Riddick Reviews
Drake T
Super Reviewer
September 21, 2013
There are several great original scenes though, like removing the lock from the safe? Hilariously suspenseful. It's unfortunate to see the last few moments stumble into such an anticlimactic end.
The premise is reminiscent of the first in the franchise, except the cast of whiny innocents are replaced by a bunch of colorful mercs. In fact, I'd go as far to say it's a more humorous, smarter but less dramatic and cohesive Pitch Black.
There are several great original scenes though, like removing the lock from the safe? Hilariously suspenseful. It's unfortunate to see the last few moments stumble into such an anticlimactic end.
MANUGINO
Super Reviewer
September 14, 2013
Great Movie! Riddick is a movie about Riddick and not really much more.This movie explores a deeper side we have not seen but not all is given away.Riddick knows to keep something back and even under duress. I loved the back story and how he ends up where he is and how he uses people and objects to get where he wants to be. Over all the ending was immaculate just like pitch blacks ending and hopefully leaves it open for another part in the future. As a long time fan of pitch black and Vin diesel this movie was worth every penny and the fact he risked his house on this movie was a great move as it was worth the risk.
Betrayed by his own kind and left for dead on a desolate planet, Riddick fights for survival against alien predators and becomes more powerful and dangerous than ever before. Soon bounty hunters from throughout the galaxy descend on Riddick only to find themselves pawns in his greater scheme for revenge. With his enemies right where he wants them, Riddick unleashes a vicious attack of vengeance before returning to his home planet of Furya to save it from destruction.
Survival Is His Revenge.
Great Movie! Riddick is a movie about Riddick and not really much more.This movie explores a deeper side we have not seen but not all is given away.Riddick knows to keep something back and even under duress. I loved the back story and how he ends up where he is and how he uses people and objects to get where he wants to be. Over all the ending was immaculate just like pitch blacks ending and hopefully leaves it open for another part in the future. As a long time fan of pitch black and Vin diesel this movie was worth every penny and the fact he risked his house on this movie was a great move as it was worth the risk.
Betrayed by his own kind and left for dead on a desolate planet, Riddick fights for survival against alien predators and becomes more powerful and dangerous than ever before. Soon bounty hunters from throughout the galaxy descend on Riddick only to find themselves pawns in his greater scheme for revenge. With his enemies right where he wants them, Riddick unleashes a vicious attack of vengeance before returning to his home planet of Furya to save it from destruction.
Liam G
Super Reviewer
September 15, 2013
Its campy tone make it slightly charming, but ''Riddick'' is too long and the fun action scenes are few and far between.
E.J. B
Super Reviewer
September 12, 2013
Vin Diesel's passion project is a trip back to the days of Pitch Black, where we find our lovable yet brutal anti-hero stranded on a remote planet with monsters and bounty hunters to battle. It's a very enjoyable piece of entertainment, featuring all the gore and bad one-liners that made the original film work. Director David Twohy tries to maintain some resemblance to The Chronicles of Riddick by creating a CGI-heavy world that looks like it took a much higher budget to create than it actually did. Fans of the previous two films should not be disappointed but they shouldn't expect a masterpiece either. There is little atmosphere, the CGI is iffy at times, and the film leaves you wanting more. All in all however, Riddick works as a simple yet engaging sci-fi action flick as well as a love letter from Diesel to his fans who have wanted this franchise to continue.
