Science fiction is one of those genres where the potential is only limited by scale and focus. It's easy to get lost in a sci-fi world full of detail when following a story or character arc (multiple ones, for that matter). But it's also easy to embroil people in a world or universe that has been around for quite some time, preferably the Riddick franchise. In February of 2000,
Pitch Black was released and was met with positive responses, with some even calling it one of the most wildly entertaining and inventive science fiction films of the generation. The scale was simple on film, but massive in possibilities, and the focus was set squarely on the setting, the character's struggles, and the enigmatic badass himself, Riddick. Four years later saw the release of
The Chronicles of Riddick, which increased the scale but took away some of the focus, becoming a lesser favorite than that of
Pitch Black. And ever since the bitter responses, fans have been waiting for nearly ten years for a sequel that brought back the epicness and surreal universe that is the Riddick franchise. The year of 2013 has seen some wildly entertaining films during the summer quarter, some sequels, others origin stories, and some that were standalone releases that raised the heat to an already hot year for action films. The fourth quarter of 2013 saw the release of the aptly named
Riddick, the third entry in the Riddick franchise that fans have been milling over for the past decade. Met with positive responses that haven't been high for the franchise since
Pitch Black, Riddick has been selling the fans exactly what they asked for: the return of one of science fiction's most hard-nosed badasses. As a fan of the series (and even a supporter of
Chronicles), I was impressed with what David Twohy and Vin Diesel brought to the screen.
Riddick was a return of not just Riddick himself, but of the style and attitude of both films prior. It carried over the survival aspect of
Pitch Black and the tenacity of
Chronicles. In all ways, it was a return to form for the series. I walked out praising the film for a lot of reasons, and I was pleased with what I saw as a fan. There were things that caught my eye that had me going "Wow, now THAT's nice", and "Very clever reference." For devoted fans, it's an easter egg hunt for nearly the entire running time, but at the same time something new and fresh to digest. But, in the end, there was something that also caught my attention that drug the experience down a few notches. It's forgivable, but still needs to be pointed out in the grand scheme of things. In this article I will be stating 5 reasons why
Riddick lived up to the expectations the fans and I had going for it. Each reason really gave the film its legs and strength, and each one made the overall experience one of the most of thrilling films of 2013 so far, even at the fourth quarter. But I will also be pointing out the 1 problem that stuck itself out like a sore thumb; let it be known that it doesn't ruin the film, but it does add a blemish that is in desperate need of explanation. There is a
SPOILER warning from this point forward, which gives away some important plot points that will shatter your enjoyment of the film, so skip forward with some discretion. Now, starting off with the 5 reasons why
Riddick is great.....