Pitch Black

Pitch Black Stats: Internet Movie Database
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Pitch Black is the story of a group of people shipwrecked on a planet with three suns, precious little water, a once · every · twenty · two · years total solar eclipse and a dirty little secret: voracious, winged natives with a thing for blood and darkness.

It's also an under-appreciated gem which delivers on several levels. Obviously, it's a sci-fi horror film first and as such, it rocks. Arguably a mere Aliens rip-off, its director David Twohy at least had the good sense to rip-off Aliens' contentious characters, nimble pacing and kickass monsters! And what a relief - he's also managed to light his story of darkness in such a fashion that you can see what'n'hell is going on.

But it doesn't stop there. It's also an unexpectedly well-written - and well-acted - story of redemption. I hate to spoil it so suffice to say, Pitch Black eschews some of the dustier of the genre's clichés and dishes out a few surprises.

Finally, let's be honest... Vin Diesel is just plain fun to watch. He's got toughness and humor: between the Hollywood enhanced eye shine and a few wicked one-liners Riddick is a man's man all the way. And Vin is just H · O · T; New York's answer to Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Oh - and to answer Vin Diesel's question in the DVD commentary about whether anyone even noticed his subtle head tilt in response to Fry's question "Do I even want to know?" as Riddick watches Paris be devoured - YES! That's one of my favorite moments...

Sounds from Pitch Black

"No shots..."	-	What happens if Riddick spots us...?
"You comfie up there?"	-	Paris, roughing it.
"Tell me something..."	-	Paris bonding with Jack.
"Where the hell can I get eyes like that?"	-	Jack covets Riddick's eyeshine.
"You finally found something worse than me."	-	Riddick's threat assessment.
Introductions	-	Paris meets Riddick; resumés are exchanged.
"Not afraid of the dark, are you?"	-	Riddick needles bounty hunter Johns over the coming eclipse.
"...not on my watch"	-	Johns tells pilot Fry why he's so hard on Riddick.
"Looks clear..."	-	Johns' feathers are ruffled but Riddick is cool after Riddick's enhanced vision fails to prevent a close call with an alien monster.
"Nice breeze... I'm starting to enjoy my fuckin' self..."	-	Johns' angry response to docking pilot Fry's suggestion that they turn back from the trek through the dark that she demanded.
"...not if I'm the one."	-	Johns baiting the hook.
"You should have never taken the chains off..."	-	Riddick's final speech to Johns.
"Where's Johns...?"	-	Riddick has to explain why he's returned alone.
"Did not know who it was fuckin' with."	-	Riddick's parting shot to his alien opponent in hand-to-hand combat.
"I admire that in a woman."	-	Riddick to Fry when she succeeds in making her own way to the escape ship.