6) Riddick
Central Cast: Vin Diesel, Karl Urban, Dave Bautista
Budget: $38 Million
Release Date: September 6th
Directed By: David Twohy
The Pitch (Black): Abandoned and left for dead on a desolate, sun-scorched planet, Vin Diesel’s titular hero must fight against horrid alien predators for survival. To make matters worse, by activating his emergency beacon, Riddick alerts bounty hunters of his presence and they descend on the wretched world in search of the galactic fugitive, who must fight against the mercenaries to return to his home planet of Furya.
The Verdict: Following The Chronicles of Riddick – the so-so sequel to his interstellar thriller Pitch Black – David Twohy was subtly ushered away from the Riddick property in 2004. For years, fans fretted that the second film would be the last instalment to be committed to celluloid. But now, after almost a decade since his follow-up to the original graphic tale, Twohy reunites with Vin Diesel, who will return for the third time as galactic socio-path Riddick.
Though the franchise has merely flirted with the coveted status of a blockbuster film, Twohy and Diesel’s series has established a cult following over the years. In fact, the leading actor has paid tribute to the fan base and assured them that the third iteration of Riddick’s galaxy-trotting adventures will be echo the down-and-dirty aesthetic of the first film. It’s a decision you can understand, after all, this is a series of films that revel in their B-movie environment. So trying to recapture the dramatic essence of Pitch Black is undoubtedly the right choice – given the flamboyant and often overbearing nature of The Chronicles of Riddick. Expect stylish combat, brutal deaths and even some indigenous mud monsters that have been thrown in for good measure.
Tonally speaking, the fact that the new film has been granted an ‘R’ rating is a sure sign that Twohy’s threequel will be a leaner, grittier visualisation of Riddick’s escapades. Until September 6th, though, keep one eye on Vin Diesel’s Facebook page for all of the latest details on the upcoming instalment.
Hype-O-Meter: 6/10
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