SNMR 3.30: "The Chronicles of Riddick"

This week's SNMR feature is "The Chronicles of Riddick" (2004, PG-13, 135 minutes), starring Vin Diesel, Colm Feore, Thandie Newton, Judi Dench, Karl Urban, Karl Urban, Linus Roache, Alexa Davalos, Yorick van Wageningen, Nick Chinlund and Keith David. The film was directed by David Twohy. I was watching the Director's Extended Cut.

Like last week, this is the first time that I've watched this movie. I certainly hope that I like it better than last week's film.

From the DVD's dust case:

Vin Diesel (XXX, The Fast and the Furious) stars in this electrifying, special-effects-fueled action spectacular! After years of outrunning ruthless bounty hunters, escaped convict Riddick suddenly finds himself caught between opposing forces in a fight for the future of the human race. Now, waging incredible battles on fantastic and deadly worlds, this lone, reluctant hero will emerge as humanity's champion - and the last hope for a universe on the edge of annihilation. Powered by groundbreaking visual effects and pulse-pounding, thrill-a-minute action!

From Martin and Porter's DVD & Video Guide 2007, p. 203:

Five years after the events depicted in Pitch Black, escaped prisoner Riddick is hiding out on an ice planet, only to be returned to his home planet by bounty hunters, thus setting in motion a battle between what one character calls "evil and a greater evil." Despite this, Riddick (supposedly the "greater evil") turns out to be a self-sacrificing hero who takes on the overwhelming forces he must vanquish like a knight of Old England, a la Robin Hood. While it did not reach the level of popularity of its predecessor, this ambitious movie may start off somewhat slowly but it builds into an impressive futuristic adventure with many memorable moments. If nothing else, it establishes star Vin Diesel as a screen icon. Those viewers willing to take this release on it's own merits, particularly science-fiction aficionados, will be impressed by its depth and inventiveness.

This movie was definitely better than Pitch Black, but still not great. I thought that the script had too much going on at the same time without much in the way of depth and background. The special effects and CGI work on this film were top notch. However, I was more impressed with Diesel this time out - but this film hardly makes him a screen icon. When I think of screen icons, I think of Humphrey Bogart, Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, Lauren Bacall and the more modern stars like Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks and even Denzel Washington but certainly not the Vinster. I'll give this film three stars.