Quick Look: The Chronicles of Riddick (2004)

Vin Diesel returns as the anti-hero, Richard Riddick, in the follow up to Pitch Black.  There was also a brief animated feature called Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury that was released right before this movie came out as a kind of promo, but I still consider this the second film and second part of the series.  Where Pitch Black used great characters, tension, and a decent script to drive its story, Chronicles uses pure action and some special effects as its main ingredients.     
**spoiler alert**  It is 5 years after the events of Pitch Black and Riddick finds himself still escaping bounty hunters, as well as dispatching anyone who is stupid enough to attempt to confront him.  A group -actually more of a technologically advanced cult - called Necromongers (goofy name, I know)  is now making its way world to world conquering and/or killing all in their path.  They give their potential victims a choice, to submit and convert to the Necromonger group, basically as slaves, or to be killed.  The Necromongers are led by a half-alive/half-dead being called the Lord Marshal (he has a few good moments as the bad guy).  Riddick escapes his initial run-in with the Necromongers, but inevitably ends up having to battle the Lord Marshal in the end, and I don't want to ruin anything - but Riddick wins.
I would call The Chronicles of Riddick some decent mindless fun.  It is very predictable, so much so that you spend most if the movie trying to guess who Riddick is going to beat up or kill next.  Almost comically.  Since this was a bigger budget summer film, there are some good effects and scenery on the different planets, in addition to the good sci-fi effects that help drive some of the action.  The dialogue is shaky at best, and the plot is thin, but again this is action film that is about Riddick kicking the bad(er) guys butts.  Diesel does a serviceable job, no one else was very noticeable.  I highly recommend getting the unrated version, there is about 15 extra minutes of background to the story and Riddick mythology.  The on screen violence is the only warning of note.  If you like Vin Diesel, and a sci-fi action story, you will like this.