# How Bad Was "Waterworld"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 16, 2009, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-was-waterworld/521488 "2009-12-16T16:06:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-was-waterworld/521488/21 "2009-12-16T18:20:46Z")
> [@WarmNPrickly](#): > > I’m not sure I understand the criticism that it didn’t make sense. It’s been a while since I’ve seen it, but I don’t remember anything not making sense. Umm, evolving gills in one generation? ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-was-waterworld/521488/22 "2009-12-16T18:32:28Z")
I don’t remember that it was one generation. Scientifically, I agree that it is ridiculous even given multiple generations. By the time gills evolve, Humans will probably not resemble Humans. I’ll admit this bugged me, but if I were to apply that type of criticism to all SciFi movies, I’d likely find myself with precious few movies and the ones that would make it would be extremely dry and boring. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-was-waterworld/521488/23 "2009-12-16T18:33:29Z")
It was idiotic and took itself too seriously. Had they got rid of the gills and explained why global warming left _no land at all_ it would have been slightly better. As it was, The Postman was better. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-was-waterworld/521488/24 "2009-12-16T18:33:52Z")
He had a cool boat! ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-was-waterworld/521488/25 "2009-12-16T18:36:09Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Seconded. Plus, Jeanne Tripplehorn was smokin’. Hmmm. Best part of the movie by far! ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-was-waterworld/521488/26 "2009-12-16T18:41:10Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > Umm, evolving gills in one generation? No problem. It could happen in movie land. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-was-waterworld/521488/27 "2009-12-16T18:42:50Z")
> [@WarmNPrickly](#): > > I don’t remember that it was one generation. Scientifically, I agree that it is ridiculous even given multiple generations. By the time gills evolve, Humans will probably not resemble Humans. I’ll admit this bugged me, but if I were to apply that type of criticism to all SciFi movies, I’d likely find myself with precious few movies and the ones that would make it would be extremely dry and boring. Didn’t mean to imply that that alone was a deal breaker just pointing out it didn’t make sense. I think the thing about it that bothered me (vs other SciFi movie improbabilities) is it wasn’t needed. If they still had technology (jet skis, etc) they could still have SCUBAs. ---
**Author:** ![McGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f4b2a3/32.png) [@McGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McGeek)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-was-waterworld/521488/28 "2009-12-16T18:50:54Z")
> [@Driver8](#): > > …The badness of The Postman is especially grating since it was based on such a wonderful book… Whahhht? I thought the Postman book was terrible. I picked it up in a bookstore when it first came out. I was intrigued by the premise, but totally let down by the poor writing. In searching for a way to describe its awfulness, I told someone, “It’s like the kind of story you’d find in a Kevin Costner movie”. Then, within a year, I heard he was making it into a movie, and of course laughed my head off. I did hear that he managed to make the movie even stupider than the book, but the book was petty bad. I admit I never saw the movie - of course! That being said, I agree with those who have posted that Waterworld was not as bad as it’s reputed to be, not any worse than a lot of dumb blockbusters. Independence Day, for example. On the other hand, I never could see that “Dances with Wolves” was as great as it was reputed to be. I thought is was pretty cliche and cheesy, just too over-the-top with the “Noble Savage” theme (although I was totally into Graham Greene as Kicking Bird). Not to mention how Costner’s endless droning narration grated on me. At the time it was so big, I got into the habit of telling people that if they wanted to see a really good movie with (somewhat) similar themes, they should see “Never Cry Wolf”. Those who took my advice always concurred. So I reiterate: watch “Never Cry Wolf”. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-was-waterworld/521488/29 "2009-12-16T18:59:29Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > Also like his way too serious Wyatt. And don’t get me started on his not-so-merry Robin Hood. Hey, Kevin - not every character has to be brooding. Remember that he did a movie or two before he had that pickle installed in his butt. His role in _Silverado_ was downright fun. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-was-waterworld/521488/30 "2009-12-16T19:09:17Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Remember that he did a movie or two before he had that pickle installed in his butt. His role in _Silverado_ was downright fun. Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-was-waterworld/521488/31 "2009-12-16T19:24:12Z")
> [@McGeek](#): > > Whahhht? I thought the Postman book was terrible. I picked it up in a bookstore when it first came out. I was intrigued by the premise, but totally let down by the poor writing. In searching for a way to describe its awfulness, I told someone, “It’s like the kind of story you’d find in a Kevin Costner movie”. Then, within a year, I heard he was making it into a movie, and of course laughed my head off. Well, I enjoyed the book, and thought the movie was terrible. I was much younger at the time, so maybe it was better then! ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-was-waterworld/521488/32 "2009-12-16T20:43:06Z")
We know that global warming isn’t real because this movie goes to show how ridiculous such a premise would be. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-was-waterworld/521488/33 "2009-12-16T21:40:05Z")
> [@Icerigger](#): > > Well the gas came from the supply in the tanker and there was talk about how they are running out. The part where the “fuel gauge” exclaims “thank god” made the whole movie for me. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-was-waterworld/521488/34 "2009-12-16T22:33:51Z")
I enjoyed it - wasn’t shakespeare, and the initial premise was silly, but Costner did OK, and there was Tripplehorn… …could have done without the annoying kid, though. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-was-waterworld/521488/35 "2009-12-16T22:45:34Z")
I’ve seen _The Postman_ probably 30 or 40 times. I think it’s an amazing movie. I read the book after seeing the movie and I did not like the book half as much as I liked the film. The film was actually a vast _improvement_ on the book. It took a character - General Bethlehem - who was only a vague cipher in the novel, and turned him into a brilliantly intimidating villain, expertly portrayed by Will Patton (who was also Costner’s foil in _No Way Out._) There were some cheesy moments, like Tom Petty’s cameo and the village band performing “Come and Get Your Love” with the whole town singing along including the “comeandgetyourlove comeandgetyourlove comeandgetyourlovenow” part, but those just add to the overall quirky charm of the movie. Actually, David Brin (author of the original novel) actually said he _liked_ the movie. Most people who don’t like it should watch it again and give it another chance. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-was-waterworld/521488/36 "2009-12-16T23:03:44Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Remember that he did a movie or two before he had that pickle installed in his butt. His role in _Silverado_ was downright fun. Agreed. I thought he was also great in No Way Out. I haven’t cared much for him since. . ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-was-waterworld/521488/37 "2009-12-16T23:12:10Z")
To me the stupidest thing (and there was a lot of stupid in this movie) was that no one said the word gasoline. It was “go-juice.” Stoopit. My husband loves watching it for the trimaran, but then he’s a boat geek. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-was-waterworld/521488/38 "2009-12-16T23:21:59Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > I know it went way over budget to the tune of some 75 million dollars . . . :eek: What were they using, Evian?! ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-was-waterworld/521488/39 "2009-12-16T23:31:51Z")
Filming anything on water is going to be expensive, especially a huge epic with tons of boats. Running even one boat can take a big financial drain, let alone dozens of different boats from PWCs to runabouts to a gigantic oil tanker. And, of course, all the boats for the camera crews. There were a hell of a lot of special effects, all kinds of outlandish structures built on the water; the cost is not all that surprising. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-was-waterworld/521488/40 "2009-12-16T23:33:23Z")
My favorite line: Decon: “You cancel all those tractor pulls…and all that stuff until later.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-was-waterworld/521488.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-was-waterworld/521488.md?page=3)