Two Can Play That Game
Jun. 12th, 2004 03:11 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sub_dividedLord Marshall: Tell me that Riddick is dead, Aeyron, and I might just save your planet...
...
Lord Marshal: ...FOR LAST.
Aeyron: The chances are good, Lord Marshall...
...
Aeyron: ...that RIDDICK IS STILL ALIVE.
So, first of all, what Riddick is not. It is not Pitch Black, although it is a pretty direct sequel. Pitch Black was a cool stylish low-budget horror film that implied a science fiction universe rather than showing it. It had a small cast of characters who were all somewhat unique, except for the ones wearing turbans. That cast, in classic horror tradition, got smaller and smaller until eventually only Riddick, an Islamic priest, and girl-dressed-as-boy Jack were left alive.
As an aside, the Islamic priest, who spent half the last movie talking in Arabic, is just "the priest" in this movie. No specific mentions of Islam at all, except for one brief mention of New Mecca. Is that the sound of current world events interfering? Why yes, I think it is...
Pitch Black was a slow movie whose focus was mostly character interaction and cool camera shots. Also, lots of lens filters. The Chronicles of Riddick, one the other hand, is a high-budget Vin Diesel action vehicle with non-stop fighting scenes a la the second Matrix movie.
But that movie sucked. This one was good. It was better for being under three hours, better for the awesomely pretty space scenery, and better for its much better acting. But mostly it was better because the Matrix movie paused before and after all of its set-piece scenes, as if to say "Look at me! I'm so cool!" while Riddick just kind of did them. They were integrated into the movie, and if Vin Diesel ended them with one-liners, well, those were integrated too. All in all, it was the kind of fun movie you sit down to watch and then get up from a few hours later wondering where the time went and if it's really over.
So yes, two thumbs up. Awesome movie, just ignore the impossible space physics and the obviousness of the naming scheme (The always-hot prison planet is named "Crematoria," Vin Diesel is a survivor from the planet "Fury," Judy Dench is an "Elemental," The villains are "Necro-mongers," etc etc).
The basic plot runs something like: army of darkness is converting people and killing those it doesn't convert. Its Lord Marshall is frightened of Riddick because he's a "Furian." Riddick, in hiding since Pitch Black, couldn't care less. He just wants to save little Jack, who he's heard landed herself in Crematoria after falling in with the wrong crowd.
In Pitch Black, Jack was a plucky young boy who worshipped and imitated Riddick. She was adorable. In this movie, she's a total knockout whose favorite game is "who's the better killer." It works well, except that she comes off as both a love interest and a daughter-figure. Say it with me now... ewww.
Not making this movie sound good, am I? Trust me, it was. There were a lot of memorable characters, a lot of memorable settings, and a lot of memorable one-liners. The settings were, as I've said, awesome, and so was the action. There were even a few cool camera shots. The pacing was relentless, nothing but one climax after another. That got old.
I'm not too sure about the ending. I thought it was a "Lady and the Tiger" kind of ending, although my friends disagreed. It leaves a lot open. On the other hand, it was good to see a movie that knew when to stop (yes, I'm looking at you, RoTK).
Some highlights (includes spoilers):
1) The bad guys grab people's heads and pull out their souls!
2) Vin Diesel takes out the mercs after him and leaves with their ship. Then he takes out some more guys. And then some more. And then a lot more. He is so cool.
3) In fact, he is so cool that he kills a guy with a teacup. And then threatens the next one with a pin.
4) Jack, now called Kira, is pretty cool too. Ignoring how unlikely this is, she got though her troubles scar-free and with a kickass attitude.
5) Vin Diesel again. Cool eyes, which the director exploits shamelessly. Also, great physical performance. His voice-overs were terrible, but he really is that rare actor who uses his entire body to act.
6) The sunrise on Crematoria was awesome. Streamers of fire fanning across the skies. Crematoria, as portrayed, is a nightmare for your average physics student. But, it is a beautiful nightmare.
7) Lady Macbethian machinations from the evil femme-fatale. It's all just so obvious. Her husband had the world's worst hair (think Mohawk + mullet). Also, she says "Flawless" after a fight and I think Mortal Kombat.
8) Riddick's expression when the movie ends. He sits, exhausted, on the Necro-monger throne after killing the Lord Marshall. As the legions kneel before him, he looks up though his hands, blood running down his face. Dame Dench narrates. Riddick's expression says:
"You expect something from me?"
