Ror Reviews: RIDDICK

Ror Reviews: RIDDICK

Vin Diesel clearly loves this character and was adamant that he'd make another Riddick movie after the disappointing Chronicles..but did audiences really care one way or the other? Well, I didn't, but was I pleasantly surprised? Click on for my take..

Review Opinion
By MarkCassidy - Sep 09, 2013 05:09 PM EST
Filed Under: Sci-Fi

"Where did you pull that theory from? a unicorn's ass?" Yes, that's an actual line of dialogue from David Twohy's Riddick, and there are many more like it. The script is actually a bit of as mess overall, it's full of one dimensional characters, some of the performances are DOA, and there's enough macho silliness and misogyny on show to make Michael Bay wince. But, despite (or maybe in some ways because of?) all that, it still manages to be damn entertaining.

RiddickBanner


Of course this is mainly due to the title character; the cool as ever Richard B. Riddick. I've never been a big fan of Vin Diesel's but I've always liked him in this role -- even some of the mess that was Chronicles Of Riddick was made watchable by his presence. And whereas that movie made the mistake of trying to expand the mythology in some very silly ways, Riddick takes us back to the basics of the infinitely superior Pitch Black: Richy B on a planet full of creatures, with a few disposable enemies/reluctant allies. In fact a good portion of the movie is JUST Riddick and his pet "dingo dongo" trying to survive, and I found it to be stronger than what comes later when the rest of the cast turn up. A distress beacon brings two different teams of mercs down to capture Riddick..preferably dead. There's the rag-tag bunch of bastards led by Santana (Jordi Mollà) and the more professional, better equipped team led by Boss Johns (Matt Nable). The two butt heads at first of course, but when Riddick starts to pick them off they team up to take him down..until the rain comes and they realize they have even bigger problems.

As I mentioned, Diesel shines playing this antihero and he's on form once again here, but the problems stem from the supporting characters around him. What made Pitch Black work so well was the ensemble -- the likes of Cole Hauser's junkie merc to Radha Mitchel as (arguably) the principal character -- and in Riddick they're really just disposable, interchangeable, fodder. Sure Katee Sackhoff and Dave Bautista do their best, but neither has enough to do to make a real impact. The two "bosses" are pretty good though; Nable in particular turns in a great performance as a man with links to Riddick's past, and although Molla gets most of the cringeyest lines, he's good sleazy fun.

But hey, I'm perfectly aware that this type of movie isn't out to leave us awestruck by the acting and the fabulous characterization, and you'll be pleased to hear the action delivers. Riddick slices and dices to great effect, and although it'd have been nice for some of the hand-to-hand scraps to last a little longer, there's plenty to keep sci-fi/gore hounds happy. The special effects are also decent considering the budget..aside from the hover-bike scene that is!

A nice old school sci-fi/horror vibe and a terrific main character just about save Riddick -- but Diesel and Twohy really need to think of something new and interesting to do with this guy if we see him for a fourth outing. Not a patch on Pitch, but it's a fun flick.

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StarlordX
StarlordX - 9/9/2013, 6:12 PM
BullCrap.......
MrCBM56
MrCBM56 - 9/9/2013, 6:16 PM
Haven't seen it yet but can't wait to.
YouDontKnowMe
YouDontKnowMe - 9/9/2013, 6:24 PM
So based off your review I'm now wondering where Vaako (Karl Urban) and the Necro's come into it... I hope they take it to the underverse next time, that will be awesome!
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 9/9/2013, 6:31 PM
Vaako cameos..VERY briefly, and the necromongers are mentioned but it's all glossed over.
MrReese
MrReese - 9/9/2013, 6:51 PM
I'ma check it out later this week if I get a chance.
Brady1138
Brady1138 - 9/9/2013, 6:55 PM
I'm really surprised to say this...but I thought it was boring.
jondoe297
jondoe297 - 9/9/2013, 6:56 PM
I want to see Riddick some how find surviving furyans and just see an army of Furyans led by Riddick to fight the Necromongers
JoJo1982
JoJo1982 - 9/9/2013, 8:01 PM
I enjoy this movie, I thought it was pretty entertaining... especially the way the movie was set like 3 movies in 1
first 45 minutes is just Riddick alone trying to survive the being on the planet, there close to no dialogue(expecpt the flashback scene). This was the best part of the movie

