Giving opinions for several years and showing like a fine vintage
Giving opinions for several years and showing like a fine vintage
Member since:11.07.2000
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I saw Pitch Black in a movie preview in May 2000 which was a few weeks before cinematic release. For some reason it was then out back a few months so I was happy I got into the preview.
Due to the film being released in the USA way before it hit the UK anyone with a multi-region player had the opportunity to get it on dvd before UK cinemas and with the R2 release not far away this R1 release is still a better bet.
For those who know nothing about the film I'll recap. A passenger spacecraft crash lands on an unknown planet. On board are various kinds of people and also a dangerous prisoner named Riddick. Naturally when they crash some are killed, others survive and the prisoner has escaped. This prisoner comes in the shape of one Vin Diesel who is a known ruthless criminal who has some problems with the rest of humanity. The survivng group also have another problem with some nasty flying creatures who kill on sight but who have a weakness for light. So as logn as the survivors stay in the light they'll be ok right ? Well not when a solar eclipse hits sending the planet into darkness. Riddick is the only one who can see in the dark and has to stay with the group so he can get off the planet. Naturally not everyone gets away and not everyone can be trusted.
This is a very enjoyable sc-fi actioner with an original spin. Diesel is a bad guy who is really the hero. With his gravel deep voice and strong build we may have a new action god for the millenium. There's also some good twists with one surprise right near the end. It's shot in an intersting way and is somethngi you can come back to again and again.
The dvd itself is available in R1 as an 'R' rated version or as a directors cut. The directors cut has 3 minutes of extras footage but to be honest there's nothing you can really notice apart from a few extras lines between characters. If you have to go for this cut anyway because more is always better.
The film is in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. Some dvd transfers would have a problem with constant black but not this. Every colour is strong. If it looks a bit washed out it's because it was shot that way.
Soundwise there are Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS soundtracks. Anyone with a bit of dvd knowledge will know that a DTS soundtrack is the best. Here it really blows the dolby mix out of the water. The opening crash scene is a real highlight with everything going off in all directions. This track won't be on the UK release and that's a real shame.
Sadly there isn't much in the way of extras but what you do get is decent. First up are two audio commentaries. The first is with Director David Twohy, Vin Diesel and actor Cole Hauser. They talk about the film being a sleeper hit, how they made it for little money and what was involved in achieving a lot of bang for little buck.
The other track features, Twhohy, Producer Tom Engelman and the special effects crew. This is a decent track that has a lot of technical info. Some won't find it of interext but others who want to know more about the technical side will.
Next up is a making of featurette that is pretty pointless. It runs for all of 4 minutes and is really an extended promo for the movie. I would have loved to have seen some stuff on the effects work.
The strangest thing on the dvd is a 20 minute segement which is purely rave music with footage of rave events held to promote the film. Personally I found this to go on too long and it didn't really have anythngi to do with the film.
Finally there are the theatrical trailers and some cast biogs and production notes.
This is a great film for dvd, it has action, excitement, good acting and an awesome soundtrack. It's worth getting a multi -region player just to experience the DTS.
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Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
Pitch Blackis a guilty pleasure that surpasses expectations, even though it owes a major ... more
debt toAlienand its cinematic spawn. As he did withThe Arrival, director David Twohy revitalises a derivative story, allowing you to forgive its flaws and submit t...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Anamorphic film transfer in correct aspect ratio, excellent quality Dolby 5.1 soundtrack, two audio commentaries. Disadvantages: The selection of extras is wide but not deep, the ‘making of’ documentary is memorably naff, the disc in general is content to be merely good rather than stretching for excellence.
B.Bligh 15.03.2002 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Pitch Black (DVD)
Advantages: The best individual acting performance you'll see for years. Generally brilliant Disadvantages: Not for the faint-hearted. You'll be scared of the dark for months
superpricee 09.10.2001 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Pitch Black (DVD)
![Pitch Black [DVD] [2000]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78524226.jpg "Pitch Black [DVD] [2000]")
May 5th, 2001
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