Riddick is a loner and a vicious killer, but one who seemingly just wants to mind his own business and continually take his cool sun goggles that shield his night vision eyeballs off and on. Riddick is a likeable “bad guy” thanks entirely to the likeability of Diesel’s persona. However he always seems to get caught in the middle of some greater situation. In Chronicles Riddick is on the run from mercenaries who are trying to collect the big bounty on his head. After an easy escape his adventures lead him to reunite with a couple familiar characters from Pitch Black and coincidentally right in the middle of a battle between humanity and the Necromongers who are trying to cleanse the world of all differing religions and beliefs of their own (and comfortable attire apparently).

When the film had tiny slips here and there it made up for them almost immediately. Like its predecessor Riddick is a smart sci-fi action movie with some interesting planets, characters, and unique scenarios thrown in for kicks. Some characters I felt were a waste (the cats/rats in the prison) but then there were others that were great (the Necro’s scanners gave me the creeps every time, awesome). We even get a little, but not too much, more explanation on Riddick’s background. I am assuming future sequels will slowly flesh him out more. I must admit I was prepared for the worst going into the theater but the Twohy/Diesel team stuck close to what worked on Pitch Black, just blown up to a huge budget. I actually think they may have had a better film on a tighter budget forcing them to focus more on the style and substance as opposed to heavy CGI. The Chronicles of Riddick is a better than average action flick.

I saw this film at Cinemark’s Tinseltown 17 Theater on Peach Street in Erie, PA.

(04-0618)