Second 45 minutes Is Riddick and The mercenaries, basically its like Rambo First Blood. A lot of expected humor, Riddick take em down 1 by 1 and also messing with their heads. Good job

Third 45 minutes is pretty what every has seen in the preview and much like Pitch Black. A monster movie, that wasnt the Best but did good job finishing out the movie

I recommended to ppl who want to be entertained for 2 hrs and dont think so hard into it, its a movie
beane2099
beane2099 - 9/9/2013, 8:17 PM
I liked it, but this movie. But it had 4 sections - Riddick alone, Getting to know the Bounty Hunters, The Bounty Hunters vs Riddick, Everyone vs the Monsters. I thought it was brilliant that we got like a solid 30-40 minutes of Riddick vs nature and then an almost equal amount of time where you see him almost not at all. But it still dragged in places. None of it was bad, but you wanted to get to the Everyone vs Monsters part already. I get there was a low budget and all, but that to me was the movies only flaw. Other than that it was very enjoyable. And you do get some partially topless Katie Sackhoff.
JoJo1982
JoJo1982 - 9/9/2013, 8:22 PM
*except* i mean
JoJo1982
JoJo1982 - 9/9/2013, 8:24 PM
@Jollem

Thanx buddy!!!
We need more violent sci-fi movies like in 80s
Wallymelon
Wallymelon - 9/9/2013, 8:56 PM
riddick was a really fun enertaining mocvie.
MrSundayMovies
MrSundayMovies - 9/9/2013, 9:32 PM
Nice one man, think ill check it out.
Cartoon22
Cartoon22 - 9/9/2013, 9:34 PM
Vin diesel is gonna be a great THANOS.
Ceejay
Ceejay - 9/9/2013, 11:06 PM
Don't need a review for a movie that was always going to be shit from the moment they called it "Riddick" again instead of a real title. Its a clear indicator of how much imagination goes into a film when the makers can't come up with a decent title.
Humperdink
Humperdink - 9/10/2013, 3:53 AM
Coming off of 'Chronicles" which I thought was a convoluted mess, this film wasn't bad.

I can see why after Chronicles they wanted to get back to the basics that made the character popular.

They built a mythology around a character that they probably only planned to use once and the mythos was a bummer.
WarPig
WarPig - 9/10/2013, 11:18 AM
I thought it was a pretty entertaining movie although I would have liked to have seen more interaction between Riddick and the Necromongers. The supporting cast was a little weak but Vin made up for it. I hope they explore his origins a bit more since it seems that he is eager to find his homeworld of Furya. I hope there will be a sequel!
Supershadowbat
Supershadowbat - 9/10/2013, 11:51 AM
I like the way "Riddick" tied into the first two movies and gave you a proper timeline and continuity. Giving Boss Johns his motivation for pursuing Riddick came from the first film and showing the Necromongers in the beginning, set up this film as to how he ended up on the planet. While the dialogue wasn't the best, Diesel is great as Riddick. I enjoyed it , good sci fi B movie. Love Katee Sackoff. Nice review Ror.
satanors
satanors - 9/10/2013, 12:16 PM
It was a major fail for me. Such a forgettable movie. Pitch black was way better and this one make chronicles look good in comparison. When the movie ended, it felt like we just hit the interval and there was more to come. Will not be in theaters next week, at-least at my place, that much i can assure.
gaikinger
gaikinger - 9/10/2013, 12:33 PM
i liked all these movies...not loved,,,but liked. will always back up a rated R sci-fi.
YouDontKnowMe
YouDontKnowMe - 9/12/2013, 2:10 PM
@ror dang it, was hoping he'd have a biggear part to play in this :'( I'll still go check it out (was just released here in New Zealand) but I'm not quite as intrigued now lol.
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