The Chronicles of Riddick - Pitch Black (Unrated Director's Cut) [HD DVD]

The Chronicles of Riddick - Pitch Black (Unrated Director's Cut) [HD DVD]
by David Twohy

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DVD details

Actor: Cole Hauser, Keith David, Lewis Fitz-Gerald, Radha Mitchell, Vin Diesel
Director: David Twohy
Brand: Universal
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 112 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-07-11
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment

DVD Reviews of The Chronicles of Riddick - Pitch Black (Unrated Director's Cut) [HD DVD]

DVD Review: DVD COLLECTION
Summary: 5 Stars

This is one of the many DVD's i wanted in my collection. It was easy to find in Amazon ( as always ) at at my price ( also , as always ) . Its why i always come back to Amazon for all my wants and needs. This is one of the few DVDs that was missing that i had wanted for quite some time. I finally just sat down at my computer, went to Amazon, typed in what i wanted,,,,and wha-la,,,there it was. And its a FABULOUS movie to boot !!

DVD Review: A little above average for a sci fi movie.
Summary: 3 Stars

I wasn't going to review Pitch Black, I bought it back when it came out on DVD.
I thought it was..........ok. But I only watched it once.
I was bored on Saturday, so I dug it out of my DVD piles this last weekend and watched it again.
I don't think my opinion has changed very much.

The FX are very well done, it's just a feeling of been there, done that.
That seems to be the case with so many movies, but considering how influential Alien and Aliens were its hard not to draw comparisons.
Some of the scenes are just flat out trippy with the different colored worlds.
I say Pitch Black deserves three stars just for the visual effects.

As for the script itself, it's just so - so.
It's neither here nor there.
The monsters are kind of cool but are also so - so.
Nothing really new or innovative in the story telling dept.
This movie thrives on its visual appeal not so much in the story telling dept.

The acting is fine, considering 90% of the cast is basically monster food.
They do ok with the subject material but none of the performances are what I'd consider Oscar worthy.

All in all, it's worth a rental, I've never seen the other two and I'm not really interested enough to bother renting them.
The visuals MAKE this movie and I'd love to get a pair of Vin's contacts. LOL.
If the whole sci - fi, alien thing is your gig and you're not looking for anything cutting edge or life changing then Pitch Black should be right up your alley.
If you're an old, jaded, cynical Alien fan you may want to pass.
I recommend Pitch Black for its impressive visuals not its ho hum story line.
A recommended rental.

DVD Review: First Riddick Movie
Summary: 5 Stars

Got the three Riddick movies as a gift and watched all three over the weekend. I can't believe I liked them so well. This first movie has beautiful but very bleak desert scenery. The characters are likeable and interesting, especially the Riddick character. Much of the movie takes place in the dark, as the title describes. It is suspenseful and I enjoyed watching it very much. I was sad that most of the characters didn't make it, but overall I found this to be very well done as far as science fiction. I liked it every bit as much as the old alien movies, maybe more.

DVD Review: Pitch Black Theology
Summary: 4 Stars

Pitch Black is an exciting sci-fi thriller of about space travelers being marooned on a planet faced by an attack of its indigenous nocturnal creatures. It smacks of many movies in the history of cinema, Aliens being the first which comes to mind, but the movie is very unique in several points. One is Vin Diesel's charismatic performance as the anti-hero Riddick. Physically impressive with his baritone voice Diesel's presence controls the film from beginning to end. However, I enjoyed the film as there are some unique portrayals of religion that are rarely seen in movies that deserve to be mentioned. This is done through the character of Imam played by Keith David, which is contrasted and challenged by Riddick during the movie. I believe the screenwriters wisely chose the image of a Muslim religious leader rather than the traditional Christian clergyman. It was wise in the sense since Hollywood has often portrayed Christian ministers in the past as being hypocritical, indecisive, insipid, close-minded and so gentle to even appear effeminate. Hollywood is yet to commonly portray Muslim leaders in this way and this is what provides credibility for the audience regarding Imam's character. This is not to say there are not strong Christians, but cinema has influenced the culture to an extent that portraying such an image would be difficult to believe by an American audience. It is through the Imam that the issue of faith is brought up.

