I got up at 5:30 am cause I couldn't stay in bed any longer. I put The Chronicles of Riddick on before I did laundry. I'm watching the unrated director's cut with 15 minutes of extra footage that wasn't in the theatrical version. It's 5 years after the first movie and the sequel moves out into the larger universe. Riddick is being chased across an ice planet by some bounty hunters. Riddick takes down the four man crew and escapes in their ship. That's how Riddick roles. I'd just give him my car keys if he came 'round here, maybe toss in a sandwich. In New Mecca Riddick goes to see the Imam who was one of the three people to escape in the first movie. Jack had been the third and she had stayed with the Imam and his family for a while. Then she ran off looking for Riddick and got tossed into prison on Cremetoria for being so angry and mean. Bad attitude always gets you into trouble and unless you've got Riddick strength you can't always fight and win. The scenes from the planet surface, any of them really, sure can look cool. The movie is heavy on style and flash. I don't mind that at all. Some nice sets too.
The Imam introduces Riddick to Judy Dench, who an elemental with some sort of mystical powers. She's got a prophecy that says Riddick will save the universe from a terrible evil. That would be the Necromongers. They are scummy guys, kind of like the Borg, but with some slight more personality. They're convert or die kind of guys, forcing the religion of the Underverse on the citizens of the planets they drop in on. They wear a lot of metal and don't smile much.
They show up in New Mecca city right soon, dropping out of the sky in sharp pointy ships that bury themselves in the ground. Waves of fighter craft pour off of them and the battle is begun. The Necromongers are a powerfull force and they whip the population right into line. The leader can rip your soul right from your body and swoosh around in a ghostly way, moving so fast you can barely see him. Everyone bows down but Riddick. There's a fight and while escaping Riddick is snatched up by the bounty hunter who managed to survive the ice planet. They dump Riddick at Cremetoria, a planet that burns during the day and freezes at night. That's Cremetoria below and the inside of the prison.
The bounty hunters and the prison staff have a falling out over the price and it turns ugly. Riddick uses it to his advantage and escapes only to run into Karl Urban, who's come with a gang of Necromongers looking to kill our anti-hero. There's more fighting and backstory and some people turn into extra extra crispy bacon before Riddick can manage to get to the ship to escape again. Then it's back to New Mecca and the big showdown with the head of the dead. It's got an epic look and feel and nearly carries it off. I enjoyed it the times I've watched it. There's always something happening and it's often gorgeous to look at.
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