Rating summary
| Movie |  | 4.5 |
| Video |  | 4.0 |
| Audio | | 4.5 |
| Extras |  | 3.0 |
| Overall | | 4.0 |
Pitch Black Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Martin Liebman May 18, 2019
Best Buy and Universal have collaborated on a store exclusive SteelBook release for the 2000 Sci-Fi franchise starter 'Pitch Black.' The package
contains a single disc which is identical to the VC-1 encoded Blu-ray released in 2009. The film was also previously released in SteelBook packaging with a comic book aesthetic. This
version is much simpler and more apropos to the film's tone. See the 'Special Features and Extras' section of the review below for more on the
SteelBook's look and feel.
For a full film review, please click
here.
Pitch Black Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
For a full Blu-ray video review, please click here.
Pitch Black Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
For a full Blu-ray audio review, please click here.
Pitch Black Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
Pitch Black's SteelBook is...pitch black. Mostly. The front cover is entirely black save for a green-tinted semi-silhouette of the film's
protagonist, Riddick (Vin Diesel). He is wearing his trademark goggles, looking downward, turned partially to the left. There is no text anywhere on the
front cover. The rear side carries over the same ample black appearance. There's another green-tinted image here, this one a center position depiction
of Riddick's goggles. It is not a dead-on shot, instead featuring the eyewear canted a bit to the left. A small Universal logo and text appear at the
bottom, center, and a model number appears bottom right. The spine is much the same. The film's title appears in block green outline letters, center. A
Blu-ray disc logo appears at the top of the spine and a Universal logo at the bottom, both in that same green coloring. The SteelBook is textured and
grippy rather than smooth and glossy. It will not show obvious fingerprints.
Inside, the digital copy code is tucked underneath the left-hand side tabs. The lone disc is situated in a hub on the right. The inner print is a two-panel
spread that depicts a landscape scene from the planet on which the movie takes place, seen through the stylized "Riddick vision" look with highlights
looking a little blown out on the top-left. The image takes on a silvery black-and-white appearance.
For full coverage of the on-disc supplemental content, please click here.
Pitch Black Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
Those who have been following the SteelBook reviews on Blu-ray.com probably know this reviewer is a fan of packaging simplicity. This one nails it. It's
simple, tasteful, fits the movie's tone very well, and feels great in the hand. It's a shame Universal didn't take the opportunity of this SteelBook's
release to pair it with a remastered Blu-ray, if not go the whole nine yards and offer a UHD version of the film, but for those who have yet to pick up
the movie on Blu-ray, this is certainly the way to go. And, collectors will find the price attractive. Recommended.
