Greatly Exceeded My Expectations

Rating: 10/10 (27 February 2000)

Since I know someone working at the local theatre I got in free. I wasn't about to pay $7 bucks to go see what would probably end up being a campy sci-fi flick with cheap effects and bad acting.
All I can say is WOW! This is the kind of movie that I plan on buying. Pitch Black was from being the cheesefest I expected from a film I had heard very few positive things about and starred people I knew next to the nothing about.
The effects were above-par although the aliens looked strongly influenced by the all-famous Aliens. Nevertheless their movements were realistic and creepy.
Despite a plot which could have been summarized in a single sentence, the character development and strength of acting was superb. One of the things I found the most visually pleasing (besides Vin Diesel - yum!) was the hue and contrast of the terrain. Turning what would be a normal "rocky desert" scene into something that looked truly off-world and baked bones under the triple heat of its suns.
I'm very pleased that I wandered into the movie and was treated to such a gem that I feel this film has redeemed my opinion of Hollywood's recent sci-fi flicks since seeing that waste of film, Wing Commander.