Watch the super-buff Vin Diesel kick the universe’s butt, at the expense of your sanity! The only people undergoing more pain than Riddick’s countless victims are those suffering in the audience. This sci-fi thriller set 500 years in the future depicts the hunted prisoner, Riddick, as the universe’s last hope in a crusade between galaxies. However, none of the characters seem to like or even recognize the burly warrior. Riddick is scrutinized by both sides of the galactic war-and even asked, “Who are you?” by characters well into the last scenes of the film. The depicted uncertainty as to Riddick’s identity is the most comforting aspect of the film-the ambiguity as to who is fighting who, what planet everyone is from, what species these “people” are, and whose side Riddick is on make it painfully difficult to take the nearly two hours of this film seriously.
The high points of Riddick are the out-of-this-world special effects balanced with the soothing contrast of warm and cool tones throughout the movie. The alternate universe presented in the film is completely credible in all of its outlandish happenings. Diesel fans will be pleased to witness the romantic sparks between the freakishly muscular galaxy defender and animalistic Kyra, played by Michael Jackson look-alike Alexa Davalos. Diesel foes will be disappointed when the predictable ending heeds every last one of Riddick’s enemies turning against their former leader, Lord Marshall (Colm Feore), and bowing at Rid’s feet. More so The Chronicles of Diesel‘s Workout Regime than Riddick, this excuse for a sequel leaves me no more wanting to see its predecessor Pitch Black than undergoing Chinese water torture.
Bottom Line: The Chronicles of Riddick stole one hour and 59 minutes of my time that I will never get back. But hey, at least the popcorn was good.
