The Chronicles of Riddick (2004)

Director: David Twohy

Starring: Vin Diesel, Judi Dench, Colm Feore

The wanted criminal Richard Bruno Riddick (Vin Diesel) arrives on a planet called Helion Prime and finds himself up against an invading empire called the Necromongers, an army that plans to convert or kill all humans in the universe.

If ever there was an ambitious sequel, then this is it. For some reason the creators of ‘Pitch Black’ believed they could make a Star Wars wannabe.

‘Pitch Black’ had a simple premise. It was a survival story. Although ‘The Chronicles of Riddick’ follows the events of ‘Pitch Black’, it is a completely different film. The only thing that remained the same, is the titular character, Riddick (Vin Diesel). Sometimes, when they try too hard to impress, they ruin it instead. Why change a recipe that works – especially so drastically.

With a bounty on Riddick’s head, he tries to find out who placed the bounty on his head. There’s so much going on here. Most of the action and also the best scenes, happen on Helion Prime. The sequence where they were running from the sun’s scorching rays, was by far the film’s highlight. Towards the end, there’s plenty of gunfire and explosions.

‘The Chronicles of Riddick’ is an action fantasy adventure (and not a fantasy horror like its predecessor). The costumes are great, and the film has an incredible production design. But ultimately the film is trying too hard to be something it’s not supposed to be. I much rather prefer the simplicity of ‘Pitch Black’. Why not rather bring us a prequel instead, showing us the events leading to Riddick’s imprisonment and how he got his unusual eyes – as he explained in ‘Pitch Black’. Surely that would make for interesting viewing, not?

Did I enjoy it? There were indeed great moments, yes. Did I enjoy it as a sequel to ‘Pitch Black’? No. As it turns out, the film was a box office flop. I rest my case…

Would I watch it again? No. I’d rather watch ‘Pitch Black’.