The Chronicles of Riddick: Pitch Black

When a ship crash lands on a planet inhabited by strange creatures, a group of survivors must band together to save themselves. But when the three suns are eclipsed, enveloping the planet in total darkness, the criminal Riddick, and his special eyes, is the only thing that can help the group of survivors live through the experience. The group soon find themselves on the menu for the nocturnal creatures that inhabit the planet; and since they don't know how long the eclipse will last, plans are made to take an emergency ship left by previous dwellers to safety. Without Riddick though, they won't get very far. Pitch Black is a movie about a plethora of things. First, there is the main plot of a ship crashing on a planet inhabited by strange creatures that come out in the dark to eat people. Then there is the subplot of Riddick, the anti-hero, who wants nothing more than to leave everyone behind and get off the planet. And finally, there's the close examination of the human will to survive, even at the expense of another and the guilt that accompanies it. By embedding these plots together, director David Twohy has brought to the screen a movie that not only entertains but also shows that sometimes the bad guy isn't as bad as the supposed good guy. This latest DVD release isn't a new version of the movie; it simply contains more information about the sequel, The Chronicles of Riddick. Fans can find out how Riddick was captured by the bounty hunter Johns, see a preview of the new Xbox game The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher's Bay or check out the advancement of the story arc with a look at the new animated film The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury. Even though there's no new footage, there's still a lot to see. Plus: commentary, "making of," more. (Universal)