Eagerly Awaiting Next Riddick
Pamela Scott Shelton
July 10, 2007
As fans anxiously await the newest installment of Indiana Jones (2008), thoughts of other great adventure films come to mind. Like Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford), it has been too long since the last Riddick (Vin Diesel) adventure. It is a good time for Hollywood to bring adventure and sci-fi enthusiasts another installment of Riddick. The last time we saw of Riddick, was in The Chronicles of Riddick (2004). He had just slain the Lord Marshal (Colm Feore), after having just lost his last emotional bridge to civilized society, Krya (Alexa Davalos). He sat on the throne of the fallen Lord Marshal – “You keep what you kill,” as is the Necromonger way. The hook! That which keeps the sci-fi/Riddick fan in suspense, eagerly awaiting the next installment. This movie was such a good time that it is a wonder there is nothing in production right now – at least not that we know of.
Good series films are few and too long inbetween. Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) was creative and fun and never lost the interest of fans, and never let them down. It is much the same case with Riddick. Riddick is fun, science fiction – and there is never enough science fiction to satisfy sci fi film buffs. There have been animae installments of Riddick (2004), but animae and film fans are two different animals. What works for the animae enthusiast might not work for the film enthusiast, and vice versa.
Film enthusiasts have only Pitch Black (2000), and The Chronicles of Riddick to sustain our science fiction film and Riddick watching. Pitch Black, is a film that even now continues to grow by the number of viewers who are discovering it as the first installment to The Chronicles of Riddick. It is a great movie, not just science fiction, but a thriller and adventure film too. It introduces Riddick as the convict, headed for the “slam” when things go terribly wrong and the transport ship that he is on crashes onto a deserted and desolate planet – at least deserted by human life. Once there, the crash survivors set about the important task of finding a way off the planet, which has two suns. They find what appears to be a deserted outpost, and, while there is a way off the planet, there are creature feature challenges that must be overcome before anyone can go anywhere.
The film offers a wonderful cast of acting talent, including Radha Mitchell as Carolyn Fry – not the crash ship's captain – but nonetheless by circumstances becomes the “captain” of the crash survivors. Mithcell renders an outstanding performance in the role, showing a focus and strength that leaves the viewer cheering for the character Fry. Also, Cole Hauser, in the character of William Johns, who brings a character twist to the storyline that is really good. The viewer will be torn by Hauser's character. Hauser is, like Vin Diesel, a great casting choice for the role. He is not only handsome and looks strong, but is an equal psychological match for Riddick. This film is an opportunity to see Claudia Black (Farscape), as “Shazza” Montgomery. Black is cast in a supporting role in this film, but delivers the same character focus and attention to the role as she does in her lead role as Officer Aeryn Sun, in the Farscape series. This is an all around winning science fiction film and cast of characters. They are the people we want to see in science fiction film because they are so good at what they do. Science fiction film entertainment just does not get any better than this film and cast – except for The Chronicles of Riddick.
In The Chronicles of Riddick, the crash survivors – that is, the survivors of the survivors – are, several years later, brought together again by circumstances that make for the new adventure. This time, the forces of evil that Riddick must face are huge, not just in terms of plot, but in terms of the weight that Hollywood put behind this production. The scenes and sets are futuristic and employ devices that draw the viewer into the moment of the action. The script is fast and has a great plot. The special effects are exciting, original and fun to watch. If it takes a “big” Hollywood name to get your attention – that is, if you need a bigger name than Vin Diesel (is there one?), then you will be satisfied with Judy Dench in the character of Aereon, the “Elemental” whose innate nature it is to calculate things, especially “odds.” Thandie Newton, in the character of Dame Vaako delivers an outstanding performance. She is incredibly beautiful as well as talented. Karl Urban, as Vaako – wow! Handsome, talented, and – we hope – is the psychological counterpart for Vin Diesel in the next installment. Colm Feore, in character as the Lord Marshal, delivers an incredible performance as the ultimate evil doer. Alexa Davados, in character as Kyra, also delivers an outstanding performance. A young woman who can keep up with Riddick, Kyra is the one person in the universe about whom Riddick cares for. She is not his mental counterpart, but is his female counterpart. The character “Toombs” is another really great casting decision. The character brings an element to this film that is entertaining and interesting. Played by Nick Chinlund, Toombs is the merc, out to bring Riddick back to the slam for a price. Chinlund rounds out the film with the character. The opening scenes where Toombs and his crew are after Riddick are great, and Chinlund is outstanding, as is the cast that plays his crew. We never really know the outcome of Toombs and his crew in this installment of Riddick, and it would be great fun if Toombs shows up in the next installment. The Chronicles of Riddick, like Pitch Black, is science fiction film entertainment and casting at its best.
When the movie is this good, and when the story leaves you on the end of the fishhook, it is only natural to wonder when the next one will happen.
