Chronicles of Riddick

"He's the holy half dead who has seen the underverse."

How Karl Urban said that line with a straight face is amazing. Also, I'm not sure why he's and (the woman) are in this movie. Faced with galactic annihilation from the Borg Necromongers a race of zealot converts, prophecy dictates that the future of the universe is in the hands of one man: a convict on the run (Vin Diesel).

Riddick is in fine form for this sci-fi action flick (apart from the crazy wig at the start) as he ventures from world to world stirring up trouble as he does. The CGI is good as are the set pieces but it is the Necromongers who let this film down. I'm not sure they themselves (the extras) know what they are supposed to be other than "barbarian raiders".

That's a lot of axe heads... afraid you'll miss?

Also their whole motto of "you keep what you kill" is riddickulous (yes I used that word) and it just feels like they were thrown together from a bunch of half baked ideas. At least the final fight is sort of cool? Still, didn't need Karl Urban. So far this is the weakest of the Riddick movies, and I give it two and a half boob shots out of five.

Thor: Ragnarok

Aka. Asgard gets caned.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) experiences a lot of loss in this film (its titled Ragnarok after all) but he somehow manages to be a cheeky and funny fellow throughout. Eventually finding himself a gladiator at an alien arena, he not only has to regain his freedom but make it back to Asgard to save his home and his people.

The action pieces in this film are quite good, and the CGI is superb as to be expected. It's also very humorous, especially the cameo filled stage play and Korg (played by the director himself, Taika Waititi). Thumbs up from me for the main villain as well.

Plot wise, while Thor himself grows a lot there are a few things which felt off for me ... Karl Urban's extended extra and that other wizard probably didn't need to be here for example. The female lead also felt lacking. It's like the studio just needed to put a colored female to balance out the cast.

Easy way to test: If you removed those characters or switched them with throw away ones, could you still tell the same story?

Literally the best thing she did.

All up, Thor: Ragnarok is a very entertaining film and one I wouldn't mind watching again. I give it four melt sticks out of five and can easily recommend it to any action fan.