Graeme Revell's score for The Chronicles of Riddick expands the moody string and choral cues from its predecessor, Pitch Black, resulting in a lush cacophony of forgettable orchestral swells and pounding action motifs. This time around, the composer flirts with the serpentine melodies of the Middle East, infusing his ominous landscapes with a much-needed sense of place. The main, two-chord theme that would appear occasionally in the series' first installment is given a larger role in
Riddick, and to great effect. Gone are the overwrought keyboards, replaced here by the tireless Hollywood Studio Symphony, whose work reflects this film's larger bankroll. Atonal bursts of brass give way to excessive timpani abuse, and new character themes are introduced in name only. As expected, bigger means louder, and for fans of epic sci-fi scores
Riddick doesn't disappoint, but for those hoping for a visionary summer blockbuster anomaly, time marches on. ~ James Christopher Monger