Universal D
Super Reviewer
September 8, 2013
The first in this series succeeded by putting its characters in danger from unexpected otherworldly monsters and Twohy, the writer/director (who curiously left that formula in the follow-up) gladly returns to form here, no more, no less = Pitch Black ll, the Return of Riddick, the second film merely a plotline jumping off point and thankfully forgotten. That means no surprises - although insofar as action/adventure dramas go, this one's okay, not bad, throwing all the usual cliches pretty much just as you'd expect them, but its done decently so there's no complaint. Katee Sackoff (who's she? I dunno, but ... ) (in what's typically Michelle Rodriguez' role) brings the real heat in every scene she's in.
skactopus
Super Reviewer
July 3, 2013
David Twohy returns to the dark in Riddick.Seemingly broken up into three parts, the nearly 2 hour run time is excessive, thanks to a lengthy first act, which does however do a good job at setting up and clarifying the rest of the film. As for the plot details, they are light and that is all that is needed to follow this story. Tie-ins to the previous 2 films exist, but they are not required viewing to watch this one.There is a solid dose of CG effects and for the most part, they deliver. The violence is also up to par with a film of this caliber.As he should, Vin Diesel reprises the Riddick role. Katee Sackhoff was born to play the character she was given. Jordi Molla and Matt Nable provide some amusing minutes as well.Riddick is a picture built on bad-ass characters and that's what this film delivers.
KJ P
Super Reviewer
September 5, 2013
While better than all of the films preceding it, "Riddick" helms one of the worst scripts of 2013, but oddly, it's so bad that I loved it. It has a better story, better characters, and the character that Vin Diesel portrays is better than ever. The visual effects are not as bad as they used to be, but these effects would only be considered good back in 2007. I may be making an overstatement when I call this film a blast, but in my eyes it is, because the previous films tried too hard to be serious, while the jokes really do throw you out of the films. This film, there are always jokes and the bad dialogue unintentionally keeps that streak going. It is definitely the worst dialogue of the year, unintentionally, but one of the most entertaining so far in this early fall season. It won't gain many new viewers if you have not been a fan of the past films, but as an entertainment piece, it soars with cheese! "Riddick" is a lot of fun to watch, but down to the bone, it's laughable, which is why I liked it so much.
StonedMagician99
Super Reviewer
September 15, 2013
This time around, Riddick has been abandoned on an unnamed planet that is teeming with dangerous creatures that sleep by day and hunt by night. In a bid to get offworld, he activates a distress beacon, hoping to steal one of the investigating ships. Of course, bounty hunters arrive first, and what ensues is a claustrophobic mash-up of Mexican standoffs, hard stares, and bloody carnage. Like Pitch Black, the story here is minimal, action maximum. If this appeals to you, check it out. If not, simply don't bother.
Almost a decade has passed since Vin Diesel last inhabited his starmaking role, the insanely tough, incredibly dangerous ex-con Richard B. Riddick. 2000's Pitch Black kicked off the series (and its lead's career) with an entertaining, if derivative, sci-fi horror flick. 2004's The Chronicles of Riddick, while visually striking, was neutered with its PG-13 rating and bafflingly incoherent storyline. This third entry gets back to basics, and in some ways feels almost like a reboot of Pitch Black, and one that comes with all the pros and cons that distinction implies.
This time around, Riddick has been abandoned on an unnamed planet that is teeming with dangerous creatures that sleep by day and hunt by night. In a bid to get offworld, he activates a distress beacon, hoping to steal one of the investigating ships. Of course, bounty hunters arrive first, and what ensues is a claustrophobic mash-up of Mexican standoffs, hard stares, and bloody carnage. Like Pitch Black, the story here is minimal, action maximum. If this appeals to you, check it out. If not, simply don't bother.
Shawn M
Super Reviewer
December 29, 2012
its almost a scene by scene recycled version of pitch black, same plot, same situations, same ending, i was pissed, cus i love pitch black and chronicles of riddick, but this, eh, still dope as effects and entertaining, i was just hoping for something new.
Jeff B.
Super Reviewer
September 29, 2013
In this R-rated sci-fi thriller, wanted criminal Riddick (Diesel) finds himself left for dead on a sun-scorched planet filled with an alien race of predators so he activates an emergency beacon that brings murderous mercenaries and a vengeful man from his past.
