November 20, 2007

'Riddick' Stalks Again?

Eye Heart Riddick

Yay! I saw this article on Rotten Tomatoes today:
A Third Installment for The Chronicles of Riddick?: David Twohy prepares to enter the UnderVerse.
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/chronicles_of_riddick/news/1690384/

So, here is the discussion: Is it worth it to make another Riddick move?

My answer: yes it is, but there are conditions. If Twohy will go back to the promises made by Pitch Black, I am there! If it is going to be another Chronicles of Riddick, I am out.

While I was amused and pretty pleased with the casting in "Riddick 2", the movie more or less ended up feeling as empty, shiny, cold and over-priced as a hugely ornate marble chess board. I hate chess, so perhaps you will understand the simile. But I love looking at the chess pieces--they are always so different and are usually all beautiful. That is how I felt about the actors in the second film, with the exception of Alexa Davalos. I like keeping an eye out for her in different places, like Angel. May I suggest her as one of the characters in the upcoming Watchmen? I think she is totally able to carry off being a super hero! On the other hand, Judi Dench? I have to resist the urge to gag when I see her character; a travesty.

Pitch Black is another matter; the story is small (as was the budget, apparently), but excellent. The effects are also pretty good, and at least adhere to some bounds of an alternate reality, unlike the sequel's. All in all, I like the less grand, but more sincere package, and I find the earnestness behind the filmmaking more appealing than the bombast that followed in Riddick 2.

I had heard that there was a trilogy in the offing, but I figured the third movie was The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury. I meant to watch it, but never did. I think it was partially out of disgust; I thought it was a cop-out not to have another live-action movie to fill out the trilogy. I am happy to be wrong in this case.

So, my fingers are crossed. What do you think about a possible Riddick 3; worth the time?

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