6.2
In a futuristic world where the polar ice caps have melted and made Earth a liquid planet, a beautiful barmaid rescues a mutant seafarer from a floating island prison. They escape, along with her young charge, Enola, and sail off aboard his ship. But the trio soon becomes the target of a menacing pirate who covets the map to 'Dryland'—which is tattooed on Enola's back.
Kevin Costner
Mariner
Dennis Hopper
Deacon
Jeanne Tripplehorn
Helen
Tina Majorino
Enola
R. D. Call
Enforcer
Gerard Murphy
Nord
Michael Jeter
Old Gregor
Rick Aviles
Gatesman
Kim Coates
Drifter
Chaim Jeraffi
Drifter
Sab Shimono
Elder
Zitto Kazann
Elder / Survivor
Rita Zohar
Atoller
Jack Black
Pilot
Zakes Mokae
Priam
Jack Kehler
Banker
Leonardo Cimino
Elder
Lanny Flaherty
Trader
Robert A. Silverman
Hydroholic
Henry Kapono Ka'aihue
Gatesman
Neil Giuntoli
Hellfire Gunner
Robert Joy
Ledger Guy
John Fleck
Doctor
Greg Goossen
Sawzall Smoker
William Preston
Depth Gauge
John Toles-Bey
Plane Gunner
Ari Barak
Atoll Man
Chris Douridas
Atoller
Alexa Jago
Atoll Woman
Sean Whalen
Bone
Robert LaSardo
Smitty
Lee Arenberg
Djeng
Doug Spinuzza
Spun
Hal Douglas
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Anne Gaybis
Deacon Gang Member (uncredited)
Annie Costner
Atoll Girl (uncredited)
John Otrin
Wild Lines (uncredited)
Michael Haddad
Smoker (uncredited)
Heidi Miller
Extra (uncredited)
Director
Kevin Reynolds
Writer
David Twohy
Writer
Peter Rader
April 28, 2019
8
You're a fool to believe in something you've never seen.
Waterworld is directed by Kevin Reynolds and jointly written by David Twohy, Peter Rader and Joss Whedon. It stars Kevin Costner, Dennis Hopper, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Tina Majorino, Michael Jeter and Gerard Murphy. Music is scored by James Newton Howard and cinematography by Dean Semler.
It's the future and the polar ice caps have melted and the Earth is practically covered by the sea. As civilisation is forced to live on the water, their only hope is to one day find the fabled place known as Dryland. A Mariner drifter may hold the key to Dryland's whereabouts...
It was by definition a troubled shoot, with sackings, difference of opinions, cost overruns, production set backs (hurricane destroying a hugely expensive set) and bad word of mouth generated by a film press intent on giving Kevin Costner a good kicking. Facts are, now that all the water has evaporated over the years, Waterworld is neither the flop or the bad film that many believed it to be. Should it be a better movie considering the gargantuan amounts of cash spent on it? Absolutely, without question! But Waterworld turned a decent profit in spite of its problems and mixed reviews, and now it firmly has a fan base willing to love it for the great sci-fi escapism that it is. Now readily available in 3 cuts (Theatrical, TV Edit and Ulysses), you can sample each to find the pros and cons of home format film tampering.
Even in its theatrical form the film is still a rollicking water based adventure, full of spectacular stunts (oh my those jet-skis rock), amazing sets (whoosh, the sci-fi grandeur of the floating atoll) and blood pumping scenes (the eerie journey and subsequent revelation of a city under water). Sure it's far from flawless as the pace is uneven at times and as plot narratives go it's pretty thin, but Reynolds and Costner have crafted an impressive world submerged by water. The cast, too, are delivering knowing performances. Costner's Mariner is indeed one note, unsympathetic and moody, this guy is a loner and a mutation after all, his sombre persona neatly playing against Hopper's cartoonish, satirical and maniacal villain. Tripplehorn (a porn star name if ever there was one!) beautifully shines in a film populated predominantly by males (there's another flaw for you), Michael Jeter scores favourably as a highly strung elder, while young Majorino is suitably winsome, neatly playing it as a device to mellow the Mariner's cold fishy heart. Take that and fill it out with the detail of the definitive cut (Ulysses) which showcases Reynolds' vision and it's fan nirvana all round.
If it was meant to be a serious picture in the first place, a sermon on topical destroying of the Earth, then it fails a touch because the characterisations are bound by cliché manacles. Yet collectively the inhabitants of this Waterworld share a common goal of survival, played out to the backdrop of Reynolds' excellent futuristic setting. When thrust together to make a good versus evil action movie, the characterisations work handsomely within that framework. That is ultimately the best way to enjoy Waterworld, let it wash over you (hrr hrr hrr) in a wave (hrr, OK I'll stop now) of water based action and heroics. It's a world where soil is currency and smoking is a marker for being a bad guy. From the opening shot of the Universal World logo becoming submerged in water, to the bittersweet finale, yes! Waterworld is indeed escapism in its purest cinematic form and becomes a high definition must in the process. 8/10
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$175,000,000.00
Revenue:
$264,218,220.00