Vin Diesel can do this sort of popcorn fluff in his sleep. In fact, some might argue that's this is exactly what he's doing, dropping aliens and bounty hunters with barely a blink of his heavily-lidded night vision eyes. Writer/director David Twohy, however, keeps the audience invested through some knockaround set pieces and vervy visuals. Smartly dusting off the cockamamie last chapter in the first few minutes, he goes lean and mean...sometimes too lean, mind you, but occasionally fun.
Bottom line: Star Crap Into Darkness.
Riddick-ed with stylish tics and a brainless story, these continuing Chronicles of - well, you know - puts forth a violent tale that's not without its charms. Following in the leaden footsteps of the gritty adults-only sci-fi actioner Pitch Black and the overblown teen-friendly space opera The Chronicles of Riddick, just-plain-Riddick (in more ways than one) falls somewhere in-between when it comes to quality and spectacle. It plays out more like Predator in reverse, with a notorious hunter becoming the hunted...only this otherworldly badass is the protagonist. Thanks to a muscular performance from a muscular performer, most of the heavy-lifting comes down to character-not screenwriting. This isn't anything movigeoers haven't seen before, but - especially for fans of the series - the action proves engaging enough to keep the ongoing adventures of Richard B. Riddick from becoming completely forgettable.
In this R-rated sci-fi thriller, wanted criminal Riddick (Diesel) finds himself left for dead on a sun-scorched planet filled with an alien race of predators so he activates an emergency beacon that brings murderous mercenaries and a vengeful man from his past.
Vin Diesel can do this sort of popcorn fluff in his sleep. In fact, some might argue that's this is exactly what he's doing, dropping aliens and bounty hunters with barely a blink of his heavily-lidded night vision eyes. Writer/director David Twohy, however, keeps the audience invested through some knockaround set pieces and vervy visuals. Smartly dusting off the cockamamie last chapter in the first few minutes, he goes lean and mean...sometimes too lean, mind you, but occasionally fun.
Bottom line: Star Crap Into Darkness.
SC007
Super Reviewer
September 15, 2013
The performances were ok, nothing special. Vin is the same. He reminded me of Arnold in some scenes. Katee Sackhoff is great in her role. Dave Bautista also does a good job in the film. He has a great fight scene with Vin.
Jordi Molla was too over the top in his performance.
In my opinion, Pitch Black was the best in the trilogy. Only time will tell, if we see other Riddick films.
The film felt like a remake of Pitch Black. The first hour was too slow. It reminded me a little of I Am Legend or Cast Away. The CGI creatures looked too fake. They should have used puppets to make the creatures feel more real. I did like the flashbacks that shows what happened after the Chronicles of Riddick ended. It was great seeing Karl Urban in the film. Only problem was that he was in the film for one scene.
The performances were ok, nothing special. Vin is the same. He reminded me of Arnold in some scenes. Katee Sackhoff is great in her role. Dave Bautista also does a good job in the film. He has a great fight scene with Vin.
Jordi Molla was too over the top in his performance.
In my opinion, Pitch Black was the best in the trilogy. Only time will tell, if we see other Riddick films.
Joey S
Super Reviewer
September 12, 2013
Richard Riddick is a former soldier and convicted murderer who, after traversing several planets while using his predatory instincts to survive, is left stranded on a desolate desert planet. After two ships full of mercenaries arrive to claim a bounty on Riddick, he hatches a plan to kill the mercenaries and steal one of their ships to escape the planet. However, this plan is soon made more challenging by the vicious creatures that inhabit the planet.
Vin Diesel's performance as Riddick is fairly bland, which can be attributed to his character being underdeveloped. Riddick is silent for much of the movie, and he demonstrates minimal depth even when he speaks. This lack of personality is a problem for many of the characters, causing the movie to feel less engaging.
The weakest aspect of the movie is the poorly written, unnatural dialogue. Whether or not the makers of Riddick intended it to be taken seriously is up for debate, but the script is almost comically cheesy, made up entirely of throwaway dialogue and Riddick's occasional one-liners.
