The Chronicles of Riddick (2004)

The movie could be about anything and I would like it. It is Vin Diesel!!

It's hard for me to say that The Chronicles of Riddick is good. Especially taking into the stunning origin it has in Pitch Black. But it tries really hard. It tries to be good, it tries to be original, it tries to appeal to so many disparate groups, it tries to go in a completely new direction. This trying mostly translates to failure, and I guess I can see that, but Chronicles of Riddick still had such a massive impact on me, that I still have to recommend it.

"Threshold! Take us to the Threshold!"

Final rating:★★★ - I liked it. Would personally recommend you give it a go.

This is very much a vehicle for Vin Diesel to flex his muscles and engage in 2 hours of kick-ass adventure. The plot is pretty unimportant: "Riddick" arrives on a planet and is soon hired by Dame Judi Dench to go up against the brutal "Necromongers" - a sort of intergalactic cricket led by Colm Feore, who are hell bent on destroying humanity. After quite a long, slow, start it does not hang about; we have loads of decent special effects as he is double-crossed, imprisoned and ultimately joined with Karl Urban and Thandie Newton to take on the army of locust-like beasties. It's not the best of the "Riddick" films, but it has a good cast and a half-decent story to keep it off the rocks. Don't look for intellectual stimulation; just think - ice cream for the brain - and you will probably quite enjoy this. I did.

'The Chronicles of Riddick' follows up 'Pitch Black' in positive fashion. I think I prefer the story last time out, though this 2004 release is definitely an improvement in most other departments. The special effects have aged relatively better, while the acting is more sturdy.

Vin Diesel remains entertaining as the now titular character. Away from him, there are a fair number of other characters; almost, if not quite, too many. I wouldn't say any of the others onscreen left a noteworthy mark on my memory, though Colm Feore and Nick Chinlund do particularly well. Judi Dench appears too, interestingly.

Onwards to 2013's 'Riddick'. Good to see Vin Diesel starring in inconsistently titled sequels isn't just limited to 'Fast & Furious'... 😁