Waterworld (Extended Edition) DVD Review - IGN

It didn't help that the movie wasn't very good, either. It was an undisguised environmental statement and slap at rampant consumerism, which seemed kind of funny given its budget. And was I the only person who heard the title of the movie and immediately thought of the ill-fated SwordQuest series on the Atari 2600?

CLICK HERE to read the full Waterworld (theatrical cut) HD DVD review.

Universal finally gets around to putting both the 136-minute theatrical version and an extended, 177-minute version in the same package. The verdict? Waterworld isn't nearly as bad as it's been made out to be. Yes, Dennis Hopper is still one of the most Looney Tunes villains this side of Ming the Merciless in Flash Gordon. Yes, the production is still a grand feast for the eyes. And, yes, Jeanne Tripplehorn still pouts with the best of them. Something else is brought into the film courtesy of the new cut: absurd levels of humor for anyone who cares to pay attention. That, by itself, is the biggest problem with Kevin's Gate or Fishtar -- choose your own demeaning nickname. Simply, it's difficult to take anything seriously from start to finish.

Hopper, as Deacon, only knows how to grandstand, a quality exposed even more in the ABC television cut. (The version seen on television is the same one on disc two of this set, according to reports.) It's impossible not to expect him to twirl his make believe mustache as the camera gets as close as it can to his face. He's relishing the chance to play an over-the-top evildoer, clearly. What his band of Smokers lack is a compelling story.

Aside from simply being bad guys, why do they terrorize people trying to survive? Are they merely hooligans or is there some deeper purpose and meaning to their lives? Waterworld really doesn't care, expecting the audience not to care either no matter which version of the film is playing.

New footage begins to give a depth to everything on screen, but-dare I say it -- 177 minutes isn't right for this movie, either. Let me explain. The first hour of the film drops us into the middle of world begging to be explored, culminating in a goofy but high spirited extended action sequence. The final 45 minutes or so pick up the pace with the obligatory shootout and emotional climax. But the middle portion, jumping from the Mariner's boat to the Deacon and back again ad nauseum, kills all forward progression of the story.

Since the main characters are huddled on a ramshackle boat in the middle of a world covered by water, the story is dependent on action coming to them, as opposed to the other way around. The Lord of the Rings didn't suffer from this problem, thanks to its land-based story. Sam, Frodo and the rest could find a new adventure around every single corner of Middle Earth. Not so for the Mariner, Helen and Enola. They happen across unscrupulous traders and blink and you miss them sea creatures. It makes the middle portion of both cuts entirely predictable.

Obviously, this is a problem originating in the script phase and couldn't be simply remedied with the inclusion of existing material. Some proponents of the finished production will say the middle portion of the film develops the relationship between the Mariner and his two companions. And they'd be absolutely right. It does. However, audiences don't flock to summer blockbusters to see the love story, now do they?

Score: 6 out of 10

Video and Presentation

The first disc features the theatrical cut of the film; the second the extended cut. It should be no surprise the already released original version is gorgeous to look at, but that's not the point of this new set. Over on disc two, the extended edition leaves something to be desired, with a fair amount of shimmering and varying light levels. There's also an inordinate amount of grain in any scene featuring a shot of the sky, particularly at the end. An overall softness permeates half the film while the other half is nearly perfect in its detail. The predominantly gray and brown color palette is generally well rendered with minor problems in darker locales.

Score: 6 out of 10

Languages and Audio

There are two different sets of audio options: disc one features the usual lineup of English, Spanish and French 5.1 mixes and subtitles while disc two holds only an English 5.1 track with the same subtitles. What makes both of these tracks stand out from anything else in recent memory are the ambient sounds, plentiful on the open water and inside rusting buckets of metal. When the sails pick up a strong wind, the speakers come alive, allowing the various watercraft to move across the screen and the speakers. Action sequences are similarly impressive, though the quiet scenes should be the calling card here. Hearing metal scrape on metal or the groaning of a boat hull from the overstress of use puts everything else to shame.

Score: 7 out of 10

Extras and Packaging

Waterworld comes packaged in a standard size double disc keepcase. A slipcover recreating the DVD art is also included. As already mentioned, two versions of the film are included. The lone supplement is the original theatrical trailer housed on disc one in unenhanced widescreen.

Score: 1 out of 10

The Bottom Line

Goofy and awe-inspiring, this new set gives the audience the best of both worlds.