Riddick
Apparently this is the third in the Riddick franchise. Of course, we were all considerably younger, since the first one opened in theatres about 15 years ago. Since then, we’ve seen Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick.
In this latest rendering, Riddick (Vin Diesel) is left for dead on a dry, scorched planet. After activating an emergency beacon, he finds himself fighting new dangers in the form of mercenaries and snake-like alien predators.
This was filmed in Montreal, although having lived there, I can’t think where in that city this would have been filmed—it sure wasn’t Westmount!
Diesel is his bulked up best physically, but if you think this is a ‘must see,’ you couldn’t be more wrong. Not even close!
The acting is awful, the storyline is weak, and there is no real drama. We do get the unmistakable feeling that (say it isn’t so) Hollywood is planning yet another in this series.
Having said that, this weekend saw Riddick bring in over $17 million and bounce The Butler to second place. Go figure.
Joining Diesel is Spanish born Jordi Molla as Santana, Matt Nable, a former Rugby League player as Boss Johns and Katee Sackoff, who has a few sci-fi films under her belt, as Dahl.
This is where I usually include the “best line,” but nope, there wasn’t one.
If you’re a big fan of hulky Diesel, then go see it, but personally I’d wait for something with more sophistication or just go see the Smurf movie.
Riddick has all the excitement of the reptile cage at the zoo and it has no heroes. I’m not kidding, you won’t root for anyone. In fact, as the show goes on, you end up hoping that it will just end somehow, and you can salvage some part of your evening.
So I can only give this one reel and that’s for the interesting dingo/zebra thing that Diesel takes as a pet.
