Amazing

Rating: 10/10 (21 February 2000)

After walking out of the film, I had the feeling that followed first viewings of films such as "The Matrix", "Dark City", or "Aliens". Yes this is a formula film, in its most basic overview. People are trapped in a confined location, not able to get help, and must survive attacks by an alien force.
Though the plot is formulaic, the execution is anything but. The first 10 minutes of the movie, as many have pointed out, is a sensory overload. You feel the excitement and confusion that would result from a crash landing of this nature.
In the time before the blackout, the director makes great use of lighting, filters, and wide angled lenses to portray the desolation of the desert. I never thought that watching a movie could actually make me feel the heat of a desert. This is probably the best use of color and lighting I have ever seen. (Plus, it is somewhat ironic that this has some of the brightest scenes ever filmed, and the movie is called Pitch Black)
The characters are great too. The team is filled with anti-heroes. They are not the people you would expect in a blockbuster film, but are similar to people you might meet in real life. Also, the choice to not use marquee actors and actresses makes the characters that much more believable.