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Pitch Black [2000]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Owing a major debt to Alien and its cinematic spawn, Pitch Black is a guilty pleasure that surpasses expectations. As he did with The Arrival, director David Twohy revitalises a derivative story, allowing you to forgive its flaws and submit to its visceral thrills. Under casual scrutiny, the plot's logic crumbles like a stale cookie, but it's definitely fun while it lasts. A spaceship crashes on a desert planet scorched under three suns. The mostly doomed survivors include a resourceful captain (Radha Mitchell), a drug-addled cop (Cole Hauser), and a deadly prisoner (Vin Diesel) who quickly escapes. These clashing personalities discover that the planet is plunging into the darkness of an extended eclipse, and it's populated by hordes of ravenous, razor-fanged beasties that only come out at night. The body count rises, and Pitch Black settles into familiar sci-fi territory.

What sets the movie apart is Twohy's developing visual style, suggesting that this veteran of B-movie schlock may advance to the big leagues. Like the makers of The Blair Witch Project, Twohy understands the frightening power of suggestion; his hungry monsters are better heard than seen (although once seen, they're chillingly effective), and Pitch Black gets full value from moments of genuine panic. Best of all, Twohy's got a well-matched cast, with Mitchell (so memorable with Ally Sheedy in High Art) and Diesel (Pvt. Caparzo from Saving Private Ryan) being the standouts. The latter makes the most of his muscle-man role, and his character's development is one more reason this movie works better than it should. --Jeff Shannon


brilliant original movie !
Review date: 2008-01-13 Rating: 10 out of 10

this movie is just awesome ..the plot and acting are second to none, and vin diesels sense of humour works very well.the storyline is total new not some revamped film 3 times round !! you just have to go out and buy it (together with Chronicles Of Riddick which carries on from this film) well worth the money !!

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Reviews


Simple, effective, and very good.
Review date: 2007-11-06 Rating: 10 out of 10

If you'll excuse me, I'll start in reverse order.
A lot of people are drawn to this movie after having heard of or seen the sequel, The chronicles of Riddick. Now I'm a big sci-fi fan, and can sit through a lot. I also like Vin Diesel, but the sequel is poor. It boasts better effects and higher budget, but lousy OTT storyline. In fact it reminds me of the crappy Highlander 2 storyline in the way it is so far removed from the original.
All this to say that Pitch Black should be considered separately from the sequel. Do not make the mistake of pre-judging this movie on the basis of the sequel.

On to Pitch Black.
Somebody already mentioned Alien, and I think there are indeed certain similarities. If you consider the cult status of Alien, this is high praise indeed. The main similarities are the aliens themselves. Never seen before, violent, prone to hiding in the shadows, and with an appetite for a bit of human carnage.
The storyline is fairly predicable, but this in itself is not a bad thing. Much like Alien, you want to know 'how' something will happen, rather than 'if'. It's not going to win any oscars, but it will keep you thoroughly entertained, and on the edge of your seat.

The cast of the movie were all relative unknowns prior to this. So there's no feeling of a pecking order in terms of the way they act. Diesel tends to steal many on-screen momentz, but that's more to do with the fact that he's a big guy, and his character has been written to be imposing.
His nemesis is excellently played by Cole Hauser. You're not sure whether to like him or loathe him, and you end up doing both at different moments of the movie.
The vessels' stand in captain Radha Mitchell is excellently weak and pathetic in the beginning, gradually buidling up to her climatic finale.

A lot has been said already about the content of the movie. My only point to add to this would be the pace of the events.
The opening scene with the meteorite shower and crash landing is fast and frenetic. The pace then slows right down as the survivors explore the planet, and as we are introduced to our anti-hero Riddick.
And then as things start to become more clear (or dark....) the pace starts to pick up again as the panic sets in. It's an up and down experience that is really good fun and well worth watching.
After all, fun is what it's meant to be about....

Surprisingly good and original movie with some unbelievable effects
Review date: 2007-09-05 Rating: 10 out of 10

I was very favourably surprised by this movie, which didn't make a big score when opening in cinemas but now is much more recognised once it is accessible on DVD. It is one of the most original SF movies of those last years, well filmed and with good actors. And it was really not easy to do something original considering the topic - a spaceship crashes on a distant and hostile planet and the stranded crew struggles to survive and find a way out. It was the topic of many SF books - and still this movie managed to find an original way to treat this story. I do not want to give spoilers, but from the title of the movie you can safely presume that absence of light will play an important role - and you will be right! Special effects, light and sound were very well done in this movie and even the most spoiled viewers should find this movie visually and accoustically quite impressive.
There is at least one scene which WILL definitely impress you - when a giant planet rises above the horizon line of the alien world, where the action is situated. I still shiver with delight when I remember this moment.
If by any chance you saw the idiotic sequel of this movie ("Chronicles of Riddick") please stay calm - "Pitch Black" is totally different in every aspect. It has a credible plot, interesting characters and simply is a real treat for every SF fan. OK, it is not "Star Wars" or "Aliens", but is still a really good movie. See it and have fun!

You aren't afraid of the dark are you?
Review date: 2007-06-24 Rating: 8 out of 10

This punchy and slick sci-fi action horror is based around a small group of travellers who crash land on a strange uninhabited planet which, by some luck, is about to plunge itself into complete darkness which is set to last for some time. The main member of this gang and the character around which the entire film is based is a notoriously violent and ruthless killer called Riddick. As he can see in the dark and is known for his dramatic escapism the team decide to use him to help get them off the planet alive.

The rest of the film is spent watching the members of this plucky little group get picked off one by one. All of the characters face emotional difficulty and have to use all of their strength and wit to survive.

Vin Diesel plays a very convincing hard faced super cool killer who risks his own life to help save others. The other characters have their own individual charm and personality which really help to give this film some substance and make it seem very realistic.

The format however is pretty much predictable and you can have a good guess at who will be killed next, but the characters are played so well and the spooky and demanding world is brought to life in such a magical way that you cant help but enjoy every minute. Well worth a look if action and aliens are your thing.


Superior science fiction
Review date: 2007-02-20 Rating: 10 out of 10

I hope not to repeat or rehash many of the other reviews here, except to say that Pitch Black is a stunningly realised visual achievement, with a suitably terrifying premise.

What I will add though, is that for almost any film to succeed there must be something about it, in this case a basic human dilemma, to which the viewer can relate. With science fiction this is even more imperative.

At the start of the film spaceship crewmember Carolyn Fry, is faced with the choice of having to sacrifice her helpless passengers in order to better the chances of saving herself, or to not. She must live with her choice until presented with it again and it is at that point, in my opinion at least, that Pitch Black ensures its elevation to superior science fiction film status.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Lewis Fitz-Gerald
Keith David
Vin Diesel
Radha Mitchell
Cole Hauser

Creators:
Vin Diesel (Primary Contributor)
Radha Mitchell (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Universal Pictures UK
Manufacturer: Universal Pictures UK
EAN: 5050582323504
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2004-12-27
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 104 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2000
Language: Dutch (Subtitled)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: German (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: German (Dubbed)

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