Why aren't more movies like this one made?

 

Author: Nominahorn from Indiana

11 December 2004

 

Chronicles of Riddick is an epic science fiction adventure along the lines of Star Wars or Battletech. The amazing special effects manage to give you an impression of how huge the universe is without stealing the show themselves. The only shame is that we only get to see a small part of this grand universe.

 

Riddick is played in typical bad-a** style by Vin Diesel, and his one-liners make the movie worth watching all by themselves. He is supported by a talented mix of known and unknown actors who, despite having to share screen time between so many different characters, manage to develop their own characters very nicely. I especially like the merc captain Toombs, and the Elemental Aereon.

 

If you want action this movie is packed full, but it also doesn't allow the action to get in the way of or take over the compelling storyline. The action itself is usually very good, although the fast-cutting distorted camera angles did give me a headache sometimes. The "good guys" (nobody is really "good" in this movie)are all kick-a**, and they definitely make you root for them and almost feel sorry for anybody who gets in their way, especially people who mess with Riddick.

 

If you were looking for another thriller like Pitch Black then you probably did not like this movie. I watched Riddick first and then went and watched Pitch Black and I think that is probably the better way to do it. Both are great films, but they also cannot be compared with each other, as Pitch Black is a small-time thriller and Chronicles of Riddick is a sci-fi epic.

 

Another objection that people have to this movie is that we don't see enough of the characters and that they are not developed properly, but the only way to do that would have been to do a Lord of the Rings-style 3 1/2 hour movie, which is clearly out of the question.

 

I say just enjoy the characters as they are, especially Diesel's Riddick, and you find that this is probably the best film to have come out this year, and maybe even the best sci-fi epic since the original Star Wars trilogy.If you are a sci-fi fan, especially a fan of Battletech books, Star Wars movies, Starcraft games, etc., you should love this movie. I know I am and I did.9/10 stars.

 

 

Frankly I do not understand what all the fuss is about with many of the reviews. Look, if you want to see an Ibsen play, go to the theater. If you expect to be entertained - and entertained well - go watch a movie like "The Chronicles of Riddick". Ok, so you have to be a SciFi friend, especially with a liking for Farscape, Dune or Lexx.

 

The scenery, the ideas, the action and even the one-liners are well worth it. It's been a while that I have been to a movie where the whole audience roared of laughter - especially when it was intended by the director.I won't bore you with the plot, other reviews have done a fine job with that. I liked the ending, too. Should have seen it coming somehow but didn't.I give it 9 out of 10.

 

 

 

 

This movie could get into the same club as "dune".. The "pitch black" movie wasn't all that great. Taking up the "alien" theme once more and creating a movie where people mostly run and scream.. Well its been seen before.

 

So when i watched Cronicles of Riddick it wasn't with the biggest hopes sat for this film. But i was gravely mistaken.The plot, the story everything is perfect. Especially as the writers hasn't used any parts of any other sci-fi /space adventure movies like"warp speed"or stuff like that. This one has its own completely closed universe, and what a universe that is.Okay, maybe some of the story like the "messiah" part could have been in a different way, but still its a great film to watch.

 

The plot is very good, and everything is explained to you. Some things like the technology is not explained but you get the idea as you go along, which makes the movie even better. Cronicles of Riddick could be the next "dune" and the reason for me comparing these two are that Dune also does not use elements seen before. Everything is brand new, as in Cronicles of Riddick. This is why the movie primarily is so great to watch.

 

Riddick. Well Riddick is a one man army, and a bit on the psychopathic side. He got some skills, but still he reveals feelings in this movie. The story of Riddick could be put into a lot of good movies and sequels especially if one where to make a pre-story movie that would take place before "Pitch Dark".This one is one to watch!!

 

 

Riddick might not have been the *best*-made movie this summer, but it was my favorite. It had more action than Spider-Man 2, and was darker than Harry Potter 3. I also think it had more interesting ideas and a greater visual flair than both of these films. Riddick was total escapist fun, with lots of funny one-liners and Vin Diesel playing his best character, Riddick.

 

Other great performances were given by Karl Urban (looking very anti-Eomer in his black mohawk) and especially, the bounty hunter Tooms (?).Sure, there were some plot holes, and some hammy acting (mostly Thandie Newton), but it was so refreshing to see an original "hero", one that wasn't a 100% pure teenage boy with magical powers. Sure, Harry Potter and Peter Parker may get tempted by evil, like all proper heroes, but audiences *know* they'll turn good again. Not so with Riddick; he lives in the dark side, making it actually surprising when he does something compassionate.

 

Also refreshing was a science fiction/fantasy story that didn't involve hobbits, computers, and massive swarms of CGI Agent Smith/orc armies. This movie was more like Dune, with an H.R. Giger edge. My only real complaint was that the movie was PG-13, when it should've been R, like "Pitch Black." And maybe that's why some of the violent scenes seemed choppy and confusing - to show enough to keep it PG-13. But the unrated DVD comes out in November.Also, the ending of this movie was awesome: just really funny and cool. It left me smiling for awhile afterward.

6.4 /10 (la moyenne des notes des spectateurs ImDB)

 

 

I don't get the score on IMDb, I understand sci fi is not every one's cup of tea, but this film has no real flaws. Great cast, fantastic decor, story line, lots of action and so on. So where did the score of 6.4 come from? I tend to give most films of any type a go, based on the points pointed out why this film is great, no matter if it is action, drama, horror and so on. I gave this film a 10 as I just can't fault it, and after not seeing it for some time, and to be captured again by this master piece, is not something I come across that often in the world of crap films.

