Overview: Following the sleeper success of their breakthrough sci-fi/horror smash Pitch Black, writer-director David Twohy and star Vin Diesel reunited for 2004’s action-packed The Chronicles of Riddick, an expansive and ambitious sequel that took their eponymous antihero to the farthest reaches of the galaxy.

Riddick (Diesel) is an intergalactic fugitive whose dark past catches up with him when he is lured out of hiding by Imam (Keith David, The Thing), another survivor of the planet of horrors they barely escaped from five years earlier. Now out of the shadows, Riddick is identified by an ethereal emissary (Academy Award winner Dame Judi Dench) as the descendant of an ancient race of warriors who may be the universe’s last hope against the Necromongers, an evil army of fanatics intent on bending the world to their will.

As enemies close in on all sides, including the ruthless Lord Marshal (Colm Feore, Thor) and his scheming lieutenant Vaako (Karl Urban, The Boys), Riddick finds himself a reluctant saviour of the cosmos, with only his razor-sharp wits and cunning killer instinct standing in the way of total annihilation.

4K Blu-ray Verdict: In this follow up to Pitch Black (2000), criminal-on-the-run Riddick (Vin Diesel) finds himself in the middle of a crusade of by the Necromongers, led by the Lord Marshall (Colm Feore), who wishes to convert - or kill - all on the planet of Helion Prime.

As we learned in Pitch Black - which was set five years prior to the events in this movie - Riddick can see perfectly in the dark. Which comes in handy on this planet, which is in darkness most of the time. By his side is Kyra (Alexa Davalos), who was named Jack in the first movie, who’s been imprisoned deep in the bowels of the planet. Will Riddick be able to bust her out and stop the Necromongers? As Elemental Aereon (Judi Dench) says, sometimes you have to fight evil with a different kind of evil. Enter Master Riddick.

The action never lags, and the special effects are magnificent, really much better than I thought they’d be. As with any other action/adventure/sci-fi hodge-podge, the plot might not stand up to close scrutiny, but my interest was surely held over its two-hour running time, which is no mean feat.

Diesel may not be John Wayne (yet), but hes got this role down pat already. Dench adds class where class is needed (although she’s not on screen enough), and Feore makes a suitable villain. This movie is sort of a low-rent version of the Star Wars movies. It’ll entertain, but don’t expect it to knock your socks off!

That said, and in closing, the sets and special effects look stunning on high-definition TV - particularly close-ups of the Necromonger’s body armor and the interior of their ships. While Riddick and Kyra (played by Alexa Davalos) steal the show, there are some solid supporting performances from the likes of the aforementioned Dame Judi Dench (Aereon), Colm Feore (Lord Marshall), Karl Urban (Vaako) and Thandie Newton (Dame Vaako).

4K ULTRA HD LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS:
Brand new 4K restorations by Arrow Films of the Theatrical and Director’s Cuts of the film, approved by David Twohy
Original DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio on both cuts, plus remixed Dolby Atmos for the Theatrical Cut
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing on both cuts
Reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned artwork by Dan Mumford
Illustrated collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the film by Walter Chaw, original production notes and the Chronicles Compendium, an overview of the characters and planets featured in the film.

DISC ONE:
4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) of the Theatrical Cut from the original negative
Ambition on Another Scale: Chronicling a Blockbuster Sequel, a brand-new feature-length documentary on the film, featuring interviews with interviews with writer-director David Twohy, actors Keith David and Linus Roache, storyboard artist Brian Murray, concept artist Matt Codd, miniature effects artist Ian Hunter and digital matte artist Dylan Cole
Realizing Riddick, a new interview with Twohy on the creation of the character
Back to Black, a new interview with Murray on his continuing work within the Riddick saga
Chronicles of a Cult Film Celebrity, a new interview with David on the role of Imam
Theatrical trailers

DISC TWO:
4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) of the Director’s Cut
Archive audio commentary by David Twohy and Vin Diesel
Archive audio commentary by Twohy and co-stars Karl Urban and Alexa Davelos
Archive introduction by Twohy
Creation of New Mecca, an archive featurette focusing on the world and characters of Helion Prime
Riddick Rises, an archive featurette focusing on the prison planet of Crematoria
Keep What You Kill, an archive featurette focusing on the world of the Necromongers
Visual Effects Revealed, an archive featurette focusing on the VFX
Interactive Production Calendar, a series of short, candid videos filmed throughout shooting
Production Vignettes, a series of short behind-the-scenes segments
Three deleted scenes
Virtual Guide to the Chronicles of Riddick, a series of short animated segments explaining the world of the film
Toombs’ Chase Log, a short film narrated by Nick Chinlund in character
A guided tour of the set by Vin Diesel, along with 360-degree panoramic views of eight sets from the film
On-set interviews with Twohy, Diesel, Dench, Urban, Colm Feore, Alexa Davelos, Thandie Newton and producer Scott Kroopf
Promotional interviews with Twohy, Diesel, Newton, Urban, Davelos and Feore
Easter egg

DISC THREE (LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE)
4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) of the Theatrical Cut in the alternate 1.78:1 aspect ratio
Escape from Butcher Bay, a compilation of cut scenes from the acclaimed tie-in video game
The Lowdown, a television special produced to promote the film’s original release

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