Review: Pitch Black

By Jack February 29, 2000 10:31 AM

A disabled spacecraft crash-lands on a harsh desert planet at the beginning of this tedious sci-fi disaster. Among the grungy survivors are the female pilot, a Muslim priest, a prissy antiquities dealer, a convicted killer with huge muscles and surgically-enhanced laser vision and the bounty hunter who is bringing him to justice. They all fight for leadership power - until they're terrorized by armies of voracious, carnivorous, nocturnal creatures who are fiendishly determined to devour them. While "Pitch Black" manages to satisfy on the visual level with well done special effects and bleached hues which accentuate their desolation and camera views frequently seen through the infrared eyesight of Riddick, which adds color and beauty to the events happening on screen. The component about this film that was most underwhelming, however, was the aliens themselves. In a genre where there is no limit to creativity, these aliens looked inexplicably ordinary (as in I've seen this before in the "Alien Movies" and "Independence Day"). It also would not have hurt anyone to have written better dialogue. The film also missteps by providing us with an ending that is, well, just sorta there. When I walk into a movie like "Pitch Black", I expect something epic to close things out. But I suppose, at the same time, I'd rather have it just kind of stop than see things ruined with something ridiculous and laughable. Conclusion: Watch this Movie for the eyecandy or Vin Diesel if you're a fan, otherwise go rent the Alien Movies.

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RE: Review: Pitch Black   reply

Posted by Sasquatch (sasquatch@aodmetal.com) on February 29, 2000 10:54 AM

I have to disagree. I really liked this movie, and I think that Vin Diesel really saved it. I think the sublties displayed by Riddik gave his character a lot of depth. And the ending was great just for it's sheer unexpectedness(not going to give it away though.) The bounty hunter was great because he turned out to be just the opposite of what was stereotypically expected. 

All in all, everyone was "human." No one was perfect. I think the movie was less about the aliens, as that being a backdrop for the interaction between the characters(which is what most great sci-fi stories are based upon.)

I personally would like to see a sequel, having nothing to do with the aliens, but more on the development of Riddik. 

Sasquatch

Vin Diesel and Richard Riddick   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on February 29, 2000 11:16 AM

I will agree that Vin Diesel is really what made the movie even relatively worth the watch. and I also liked a lot of the cinematography.

RE: Review: Pitch Black   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on February 29, 2000 1:06 PM

This movie was crappy
van diesel is only somewhat higher on the food/brain chain than van damm

RE: Review: Pitch Black   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on March 1, 2000 6:55 AM

Vin Diesel was a real badass in this movie - his character had great definition and never caved in to the bad-guy-with-the-heart-of-gold cliche we have grown to expect. The movie was incredibly stylish and well put together.

RE: Review: Pitch Black   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on March 1, 2000 2:42 PM

I have two major comments on this movie. 
1) The cinematographic effects--bleaches, color effects, etc etc--were overdone. Come on people, haven't we had enough of that random shit with all the "hey we just found out about these nifty effects plugins" NIKE commercials and overdone car commercials?? I mean, a few done well and placed effectively would have been great, but the way it was there were too many and just used to haphazardly. 

2) Riddick. OK, at first I thought I was going to completely hate / be completely bored by this character. When he didn't start killing the rest of the crew, though, I started to find some interest in the character. The infra-red thing was really cool and actually relatively original. Not bad, not bad...and on the Riddick note, notice the terrible continuity problem with Riddick doing the first-person voice over at the beginning then NEVER doing it again? Sheesh, tell someone to practice their simple writing skills.

RE:  Review: Pitch Black   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on January 13, 2003 6:02 AM

i would love a squel to pitch black too but they are saying that in the new pitch black comeing out in 2004
that there introuducing rap in to it so i think that it might be ruined by this
though i do love pitch black

ps sorry for the spelling

pitch black   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on January 13, 2003 6:05 AM

i no everone probley watched this sfilm because vin was in it but i think that the other charactors really done a fantastic job
and cole who played jhons really made the film belivable agaist the ralasinship between riddick and jhons