Nice

Given the bad press this movie got, I've avoided it for years. Recently I was looking for some cheap entertainment on Blur-ray, and grabbed it. What a pleasant surprise! "Waterworld" didn't deserve all the vitriol it got back in the day - It had a decent enough premise, the sets and stunts were well done, the special effects have held up pretty decently, and it didn't take itself too seriously. I was able to sit through the entire film in one go, which lately is high praise. I wish there had been a bit more meat to the tale, like a deeper backstory for the 'Enola' character, and in the end, they do find 'Dry Land' pretty darn quick, but overall, "Waterworld" was an entertaining sci-fi action film that I will revisit. Worth a viewing if you've been avoiding it like I had. Now I'll take a look at "The Postman"... :)

I found this SF/adventure film watchable, but definitely not as good as it should have been, considering the huge budget and the talent of all involved. Below, more of my impressions, with some limited SPOILERS. Somewhere in XXI century waters started to rise and ultimately engulfed all the lands, transforming Earth in a planet-ocean - the Waterworld. With time surviving human communities, living on floating atolls or roaming the sea on board of frail ships (this latter category is called Drifters), forgot about the past and the very idea of emerged land is now considered as a myth. Waterworld is a very tough place to live and the danger from predatory nomadic communities, like Slavers and Smokers, makes the existence even more precarious. It is in those settings that we meet the Mariner (Kevin Costner), a particularly skilled and powerful Drifter. He owns a beautiful and very fast trimaran, which can outrun virtually any other ship. The film begins when Mariner goes to one of floating artificial atolls to trade. There he meets, amongst others, atoll's sheriff (R.D. Call), a huge, brutish Drifter named Nord (Gerard Murphy), a local woman named Helen (Jeanne Tripplehorn, splendid!) and her adoptive 10 years old daughter Enola (Tina Majorino). And then the film really begins... "Waterworld", which was I believe supposed to be a kind of "Mad Max 2" on water, is not exactly a bad film - it is in fact watchable, interesting in some moments and entertaining in others. Kevin Costner, an actor I am usually not very fond of, plays here well and his grumpy, crabby, unfriendly, frequently (but NOT entirely) unpleasant and very, very lonely Mariner is quite credible. Jeanne Tripplehorn, a good actress and one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood (for my personal taste, in "Basic Instinct" it was SHE who was THE hot one, not Sharon Stone) is a real pleasure to watch. Little Tina Majorino played also very well and, unlike so many child characters in adventure movies, her Enola is an asset to the story rather than a problem. However, even with all those good points, the film ultimately disappoints. It is absolutely nowhere near the level of two great classics of post-apocalyptic genre: "Mad Max 2" and "Escape from New York". I was very disappointed when I saw it in cinema in 1995 and recently, after purchasing and watching the 179 minutes extended version, I could only confirm this first feeling. It is a cruel disappointment, because in principle the director, Kevin Reynolds, should have aced this film, as he made earlier two ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT movies, "The beast" and "Rapa Nui" (they are both on my list of great favourites). BUT, he also made earlier "Robin Hood, prince of thieves", definitely the sh--tiest "Robin Hood" film ever - and in this film, very sadly, he made exactly the same mistakes. The greatest problem of "Waterworld" is the absolute failure in the bad guys chapter. Already in "Robin Hood" both the Sheriff and the Witch were a parody - but here it is actually worse. The Smokers are totally pathetic and their leader, the Deacon (Dennis Hopper) is simply ridiculous! When one remembers Humungus and Wez from "Mad Max 2" or the Duke of New York City and Rehme from "Escape from New York" and then looks at Deacon and his main sidekick - well, one wants to sit down and weep... Let's not even talk about the "ideology" of Smokers, who, other than being predatory bandits, are even more evil because they 1) smoke cigarettes 2) use fossil fuels 3) seem to be influenced by Christianity, as they are organised in a "parish" led by a "deacon" 4) refuse to control the growth of their population (on atolls "illegal" babies are killed - but Smokers refuse to do that) 5) worship Captain Joseph Hazelwood, the unfortunate skipper of "Exxon Valdez", as "Saint Joe" (there is actually a reason for that) 6) want to find land to build an 18-holes golf course on it (I am not kidding!). At another moment the Deacon insists, with an evil grin, that theirs is the society of "continuous growth"... I rather appreciated the strong