The Riddick universe has seen quite the evolution. It began with Pitch Black which became one of the most underrated sci-fi films of the 2000s and launched Vin Diesel to become an action star. Two theatrical sequels were made that kept their cult status as they were not huge financial successes.
With Vin Diesel stating that the fourth film, Furya, now has a script, fans are returning to the franchise. The two sequels go in very different directions from each other, The Chronicles Of Riddick is more of a sci-fi epic, resulting in fans debating if it is better or worse than 2013's Riddick.
It Tried To Be Different
While Riddick was a worthy sequel, some fans felt that it tried too hard to be like Pitch Black. However, the opposite complaint was stated about The Chronicles Of Riddick. It lost all the horror and grittiness creating a massive story about a man trying to stop a villain from taking over the universe.
In a way, it is understandable why some felt that The Chronicles Of Riddick did not fit, it is not that different than the difference between Alien as a horror film and Aliens as an action-packed thriller. The Chronicles Of Riddick delivers on a change of tone and scope while still being in tune with the core of Riddick.
The Perfect Mix Of Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Similar to Star Wars, The Chronicles Of Riddick managed to mix science fiction with high fantasy. It certainly leans more towards sci-fi but with the prophecy, elementals, the introduction of Furyans, and the strange realm known as the Underverse, it certainly blends the two.
In a way, it predates the Asgardian lore of the MCU where everything is so advanced that some things appear to be magic but are likely just technology. It creates a very visually stunning universe that was different from anything else at the time and shows genuine care from David Twohy.
Expands The Universe
Speaking of the universe, whether some cared for The Chronicles Of Riddick or not, it did pave the way for the massive universe which consists of three movies, an anime film, two shooter video games, and now the aforementioned fourth film in the works.
Pitch Black was never intended to spawn a franchise but David Twohy and Vin Diesel made the character of Riddick their passion project. So much so that even Vin Diesel himself got the rights to the Riddick franchise after The Chronicles Of Riddick.
Toombs Is Now A Fan Favorite
He is not the main villain of the story but The Chronicles Of Riddick introduces Alexander Toombs, a merc with a determination to collect the bounty on Riddick's head. Played by Nick Chinlund, Toombs was such a mix of charisma and villainy that it was hard for fans to hate him.
Toombs was so beloved by fans that he would later return in the Dark Fury prequel anime. When it was announced that a spin-off titled Merc City was being made, some fans were hoping Toombs would return as a star.
Some Of Riddick's Best Lines
David Twohy and Vin Diesel clearly know how Riddick should be portrayed. Riddick has become known for his badass quotes that would come off as silly or cheesy if another actor or character attempted to say them.
The Chronicles Of Riddick is no different: several of Riddick's lines are some of the best quotes in the entire franchise. From threatening to kill a man with a teacup to taming an alien hellhound-like creature to simply saying "F*** you!" to the main villain in the final fight of the director's cut.
Best Set Design Of The Series
With an increased budget, it meant that everything was bigger. While there are plenty of digital backgrounds for the alien worlds, there are also plenty of practical sets used. Whether it's the city on Helion Prime, the prison on Crematoria, or the Lord Marshal's throne room: they are exquisitely designed.
The aforementioned mix of science fiction and fantasy made the design and architecture feel unique. Even when trekking across the surface of Crematoria, the land was designed on a set, giving more creativity. Whereas both Pitch Black and Riddick had fitting but rather drab desert locations that were hardly memorable.
Action Ahead Of Its Time
Most of the action segments in Pitch Black are heavily edited and filled to the brim with shaky cam. This is due to its lower budget and really didn't solidify what Riddick could do. In fact, most of the martial arts and well-executed knife combat that most fans think of when it comes to Riddick is in the second movie.
The higher budget allowed for all the fighting to be smoothly filmed in one shot leading to some stand-out action sequences. One of the series' biggest contributions is Lord Marshal's unique form of super speed that managed to portray the power long before the likes of Quicksilver from X-Men or DC's The Flash.
Memorable Villains
While the Lord Marshall, played by Colm Feore, is the central villain whom Riddick wants to kill, Vaako is the secondary villain who seeks to overthrow his master and take the throne. The Lord Marshal is nowhere near the best villain ever made but Colm Feore gives a memorably bombastic performance.
Karl Urban plays Vaako and as always, Karl Urban nails it. Karl Urban and Thandie Newton stand out in an already enjoyable action-adventure. Vaako was so beloved by fans that he returned in Riddick, even though it was essentially a glorified cameo.
Furthers Riddick's Character
In Pitch Black, it was the story of opposites, showing heroes become cowardly villains, those of high class become like criminals, and a criminal becomes the hero of the story. That story arc continues with The Chronicles Of Riddick; though Riddick is not the nicest fellow in the galaxy, he does have honor.
With the prophecy to kill the Lord Marshall and save the universe; he also cares for Kyra, whom he views like a daughter or young sister. Riddick's journey shows him become more and more of an honorable anti-hero, even if he's doing it for himself rather than the universe which helps pave the way for his encounter with Johns Sr. in Riddick.
Unrated Cut
A common complaint about The Chronicles Of Riddick was its tone and rating. In many ways, it is watered down from the grittiness and brutality of Pitch Black. This was likely a studio decision because the director's cut adds more violence and replaces some dialogue to better match the tone of Pitch Black for an R-rated experience.
As is the case with the entire Riddick trilogy, the unrated cut also features quite a bit of extra footage. It is nowhere near the drastic difference as say Zack Snyder's Justice League was but it still adds more and provides a better pace to the overall story.