The Chronicles of Riddick (2004)

 

Somehow, it is a damn shame that this one was pretty underrated when it came out. No idea why, but maybe the promotion wasn't all that great. Heck, I can't even remember there being any promotion whatsoever for this one. To be fair, this sequel to 'Pitch Black' does take a pretty different route, and maybe they didn't know what to do with it. But that doesn't take away the fact that this is one solid scifi adventure, populated with cool characters and blessed with an equally cool aesthetic. 

Unless you really don't like Vin Diesel, in which case you're screwed. 

After Riddick dropped off Imam and Jack on Helion Prime, he went into hiding. It is now five years since 'Dark Fury' and he is hunted by Toombs, a mercenary we also remember from that animated feature. But don't worry, it doesn't detract from the experience if you haven't seen that one. 

The universe is under threat because of a nomadic group called Necromongers. They either convert you to their ways, or your planet gets annihilated. Imam believes Riddick is the only one who stands a chance against the almost mythical Lord Marshal.

Why?

Well, apparently Riddick is one of the last survivors from a planet called Furya. They are supposed to be always defiant, stubborn but also great survivors and tenacious to a fault. But first, Riddick stirs up some shit because reasons. He is chased by the Necros, but is captured by Toombs and taken to the prison on Crematoria, a planet that is freezing at night and scaldingly lethal by day. This is done for a reason, because Jack is here. She now goes by Kyra (and is played by Alexa Davalos, who is not only hot and physically fit, but who modelled her looks here after Amy Lee of the band Evanescence. Double whoof.) and she is almost as lethal as Riddick. They plot an escape, but then Kyra is taken by the Necros. 

It is on now. 

Riddick makes his way to the main ship and challenges the Lord Marshal to a duel, because with the Necromongers, you keep what you kill. And because Riddick truly cares about Kyra, he isn't about to take any shit. 

Good stuff.

Okay, in all fairness the story is a bit thin and serves more as a thread connecting certain locations and happenings, but the fact that director/writer David Twohy went the extra mile and vastly expanded the mythos of this universe, deserves praise. He didn't go for a rehash of the first one but instead took the route of an sprawling, epic tale and introduced pretty out-there elements to an otherwise grounded story and you know what? 

It actually works. 

The actors pretty much all fit in. Vin Diesel is once again great as Riddick and he gets more quips this time. Nick Chinlund as Toombs is a lot of fun and you can tell the actor is having a ball with it. Alexa Davalos kicks some major backside as well, even if in the end she becomes something akin to a damsel in distress instead of Riddick's equal. But then again, Riddick is always meant to be a loner anyway. Bonus points to Linus Roache as the Purifier, a man who has more influence on the events here than is obvious at first glance. Oh, and Karl Urban and Thandi Newton as the devious couple of Lord and Lady Vaako are nice insertions. 

Actually, the weakest point is Colm Feore as the Lord Marshal. He's a decent enough actor, but doesn't do all that well in the 'being menacing department'. I don't mean that derogatory about the guy's stature, it's just he doesn't come across as that threatening. A shame really. 

This film's main draw is the design. It all looks great. Helion Prime and it's city of New Mecca feels warm and Earth-like, and then there's the stylized and dark design of everything Necromonger, which is bound to make the most ardent of goth freaks jizz in their pleather trousers. Seriously, it looks and feels distinct and stands out in a good way. Maybe a bit heavy on the s&m, but still. Considering one of the biggest religions nowadays worships the image of a torture device anyway, it follows that the Necros just take the next step in their way to the dark UnderVerse. 

Yes, it is a silly name, but it just works within the context of this film. 

And the planet of Crematoria? That depiction is absolutely spot on. It will stay with you all the way, it just looks and feels thàt good. 

Do any of the events in this film make sense? No. Does it matter? Not really. This is an exciting romp through space, with a backstory that actually feels different from most scifi and it is helped immensely by good pacing and a cast that just fits and gels well. This one really deserves more praise or popularity.

Vin Diesel never looked cooler either. Sorry, 'Fast & Furious' fans, but it's true.