Cheap The Chronicles of Riddick (Theatrical Full Screen Edition) (DVD) (Vin Diesel, Colm Feore, Judi Dench) (David Twohy) Price

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Customer Reviews of The Chronicles of Riddick (Theatrical Full Screen Edition)

The Chronicles: destined to be a classic
Riddick is the ultimate science fiction anti-hero. He is the driving force that takes this movie to a whole new level. If you've been looking for something new in your science fiction than this is it. Much like its little brother, Pitch Black, its a typical science fiction plot, a race of intergalactic people run around the universe taking over planets. Riddick has been brought into this mess against his will. In keeping with his character, he is always driven by one thing: looking out for # 1. This is the first chapter to a possible series of films about this really fun, butt kicking character.

The special effects are pretty standard. Although there is an annoying fuzziness to it all that isn't always pleasing to the eyes. The supporting cast is decent enough to back up the awesome screen presence of Vin Diesel who carries this picture from one thrilling scene to the next. His dead pan expression brings back those 80's one man armies with glistening pecs and cool one liners. It plays out as a very introductory plot leaving much to be explained later. It doesn't over burden itself with a huge epic story all in one film, instead it keeps things small as we watch Riddick on his the adventures that lead him to the necromonger king.

The films end is truly inspired. If you love this character you will have a big grin on your face at the possibilites the next two films may have in store. It does have its flaws though, the action scenes are edited in a very chopper manner, and the absence of sound in one big fight scene is obvious and makes the scene feel empty. This was surely done to secure the PG-13 rating. We can probably expect an uncut directors edition on DVD.

Granted if you don't already love Riddick from Pitch Black alot of this film may be too hard to swallow, but if you lose yourself on this ride you will come out truly satisfied.

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Sci Fi Action Yarn takes itself too seriously 3.5 Stars
Vin Diesel returns to the big screen in the Chronicles of Riddick playing the title role, and reprising his character from the lesser known, but more polished Pitch Black (2000). Now more of a household name Mr Diesel has a wider audience, and much larger budget, which should have meant more, but fails to deliver on several levels. The set designs and CGI are impressive, and a familiar but somewhat inventive story pits our hero against a band of marauding futuristic Nazi's called Necromongers who travel from World to World and either convert or annihilate it's inhabitants. Some fill work explains the connection between the two movies, and we learn that apart from being a resourceful (and indestructible at times) criminal, our hero is also a "Furion", part of a thought exinct race, who are the only ones capable of defeating the villians (according to prophecy). Another subplot explains that the young girl saved in the last movie is now also incarcerated on an offworld penal colony and needs to be saved, and of course Riddick is pursued throughout the movie by bounty hunting mercenaries trying to cash in on the reward on his head. All this handled better would have made for a great movie, but the action bounces around in a muddled fashion, and makes the whole experience protracted and leaves the viewer a little weary. This is NOT a bad movie, by any means and will appeal to fans of this sort of action flick, but throughout it is more than a little inconsistent. The script constantly calls for Diesel to remain ice cool, and have plenty of smart quips, and 007 style remarks throughout the 2 hour running time, whilst trying to purvey a sense of desperation and destruction which doesn't tie up. If you enjoy spectacular Dune style depictions, and lavish special effects, this is the picture for you, just don't take it too seriously, as the director seems to have unfortunately done.

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VISUAL DELIGHT
I HAVE WATCHED PITCH BLACK MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT. RIDDICK'S CHARACTER FASCINATES AND HAUNTS ME. SO MANY OF US ARE ISOLATED AND DOING WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO SURVIVE - R.B.R. IS A MIRROR THAT MANY OF US NEED TO LOOK INTO IN ORDER TO FIND OUR OWN COURAGE TO CHANGE. CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK BRINGS US FORWARD IN TIME AND UPWARD IN SCOPE. NOW, RATHER THAN SAVING A FEW HE IS CALLED ON TO SAVE MANY. HIS ACTIONS WILL HAVE REPERCUSSIONS - LIKE RIPPLES IN A LAKE. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THEY WILL END. NEITHER DOES HE. MY ONLY CRITISISM, WHICH HAS BEEN ECHOED FREQUENTLY, IS THAT MUCH WAS LEFT UNSAID AND UNEXPLAINED. I HAVE HIGH HOPES THAT THIS WILL BE RECITIFED IN THE NEXT CHAPTER. IN ANY EVENT THE VISUAL ARTISTRY OF THIS FILM IS UNPARALLELED. THE ACTING IS DIRECT AND POWERFULLY EFFECTIVE. DIALOGUE IS LEAN, CRISP AND TO THE POINT. FX ARE FLUID. IT IS A MUST WATCH - AND AT LEAST 3 OR 4 TIMES - TO TRULY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO IT. SUSPEND YOUR DISBELIEF, FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS AND ENJOY THE RIDE!!!!