Dark Fury (2004) is the animated link between Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick. No doubt that it delivers the animae enthusiasts with much more than they could have wished for, but animae is not everyone’s animal, especially if you are a science fiction film enthusiasts. It has been far too long since the last installment of Riddick, and this writer is looking forward to the next film.
Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick, (and the two animation installments of The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay (2004), and The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury) are available on DVD as a set at a very affordable price. This is a must have for science fiction film collectors.
Good series films are few and too long inbetween. Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) was creative and fun and never lost the interest of fans, and never let them down. It is much the same case with Riddick. Riddick is fun, science fiction – and there is never enough science fiction to satisfy sci fi film buffs. There have been animae installments of Riddick (2004), but animae and film fans are two different animals. What works for the animae enthusiast might not work for the film enthusiast, and vice versa.
Film enthusiasts have only Pitch Black (2000), and The Chronicles of Riddick to sustain our science fiction film and Riddick watching. Pitch Black, is a film that even now continues to grow by the number of viewers who are discovering it as the first installment to The Chronicles of Riddick. It is a great movie, not just science fiction, but a thriller and adventure film too. It introduces Riddick as the convict, headed for the “slam” when things go terribly wrong and the transport ship that he is on crashes onto a deserted and desolate planet – at least deserted by human life. Once there, the crash survivors set about the important task of finding a way off the planet, which has two suns. They find what appears to be a deserted outpost, and, while there is a way off the planet, there are creature feature challenges that must be overcome before anyone can go anywhere.
The film offers a wonderful cast of acting talent, including Radha Mitchell as Carolyn Fry – not the crash ship's captain – but nonetheless by circumstances becomes the “captain” of the crash survivors. Mithcell renders an outstanding performance in the role, showing a focus and strength that leaves the viewer cheering for the character Fry. Also, Cole Hauser, in the character of William Johns, who brings a character twist to the storyline that is really good. The viewer will be torn by Hauser's character. Hauser is, like Vin Diesel, a great casting choice for the role. He is not only handsome and looks strong, but is an equal psychological match for Riddick. This film is an opportunity to see Claudia Black (Farscape), as “Shazza” Montgomery. Black is cast in a supporting role in this film, but delivers the same character focus and attention to the role as she does in her lead role as Officer Aeryn Sun, in the Farscape series. This is an all around winning science fiction film and cast of characters. They are the people we want to see in science fiction film because they are so good at what they do. Science fiction film entertainment just does not get any better than this film and cast – except for The Chronicles of Riddick.
In The Chronicles of Riddick, the crash survivors – that is, the survivors of the survivors – are, several years later, brought together again by circumstances that make for the new adventure. This time, the forces of evil that Riddick must face are huge, not just in terms of plot, but in terms of the weight that Hollywood put behind this production. The scenes and sets are futuristic and employ devices that draw the viewer into the moment of the action. The script is fast and has a great plot. The special effects are exciting, original and fun to watch. If it takes a “big” Hollywood name to get your attention – that is, if you need a bigger name than Vin Diesel (is there one?), then you will be satisfied with Judy Dench in the character of Aereon, the “Elemental” whose innate nature it is to calculate things, especially “odds.” Thandie Newton, in the character of Dame Vaako delivers an outstanding performance. She is incredibly beautiful as well as talented. Karl Urban, as Vaako – wow! Handsome, talented, and – we hope – is the psychological counterpart for Vin Diesel in the next installment. Colm Feore, in character as the Lord Marshal, delivers an incredible performance as the ultimate evil doer. Alexa Davados, in character as Kyra, also delivers an outstanding performance. A young woman who can keep up with Riddick, Kyra is the one person in the universe about whom Riddick cares for. She is not his mental counterpart, but is his female counterpart. The character “Toombs” is another really great casting decision. The character brings an element to this film that is entertaining and interesting. Played by Nick Chinlund, Toombs is the merc, out to bring Riddick back to the slam for a price. Chinlund rounds out the film with the character. The opening scenes where Toombs and his crew are after Riddick are great, and Chinlund is outstanding, as is the cast that plays his crew. We never really know the outcome of Toombs and his crew in this installment of Riddick, and it would be great fun if Toombs shows up in the next installment. The Chronicles of Riddick, like Pitch Black, is science fiction film entertainment and casting at its best.
When the movie is this good, and when the story leaves you on the end of the fishhook, it is only natural to wonder when the next one will happen.
Dark Fury (2004) is the animated link between Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick. No doubt that it delivers the animae enthusiasts with much more than they could have wished for, but animae is not everyone’s animal, especially if you are a science fiction film enthusiasts. It has been far too long since the last installment of Riddick, and this writer is looking forward to the next film.
Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick, (and the two animation installments of The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay (2004), and The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury) are available on DVD as a set at a very affordable price. This is a must have for science fiction film collectors.
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