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DVD

The Chronicles of Riddick

Bigger isn't always better, but for anyone who enjoyed Pitch Black, a nominal sequel like The Chronicles of Riddick should prove adequately entertaining. Writer-director David Twohy returns with expansive sets, detailed costumes, an army of CGI effects artists, and the star he helped launch--Vin Diesel--bearing his franchise burden quite nicely as he reprises his title role. The Furian renegade Riddick has another bounty on his head, but when he escapes from his mercenary captors, he's plunged into an epic-scale war waged by the Necromongers. A fascist master race led by Lord Marshal (Colm Feore), they're determined to conquer all enemies in their quest for the Underverse, the appeal of which is largely unexplained (since Twohy is presumably reserving details for subsequent "chronicles"). With tissue-thin plotting, scant character development, and skimpy roles that waste the talents of Thandie Newton (as a Necromonger conspirator) and Judi Dench (as a wispy "Elemental" priestess),... Read More

Directed by: David T. Twohy
Starring: Vin Diesel, Judi Dench
Publisher: Universal Pictures Video  |   Released: 03 January 2005  |   Runtime: Unknown
List Price: £19.99, Our lowest price: £2.99
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Reviews
David Bowen, 20/07/2005
Reviews weren't very good but I loved it. Non-stop action, great film.
S. Thanopoulos, 06/04/2005
A quality cast (and that word also covers Vin Diesel, in my book), jaw dropping production design (medieval SF - love it!!), and more ships, sets and major explosions than you could shake $110,000,000 at. And yet... well, I found the whole thing a tad underwhelming. OK, first of all, I have to say that I was REALLY tired when I watched this (and that's never a good thing - can't be 100% fair), but it seemed to me that the film was not enjoying itself, know what I mean? Where was the spark... that quality known as "tap dancing"? It gets far too bogged down with irksome waffle, and yet it could have been so much better with MORE waffle... that is, if it could have been quality waffle. It needed drama that resonated on the same level as its explosions (like, say, 'I Claudius' in space - wouldn't that be great?) Either that or send the whole thing up. Whichever route should have been taken, the all important spark was not in evidence. The far simpler 'Pitch Black' was much better. Extras are skimpy/gimmicky scene setting things, with far too little actual documentary stuff. So, like when watching the film itself, we're asking "Where's the meat?" Fans would be better off seeking out the super-duper R1 version with the unrated, extended (to the tune of an extra 15 minutes) cut, which also has a commentary (the most important extra on any DVD and conspicuous here by its absence!!) The bottom line: sort of good, sort of not.
Jon, 14/01/2005
Vin Diesel is back, after the success of Pitch Black, as the convict Riddick hunted by mercenaries across the galaxy. Unwittingly Riddick becomes entangled in the fight against the Necromongers, beings intent on ruling humans across the Universe.