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Pitch Black (Full Screen Edition) Customer Reviews (1 - 3 of 45 Reviews)

"Pitch Black"
Pitch Black (NR) *****/5
Vin Diesel, Radha Mitchell, Cole Hauser, Keith David, Rhiana Griffith.
Directed by: David Twohy.
Synopsis: Survivors of a crash are stocked by creatures of the night when the planet they have crashed on is engulfed in total darkness from a total eclipse.
Special Features: Making-Of Featurette, Commentaries, Raveworld Event, Trailers.
Review: When a fantastically filmed ship crashes on a remote planet with 3 suns the survivors must find away off the planet. However they discover that creatures of the night live beneath the planet, and when a total eclipse falls they must survive the dark as well as each other. David Twohy has a knack for writing engrossing sci-fi films ("The Arrival") and this is a great film. I'm a big fan of animal attack films, and sci-fi so naturally I wanted to see this. I was not disappointed superb special effects, acting, and direction highlights this gripping sci-fi/horror film. Vin Diesel owns the show. The rest of the actors turn in brilliant performances especially David, Hauser, and Mitchell, but Diesel surpasses them. He proves here he is the action star of the future. Twohy uses colors, images, and lighting all to his advantage. He puts a masterful style into this film and deserves to be proud. As for the DVD? I like the Unrated version better than the R rated one. Not a lot of features, but well worth the money.

Excellent Sci-Fi
Pitch Black was arguably one of the most overlooked films of the early year. Although the setting of the film could seem routine to a casual viewer(space travelers stranded and bickering on a hostile planet infested with alien nasties), director David Twohy's wonderful use of color and stylistic flourishes more than makes up for any trivial complaints.

For those of you curious about the film's plot, it deals with a group of marooned space "passengers" who spend the majority of their time searching for a way to evacuate a harsh desert planet. Their efforts are unexpectedly forced to quicken however when they discover a particularly vicious type of nocturnal alien ready to emerge to the planet's surface during an eclipse.

Viewers can't help but like the film's villainous hero(played by Vin Diesel of Saving Private Ryan and Boiler Room)who brings to memory Arnold Schwarzenegger's famous role as the Terminator.

The film looks and sounds great and has more than a few moments of nail-biting tension thrown in for good measure. For Science Fiction fans this is a must-see. And as for the rest of you, try giving this fine movie a chance.

You'll thank me when you do.

leaves room for error
Since I don't know how to start this review, I guess I'll start with the plot. When a space ship carrying 40 civilians (including a convict) crashes on a planet that's very hot and has three suns, the survivors of the crash have to find a way to survive without food or water. But then they encounter strange creatures that have a hungry appetite for flesh and only come out at night. And then there is an eclipse

Vin Disel stars in the suspense/horror/science fiction blockbuster (in my book, anyway) along with Radah Mitchell and Keith David.

First, the good things: The special effects are great as well as the acting. The movie isn't exactly scary but it's very entertaining. There are some good one-liners, and the ending is great.

Bad things: It takes a while to get in to the meat of the movie. Although it starts with a huge crash, the movie doesn't pick up the pace until more than an hour in to the film. (and the film in 1 hr. and 48 minutes long) Intead, the first half is about character development and the second half picks up on the creatures.

DVD: I expected more special features. The 4 minute featurette isn't very good, but the commentary with the director, Vin Disel, and Cole Hauser is the meat of the special features. The other commentary is OK. The 3 minutes of restored footage add to the 1st half of the movie (character development) and the production notes are an intersting but quick read.

All in all: Good movie but was a little slow on pacing. I recommend you rent it before buying it.

1999; 112 minutes; Contains strong language, some scenes with intense violence, sensuality, and drug use.

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