Dull characters and Vin Diesel aside, the acting is just as weak as the script. The most noticeable case of bad acting is with former Battlestar Galactica actress Katee Sackhoff playing the rugged female mercenary Dahl, who forcefully delivers her lines with a distinct lack of subtlety. To be fair though, with a script as weak as Riddick's it's understandable for the actors to have trouble making their characters believable.
Despite the embarrassingly bad script and acting, Riddick has occasional moments of absurd fun. The movie is at its best when it embraces its cheesiness and aims to be as over-the-top as possible. One scene in particular stands out as a highlight of the movie, involving Vin Diesel violently killing a mercenary while chained up in a ship. As the ill-fated mercenary angrily charges at Riddick with a blade, Riddick disarms and decapitates him using only his feet, much to the shock of other mercenaries. Preposterous but darkly funny scenes like this are a welcome break from the otherwise self-serious tone of the movie.
Even with these more fun and self-aware scenes, Riddick is only sporadically successful. It's not always entertaining, and the script borders on becoming a parody of itself. Vin Diesel began his career playing Richard Riddick, but Riddick's mediocrity suggests that it's time for Diesel to move onto new roles.
Despite having a large special effects budget and a high-profile lead actor, Riddick is an unexceptional science fiction movie that's too cheesy and uneven to be enjoyable. Although it has moments of inspiration, Riddick makes it clear that the premise of a lone man fighting for survival in space has lost much of its novelty over the years.
Richard Riddick is a former soldier and convicted murderer who, after traversing several planets while using his predatory instincts to survive, is left stranded on a desolate desert planet. After two ships full of mercenaries arrive to claim a bounty on Riddick, he hatches a plan to kill the mercenaries and steal one of their ships to escape the planet. However, this plan is soon made more challenging by the vicious creatures that inhabit the planet.
Vin Diesel's performance as Riddick is fairly bland, which can be attributed to his character being underdeveloped. Riddick is silent for much of the movie, and he demonstrates minimal depth even when he speaks. This lack of personality is a problem for many of the characters, causing the movie to feel less engaging.
The weakest aspect of the movie is the poorly written, unnatural dialogue. Whether or not the makers of Riddick intended it to be taken seriously is up for debate, but the script is almost comically cheesy, made up entirely of throwaway dialogue and Riddick's occasional one-liners.
Dull characters and Vin Diesel aside, the acting is just as weak as the script. The most noticeable case of bad acting is with former Battlestar Galactica actress Katee Sackhoff playing the rugged female mercenary Dahl, who forcefully delivers her lines with a distinct lack of subtlety. To be fair though, with a script as weak as Riddick's it's understandable for the actors to have trouble making their characters believable.
Despite the embarrassingly bad script and acting, Riddick has occasional moments of absurd fun. The movie is at its best when it embraces its cheesiness and aims to be as over-the-top as possible. One scene in particular stands out as a highlight of the movie, involving Vin Diesel violently killing a mercenary while chained up in a ship. As the ill-fated mercenary angrily charges at Riddick with a blade, Riddick disarms and decapitates him using only his feet, much to the shock of other mercenaries. Preposterous but darkly funny scenes like this are a welcome break from the otherwise self-serious tone of the movie.
Even with these more fun and self-aware scenes, Riddick is only sporadically successful. It's not always entertaining, and the script borders on becoming a parody of itself. Vin Diesel began his career playing Richard Riddick, but Riddick's mediocrity suggests that it's time for Diesel to move onto new roles.
