By Will Sevy
Staff Writer
“Riddick” is an exhilarating film full of violence and thrilling action that keeps its viewers engaged throughout the film.
Director David Twohy has created a humorous post-apocalyptic film that has fantastic action and comedy spread well throughout it. “Riddick” entertains and appeals through its stunning visual effects, comedic relief, and thrilling action scenes that create an enjoyable experience, overcoming the film’s predictable script.
The film follows anti-hero Richard Riddick (Vin Diesel), a man who was a Lord Marshall, or King, and betrayed by his companions. He is abandoned and left to die on a barren planet, fighting to survive and escape the scorching world. The planet is home to many aliens and monsters that Riddick must repeatedly fend off, and he must figure out a way to get off the planet.
Riddick activates an emergency beacon that brings two separate teams of warring bounty hunters to the planet in order to kill him for the reward. For Riddick, this is his only chance to get off the planet if he can manage to steal one of their ships. He must defend himself against deadly aliens and battle the bounty hunters while planning to steal a ship, helped only by his trusty alien sidekick, which is essentially a dog-like extra-terrestrial.
The amazing visual effects of the film make it stimulating and entertaining, and grab the viewers’ attention immediately. From wonderful skylines to fantastical images of the planet, which show the dangerous terrain and inhabitants, to thrilling fight scenes with aliens, “Riddick” is a tremendous action film. These ideas are new and inspiring because they don’t resemble anything in previous sci-fi films, and the breathtaking views of the planet are colorful and wondrous.
Powerful aliens and futuristic technology such as hovercraft motorcycles are spectacular and original, never being seen before and introducing new equipment that is new and wondrous.
Twohy and Vin Diesel combine to do a good job of showcasing Riddick’s almost superhuman athleticism and acrobatic skills during the fight sequences as well as his cleverness. Even though Riddick is continuously fighting off his various enemies, the aliens, bounty hunters and Riddick’s tactics are sufficiently different, such as his stunts and amusing lines, and makes it so that it never feels repetitive or boring.
Vin Diesel does an excellent job of portraying Riddick as a tenacious, fierce man who can do unbelievable things to get himself out of trouble. He is serious and fierce in the action scenes but funny and human when he is interacting with his “dog”. Vin Diesel is the perfect actor to play Riddick because of his toughness, strength, cleverness, and humor. He has portrayed Riddick in two prior Riddick films and continues to show his fierceness as a superhuman, being able to endure everything that ends up being thrown at him.
The major weakness of the film is its lack of dialogue and the fact that the dialogue included is predictable and boring. Riddick’s lines can at times be painfully cheesy and the script is too predictable and monotonous and is exactly what is expected.
The film contains much needed comic relief provided by Riddick and his pet alien dog and the relationship between the two teams of bounty hunters. Riddick’s cleverness and friendship with his dog, such as the tricks and antics his dog does, along with the stupidity and hostility of the bounty hunters provide much needed comedy that is placed well throughout the film.
“Riddick” is entertaining and amusing, and the fantastic visual effects, terrific comedic relief, and spectacular fight scenes combine to create an enjoyable action film.
“Riddick” is in theaters nationwide and is rated R.
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