosses have multiplied since then, along with his salary and his films’ budgets, but the quality has suffered. This is not to say that The Chronicles of Riddick is not worthwhile, for it certainly is. The special effects are top-notch, and the various worlds and creatures involved with Riddick’s quest are sure to appeal to the average science fiction fan. Chronicles is bigger and flashier than the film which came before it, but, when following a cult favorite, that is not usually enough to appease fans, as this film certainly proves.

Cast:

Certification: Rated PG-13 for violence and language.
Running Time: 119 minutes.

Additional Info: Internet Movie Database
Comments: Send E-mail