The Chronicles of Riddick

Alexa Davalos, Colm Feore, Judi Dench

Bigger isn't always better, but for anyone who enjoyed Pitch Black, a nominal sequel like The Chronicles of Riddick should prove adequately entertaining. Writer-director David Twohy retu...( read more  read more... )rns with expansive sets, detailed costumes, an army of CGI effects artists, and the star he helped launch--Vin Diesel--bearing his franchise burden quite nicely as he reprises his title role. The Furian renegade Riddick has another bounty on his head, but when he escapes from his mercenary captors, he's plunged into an epic-scale war waged by the Necromongers. A fascist master race led by Lord Marshal (Colm Feore), they're determined to conquer all enemies in their quest for the Underverse, the appeal of which is largely unexplained (since Twohy is presumably reserving details for subsequent "chronicles"). With tissue-thin plotting, scant character development, and skimpy roles that waste the talents of Thandie Newton (as a Necromonger conspirator) and Judi Dench (as a wispy "Elemental" priestess), Twohy's back in the B-movie territory he started in (with The Arrival), brought to vivid life on a vast digital landscape with the conceptual allure of a lavish graphic novel. But does Riddick have leadership skills on his resumé? To get an answer to that question, sci-fi fans will welcome another sequel. --Jeff Shannon

Flixster Users

73% liked it

Critics

30% liked it

DVD Released: November 16, 2004

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Top Flixster Reviews


  • April 29, 2009
    This is all over the place and not in an even remotely good way. It never seems to build up any momentum and seems to end because they ran out of film. The tip of the career iceberg for Diesel.
  • April 10, 2009
    An explosive thrill-ride of unstoppable action entertainment. An utterly original and thrilling sequel taking the character to new teritory. A spectacular, adreniline-driven action-packed ride.
  • February 27, 2009
    "You keep what you kill..."

    "Pitch Black" was an awesome movie that introduced us to one of the coolest "heroes" in the history of scifi. Vin Diesel's performance as Riddick is one of the most memorable characters of the genre.

    I had very high hopes for this movie. David Twohy ... ...( read more )
  • December 28, 2008
    I definitely liked Pitch Black better, but this one wasn't bad.
  • September 27, 2008
    Good but not NEARLY as good as Pitch Black.
  • June 17, 2009
    i cant understand a word Vin Diesel says..... "no these arms dont take unleaded fuel, they take diesel" hardee har har

Critic Reviews


View more The Chroni... reviews at RottenTomatoes.com
June 11, 2004
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

An inane film rendered sometimes laughable by an atmosphere of dead-serious reverence. full review

June 11, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

An exercise in computer-generated effects. full review

June 11, 2004
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

A hodgepodge of Lord of the Rings, Starship Troopers, and the more recent Star Wars films. full review

June 10, 2004
Claudia Puig, USA Today

The movie is less than two hours but feels three times as long. full review

June 10, 2004
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Bears no resemblance to the movie that spawned its namesake. full review

June 10, 2004
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

Plot? Character? Tension? Purpose? Sorry, wrong auditorium. full review

June 9, 2004
Edward Havens, FilmJerk.com

Fans of "Pitch Black" are likely to find this new film a worthy successor, those who have never seen the first film will be able to jump right into the story and follow along. full review

April 16, 2004
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

Eschewing the claustrophobic minimalism of its predecessor Pitch Black, The Chronicles of Riddick is an extravagant orgy of used sci-fi parts. full review

Comments


  • lhiansky
    April 2, 2009
    "The very first time i heard about THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK is when i am just a college student in SLSU here in Lucban, Quezon. My friends almost hated me not hating Vin Diesel. That was 1996.

    Knowing the fact that it is a very good movie, i found out that Vin Diesel is not just an ordinary man. He always face his own fear even the real life dangers."-Jane Bond 007
  • Mesmenir
    March 6, 2008
    I'm not the biggest fan of Vin Diesel, but I have to say I was really impressed with Pitch Black. And I've got this movie waiting for me at home, so I'm hoping it will be just as good.

  • Aria625
    June 23, 2007
    I love all your movies dude,keep bringing them..
  • bssmith4
    June 5, 2007
    this film follows on from the first realy well/ i give it a thums up
  • bhath1986
    April 18, 2007
    This Movies Simply Wicked Loved The Stunts N The CGI And The Action Very Good Film My Fav Of All Time
  • eveningsky339
    March 16, 2007
    The only three reasons I didn't give this movie a full five stars was 1) The beginning was kind of 'fuzzy,' Twohy should have made everything as if this movie wasn't a sequel. 2) There should have been more character development, and a few characters had 'flat' personalities, and 3) There should have been more information of the Necromongers' beliefs.

    Other than that this is an amazing movie!
  • life117
    December 14, 2006
    Oh my god i love this movie soo much it rocks!!if you haven't seen this movie you better get off your ass and watch it
  • TheManInTheBox
    October 2, 2006
    I really think this movie and Dune have so many similarities it is freaky. Watch them both together and tell me I'm wrong.
  • jbpelican
    July 24, 2006
    Pitch Black was awsome, Riddick is just as good. I rekon that Vin Diesel is the absolute best ani-hero ever and his character Riddick, the Murdurer on the run, is one of my all time favorites.
  • bmc15fudge
    July 18, 2006
    dude i love this movie it jsut is the bomb there us action and w/e else so if you don't like it u suck...

    ~!BOB

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