This is not the next "Aliens" movie

Rating: 8/10 (22 February 2000)

Actually, I think calling Pitch Black the next Aliens movie is unfair. Ripley and company had some high tech weapons and the Pitch Black crew do not...and therein lies the strength of this movie. This movie is about characters and characterizations. Most notable was Vin Diesel as Riddick. I didn't really pay attention to him and his character in Saving Private Ryan but I sure paid attention to his character in Pitch Black! I thought he was excellent in his portrayal of an amoral murderer going through a metamorphosis...becoming someone with a consience. If you go to this movie looking for a high tech thriller then don't go see this movie. If you want to go to a movie to see solid characterizations of people stranded on a planet with little water, few weapons, and a pretty ferocious predator stalking everyone after dark then this is the movie for you. Some scenes were predictably pat i.e., Riddick grabs one of the creatures before it can get him...you know one predator against another? Other scenes were rather riveting i.e., Riddick tries to convince Fry to just get on the transport and leave the others behind. Some aspects of this movie do evoke images from the movie "Alien" (the first one) such as sounds and atmosphere (remember the clinking chains in Alien?). When you hear those scurrying sounds you know its not the pitter patter of little feet. I'd give this movie 7.5 points out of 10. I'd go see this movie again in a heartbeat.