review: Riddick

 Vin Diesel as Riddick -  Matthew Nable as Boss Johns -  Jordi Mollà as Santana  -  Katee Sackhoff as Dahl -
Dave Batista as Diaz -  Bokeem Woodbine as Moss  -  Raoul Trujillo as Lockspur  -   Conrad Pla as Vargas  -  Nolan Gerard Funk as Luna
Danny Blanco Hall as Falco  -  Noah Danby as Nuñez  -  Neil Napier as Rubio
Karl Urban as Siberius Vaako  -  Alex Branson as Lex Branman  -  Andreas Apergis as Krone 

Starring in his third movie as Riddick the last of a race called Furyan.  After the best part of a decade as the Lord Marshall of the Necromongers - Riddick has become restless.  In an attempt to bow out of the position, Riddick makes a deal with his commander Vaako, who professes to know the location of Furya, that for a ship and a crew to make him home, he will abdicate.

So things being what they will, Riddick once again is stranded on a planet and almost dead.

But given enough time Riddick recuperates and finds a way to signal passing ships for a rescue.   But what he gets is Mercs and bounty hunters who get a bonus if he is brought back dead.


Now it's Riddick's  job to keep from dying  and that there are things worse than him to fear on this planet.

And so, how did I like the third installment?  Well most of the action happens at night...check...it's raining.....check, there are mindless eating machines for animals attacking from all sides.....check.  That was when the movie really took off right?  Yeah?  You know I am talking about the fist movie don't you?  Yeah a bit of a cheap shot, just hope that doesn't start a trend as might the "turbo cycles" OMG WTF I am at a loss what to say about this!  I mean the ridiculous handlebars, a "bitch" seat, I swear I heard one backfire like a Harley with its timing advanced.... and THEY SOUNDED LIKE MOTORCYCLES!!!! Really? Who is this for....who believes that a turbine sounds like and backfires like a Harley....first off...there are NO cylinders or spark plugs in a turbine! But Vin is going to "Ride it like he stole it!" (groan)  By this time my anime guy and I were throwing things at the tv...

 Look this movie has Katie Ssckhoff  doing an even better job of her   Starbuck persona.  Here she is Dahl and she is bad.  Much more so than the Bionic Woman ever came close to... Matthew Nable  Jordi Mollà  and  Dave Batista are so ON in this movie and Vin is Riddick no holds barred, so taken as a compete body of work it is great fun  and then you hear the Harleys ride in....

For a Riddick movie it is top of the heap....though it is hard to say if it is better than #2  close  but if you are looking for more than an epic macho fairytale in Riddick  - you will be a long time looking.

I would give it a 7, and before you start to scream fraud...Let me explain...They were not lazy on this film.  The photography was good, green screen excellent, CGI seamless (they had to have a puppeteer doing the green suit for the hand raised "dog" just the way Vin interacts is so good you buy right into it)

I would say if you like you SF raw and your a Vin Diesel fan, go ahead and rent it.  If you are neither...walk away, you are not missing anything.

Review: After Earth

After Earth

Jaden Smith as Kitai Raige - Will Smith as Cypher Raige - Sophie Okonedo as Faia Raige
Zoë Kravitz as Senshi Raige

What does it mean when your first thoughts in the very first few minutes is "So this is what we can expect from Will Smith as he get older?"  That's what happened to me.  I think it was more the makeup used on Smith to make him appear much older, but then we are treated to his wooden delivery and I start thinking that this can not be a good thing.  I guess you could  attribute it to "bringing your work home with you" as it appears that the elder Smith as Cypher Raige seems to be doing.  

Part of the movie is very confusing because not enough time is really spent in fleshing out the alien encounter and subsequent war that makes Rangers of Cypher's ilk a valuable asset.  Being able to "ghost" is never clearly defined as a mutation or a trait.  Another aspect that might cause confusion is the very animals the Rangers are trained to fight.  It is only mentioned in passing that the creatures are not THE aliens, but bred to hunt humans, hunting by "smelling" their fear.  So,  it may be that the director and writers stepped away from telling the American viewing audience every little minuet instead of letting (read forcing) the viewers to discover why things are happening the way they are.   I could go on, but that would really mean giving away too much.  

The plot is really not to terribly inventive, what am I saying, there is nothing new here at all.  That it is executed reasonably well, is no testimony to anything except that a fairly workman performance is all that was required.  Not that Jaden Smith wasn't interesting to watch, it is a shame though that as the movie progressed, his progress is rated on how wooden he becomes in the end.  Pity.  

Honestly, the whole movie is part and parcel, older science fiction themes sewn together.  There is plenty of action and personal conflict.  But it has all been done before many times and better.   Oh it is not a bad film, just doesn't set the screen on fire either.   I would say watch it for an evening's entertainment but don't expect or demand too much.

I would give the film an overall 7.   

Short Film: Telescope

Have you seen examples of the statement "Sometimes less is more"? Well with two onscreen actors and one voice, this film is about as minimalistic as it comes. But even though the cast is small the message is great. Here is what the copy describes the movie as, and let me tell you, it down plays the impact. Telescope is a great short film.