environmentalist message Kevin Reynolds placed in "Rapa Nui" (an infinitely better film) - but here it is so over the top that it becomes completely ridiculous. Continuing on the bad guys. Kevin Reynolds made an ENORMOUS BLUNDER giving them massive firepower. Possible the first rule to observe in post-apocalyptic adventure movies is: "Remove the firearms!". It was in part the vision of a world with modern vehicles but Middle Age weaponry that made the success of "Mad Max 2" and "Escape from New York". The removal of almost all firearms helped also to create uniquely tense action scenes and to introduce the concept of "magical weapons" in the modern world. Indeed, the one revolver and its precious handful of rounds owned by Humungus and Max's sawed off shotgun and its one, last cartridge in "Mad Max 2, are precious, cherished possessions, which made a great difference in the world of bow and war club. In "Escape from New York", Snake Plissken's MAC 10 and revolver make him into a great power in a place until then ruled by crossbows and knives. And in "The road" father's revolver (and two last cartridges) is the supreme "magical weapon" which keeps the darkness at bay... Here on another hand we have dozens and dozens of "bad guys" with firearms, some of them even with fully automatic weapons. In fact they even have calibre 0.50 heavy machine guns, and TONS of ammo for all this heat! This firepower immediately removes all interest from the one big battle scene, because what possible chance can have a community armed with exclusively with harpoons, crossbows, spears, clubs and knives against an army lavishly equipped with firearms... In later parts of the film this presence of massive firepower keeps hurting this film also later. Pathetic, lame action scenes are another great weakness. Some SPOILERS AHEAD! Other than the terribly disappointing atoll battle, the final confrontation between Mariner and the Smokers is amongst the most laughable things I ever saw on the screen and the way in which Smokers floating fortress is destroyed is amongst the biggest let downs in action/adventure cinema. I appreciated also the cowardice of the director, who first insisted in the film that Smokers are doomed because they have too many children, but when their society is shown and then mercilessly obliterated, many hundreds of adult men and women appear - but absolutely no kids are shown... Because we would have obviously some trouble to relate with "the hero" after he incinerated alive hundreds of pre-teens, children, toddlers, infants and new-borns... The director also used 175 million dollars to make this film - and we do not see it really on the screen. There is one floating atoll, some small ships and they are OK, but nothing else. There is also one huge floating fortress and it could have been a great and fascinating place - but it appears ultimately rather shortly and is poorly made. Also, everything is dirty, primitive and very much used, as it should be, but without any kind of originality or attempt at colour, grotesque or humour (unlike in "Mad Max 2" and "Escape from New York"). Unnecessary gross factor was added, like the scene in which Kevin Costner takes a (forced) bath in excrements... This unique kind of world could have also been a much more fascinating place, but the scenario avoids mostly all possibilities offered. We see, just for a second, one and only one of the creatures living in the ocean and there is also a dead shark being cut in pieces shown at another moment - and that is all we see about animal life on Waterworld. Some traditions are shown or hinted, but only in very short glimpses. I hoped that the EXTENDED VERSION would show more about Waterworld - but to my considerable surprise, the 40 minutes of added footage ultimately... don't add almost anything, it is mostly just unnecessary filler! Also, the extended version is in fact the TV version of this film and therefore was also CENSORED - the few strong language moments were removed as was the short and rather innocent scene in which Helen's naked back is shown (in cinema version it is not Jeanne Tripplehorn who appears in this scene, but a stuntwoman). In fact, the best scenes are those describing the relations between Mariner, Helen and Enola during their common voyage, as well as their meeting with one of Drifters - this part of the film is actually pretty good. The atoll life scenes are not bad and the very ending is quite honest. The rest however is mostly disappointing and sometimes really, really bad... Bottom line, this is only an average, watchable, less than half-successful film, recommended mostly to amateurs of SF/adventure movies, but rather to see once and to rent rather than buy. I usually don't like remakes at all, but for "Waterworld" I would be ready to make an exception - if Hollywood decided to make another try at the same topic, I wouldn't say no and I would probably go to see it.