Joshua S
Super Reviewer
September 9, 2013
And I enjoyed Riddick quite a bit. If you couldn't figure it out from the trailers, this installment is much closer in tone to Pitch Black in that it's a stripped-down hard R sci-fi horror flick rather than a loud, over-budgeted space opera. In fact it's one of the best shot and produced B movies I have ever seen. The first act is quite impressive, containing almost no dialogue as we are observing Riddick trying to survive on a hostile, alien world and struggling with an environment that is teeming with life bent on his destruction. And when the action picks up later on, it's largely entertaining. Vin Diesel is always at his best when he has minimal dialogue and uses his considerable physicality and intimidating presence to act for him. His silent glares speak volumes and his brief, stern bits of gruff dialogue make up for his limited range, somewhat comparable to that of Jaime Foxx in Django Unchained. Most of the mercenaries are forgettable cannon fodder, but Katee Sackhoff stands out in her notable, small role. Battlestar Galactica fans will remember her ability to play a hard-edged, believable character and she is a delight to watch here. Yes, the mercs are incredible dipshits just like the ones in the previous two installments and the ending is perhaps a little too neat, tidy, and predictable than it should have been. But this goes with the territory. This is not high art. This is a fun, stupid, gorgeous looking action movie and worth a watch either now or as an excellent choice for a rental later.
I have a confession to make. I WAS ACTUALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO RIDDICK. I know. I'll probably be taken to film critic court, charged with high treason, and sentenced to death by being forced to watch Michael Bay movies. I actually like this franchise. A lot. Pitch Black may have been a hack B sci-fi horror movie, but hell it was a better Aliens film than Alien 3 or Alien Resurrection. Escape from Butcher's Bay was one of the standout First Person Shooters of its generation and needs no defending. And yes, I liked Chronicles of Riddick (and I refuse to believe I'm alone. You people need to come out of the closet on this one). Chronicles may have been an incredibly sloppy, dumb space opera, but damn it, it was fun space opera! So yes, me and a handful of people were looking forward to this.
And I enjoyed Riddick quite a bit. If you couldn't figure it out from the trailers, this installment is much closer in tone to Pitch Black in that it's a stripped-down hard R sci-fi horror flick rather than a loud, over-budgeted space opera. In fact it's one of the best shot and produced B movies I have ever seen. The first act is quite impressive, containing almost no dialogue as we are observing Riddick trying to survive on a hostile, alien world and struggling with an environment that is teeming with life bent on his destruction. And when the action picks up later on, it's largely entertaining. Vin Diesel is always at his best when he has minimal dialogue and uses his considerable physicality and intimidating presence to act for him. His silent glares speak volumes and his brief, stern bits of gruff dialogue make up for his limited range, somewhat comparable to that of Jaime Foxx in Django Unchained. Most of the mercenaries are forgettable cannon fodder, but Katee Sackhoff stands out in her notable, small role. Battlestar Galactica fans will remember her ability to play a hard-edged, believable character and she is a delight to watch here. Yes, the mercs are incredible dipshits just like the ones in the previous two installments and the ending is perhaps a little too neat, tidy, and predictable than it should have been. But this goes with the territory. This is not high art. This is a fun, stupid, gorgeous looking action movie and worth a watch either now or as an excellent choice for a rental later.
Alec B
Super Reviewer
February 1, 2013
I still feel that this franchise isn't living up to its full potential, but I was glad to see something that was a more straightforward genre piece (like "Pitch Black") as opposed to the needlessly complicated "Chronicles of Riddick". Its over-the-top, ridiculous, and great fun.
Lane Z
Super Reviewer
September 11, 2013
I thought this supporting cast is comparable (if not slightly better) than the Chronicles. Katee Sackhoff is one of my favorite badass chicks in science fiction. This movie doesn't over complicate. It doesn't break rules. It plays it straight with a simple story that's easy to follow. As much as it's a rebirth of Riddick, it's also a rebirth of this franchise. Prepare for another.
Riddick goes back to basics with Vin Diesel's third installment of the franchise. What I really enjoy about these movies is Riddick's sense of confidence within the film. The character is a badass. I'd go as far as to compare him to James Bond as the science fiction version. He's cutthroat, smart, and comical when he needs to be. Diesel's the kind of actor who has found a nice niche in action flicks with the Fast and the Furious franchise and Riddick.
