The Chronicles of Riddick (2004)

Director: David Twohy

Writer: David Twohy

Composer: Graeme Revell

Starring: Vin Deisel, Colm Feore, Thandie Newton, Judi Dench, Karl Urban, Alexa Davalos, Linus Roache, Yorick van Wageningen, Nick Chinlund, Keith David, Mark Gibbon, Roger R. Cross, Terry Chen, Christina Cox, Aaron Douglas

More info: IMDb

Tagline: All the power in the universe can't change destiny

Plot: 5 years after Pitch Black, the wanted criminal Riddick arrives on a planet called Helion Prime, and finds himself up against an invading empire called the Necromongers, an army that plans to convert or kill all humans in the universe.

My rating: 7/10

Will I watch it again? No.

Boy, did they get a lot more money to make this one (4x that of the first film)!  The effects are fantastic.  I really dig the space scenes and the look of the planetscapes from space and on the surface.  The outfits of the Necromongers was pretty badass, especially the ones we first see with the faces on three sides of the headgear.  It's a pretty good story but what makes it better is that it's a lot different than PITCH BLACK (2000).  Typically we'd get a re-tread of the same story with a different cast but it's nice that they made this a true sequel.  Diesel plays it too serious for my money.  I'd like to see him lighten up.  And what's with this 'evil' everyone says about Riddick?  We've never seen him do anything evil if your on the side of the good guys.  Maybe it's deeper than I think in that he did some shit a long time ago and he can never escape his past.  Karl Urban's performance is rather flat but maybe it's the character.  Judi Dench is always a treat to see.  The action is good but damn, those effects are gorgeous.  It's a great looking sci-fi actioner that's a pretty fun ride.