Boom! Boom! Bang! Stab! Slice! Punch! this review is as good as the film.

It takes more than vague references to historical (holocaust) and contemporary (Iraq) disasters to make a great film. It takes more than a charismatic lead to make a great film. It takes more than huge CGI backdrops to make a great film. As such, this is definitely not a great film. In fact, it's not even an OKAY film. Twohy's original lo-fi masterpiece has been completely eclipsed by Vin Diesel's ego-maniacal insistance on turning the genuinely brilliant one-off Pitch Black into a big-budget franchise. Maybe it's just sour grapes after he lost the Fast/Furious and xXx gigs... Hollywood doesn't like a smart alek and somebody is getting too big for his damn boots.… Expand

Worst sci-fi film I have ever seen. There comes a point where you can't figure out what's going on and the bad new is, you don't care. Way too long.

The only thing that saves the movie from getting a lower score, is Riddick.

Wow. This movie is really, really, really crap. A laughable story, a stupid ending and some of the worst special effects I have seen in a film for some time. What the heck were they thinking!?!?!? ARGH! I want my money back...

One word...SUCKS.

Though the Riddick films are so under appreciated (it's a crime) I speak for real si-fi fans when I say that the Riddick series (video games included) is one of the greatest series of its genre.

--Classic-- This movie rules, and i will tell you why....I have five reasons why this is a must see....to begin it has Vin Diesel, by far the greatest actor i have ever seen since Dolph Longren played the Russian in Rocky 4. The dialogue Vin Diesel (thus he is probably my favorite actor) has in any movie is above anything else i have ever heard, not to mention the man can barely talk, yet making this movie all the much better (triple xxx's dialogue is even better{i.e. "I want all that in here"}). Two the man is put on planet called "Crematoria," how can you be critical of a movie when the main hero is placed on a planet called Crematoria, not to mention the main enemies race are called "Necromongers." Thirdly how can you not love a movie where the evil leader is half alive and half dead, although this seems impossible, its not for those Hollywood execs who made Riddick. You have to love a movie where the main enemy is half alive and half dead, i know its against the laws of physics but come on, now that is sweetness!!! How in craps name can you be half alive and half dead, but Riddick accomplishes this. Fourthly, now this is incredible, hold onto your hats for this one....Riddick is apparently faster than light, once again this movie breaks the laws of physics. In one of my favorites scenes he outruns sun's rays on the planet Crematoria (yes the more you say the planet's name it gets better, even better is Necromonger). In the sequences of outrunning it he says an amazing line that only Vin Diesel can say," there is only one speed my speed."...come on the first four have got to wet your whistel so far... Five, "You keep what you kill." That is the main theme of the movie if you kill a Necromonger you get all his stuff...now if that isn't sweet i don't know what is.... To conclude, I have never quite seen such an amazing ending as this one. I won't let the cat out of the bag, but you won't be dissappointed by the ending, in one word, "amazing." Please see this movie...… Expand

What the hell is this, really? This movie is....hmmm...I'm not sure....silly? maybe. I acutally like this movie for some reason which is the only reason i am giving it a 6. All in all, I really think some of the thought like the 'deadly sun rise' and four faces were really cool......but poor, poor, poor acting is what ruins this. Every charater is SOoooooo over acted its not funny. These actors blow hard-core. Even Vin Desil (which really is'nt to out of the ordinary) blows. However, with that said i still think this movie could of been great...maybe loss that 'I'm a big dumb a$$ with a goofy name' and put some REAL interesting lines and plots in........by the way did anyone see the 'Riddick Insider' on the freatures of the DvD? What the heck kind of production notes are those? If the only way to understand the story fully is to read these completly dumb, child like clips of info then the so called 'director' really left alot out.… Expand

Starts out kinda need but becomes hard to follow as the plot becomes blurred by the action.

