Cinematical

If I were Costner, I think I'd really go out on the deep end about it: "Waterworld is the greatest film in the history of cinema! Any one who doesn't love it ought to have their eyes snatched out." Might as well go whole hog as long as he's defending the indefensible.

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I may be in a small crowd, but I actually enjoyed both Waterworld and The Postman. Are they truly original? Not really. Are they great sci-fi movies? Not really. Will they become cult clasics? Highly doubtful. Simply taken as movies though, I can think of many others that truly suck, where these... only suck a little.

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I watched the DVD about 10 times and the HD-DVD about 5 times now. I don't get why no one like this movie! It's so wonderfully fun, action packed, emotionally driven, and the video quality on the HD-DVD is a 9 out of 10!

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Michael Cimino's Heaven's Gate may be one of the best movies ever made, although it may not have been popular at the time because of its length (4-hour). But I can't see why in the world anyone would call it garbage or compare it to Top Gun or Waterworld...

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Waterworld is far from a terrible sci-fi movie. In fact, it should be the global warming pick, it has more action that DAY AFTER TOMORROW, a better script and you know that there really are people who have become better adapted to living in water than land. No, its no 2001, or Planet of the Apes (original)but neither it or THE POSTMAN (John Ford does Sci-Fi) deserve the derision they have recieved. As for Uwe Boll - don't let him near a camera

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Heaven's Gate is a pretty good film but it was such colossal failure at the box office (especially considering its enormous budget) that it put an entire studio out of business. Many people lost their jobs and that film alone is credited with bringing an end to the era where the director auteur ruled. It made getting films done a lot harder for other, more talented directors.

It was also panned by critics because it is self-indulgent, pretentious, and yes, way too long.

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I have no idea why people keep bashing this movie. It isnt the greatest, but it was a nice story and I actually enjoyed watching it. Everytime it comes on tv I find myself captivated by what the movie brings to the table. I like it for what it is..dont worry Kevy

http://www.ihatecellulite.com

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I loved Waterworld and The Postman...for me they still hold up. Leagues above the garbage that was Battlefield Earth or the last three Star Wars films!

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Actually I really like both Waterworld and The Postman.
Perhaps Waterworld could have been done on a tighter budget, but I think anybody who says this is a terrible movie is just jumping on the bandwagon, perhaps expecting too much based on the hype over the production cost, or maybe they're just not fans of post-apocalyptic movies in general. Also, I think people tend to rate longer movies lower. Really, if a movie is under 120 minutes, I am hesitant to purchase it on DVD. When The Postman came out, it was one of my favorite movies. I don't know, I think they are Kevin Costner's best movies.

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I've always been a bit baffled by the whole "hating on Costner" thing..which seems driven by professional critics more than by the movie loving public. Waterworld is no masterpiece..but at worst, is a tad boring & derivative. The Postman is a solid and entertaining adventure movie.....and I've never understood precisely what is supposed to be wrong with it.

Reading other pro Costner comments here - it seems maybe the critics are out of touch (yet again)with popular taste.

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I have to say, I actually enjoyed Waterworld. Okay, some of it was a bit much. It is an interesting idea thinking that if our world was covered by water, and humans were able to adapt and mutate to these new conditions.
btw, I'm not saying I like this film because my name is Kevin ;)

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I liked both Waterworld and the Postman and can't understand the criticism of them. Like Ishtar (which was also a decent comedy), they had lavish budgets and could have used a stronger editorial hand, but I think there's an agenda out there unrelated to the quality of these films. Heaven's Gate was so-so but watchable. Other films have not lived up to their billings or budgets and are not so reviled or ridiculed nor their creators punished for having produced them. I'm guessing some kind of personal or political wrath with which the rest of us just bleat along, afraid to be tarred with the bad taste brush or being out of step with the mainstream.

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P.S. "Showgirls" rocks!!

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You know, I thought you started the column implying that you liked Waterworld. You shouldn't knock it. It really isn't that bad. It's got boats, guns, explosions, and yes, even a touch of story to go with it. Plus there is that crazy scientist guy in the flying machine. It's like the Mad Max universe only on the water... sort of.

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"Waterworld" is actually a watchable action flick, although I'm missing the reason for slapping it with the Sci-Fi moniker. Just because it's set in the future?

That being said, I haven't gone out of my way to watch it for years, and I even had to check my DVD wall to see if I even own it (I don't).

I don't think the passage of time will elevate this film to "classic" status, unless of course in some post-apocalyptic world, it's the only movie that survives the holocaust.

You still feel the need to crap on a Costner film? Try "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves".

Steve

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Well, I'm going to stand alone here and tell everyone that I absolutely hated Waterworld... Oh, who am I kidding? I actually kind of liked it too. Like the majority on this thread feel, as it would seem, there are some great elements to the story. Some aspects of the movie are monumental like the big reveals in Planet of the Apes or A.I. I never thought it deserved the lashing it got from critics, but I think too many were expecting something like Dances with Wolves. I wouldn't go so far as to call it the greatest Sci-Fi movie ever, that award goes to Space Nuts *cough*, but the fact that we are still talking about it, and most favorably, I think it is a better movie than it is often credited for.

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I understand Waterrworld and Heavens Gate to be the major flops of all time

but come on Showgirls that screams to be the movie with the biggest let down when its on TBS


LOL


seriously how did showgirls come in there I really hope that was a joke...

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i liked this okay when i saw it in the theaters way back when and didn't really understand the seething hatred for it.

just a couple months ago i saw it again for the first time in HD, and damn... i thought it was much better than i had given it credit for back in the day!! It looks great in hi-def... if you're hating on it because that's what everyone does, check it out again. maybe you'll change your mind.

still haven't seen the postman. waiting 'til its on in HD somewhere!

anyone remember fandango (the movie, not the only place online you can buy imax tickets)?
great old costner flick.

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I love an article that starts off cynically speaking about the "herd mentality" when it comes to movies only to dive into bashing Waterworld just like EVERYONE ELSE HAS DONE.

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I personally liked this movie. Not a favorite or anything, but it was entertaining. Much better than the pretentious Matrix Sequels.

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