This movie is the absolute best!!! The great & extremely talented Kevin Costner gives a performance that's blows you away! A really great cast, nothing but talent! Movie about a futuristic world covered with water where survival of the fittest had to adapt to surviving above the water with no land in sight & where under water mutated monsters rule the sea. Action packed movie that's fun to watch! Good picture quality & good seller! Thanks! 👍

Killed by crtics. But I loved it

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital Played 4k disc in PS5 and it played the entire movie perfectly Included code successfully redeemed the 4k digital movie on Vudu / Fandango Case arrived in perfect condition

The film concept is amazing and beautifully executed considering it was the mid 90s. I love Dennis Hopper's villain character, The Deacon.

Kevin's name in the movie is unknown. But that's okay. But he does have gills & strange looking feet. & is a great swimmer. Ya'll heard that oldie song (Solitary Man)? I don't know the artist. That's what Kevin Costner is in this movie, A solitary man. & from what I understand he likes being solo. Land just doesn't seem to exist. All there is are town like figures called Atoll's. A place where you can get supplies or tomato plants. & if you got dry dirt you can use it like money for a trade on supplies. Gee they don't sell much do they? No shaving cream tooth paste or even Ice cream. You can't even buy a bag of ice or a diet doctor pepper there! Before the Loner whom I'm calling solitary man arrives at the Atoll there is a scene that should have been on my Blu-ray disc. There's an old man trying to make a deal by cutting & giving them some of his hair, A homeless guy. But the chief of security refuses to open the gates & let him in. For some odd reason they cut out some scenes. I'm displeased that not every part of the movie is there. & he soon shows up. The chief of security fellow warns him, don't look for trouble while your here. You'll find more then you can handle. I guess the people thought the solitary guy was taking advantage of them. & they refuse to let him leave. & take him prisoner. Atoll's are okay if they treat you right. They're weary of the Smokers, those guys on the marine looking ski boats & Jet ski's. Most are in definite need of a paint job. Some of the Atolls have got some Spy Smokers around. & they try finding out who's the culprit. The king or president whatever you want to call him, the man everyone admires (Dennis Hopper) is the leader of these Smokers who'll attack any Atoll. In search of the little girl the tattoo's on her back giving directions to the dry land. Helen & Enola help him escape when the Smokers attack. They try hard in making a deal if we get you out of here, you'll take us to dry land okay. So he takes them. I like his boat! Its not like most boats. There are all sorts of contraptions. I do understand why all 3 of them had a tough time getting along. If your a guy like me, take my advice. Women can be hard to put up with! In the beginning he's not very patient, Piss him off & he'll hit you with a paddle, Whack your out cold, cut your hair with his knife, you name it. & he's picky as ever about someone messing with his boat! Let me put it in plain English. He was worse then moody like behavior! Well Kevin? I'd be the same way! Their mission is to lose the Smokers if possible, & try to find Gregor & the rest of the group. & he learns to be nicer. & then becomes a constant protector. When the girl is kidnapped he'll stop at nothing to retrieve her. So he finds the huge ship with no engine. Has to be rowed by hand by about 50 people or so. There must have been 1000 people on board or so. & an old man trapped inside the oil room who's very thin & has a boat at the bottom. So he faces everyone & blows up the ship. Except for Dennis whoever he is in the movie. I'm not too good at remembering names. Dennis Hopper does make the pretty good bad guy! & kidnaps Enola a second time only for few minutes as they're taking off in their hot air balloon. After a few days & nights they finally reach dry land, which has wild horses & things. Everybody seems content except for the loner, he said it doesn't move right. Enola assumed it was land sickness. Maybe for the rest of them, just not him. Good movie! You might not like Kevin Costner's negative side. What I do know is in this movie he is different than he was in (Dances with Wolves). What we see in most movies or TV shows, is that the most extreme good guys & bad guys violent attitudes just aren't combined to face each other head, on, for example I'd love to see the loner guy hit his enemy with a paddle or try & cut his hair, try his tough guy business with someone his own size! & see them wrestle around!! I'd love that. I mean, you understand what I'm saying people? The movies good, yet a lot of stuff just isn't matched up like it should have been! This one not being the only one! He's one tough Hombre!!!!!!!!!! & tolerant only about certain things. He was sort of an outlaw, or you can say he acted like one, & got better & better as the movie went on.

My wife and I love this movie.

i bought the original 4k version of this movie back in 2020 and comparing the 2 its night and day. the blu ray quality alone in this 2023 re-release looks better than the 2020 4k version. whats in the new cut, you get 5 more minutes of WATER!! and KEVIN COSTNER if you can handle it! most of the extra time is dedicated to small cuts and details that make you feel more immersed to the world as for the movie why did it fail is 4 basic reasons #1 a natural disaster destroyed the water city set and production was forced to rebuild the set almost doubling the cost of the movie so the movie had an unrealistic expectation to make its money back; it was doomed at the start, they should have built the city on shore and used creative angle shots and models to create the illusion it was filmed in open water. #2 the character was highly unlikable, nothing wrong with having a mean hero but it needs to be balanced with likable qualities as well. example judge dread is cruel, Callous and unfeeling but that is balanced out with his devotion to the law, protecting innocence and his willingness to be tough on crime. #3 the actors ego, like in other movies where the actor thinks he can carry the whole film such as cast away, and i am legend. Without other characters to bounce off of these kinds of movies get boring fast, no movie star is an island. #4 no eye candy in the world. you have to create something appeasing in the world that makes the audience say "i wouldn't mind living in this world" mad max had the car and a no speed limit wasteland, star trek next gen had a ship with carpet, amazing health care and a theme park holo deck, Lord of the rings had the camaraderie of allies, fiercely loyal to each other. the problem with water world is the world is too bleak and theirs nothing to look forward to in the end your body becomes fertilizer