Chronicles of Riddick....is it any good?

qzzq · Jul 28, 2004

I liked Pitch Black a lot. Decent science fiction, although the low budget was visible in the SFX now and then. The Chronicles of Riddick is supposed to be a sequel and the second part of a trilogy of films. They always come in threes these days. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> Has anyone seen it? Care to comment? http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/chronicles_of_riddick/ <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> *** </div>

Saiph · Jul 28, 2004

It blows. I tried to like it, but it blows. They try to do to much, and the main villains are "Necromongers" (which sets the cheesy level for the movie). <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> --------------------SaiphMOD@gmail.com -------------------"This is my Timey Wimey Detector. Goes "bing" when there's stuff. It also fries eggs at 30 paces, wether you want it to or not actually. I've learned to stay away from hens: It's not pretty when they blow" -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink" </div>

Leovinus · Jul 28, 2004

How crushing it must be for a filmmaker to get a 2-word review: "It blows." <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

Saiph · Jul 28, 2004

want more? They go for epic, and have lots of big "epic" shots. But they seem empty. Just flash, no substance. And kinda cheesy. They needed to develop some characters more, in order to pull it off. But they kept jumping about. The result: A disjointed mess. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> --------------------SaiphMOD@gmail.com -------------------"This is my Timey Wimey Detector. Goes "bing" when there's stuff. It also fries eggs at 30 paces, wether you want it to or not actually. I've learned to stay away from hens: It's not pretty when they blow" -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink" </div>

canadian_joe · Jul 29, 2004

Yep it was a horrible mess. I was sort of looking forward to going to watch it, but really wish that I had saved my money for something, anything, else. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

qzzq · Jul 29, 2004

Hmmm, doesn't sound too good then. I read some of the reviews and they all agreed it wasn't a teribly good movie, but science fiction usually doesn't do well with reviewers for some reason, so I still had some hope for it. Not anymore! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> *** </div>

Leovinus · Jul 29, 2004

I think the bottom line is this: Wait for it to come out on video and then don't rent it. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

jcdenton · Jul 29, 2004

I read some of the reviews and they all agreed it wasn't a teribly good movie, but science fiction usually doesn't do well with reviewers for some reason, so I still had some hope for it. Modern science-fiction movies don't get bad reviews because of their genre, but because they're just plain bad. Now there are a few exceptions, but for the most part, in modern science fiction, special effects and action takes precedent over plot, acting, or concept. If you want to see critically acclaimed science-fiction, look no further than the golden era in the late 70s/early 80s, the era that brought us Star Wars, Alien, Blade Runner, Star Trek: Wrath of Khan and Terminator. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

Saiph · Jul 29, 2004

If I was better with movies, I'm sure I could rattle off several that came out in the last decade. And don't forget, the 70's and 80's also gave out a ton of dud's too. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> --------------------SaiphMOD@gmail.com -------------------"This is my Timey Wimey Detector. Goes "bing" when there's stuff. It also fries eggs at 30 paces, wether you want it to or not actually. I've learned to stay away from hens: It's not pretty when they blow" -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink" </div>

jcdenton · Jul 29, 2004

I didn't say we don't get any good science fiction movies these days, just that most of them these days are terrible. The films I listed that were released in the 70s and 80s revolutionized the science-fiction genre. They far out-weight the duds that were released along side them. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

Saiph · Jul 29, 2004

I don't know about revolutionary. Star Wars, Alien, Blade Runner, Star Trek: Wrath of Khan and Terminator. Star wars brought in big special effects, emphasized good vs evil archetypes. That probably made a mark. Alien: Yeah, that did something. Blade runner: I actually haven't seen this (an error on my part, I know) so I can't comment. Star trek: Wrath of Chan: No, I don't consider that revolutionary. I don't even put it in the same league as the first two. It's good, but not that good. Terminator: I liked it, good movie, but I don't see anything "revolutionary" survive. Then again, I'm probably not looking in the right places. Anyway, there are a ton of duds then, which these gems help obscure, but not erase. All movie genre's will have the same problem. Sci-fi probably more so (directors and writers get lost in the "flash" associated with it). <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> --------------------SaiphMOD@gmail.com -------------------"This is my Timey Wimey Detector. Goes "bing" when there's stuff. It also fries eggs at 30 paces, wether you want it to or not actually. I've learned to stay away from hens: It's not pretty when they blow" -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink" </div>