I loved "Pitch Black". I would have given it at least a 9. This film, which is supposed to be the sequel to "Pitch Black" is an utterly stupid, laughable science fiction that never makes any sense. I pretty much hated this film. Nothing was useful in this film. Vin Diesel was annoying and bitter. Judi Dench is the strongest performer in the movie and even she lacks substance in her character. Dumb, utterly dumb!… Expand

Not Shakespeare, but a lot of fun. It's Indiana-Jones-meets-the-Matrix-meets-Star-Wars!

I give this movie a 3 for very good special effects and Vin Diesel. Not to say the guy is Olivier or Pacino, but he has the "IT" quality that very few American action stars have, like The Rock. The guy is utterly watchable and he plays his role here with conviction. This movie on the otherhand suffers from the "Van Helsing" syndrome...i.e. lethargic pacing, goes on too long, nonstop dull and repetitive action scenes, etc. I mean honestly people how many of you can take watching more bad guys shooting guns at the good guys, them fighting each other, punching each other into the ground, and all that. If you are looking for a good action movie that is entertaining without being completely dull and repetitive, try Troy.… Expand

A Sci-Fi action romp. Wall to wall effects. Bad one liners. Over-acting galore. A plot thick with allegorical implications to the war in Iraq and religion?s role in said war. Simply stated ? this is a summer blockbuster. I was one of the few chuckling along on this rollercoaster ride, most of the audience seemed bored or indifferent or both. I really didn?t mind it ? better than Underworld, the last big action movie I saw, but not up to the Arnold all out auctioneers of the past ? ?stick around?. Diesel?s not bad, but comedy wit is not his strong suit, his biceps are. Enjoy it for what it is kids ? loud and flashy.… Expand

Some reviewers seem confused by what this film is. It's excellent summer fare. I'm not going to cover too many of the plot points, since this is covered elsewhere. Rather, I'm going to express HOW MUCH FUN this film is, and suggest that some of the print media's reviews perhaps didn't quite get the point of the film. The plot is essentially a chase film, following the character Riddick from _Near Dark_. The story is largely from his perspective, thus parts of the story seem to rush at you without due explanation. However, I think this structure works - your confusion is Riddick's confusion. Once seen in this light, perhaps some of the negative reviewers would give more positive marks. The plot is well constructed, without bending to explain too much for those not paying attention. It doesn't explain the myriad backstory elements, rather referencing enough to keep the plot moving without bogging down in how this civilization manifests itself, how that technological gizmo works, how some groups have unearthly abilities and how it all works together. But enough is shown to power the story forward and refer to the DVD (or see multiple times at the theater) and you'll see that it all works together in a compatible, if not fully explained whole. Set design and effects are outstanding. Acting is solid for the genre and the dialogue is fun, almost verging on camp of the action/sci-fi variety. Tongue in cheek seriousness w/o verging into cheese. It won't win a slew of Oscars but SEE this film. It's fun, it's visually hypnotising and it throws more ideas at you that many films of this sort that have come out for quite a while. … Expand

Good Movie! It has a good plot twist. It deserves a better score than what the critics are giving it.

The critics do not give this movie enough credit at all. It is an extremely interesting and fast-paced sci-fi action movie that keeps you interested all the way through. It is filled with plot twists and a very interesting and new type of action scene filming.

Vin Diesel completionists need only see this film. It's a mess. The plot is pretty much non-existent and there is NO character development whatsoever. So much is left unexplained and the fight scenes are choppy and shot too close up. Vin Diesel has the emotional delivery of a baked potato. Hell, why not just replace him with one? They look pretty much the same.

