Monday, March 19, 2012

Waterworld Review







Waterworld


Release Date: 14th September 1995 - Australia


Production Companies
Universal Pictures (presents)
Gordon Company
Davis Entertainment
Licht/Mueller Film Corporation

Distribution
Universal Pictures Australia


Genre: Sci-Fi/Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 135 minutes
                176 minutes
                (extended cut)


Budget: $175,000,000

Box Office Gross: $264,218,220 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Set in a post-apocalyptic
future where most of Earth
is flooded with water,
thanks to the polar ice caps
melting. The human race
struggles for survival on
dilapidated boats and
makeshift floating cities
called atolls. Legends tell
of a mythical place called
"Dryland," which some
cling to it.

The Mariner is a mysterious
drifter/adventurer and a
loner by nature. He
reluctantly bonds with Helen
and her adoptive daughter,
Enola, as they flee a hostile
artificial island. Soon, they
find themselves pursued
by the sinister Smokers,
led by the evil Deacon, who
believe Enola is the key
to finding the mythical
Dryland.


Cast
Kevin Costner - The Mariner
Dennis Hopper - Deacon
Tina Majorino - Enola
Jeanne Tripplehorn - Helen
Michael Jeter - Old Gregor
Gerard Murphy - The Nord
Rick Aviles - Gatesman #1
R.D. Call - Enforcer
Kim Coates - Drifter #2
Robert Joy - Ledger Guy
John Fleck - Doctor
David Finnegan - Toby
William Preston - Depth Gauge Guy
Sean Whalen - Bone
Robert LaSardo - Smitty
Lee Arenberg - Djeng
Doug Spinuzza - Truan
Jack Black - Pilot (Cameo)
John Toles-Bey - Plane Gunner
Zitto Kazann - Elder #1/Survivor #1
Leonardo Cimino - Elder #2
Robert A. Silverman - Hydroholic
Zakes Mokae - Priam
Sab Shimono - Elder #1
Neil Giuntoli - Hellfire Gunner
Jack Kehler - Banker
Chris Douridas - Atoller #7
Hal Douglas - Narrator (Voice) (Uncredited)

Crew
Director - Kevin Reynolds
Writers - Peter Rader and David Twohy
Script Supervisor - Ana Maria Quintana
Executive Producers - Ilona Herzberg,
Andrew Licht and Jeffrey A. Mueller
Producers - Charles & Lawrence Gordon
(Uncredited), John Davis and Kevin Costner
Casting Director - David Rubin
Creative Consultant: Second Unit - Bud S. Smith
Production Designer - Dennis Gassner
Art Director - David F. Klassen
Assistant Art Directors - Steve Burg
and Richard F. Mays
Lead Scenic Artist - Michael Denering (Uncredited)
Set Decorator - Nancy Haigh
Property Master - Michael Milgrom
Costume Designer - John Bloomfield
Armorers - Harry Lu, Dan Sprague
and Syd Stembridge
Director of Photography - Dean Semler
Director of Photography: Second Unit -
Gary Capo
Underwater Photographer - Pete Romano
"A" Camera/Steadicam Operator - Mark O'Kane
Camera Operators: Second Unit - Michael Ferris
and Aaron Pazanti
Underwater Assistant Camera - Wayne Baker
and Cynthia Pusheck
Production Manager - John J. Smith
Key Set Production Assistant - David Bernstein
First Assistant Directors - Alan B. Curtiss
and David Sardi
First Assistant Directors: Second Unit -
George Parra and Michael Green
First Assistant Directors: Visual Effects Units -
K.C. Hodenfield and Matthew Rowland
Second Assistant Director - Robert Huberman
Second Unit Directors - David R. Ellis
and Mickey Gilbert
Stunt Coordinator - R.A. Rondell
Stunt Coordinator: Kevin Costner -
Norman Howell
Stunt Rigging Coordinator - Gregg Smrz
Aerial Coordinator: Second Unit - Craig Hosking
Special Effects Coordinator - Martin R. Bresin
Physical Effects Designer - Peter Chesney
Special Effects Coordinators: Second Unit -
Archie Ahuna, John Frazier, Chuck Gaspar
and Michael Schorr
Visual Effects Supervisor - Michael J. McAlister
Post Effects Supervisor - Chris Watts
Visual Effects Producer - Kimberly Nelson LoCascio
Visual Effects Directors of Photography -
Mark Vargo and Alex Funke
Visual Effects Camera Operator - Kurt E. Soderling
Digital Effects Supervisor - Theresa Ellis Rygiel
Senior Digital Effects Supervisor: Cinesite -
Brad Kuehn
Digital Effects Supervisor: Cinesite - James E. Price
Digital Effects Supervisor: Boss Film Studios -
Sean Phillips
CG Supervisor: Cinesite - Wendy Rogers
Digital Paint Supervisor: Cinesite - Kevin Lingenfelser
Miniature Supervisors: Stetson Visual Services -
Robert Spurlock and Mark Stetson
Effects Supervisor: Stetson Visual Services -
John K. Stirber
Film Editor - Peter Boyle
Associate Editor - Jonathan Lucas
Sound Editors - Lou Angelo, David A. Arnold,
Simon Coke, Gordon Davidson, Teri E. Dorman,
Michael Haight, Andy Kopetzky, Dave Kulczycki,
Larry Mann, Chuck & Nash Michael,
Harry Miller III, Bob Newlan, Mark Pappas,
Rodger Pardee, Karen Wilson and Gary Wright
Re-Recording Mixers - Steve Maslow
and Gregg Landaker
Additional Re-Recording Mixers - Bill Benton
and Chris Carpenter
Foley Artists - Dan O'Connell, Gary A. Hecker,
John Roesch (Uncredited) and Alicia Stevenson
(Uncredited)
Music - James Newton Howard
Score Recordist and Mixer - Bruce Botnick


Awards

1996 Academy Awards
Best Sound - Steve Maslow, Gregg Landaker
and Keith A. Wester (Nominated)


Review
As you might call it, Mad Max on water, WATERWORLD had an excellent concept about Earth getting covered in water. One problem in the movie is that the storyline has several unexplained answers and even loose ends, including the ending. The sets, action scenes and music score by James Newton Howard are all tremendous, but Kevin Costner's performance as The Mariner was a fine job. I find the part where Costner's character turns his wee into drinking water very disgusting, and I should have known that Jack Black had a small role in the film.

WATERWORLD is by no means a bad movie, just poorly edited. That is why it couldn't be as successful as it could have been, but it was enjoyable. The fans of WATERWORLD will have to wait for the answered questions in the film's extended cut. The uncompressed version is available on DVD and Blu-ray but is not for fans outside of North America.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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1 comment:

  1. It has been a about 4 years since I have seen this but I do remembering it being good. I do not know why so many people hated it. And thank you for your comment about Darth Vader, he is also my favorite character.

    -James

    ReplyDelete