The Chronicles of Riddick is the big budget sequel to 2000's more reasonably priced and plotted Pitch Black. Both feature Richard B. Riddick (Vin Diesel), a wanted ex-con and master of navigating the dark.
He's an anti-hero—a man who has done bad things, but who we root for because of his devil may care attitude. It was an archetype that worked perfectly in Pitch Black, as well as the third film in the series Riddick. The problem with The Chronicles of Riddick—problems rather—is the sheer size of the story they are attempting to insert him into.
Chronicles is a full-on space opera. There are prophecies, warlords, intrigue, and treachery. It's a lot; and when compared to its predecessor, it doesn't feel at all like a sequel. As one reviewer put it, it's "Space Conan," but that's not a compliment. Where Conan the Barbarian juggles the heft of its story well, Chronicles crumbles beneath it.
Hence why it was reviewed so poorly (29% with 167 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes) and failed to recoup its budget. It grossed just $115.8 million on a budget north of $120 million.
But, hey, it does boast a handful of classically cheesy Diesel one-liners, some laughable self-seriousness, and a smattering of shoddy CGI. So sit back, crush a can of Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout from North Coast Brewing, and prepare yourself for the Underverse! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Capt. Cash, Chumpzilla, and Mayor McCheese are being taken to the threshold!
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Wes Craven's New Nightmare – The Master Returns
Dukes of Hazzard – A Class-E Felony
Idiocracy – We've Got What Listeners Crave
Wild Wild West – So Many Spiders
Mallrats – Stay Off the Escalator, Kids
Hackers – Crash and Burn
The Big Lebowski – The Pod Abides
Warcraft – Bone Dragons for the Win
The Legend of Chun-Li – A Spinning Bird Kick to the Senses
Postal – Burn it All Down
Super Mario Bros. – Flushed Down the Warp Pipe
Congo – Smart Gorillas, Dumb Script
Orca – Death Fish
Con Air – Fly Hard
Howard the Duck – Party Fowl
Primal – Cage Exotic
Drive Angry – Coming Like a Bat Out of Hell
Vampire's Kiss – Cage Uncaged
Face/Off – Whee! What a Predicament!
Lethal Weapon 4 – Guilty of Sequelitis
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