This movie wasnt very bad. Of course there is a lot of cheese everywhere, but who didnt expect this. The Main actress (her name eludes me) was absolutely terrible, her one liners were in a word: Horific. A real bad one she said was "death by tea cup". She and Riddick also played a game of "whos the better killer" which was very corny and totally uncalled for. This movie was not all bad though. It entertains and has a strong story. I still think they should have focused more on the fights, they had good fight sequences, but just thought it best to be past them, and move along with the story. This would actually make a good rental.… Expand

Vin Diesel glowers behind his dark goggles; vin diesel is charitable enough to his legion of fans to speak a few lines of dialogue; vin deisel dices up the baddies like only a fame-crazed non-talent can. the story ? well, vin deisel kills, flexes his body-by-jake in various poses, and ends up lording over a cgi-universe that has been passed around since the late 1970s. the whole film is tailored like a candy bar with all too specific demographic in mind. ouchy. … Expand

First of all let me say I am a big fan of the original Pitch Black. This follow-up is a solid sci-fi movie in a genre where mediocrity is the norm. I am so much accustomed to these movies starting with a bang and dieing half way through the script. This one instead builds nicely and keeps you engaged for the entire run. The character background is a bit week (especially for the villains) particularly if you aren?t already familiar with the Riddick character. For what this is ? your basic sci-fi action film ? it does a wonderful job at delivering a combination of a solid story, great action sequences, special effects, and settings that better than anything I?ve seen come around for a long time. … Expand

Sure it won't win any Oscars - but if you like sci-fi and action its real fun to watch.

Alright, when it comes to action movies, there are the great ones like Predator and Terminator 2, then the abysmal copycat ones like Cradle 2 tha Grave and Romeo Must Die. Chronicles of Riddick is somewhat in between. It wasn't as bad as your C2tG's and such, but it wasn't great, either. It showed promise, and wasn't too bad of a movie so long as you aren't in the mood to pick it apart. Overall, wasn't great, but wasn't painful.… Expand

A great follow up to Pitch Black and hoping for another!

First of all, incredible soundtrack..this movie is one that stays with you long after you've watched because I thought the way Twohy fashioned the story combining elements of Shakespeare and the look of sci fi was creative. The critics who panned the film either couldn't appreciate or disliked this backdrop or it reminded them too unpleasantly about the Iraq war?! I thought there was a lot of symbolism to the current war in Iraq --immediately thought of it when the Necros "conquered" Helion Prime and called for a cleansing and renouncing of beliefs--alot like the occupation and U.S. imperialism in general. I'd like to think it was indirectly sending a political message. I thought Thandie Newtown and Karl Urban were great and Vin Diesel really is fun and great to watch. The one-liners are all a part of the Riddick character--it fits right in with his "just want to be left alone" persona, but of course as the film progresses, he's being challenged as to what responsibility he has to the rest of humanity, what role he must play. Although the editing could have been better I think, Riddick delivered big time because it was wildly entertaining and thought provoking at the same time--I hope CoR and Diesel get vindicated.… Expand

It is like XENA, but in future. Effects are great, but why the heck everybody is fighting with spears and knifes, when they have laser guns etc. And also armor - wow its kinda cool, very useless and you can see that it is not comfortable. Pitch black was good sci-fi, but Chronicles are bad fantasy movie.

This is one of the best action movies i have personally ever seen. I highly reccommmend this to anyone who likes action, and that has also seen the first movie "Pitch Black."

Ludicrously silly to say the least, Chronicles is chock full of terrible dialogue and some of the most laugh inducing names in movie history. I can't imagine someone naming a planet Crematoria and the bad guys Necromongers with a straight face, and not in a total parody or the worst of the worst B movie prodution, but someone surely did here. The sets and costumes look straight out of some kind of bad S&M fantasy and the story itself is just above retarded. It's pretty funny to see the script writers introducing all of these "shocking" habits of the Necromongers but not really explaining any one of them, so they really are meaningless and not that shocking at all since we never really find out what being "half dead and half alive," what being a necromonger, or anything else of what this mess of a movie really means. There are occasional slivers of decent production values in Chronicles, but that's about it. The idea behind Riddick's anti-hero has potential too, but it's also handled pretty poorly. The bad guys look like death metal band members and their women look like vampires godesses or something like that. It's so bad it's funny.… Expand