Review: Riddick

A follow up to a disastrous flop made nine years ago, Riddick scales things back to basics in an effort to capture a sense of peril, intensity and horror thrills. But like the big man himself says at the film's opening: "This ain't nothin' new".

Richard B. Riddick, criminal, murderer, convict, finds himself left for dead on a wasteland world. Alone and wounded he has to survive against creatures that want him dead. The only way to escape is to send a beacon and summon bounty hunters who are looking for him, kill them, and steal their ship. But the planet's inhabitants aren't going to make that any easier.

If you saw my Chronicles of Riddick review, you will know I have my issues with this film. Riddick, as a complete package, is a retread of 2000's Pitch Black, and yes, the older film remains superior to this.
That shouldn't be a surprise to you. The film has a lot less heart than the older movie; now we have Riddick up against two bands of mercenaries and cutthroats, and while there is a tiny sliver of effort to make us relate to some of them... it is nowhere near enough. They all become cardboard targets for Riddick or the creatures hunting them. 
Pitch Black's remarkableness is due to Riddick having what is called a "character arc", something most good characters have in common, and that he wasn't the only focus in that movie. While the bafflingly titled Riddick attempts the same idea by harking back to the previous events, it is too little too late... and if I'm honest, badly handled.

So far I'm talking about the film's third act, which is easily the weakest part. The film opens with an unconventional approach as we see Riddick alone and vulnerable, learning survival techniques. Director David Twohy lets us remember the dazing vistas and bleak wastelands of his superior film by replicating them here. It may be a similar, but it is still effective.
There is too an explanation to connect this sequel to the condemned Chronicles of Riddick, which was a blessing (and perplexing, I actually liked seeing the return of the Necromongers) the explanation didn't sit right with me... and was instantly forgotten about, but at least it was acknowledged.

I still feel bad for the character; I find him much more interesting than Diesel's Fast and Furious alter ego, yet they still haven't fully explored what made him interesting at the end of Pitch Black. 

This was a decent attempt at recovery, but it just lacks heart and becomes little more than a testosterone fueled chest-beating action fest.

Additional Marshmallows: At the very least, I can respect Diesel showing off his ability to throw people (and aliens) around in this franchise, unlike in a series about car racing!