jcdenton · Jul 29, 2004

Sci-fi probably more so (directors and writers get lost in the "flash" associated with it). Couldn't have said it better myself. I think the overall problem is the view which movie writers and directors see through their glasses when looking at what movie-goers want to see. They think well, throw in some adrenaline pumping action, some romance, some witty humor and you have a slam dunk at the box office. Afterall, that's all mainstream audiences want to see, right? Wrong, looking at the box office number of some of the latest sci-fi flicks doesn't paint a rosy picture (I, Robot is the exception of course with a first week opening of $52 million). These movie studio execs need to understand that you can't milk the same ideas over and over again. BTW, I highly suggest you see Blade Runner. I can't really say any more then what you've probably read, but watch it, and you'll see why it has such a cult following (including myself <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />). <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

larper · Jul 29, 2004

No, I think you had it right the first time, Saiph. It blows. 'Nuff said. I rank it up there with "Event Horizon" as possibly the worst sci-fi movie ever made. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Vote Libertarian </div>

Saiph · Jul 29, 2004

It's a strong candidate worst "Big" sci-fi. There are a lot of sci-fi movies that are absolutely awful, that even Riddick doesn't hold a candle too. But for a big screen, summer "blockbuster" yeah, this one's right up there. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> --------------------SaiphMOD@gmail.com -------------------"This is my Timey Wimey Detector. Goes "bing" when there's stuff. It also fries eggs at 30 paces, wether you want it to or not actually. I've learned to stay away from hens: It's not pretty when they blow" -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink" </div>

canadian_joe · Jul 29, 2004

Haha I think that Jason X has it beat. Think one of hte latter Critters movies was on a space ship too, and that was definately worst. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

lunatic133 · Jul 29, 2004

I am disappointed as I wanted to see Chronicles of Riddik but everyone is saying it was so horrible. That's really a shame as, at least from the trailer, it showed potential. When I think of sci-fi from the 80s I automatically think of The Last Starfighter ... low budget to the extreme, but not so horrible that I didn't enjoy it when I was home from school sick one day with nothing better to do <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /> Oh and I really liked Enemy Mine, although as I recall the ending was a trifle ... unsatisfying. Can't really remember though as it's been forever since I've seen it. I have to say the worst sci-fi I've ever seen was Rocket Man, although I think Zenon: Z3 might actually be worse ... interestingly they are both Disney. True, that means they're meant for kids, not eighteen year olds, but I cant' even imagine any self respecting nine year old liking the latter. And I saw Rocket Man when I was eleven and hated it SO <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /> I guess Rocket Man was supposed to be stupid though, so I can give it SOME credit there for being okay in a "Dude Where's My Car of Space" kind of way (Dude where's my rocket ship?) ... but made for TV or not, whoever wrote Zenon Z3 probably has to leave their house with a paper bag over their head in fear of being recognized. Ugh. Ramble ramble off topic blah blah I'll shut up now <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /> This is what happens when they give you a computer at work and say "Burn CDs all day." LOL

nacnud · Jul 29, 2004

I liked enemy mine too although I read the book, I was very surprised to find out years later that a film had been made especially one that was relatively faithful to the book (I was expecting the usual Hollywood rubbish)

jmilsom · Aug 2, 2004

Here in my remote place, miles from any cinema, I happened today to get an English programme talking about "Chronicles of Riddick". Looks good on a promo show - can you imagine Judy Dench is in the movie - I guess that is similar to Sean Connery doing the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Well it unfortunately sounds like a Riddick-ulous movie - why do they stuff so many such movies up. I'll tell you a big budget film I quite liked though that was slammed by the Critics - "Dune" - the Directors cut is quite good. A low budget one I liked was "Impostor". As it was a P.K.Dick story - it is probably his brilliant idea that makes the movie good - and as a production could have been better. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

cryogenius · Aug 2, 2004

I left feeling that somehow, someway, my money had been abused. My greenbacks were "black and bluebacks", Oh well, I'll still be in line for the "next " one! I guess I'll never learn. Now there needs to be another movie like "The Illustrated Man," call it "Pulp Faction"!!!

commander_keen · Aug 3, 2004

Here is a checklist of what Riddick failes and succeeds at. Good backstory establishing hero and/or villians: FAILURE. Likeable main hero: FAILURE. Attractive female lead: SUCCESS. Cool special effects: FAILURE. Good Story/Script: FAILURE. Cheesy one-liners (a must for scifi): BOTH Good ending: SUCCESS So lets see, we got a good lead character, good side-kick, good ending but everything else sucks. Ok, Riddick does blow but at least it did try harder then others [in some departments]. Still, with so much GOOD Scifi material [in books] out there, it makes you wonder if Hollywood's run by crack-addict monkies.

Chronicles of Riddick....is it any good?

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