WATERWORLD

US, 1995, 135 minutes (cinema release version), Colour.
Kevin Costner, Dennis Hopper, Jeanne Triplehorn, Tina Marjorino, Zake Moraes.
Directed by Kevin Reynolds.

Waterworld had a poor reputation in the middle of the 1990s. It received bad critical response. Whether this was because of the film itself, or the status of Kevin Costner, or the stories of the large budget and the clash with the director, Kevin Reynolds, it is difficult to say. However, even at the time, the box office was not absolutely disastrous. Many audiences like the film.

It is a futuristic film, post-apocalyptic, a theme that Kevin Costner took up in his next film, The Postman, and a theme which became very popular at the beginning of the 21st century.

However, the difference is that land had disappeared and water covered the earth. There were rumours of land, a map in the back of a little girl, quest to find this land. However, the film also shows a picture of surviving communities, the hierarchy, the exercise of power and control, especially with the needs of energy, food and water. There is also a variation on what might be seen as futuristic pirates of the Caribbean. They’re a swashbuckling lot, disreputable, led by Dennis Hopper in his over-the top mode, even with one eye. There is the expected buildup to the confrontation between Hopper and Costner.
Jeanne Triplehorn is the woman who is guarding the little girl, Tina Marjorino.

The film had an extended length but was edited down for cinema release. Kevin Costner clashed with Kevin Reynolds who had directed him in Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves. However, there was a later reconciliation with Reynolds directing the miniseries, The Hatfields and the McCoys?.


1. The impact of the film on its first release? The hostile reviews? The hostility amongst the public? Yet the satisfactory box office? The re-appraisal of the film? Its later reputation?

2. The large budget? The work of Kevin Costner? Direction by Kevin Reynolds, his leaving the project? The finished product? Edited from a very long version for cinema release?

3. The epic style, disaster movie, futuristic film, post-apocalyptic? This kind of film in the 1990s? The greater popularity in the next decade and more?

4. The scope of the story, the locations, the oceans, the battles? The range of boats? Action sequences, fights, battles? The musical score?

5. Kevin Costner and his screen presence, as the Mariner? The post-apocalyptic hero? Surviving? Transformed physically, the gills, his toes, his ability
to stay underwater? His down to earth qualities, saviour figure, fighter, warrior? In the Mad Max vein?

6. The Mariner, wandering the waters, his quests? Surviving? Going to the atoll? The encounter with the leaders? The woman, fostering the little girl? The importance of her being pregnant? The Mariner’s refusal? His rescuing of the girl? Taking of the woman? The voyage? The quest for land?

7. Issues of energy for the boats, issues of food, water? Markets and bartering?

8. Survival after destruction, the loss of land, yet the dirt being precious, on the bottom of the ocean? Humanity and its culture, lost culture?

9. Dennis Hopper, as The Deacon? His eye, one-eyed? Pirate, bravado? The use of over-the-top manner? Language? His men? His rule? The conflict with the Mariner? With the people on the atoll? His wanting power?

10. The woman, in the community, issue of pregnancy and continuity? The girl? The importance of the map on her back? Authorities’ wanting to control her? Find the land? Antagonism towards the Mariner? His rescuing them? Their adventures?

11. The characters on the atoll, the titles and their work, the Elders? Order, authority, power, control?

12. The Deacon and his fellow sailors, characters, sometimes caricatures of pirates and villains?

13. The culminating drama, the action, the fights, the dangers, the confrontations?

14. A future for the world or not? Hope or not?