...
Lord Marshal: ...FOR LAST.
Aeyron: The chances are good, Lord Marshall...
...
Aeyron: ...that RIDDICK IS STILL ALIVE.
So, first of all, what Riddick is not. It is not Pitch Black, although it is a pretty direct sequel. Pitch Black was a cool stylish low-budget horror film that implied a science fiction universe rather than showing it. It had a small cast of characters who were all somewhat unique, except for the ones wearing turbans. That cast, in classic horror tradition, got smaller and smaller until eventually only Riddick, an Islamic priest, and girl-dressed-as-boy Jack were left alive.
As an aside, the Islamic priest, who spent half the last movie talking in Arabic, is just "the priest" in this movie. No specific mentions of Islam at all, except for one brief mention of New Mecca. Is that the sound of current world events interfering? Why yes, I think it is...
Pitch Black was a slow movie whose focus was mostly character interaction and cool camera shots. Also, lots of lens filters. The Chronicles of Riddick, one the other hand, is a high-budget Vin Diesel action vehicle with non-stop fighting scenes a la the second Matrix movie.
But that movie sucked. This one was good. It was better for being under three hours, better for the awesomely pretty space scenery, and better for its much better acting. But mostly it was better because the Matrix movie paused before and after all of its set-piece scenes, as if to say "Look at me! I'm so cool!" while Riddick just kind of did them. They were integrated into the movie, and if Vin Diesel ended them with one-liners, well, those were integrated too. All in all, it was the kind of fun movie you sit down to watch and then get up from a few hours later wondering where the time went and if it's really over.
So yes, two thumbs up. Awesome movie, just ignore the impossible space physics and the obviousness of the naming scheme (The always-hot prison planet is named "Crematoria," Vin Diesel is a survivor from the planet "Fury," Judy Dench is an "Elemental," The villains are "Necro-mongers," etc etc).
The basic plot runs something like: army of darkness is converting people and killing those it doesn't convert. Its Lord Marshall is frightened of Riddick because he's a "Furian." Riddick, in hiding since Pitch Black, couldn't care less. He just wants to save little Jack, who he's heard landed herself in Crematoria after falling in with the wrong crowd.
In Pitch Black, Jack was a plucky young boy who worshipped and imitated Riddick. She was adorable. In this movie, she's a total knockout whose favorite game is "who's the better killer." It works well, except that she comes off as both a love interest and a daughter-figure. Say it with me now... ewww.
Not making this movie sound good, am I? Trust me, it was. There were a lot of memorable characters, a lot of memorable settings, and a lot of memorable one-liners. The settings were, as I've said, awesome, and so was the action. There were even a few cool camera shots. The pacing was relentless, nothing but one climax after another. That got old.
I'm not too sure about the ending. I thought it was a "Lady and the Tiger" kind of ending, although my friends disagreed. It leaves a lot open. On the other hand, it was good to see a movie that knew when to stop (yes, I'm looking at you, RoTK).
Some highlights (includes spoilers):
1) The bad guys grab people's heads and pull out their souls!
2) Vin Diesel takes out the mercs after him and leaves with their ship. Then he takes out some more guys. And then some more. And then a lot more. He is so cool.
3) In fact, he is so cool that he kills a guy with a teacup. And then threatens the next one with a pin.
4) Jack, now called Kira, is pretty cool too. Ignoring how unlikely this is, she got though her troubles scar-free and with a kickass attitude.
5) Vin Diesel again. Cool eyes, which the director exploits shamelessly. Also, great physical performance. His voice-overs were terrible, but he really is that rare actor who uses his entire body to act.
6) The sunrise on Crematoria was awesome. Streamers of fire fanning across the skies. Crematoria, as portrayed, is a nightmare for your average physics student. But, it is a beautiful nightmare.
7) Lady Macbethian machinations from the evil femme-fatale. It's all just so obvious. Her husband had the world's worst hair (think Mohawk + mullet). Also, she says "Flawless" after a fight and I think Mortal Kombat.
8) Riddick's expression when the movie ends. He sits, exhausted, on the Necro-monger throne after killing the Lord Marshall. As the legions kneel before him, he looks up though his hands, blood running down his face. Dame Dench narrates. Riddick's expression says:
"You expect something from me?"
