let me waste a moment of your time to explain how i approach this film . 1st i dismiss the trailer out of hand because the film appear to be an uncredited remake of alien and which i consider to be one of the weak film in the alien series . stupidly continue to dismiss the film after i hear positive thing about it from people whose opinion i trust and i miss the theatrical run completely . i then become hook on farscape and in it 3rd or 4th season at the time and and find pitch black on cable one night around bed time so i say oh why not and at least it have claudia black in it . soon and i recognize keith david and and begin to realize that vin diesel and radha mitchell and cole hauser could all act ( why this should surprise me and i do not know ) . i be captivate . i have now remain captivate for four year . i just watch the film for the 3rd or 4th time and and i still love it . this be not an art film and not an independent and and it not entirely original and but where it fail to break a lot of new ground and it utterly succeed in provide interesting and realistic character and hard drive action in the medium of a compelling but simple plot and and non stop entertainment while an absolutely beautiful environment with tastefully render special effect . sound to good to be true . don not take my word for it . see it for yourself . the film also highlight the charisma of the now somewhat iconoclastic vin diesel and introduce the character of richard riddick . diesel would go on to star in the somewhat riddick ulous chronicle thereof ( which i also enjoy and though recognize it rather huge flaw ) and be now something of a legend . diesel be so charismatic and so big and and so interesting to watch that it be easy to ignore the fact that he be not only a talented actor and but a smart one too . check out the dvd version of pitch black and with the audio comment on might just blow you away . the film be about the crew of an inter system transport ship strand on an unknown planet after a crash landing in which their captain be kill . the new commander be inexperienced but bright and heroic ( mitchell ) and but she be catch between two dominant and dangerous personality a bounty hunter with secret ( hauser ) and a dangerous criminal who have be surgically alter to see in the dark ( diesel ) . be that all . of course not the planet be inhabit and and the inhabitant be hungry . a unoriginal and improbable a some of this may be and pitch black be beautifully film and well tell and and very nicely perform . don not expect to learn anything and and do not expect to have to think a whole lot and but do expect to have fun with this modern sci fi action classic .