Waterworld Reviews

This lavish Mad Max on jet skis from director Kevin Reynolds was declared dead in the water owing to escalating costs, nightmarish production problems and clashing egos, but it finally emerged as a spectacular and thrilling sci-fi fantasy. In the far future, the polar icecaps have melted, covering the planet in water and making dirt the most valuable commodity. Enigmatic loner Mariner (Kevin Costner) offers a ray of hope to Helen (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and Enola (Tina Majorino), the latest victims of bandits led by the manic Deacon (Dennis Hopper). While helping Helen and Enola survive, Mariner continues his search to find the mythical Dryland. The film offers plenty of comic-book heroics and spectacular stunts, and Costner gives one of his finest performances as the half man/half amphibian whose steely character holds this full-blooded epic adventure together.

"...A 2 1/4-hour aquatic pursuit pic with bruising stunts, fun-to-watch performances, a dozen good chortles and imposing Panavision renderings of post-apocalyptic crud....[WATERWORLD] clearly has the makings of a cult movie..." -- 3 out of 4 stars

Overblown action movie with a leaky narrative, relying on stunts to retain an audience's attention; it looks good, though, and is energized by Dennis Hopper as a psychotic villain.

This lavish Mad Max on jet skis from director Kevin Reynolds was declared dead in the water owing to escalating costs, nightmarish production problems and clashing egos, but it finally emerged as a spectacular and thrilling sci-fi fantasy. In the far future, the polar icecaps have melted, covering the planet in water and making dirt the most valuable commodity. Enigmatic loner Mariner (Kevin Costner) offers a ray of hope to Helen (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and Enola (Tina Majorino), the latest victims of bandits led by the manic Deacon (Dennis Hopper). While helping Helen and Enola survive, Mariner continues his search to find the mythical Dryland. The film offers plenty of comic-book heroics and spectacular stunts, and Costner gives one of his finest performances as the half man/half amphibian whose steely character holds this full-blooded epic adventure together.

"...A 2 1/4-hour aquatic pursuit pic with bruising stunts, fun-to-watch performances, a dozen good chortles and imposing Panavision renderings of post-apocalyptic crud....[WATERWORLD] clearly has the makings of a cult movie..." -- 3 out of 4 stars

Overblown action movie with a leaky narrative, relying on stunts to retain an audience's attention; it looks good, though, and is energized by Dennis Hopper as a psychotic villain.

"Highlighted by some action scenes unlike anything seen before and effective in creating a unique landless universe in a perilous future..."

Water, water everywhere, and recycled urine to drink. The ice-caps have melted, and humans have split into three... read more on Time Out

"...The Existential Raft Drama....Exciting and even funny..."