 

If I would watch a type of film thats not something I would go for, but it is directed well, great cast as points made before, would I score the film so low as with this film? No give credit where its due! If you like sci fi than try this, watch it in Blue Ray, as this film is eye candy just on the decor alone. Best film Vin has made so far, and lets hope they do a decent follow up on this. 10 out of 10 for me, and I am sure I will watch this film many more times in years to come.

 

-Originally "Rated R for violence" as was the first film Pitch black, this film was envisioned as a PG-13 rated film. Universal appealed the original R-rating, but was not successful. The film was later edited down from the R and was given a "PG-13 for intense sequences of violent action and some language". 

 

 

-Toomb's line regarding Crematoria, "If I owned this place and Hell, I'd rent this place out and live in Hell," is paraphrased from an infamous quote General Phil Sheridan made during post-Civil War Reconstruction, in which he said "If I owned Hell and Texas, I would rent out Texas and live in Hell." 

 

-The birth name of Lord Marshal is Zhylaw. 

 

-In her autobiography "And Furthermore," Judi Dench says that she never really understood what was going on in the movie The Chronicles of Riddick, but she enjoyed the experience of making the movie, and she thought the sets were great.(ha ha ha !)

 

-David Twohy:  After Riddick escapes from the Quasi-Deads, the statue and face of writer director David Twohy can be seen on the Necromonger ship that's shot down by a team of Mercs lead by Toombs. 

 

-The Purifier's line, "I've done unbelievable things in the name of a faith that was never my own," was not originally in the script. It was improvised by Linus Roache and David Twohy kept it in the film. 

 

'The Chronicles of Riddick' seems to be receiving unfair flak. I can understand why in most cases, but I question whether some of the critics have seen the film. After all, it can hardly be considered a 'nominal sequel', as one critic stated. There is nothing nominal about it, when compared with 'Pitch Black'. A 'nominal' sequel to this film would no doubt take some people back to the planet it was set on, and face the same monsters again - and more of them. 

 

Most likely, the people would not be at all related to the first film. That is the suit that most sequels follow - more of the same. Chronicles is certainly not this. In fact, it is hardly a sequel at all - which is perhaps why it has never once been pegged as one.Many have complained about the lack of character development. Fair enough. However, it's not needed, and if you would like, there is an entire film dedicated quite separately to the character development of Riddick - 'Pitch Black'.

Still, I would contend that Riddick's character develops a fair bit during the film - for crying out loud the guy is crying at the end of the film! I had hardly imagined that possible even having seen 'Pitch Black', yet I did not question it at all by the end of Chronicles. As to the weak plot, does Star Wars have a strong one? If you say Chronicles doesn't, then I would argue that few if any sci-fi operas, or epic fantasy films have. I actually found it quite absorbing, and felt the story was very full. Many have complained about the place names, but lets be honest, those are exactly the sorts of names our society would give!

Just look at the American West if you want proof! This alone makes the universe in this movie seem more connected to ours.Admittedly the talent is not taken full advantage of, but as this film was intended as part of a trilogy (as yet unmade), with 'Pitch Black' as a separate but connected tale (like 'the Hobbit' is to 'Lord of the Rings', according to Vin Diesel), it would be expected that more would be seen of these characters in later installments. When taken in this context, the film serves as an excellent introduction to a larger story and some of its principle players. Certainly, Star Wars IV was no better - and perhaps a damn sight worse (acting and direction were not the greatest, lets be fair).
 
Considering the current state of mind bogglingly unoriginal and empty fantasy and comic book films which seem to have dominated the market for the last few years, it is a breath of fresh air to find a space opera with beautiful art direction and imagery. It's also nice to find a film on such a scale that is not childish, and is wonderfully dark. No doubt this will affect its box-office takes, especially in countries such as the UK where the rating will not allow all ages entry. Still, I hope it passes the fabled sequel money boundary, and we see the other two films made. The story looks to be epic, and I very much look forward to see where its going. It is certainly less predictable than the Matrix trilogy.
 

 

 

 

Once you're a convicted character in the movies, your life span can continue far longer than it would be allowed in reality. In the film " The Chronicles of Reddick" we have such a warrior who for lack of better luck, is forever re-earning the title, hero. Richard Reddick (Vin Diesel) is the last Furian from his planet. We accept that, then we stumble over another Furian.

Nevertheless, his race of people have been singled out for total genocide, by a war-driven 

nation called the Necromongers. Their leader is called The Lord Marshal (Colm Feore) who perceives himself a doomed man, due to the prophesy which warns, a Furian will take his life. To protect himself, he employs powerful people like his second in command. Lord Vaako (Karl Urban) and Dame Vaako (Thandie Newton) both swear allegiance to the Lord Marshal, but secretly scheme to take his place.

Judi Dench plays Aereon, an 'Elemental.' She -like 'The Purifier' (Linus Roache)- are rare individuals who are necessary for security but cause concern to the Lord Marshal. If these were not enough to complicate Reddick's life, he must try and stay ahead of the band of Mercs, who vow to collect the high price on his head. The best of the Mercs is an old friend, soldier/warrior and experienced Mercenary named Toombs. (Nick Chinlund).

The line of enemies is bad enough, but there's more like a special Universal religion called 'Under-verse' which promises utopia to the converted. Reddic and his friends are targeted for this and if they do not submit, then death. With all the special effects and grand art sets in this film, the movie should make itself very interesting if not down-right memorable. It's a great story, but pay close attention. ****