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Jason versus Riddick

It's been nine years since Vin Diesel's cult hero Richard B. Riddick put foot to ass on the big screen. Granted Chronicles of Riddick hardly ignited the box office, but that film and Pitch Black -- which introduced the character back in 2000 -- have a loyal fanbase. So it should come as no surprise that Diesel and writer/director David Twohy dusted Riddick off one more time.

Left for dead on a sun-scorched planet, Riddick finds himself up against an alien race of predators. Activating an emergency beacon alerts two ships: one carrying a new breed of mercenary, the other captained by a man from Riddick's past. 

A lot of your enjoyment of Riddick hinges on whether or not you dug Chronicles and Pitch Black. I liked them both, Pitch Black in particular, and I had me a blast with the latest installment as well.

Sure its low budget shows, but I've spent the better part of a half decade watching Basement cinema, so this is a veritable blockbuster compared to most of my cinematic diet. The effects are fine and the story entertaining enough that the film school bullshit didn't matter anyway. This isn't art, it's Riddick.

I went into Riddick wanting badassery, and that's what I got. The flick is hard R, so there's blood, boobs and profanity -- everything a growing boy needs. The beasts are cool and Riddick is Riddick. What more could I ask for?

The first act -- with Riddick learning how to survive on this new world -- comes off best. But I dug the rest of the movie too. Former Starbuck Katee Sackhoff also gets moments to shine. This is a movie where macho is a character unto itself, and our lead actress holds her own.

It's also cool seeing my Billy Trigger thug alumni Danny Blanco Hall in action again. Props.

I'll certainly own this and enjoy it again and again. Good.
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