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 is illogical and 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. It just could have been better if it weren't so poorly edited. That is why it couldn't be as successful as it could have been, but it was enjoyable. Fans of WATERWORLD will have to wait for some of these answers 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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