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Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2007 1:23 pm**

I guess technically there's spoilers here. Ye've been warned ...

So, in "Pitch Black," the second of the holy man's sons finds himself in the shadows as the big photophobic (possibly due to porphyria) aliens are searching the general vicinity. Riddick appears from behind the kid in the shadows & says, "Very bad timing." Then, after a few seconds, he says, "Just don't run." Naturally, the kid bolts & gets iced. Given that Vin ain't the greatest actor in history & given that David Twohy himself said the shooting was hectic, I've always wondered Riddick's true intent w\ the "Just don't run," line. Was he trying to help the kid or help himself?

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2007 1:34 pm**

Riddick's character was pretty straight forward it that he'd give you advice on how to survive, but wouldn't lift a muscle to help you if you didn't listen.

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2007 1:38 pm**

I don't think he was trying to kill the kid. My argument being later when Johns later says kill the girl and use her for bait, Riddick decides to fight Johns instead.

And this is a great, timely thread, considering my as-yet-unveiled halloween costume...

Edited By GORDON on 1193247584

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2007 1:46 pm**

There was this point in "Conan : the Barbarian" where John Milius (the director) points out where Conan stops being an instrument of vengeance & ultimately self-centred, & becomes heroic. He says the point is near the end, when Conan goes back to take on the temple full of Set followers.

Similarly, Riddick acts in much the same manner as Conan (making deals or doing things that get him ahead). The first time he does something really self-less (I think) was when he turns around after he hears Jack trapped by the alien. Up till that point, he's a utilitarian bastard. & the entire discussion of the "bait" just makes my brain think more that he might've been tricking the kid.

So, on one hand you've got a pragmatist w\ zero conscience (up to that point in the film, at least) w\ a possible advantage he can exploit. On the other hand, it's not a helluva lot of an advantage since there's more than one critter, they're fast, & he's still got a decent sprint to make before getting back to his companions. Having just one decoy ain't the greatest plan. Riddick's usually smarter.

Then again, maybe he figured the things would just flush him out like they did the kid & taking off now is probably better than taking off later.

Dunno, shit like this just bugs me when I can't settle on a definitive answer.

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2007 1:49 pm**

I think having enough depth to warrant discussion... unlike stuff like Fantastic Four, is what makes a good film. Especially when you end up having a charismatic hero/antihero like Riddick in the mix.

Edited By GORDON on 1193248186

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2007 2:56 pm**

Riddick is one of the most interesting bad-ass antiheroes I've come across. But I dunno if I'm a fan of what they're doing to him. All the weird big scope, superhuman-type crap that starts in "Chronicles." I liked "Pitch Black" better, where he still showed some mortality. Like he loses 1-on-1 against Johns. Then, a movie later, he's wiping out supposedly well-trained, professional troops five at a time & then he commands an entire army.

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:06 pm**

Yeah, I like the Pitch Black universe better. Just a load of people like people you see on the streets every day on a boat ride. Nobody is completely good or completely bad.

Then Chronicles took us into the realm of fantasy.

Eh.

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:12 pm**

I got no problem w\ fantasy, but it just seems like they'd a list of shit that they wanted to do & came up w\ lame-ass ways to tie it together coherently. I still say the worst scene in "Chronicles" was Riddick getting surrounded by the Necromongers after the escape from Crematoria & unleashing that energy wave that radiates from him at the crucial moment. I remember just taking a long drink & letting the alcohol numb it away.

Edited By Malcolm on 1193253155

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:23 pm**

Chronicles sucked balls.

Pitch Black, the cartoon about Riddick (I remember it being good and better than the second movie), and the game "Escape From Butcher Bay" are the Riddick stories worth your time.

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2007 4:41 pm**

Chronicles of Riddick : Dark Fury. Yea, that Peter Chung shit. That dude is just odd.

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2007 4:42 pm**

Leisher wrote:...the game "Escape From Butcher Bay" are the Riddick stories worth your time.

They pulled that shit in there, too. Twenty menthols my ass.

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2007 5:20 pm**

Malcolm wrote:I still say the worst scene in "Chronicles" was Riddick getting surrounded by the Necromongers after the escape from Crematoria & unleashing that energy wave that radiates from him at the crucial moment. I remember just taking a long drink & letting the alcohol numb it away.

I agree, I hate that too.

Did you see the director's cut where he talks to the dead chick from his homeworld and she explains why he has that power? That stuff wasn't in the theatrical cut.

Furian energy.

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2007 5:21 pm**

Malcolm wrote:
Leisher wrote:...the game "Escape From Butcher Bay" are the Riddick stories worth your time.
They pulled that shit in there, too. Twenty menthols my ass.

Yes, the same dead chick shows up to give him that "power," too.

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2007 5:38 pm**

GORDON wrote:Did you see the director's cut where he talks to the dead chick from his homeworld and she explains why he has that power? That stuff wasn't in the theatrical cut.

Furian energy.

Yeah. For some reason, I'dn't seen the film in the cinema & was walking by it on the Wally World or Target racks one night. Came as a package deal w\ "Pitch Black" for like $12 or something. So the first time I saw the flick was the Director's Cut. & it still pissed me off. I do not care to imagine my reaction had I been subjected to it sans spiritual guidance chick.

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2007 5:39 pm**

Correct. That mysticism stuff still pollutes the Riddick universe introduced in PB, but at least it was explained a little better in the Director's.

PB really was a great film. I wish they'd kept Riddick like that.... "real."

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2007 5:40 pm**

I also didn't like the "elemental" Judy Dentch, much.

Or however her name is apelled.

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2007 5:44 pm**

GORDON wrote:I also didn't like the "elemental" Judy Dentch, much.

Or however her name is apelled.

Eh, neutral folk like that always come off as very manipulative & cryptic to me. I just naturally dislike that ilk. On the other hand, evenhanded fuckers like that make spectacular movie narrators.

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2007 6:35 pm**

Well, I mean what I didn't like was that she was THE WIND, man. What was she, some sort of alien?

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2007 8:41 pm**

Truthfully, it'd be nice to have like some background or sketch of more of the Riddick universe.

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2007 8:45 pm**

I heard something about a new riddick game on the xbox, but I haven't heard anything about any new movies.

Welcome to Thunderdome

For those who've seen Pitch Black - What was Riddick's intent (read & vote)