Review of Waterworld (1995) by Dave A — 28 May 2011

I remember all the talk about how awful this movie was. Overrated. Over budget. Yadda yadda yadda. I remember seeing it years ago and thinking "not bad" but now it's time for a retro review! Does Waterworld truly stink? It's actually not that bad!

Waterworld is set in the distant future, when the polar ice caps have melted. Set in Dr. Dre's California Love alternate reality, bands of humans have become either pirates, smugglers or tyrants, all vying for whatever remaining resources. What follows is an epic aquatic quest in search of dry land!

Now there are a few problems with the screenplay, namely one plot thread that involves humanity not knowing dry land once existed. Are you kidding me?!?! Unless there was a massive memory loss or people were stuck in another Dark Age, how could humanity just "forget" about dry land?! Also, how can they explain Costner's mutancy? Answer: they don't, so just fuckin' smile and nod and enjoy the explosions.

As a pure escapist action-adventure on the seas, Waterworld actually works better as a Pirates movie. Hell, Lee Arenberg is even in it! It's actually more enjoyable that On Stranger Tides. Although Costner is wooden as shit, Dennis Hopper is always a great villain and the super-charged tidal action saves Waterworld from being a bore. It's a messy but highly enjoyable film.