I thought this supporting cast is comparable (if not slightly better) than the Chronicles. Katee Sackhoff is one of my favorite badass chicks in science fiction. This movie doesn't over complicate. It doesn't break rules. It plays it straight with a simple story that's easy to follow. As much as it's a rebirth of Riddick, it's also a rebirth of this franchise. Prepare for another.
Danny R
Super Reviewer
September 7, 2013
Writer-director David Twohy's well-crafted third installment of his sci-fi franchise that began was 2000's brilliant "Pitch Black," This time the murderous escape convict and morally ambiguous antihero the infamous Richard B. Riddick, played terrifically by Vin Diesel, who's distinctive glowing silver colored eyes allow him to see in the dark, this time around he is betrayed and left for dead, marooned on a sun-scorched remote and highly dangerous planet, that is filled with lethal alien creatures that inhabit its hellish environment. The only way out for Riddick is to activate an emergency beacon and alert a gang of ruthless bounty hunters who quickly descend on the planet looking to get Reddick dead or alive, one fool among them thinks he can bring back Riddick's head in a box. The 11 bounty hunters in pursuit of their superior prey, are all well-played by a game supporting cast which includes the trash-talking, swaggering Spanish jerk Santana, played by Jordi Molla, the innocent young Bible-thumper Luna, played by Nolan Gerard Funk, the militarily efficient fatherly commander Boss John, played by Matt Nable, and the tough lesbian cutie, played by Katee Sackhoff. But this film is a showcase for Vin Diesel who is still magnetic and compelling in the role that made him a star, Diesel mixes vulnerability into his machismo, which only makes him more likable. The CGI visual effects are startlingly good, and there is wonderfully skillfully direction by David Twohy who makes this gem of sci-fi B-film into a surprisingly pleasurable entertainment. Highly Recommended.
Christopher H
Super Reviewer
September 6, 2013
Returning to most of its former glory, "Riddick" is a decent science fiction action film with a spirited showing from lead Vin Diesel. Following a similar plot to "Pitch Black" and completely abandoning the shlock that was "The Chronicles of Riddick", this third installment brings back the survivalist element as Riddick (Diesel) attempts to adapt to an abandoned planet that was said to be Furya, his home (which it is not). Befriending a baby hyena-dog and preparing to fight the dangerous scorpion-fish creatures that block him from escaping, Riddick shows his strength as well as his vulnerability as he deals with the elements. Although the CGI landscape looks quite two-dimensional and the pet dog creature is rather un-rendered, the creatures and the violence breath real and are some of the most entertaining portions of the film. Paper thin, macho action film dialogue aside, the screenplay from director David Twohy, is appreciatively basic, providing a ticking clock, with the approaching storm, and enough characters to carry one's attention. Set up a lot like "Pitch Black", two groups of Mercs arrive on the planet when Riddick sends out a beacon. One by one, Riddick picks off these men in attempt to get one of the ships to take off planet before the scorpion-fish creatures arrive under the passing rain clouds. Chalk full of lewd violence and blatant nudity, "Riddick" is all action film, through and through, providing laughs and intensity that only action films can provide. There's no re-inventing the wheel here, and rightfully so, as Twohy takes a healthy step back into the world that made this franchise a cult hit with the first film out of the gate. Relying heavily on the charisma of Vin Diesel, "Riddick" won't break any records or even reach cult status, but it does show that directors and producers learn from their mistakes and can successfully shift a failing concept back on track.
Sylvester K
Super Reviewer
January 24, 2012
Compare to the Pitch Black, Riddick was disappointing. Set in a similar planet after the event of the second film, this time a bunch of bounty hunters and a mysterious leader wanting something more from Riddick. It follows the similar convention as Pitch Black but was having a much more predictable plot which was not impressive, the acting was pretty wooden as well. However, there were some redeeming qualities with the mise en scene and cinematography. Fans would be disappointed but newcomer may like the unique style of Riddick.
hawkledge
Super Reviewer
September 12, 2013
Never left off from 9 years ago follow-up, and fine Vin Diesel action.
