Why did this tank?

I could probably nit pick this movie and learn to hate it, but why do that when I find it splendidly enjoyable as is?

I was really surprised how well done this movie was, when I first watched it. I didn't see it in theaters, and the press on it must have been weak because I don't remember any publicity for it. I picked it up on HD DVD at the start of the hi def war, and that was my first viewing. Watched it over and over since then, and on the topic of high definition, this is definitely showcase material. I will get a 4K version when it comes out. They've already released Pitch Black.

This movie was a sequel to Pitch Black, and while stylistically quite different, knowledge of that film does significantly add to the viewer's experience. Almost none of the marketing mentioned Pitch Black, and Pitch Black was not a blockbuster that everyone had seen or even heard of; the budget for this film was twice the amount Pitch Black had made in theatres worldwide.

I suspect this was made largely because Diesel was coming off two smash hits, but this sprawling, not exactly high brow but somewhat philosophical film was not exactly what his young audience which had been dazzled by the flashy action and trendy soundtracks of The Fast and Furious and xXx were likely to go for.

It's a bad script. It abandons the main story too often. It tries to force continuity from pitch black, making it a mess. Vin diesel isn't a competent leading man. The Necromongers are ridiculous and poorly constructed as fully fleshed out villains. The city set looks like a studio back lot. Most of the dialog is unintentionally hilariously bad. Many, many stupid plot devices are hard to overlook.....is that enough?

A good question. The film had some good things going for it.

My recommendation, nix the internal dialogue of Riddick.

Its comes across as too arrogant and makes him ultimately unlikeable to most viewers. Leave the main characters thoughts a mystery to the viewer.

A unlikeable/unsympathetic hero is usually tied to a movies failure.

It would change the entire complexion of the movie if the internal dialogue was removed,I would like to see a version without it.

I think it stands repeat viewing better than the others in the series there's so much in it, I love the neogothic production design and see something new every time. It's almost 2 films, one the prison planet and the other the necromonger war. Maybe it was too much to follow? Similarly rich sci-fi like Fifth Element gained some cult status over time but this doesn't seem to have happened with Chronicals.

maybe the mainstream audience around that time didn't understand sci-fi films not staring will smith or not having star wars in the title. i forget.