Spoiler alert
Imam is contrasted with Riddick who brazenly confesses that he does believe in God, but states that He is apathetic at least and sadistic at worst. However, Imam's belief does not waver despite Riddick's mocking of his faith even when a turn of natural events puts the survivors in jeopardy. In the end though it is Riddick's character, which changes due to the sacrifice of the Captain, Carolyn Fry who refuses to abandon anyone on the planet even Riddick. Fry ends up going back for a wounded Riddick and dies in the process. Riddick is shocked that anyone would sacrifice his life for him; especially this woman who knows that Riddick was willing to leave stranded the remaining survivors to save himself. Riddick is floored physically and emotionally with disbelief that anyone would sacrifie their life for anyone especailly him as he sees Fry's body being taken away. Such an act of self-sacrifice is Christ-like in nature and resonates Jesus' Crucifixion. This sacrifice is what produces an inward change in him expressed when after they escape from the planet he states that Riddick died back on the planet.

Altogether this was an interesting film, which raised philosophical and theological issues. Although the issue of God and human suffering are not given a thorough presentation in the movie it is expressed enough to make one think. One thing I have realized about this film is that it was released before the terrorist attack of 9/11, and I wonder how receptive the American audiences would be to having a Muslim being portrayed favorably in the movie, and what would the reaction be if released a year and half later than it actually was. Having watched this film recently, I appreciated seeing a character who is religious in nature and not being portrayed as fanatical, hypocritical, or banal. The screenwriters created some worthwhile characters, and I await to see further adventures of Riddick after the Chronciles.

DVD Review: Some suspenseful moments. It's worth watching once.
Summary: 3 Stars

There are some suspenseful moments. The action scenes are OK. The plot is so so.

It's worth watching once.

Description of The Chronicles of Riddick - Pitch Black (Unrated Director's Cut) [HD DVD]

Universal Pitch Black - HD-DVD
When their ship crash-lands on a remote planet, the marooned passengers soonlearn that escaped convict Riddick (Vin Diesel) isn't the only thing they have to fear. Deadly creatures lurk in the shadows, waiting to attack in the dark, and the planet is rapidly plunging into the utter blackness of a total eclipse. With the body count rising, the doomed survivors are forced toturn to Riddick with his eerie eyes to guide themthrough the darkness to safety. With time runningout, there's only one rule: Stay in the light. "Pitch Black" is the original sci-fi hit that introduced the world to the character of Riddick, the ultimate anti-hero. Take a ride on the pulse-pounding adrenaline rush that USA Today calls "the best excuse to root for the bad guy since Arnold in the original 'Terminator.'"

Owing a major debt to Alien and its cinematic spawn, Pitch Black is a guilty pleasure that surpasses expectations. As he did with The Arrival, director David Twohy revitalizes a derivative story, allowing you to forgive its flaws and submit to its visceral thrills. Under casual scrutiny, the plot's logic crumbles like a stale cookie, but it's definitely fun while it lasts.

A spaceship crashes on a desert planet scorched under three suns. The mostly doomed survivors include a resourceful captain (Radha Mitchell), a drug-addled cop (Cole Hauser), and a deadly prisoner (Vin Diesel) who quickly escapes. These clashing personalities discover that the planet is plunging into the darkness of an extended eclipse, and it's populated by hordes of ravenous, razor-fanged beasties that only come out at night. The body count rises, and Pitch Black settles into familiar sci-fi territory.

What sets the movie apart is Twohy's developing visual style, suggesting that this veteran of B-movie schlock may advance to the big leagues. Like the makers of The Blair Witch Project, Twohy understands the frightening power of suggestion; his hungry monsters are better heard than seen (although once seen, they're chillingly effective), and Pitch Black gets full value from moments of genuine panic. Best of all, Twohy's got a well-matched cast, with Mitchell (so memorable with Ally Sheedy in High Art) and Diesel (Pvt. Caparzo from Saving Private Ryan) being the standouts. The latter makes the most of his muscle-man role, and his character's development is one more reason this movie works better than it should. --Jeff Shannon

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The Chronicles of Riddick - Pitch Black (Unrated Director's Cut) [HD DVD]

The Chronicles of Riddick - Pitch Black (Unrated Director's Cut) [HD DVD]by David Twohy

DVD details

DVD Reviews of The Chronicles of Riddick - Pitch Black (Unrated Director's Cut) [HD DVD]

DVD Review: DVD COLLECTIONSummary: 5 Stars

DVD Review: A little above average for a sci fi movie.Summary: 3 Stars

DVD Review: First Riddick MovieSummary: 5 Stars

DVD Review: Pitch Black TheologySummary: 4 Stars

DVD Review: Some suspenseful moments. It's worth watching once.Summary: 3 Stars