Riddick 
Starring: Vin Diesel, Karl Urban, Jordi Molla, Matt Nable, Katee Sackhoff, Bokeem Woodbine, Dave Bautista, Conrad Pla, Raoul Trujillo, Nolan Funk, Keri Hilson
Directed by: David Twohy
Rated: R
Run Time: 119 mins
Genre: Sci- Fi
Opens August 6th
By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com
Hey Phoenix Film Fans! Now that we are officially into the Fall Summer Movie Season, this should be an interesting line up at the box office. Kicking things off is the latest installment in the Riddick series, starring Vin Diesel as the named anti-hero. How does this film compared to the previous two? Read on to find out.
Richard B. Riddick (Vin Diesel) is having a colossally awful day. He has been abandoned on a desolate planet, left for dead and almost eaten by several species of animals that look as if they mutated from the “Jurassic Park” Island. After managing to escape death for the umpteenth time in one day, he seeks shelter in a nearby abandoned cave where he regroup and tries to configure a game plan on how to get back to his home planet Furya.
As Riddick adapts to his temporary home, he manages to make a friend in one of the planet’s animal species, a hybrid of hyena and large dog. Through exploring the landscape, Riddick discovers an abandoned space station where he sends a distress beacon for rescue. Those who come looking for him are out for his head, literally, so it’s up to Riddick to outsmart the bounty hunters that have come to hunt him down. Will Riddick be able to leave the planet and return home or will the hunters or elements get to him first?
The defining factor of this film is the cinematography; the shots, action sequences and special effects all look fantastic, but it’s not enough to support the long run time. The action is rather intense and will keep viewers on the edge of their seat, but if you’re not familiar with the character and the previous films, you may feel a bit lost. The film is primarily a testosterone - fueled gore fest that includes bad dialogue, sexist banter and lots of violence. The best way to sum this film up is if “Jurassic Park” meets “Alien” and “Man vs. Wild”; it a strange dichotomy of genres that never quite finds it footing. You be the judge when “Riddick” opens up in theaters nationwide starting Friday August 6, 2013.
