Vin Diesel versus aliens

Rating: 7/10 (1 November 2013)

"Pitch black" isn't a cheap imitation of "Alien" . Is it inspired by Ridley Scott movie ? Yes (look at the ship design and the creatures design). Does it try to build something new ? Yes. We have hero an sci-fi horror movie combined with survival drama. It isn't exactly original , but it's well done to give us enjoyable movie.
The director David Twohy beautifully employs many different colors, shades and intensities of light which set the mood and lend a unique feeling to the film itself . The movie is well paced and has some "wow" moments and a heart as well. It switches from drama to action to horror very naturally.
The special effects are more than adequate, despite the fact that this movie didn't had a big budget.
Along with Fast and furious" this is Vin Diesel's most known movie . A star is born ? Yes. Vin Diesel acts really well in the role as Riddick – an anti-hero bad-ass convict. He's got a magnetic presence. And Diesel doesn't trivialize the character, as could so easily be done, by giving him a "heart of gold" .
We also have other interesting characters with unique quirks and mannerisms such as Lewis Fitz Gerald antiques dealer , Imam (Keith David) the Muslim guy , pilot Fry (great Radha Mitchell ) , Johns the cop , Jack the boy . Every character is complex, three-dimensional, with conflicting traits so you never quite know who's good and who's bad.
The relationships between the characters are interesting and the movie is a good sci-fi drama driven by the characters.
A really solid , emotional , and not stupid piece of entertainment . I give it 7/10.