Warnings:
Graphic Violence, Gore/blood.
SUMMARY:
A ship traveling along the "back roads" of outerspace ferries 40 passengers to various destinations including New Mecca, and even a prison cell for one passenger. When their ship is hit by a rogue meteor storm, their crashing upon a deserted planet leads to the death of the majority of passengers on board, including the captain. Can the docking pilot lead them all to rescue and survival, or will they die? And when night falls can the prisoner help them survive, or is he one more danger?
My Opinion:
As with the CoR review, I am admitted Vin Diesel and Riddick fan. This is the movie that started it all for me. I saw this one on one of the cable channels, though after watching it I wish I had known about it when it was in theaters. I watched it every chance I could, and bought the DVD before CoR came out. This movie is a well done science fiction piece, with the monsters used in a way that doesn't make them look cheesy. You first see them well close to half way into the movie, and then only in brief flashes until the end. Riddick is an unusual character, and the tension between him, Johns, and Carolyn Frye is high, and handled in a wonderful manner. It isn't hard to get into the characters and the plot is well thought out.
EXTRAS:
The Chronicles of Riddick Visual Encyclopedia: This is narrated by Cole Hauser(Johns) and gives in depth explanations to some of the terms found in this world.
Johns' Chase Log: This follows the bounty hunter as he tracks and captures Riddick, leading up to their boarding of the Hunter/Gratzner.
Dark Fury; Advancing the Arc: An inside look at The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury.
The Game is on: A look into the game Escape from Butcher Bay
The making of Pitch Black Feature commentaries: Vin Diesel, Cole Hauser, and Director David Twohy offer insights into the film. The Director, producer, and visual effects supervisor discuss their work on the film.
A View Into the Dark: David Twohy and Vin Diesel explore the character of Riddick
Overall view of the DVD:
The movie by itself is well worth the money spent, least in my opinion. But when added to the extras offered (note this is the unrated director's cut that I am referring to), It is doubly so. This is a well thought out movie, and the creators of the world these people must survive in, and the universe they live within, is well thought out and planned for.
