# I just saw the movie "Waterland"...why did everyone like it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 16, 2006, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-the-movie-waterland-why-did-everyone-like-it/360997 "2006-06-16T21:30:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-the-movie-waterland-why-did-everyone-like-it/360997/1 "2006-06-16T21:30:58Z")
The IMDB is full of 10-star reviews of what an amazing and wonderful movie this was. To me it was just muddled, confusing, and dull. What am I missing? ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-the-movie-waterland-why-did-everyone-like-it/360997/2 "2006-06-16T21:49:13Z")
Huh? I always heard that this movie was a horrific dud; one of the worst, most expensive movies ever made. It has a 5.3/10 on the IMDB, so it can’t be _that_ well thought of. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-the-movie-waterland-why-did-everyone-like-it/360997/3 "2006-06-16T21:52:33Z")
You mean [Waterland](http://imdb.com/title/tt0105790/) as opposed to [Waterworld](http://imdb.com/title/tt0114898/), right? I haven’t seen the first, but the second was…not good. ---
**Author:** ![Idlewild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8491ac/32.png) [@Idlewild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idlewild)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-the-movie-waterland-why-did-everyone-like-it/360997/4 "2006-06-16T21:53:10Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > Huh? I always heard that this movie was a horrific dud; one of the worst, most expensive movies ever made. > > It has a 5.3/10 on the IMDB, so it can’t be _that_ well thought of. Psst. That’s Water_world_! ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-the-movie-waterland-why-did-everyone-like-it/360997/5 "2006-06-16T21:53:41Z")
Well :dubious: when compared against The Postman :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-the-movie-waterland-why-did-everyone-like-it/360997/6 "2006-06-16T22:02:42Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > Huh? I always heard that this movie was a horrific dud; one of the worst, most expensive movies ever made. > > It has a 5.3/10 on the IMDB, so it can’t be _that_ well thought of. As has been pointed out, you’re thinking about Waterworld. Waterland is a different movie. The IMDB reviews are very gushy. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-the-movie-waterland-why-did-everyone-like-it/360997/7 "2006-06-16T22:03:58Z")
The plot summary from imdb: > [@](#): > > Tom Crick, a high school history teacher, is having trouble connecting - with his class, with his wife. He ventures into telling his class stories about his young adulthood in the Fens district in England. The emotional wounds from his younger life wash over him in present day, affecting his work and his relationships with his students and his wife. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-the-movie-waterland-why-did-everyone-like-it/360997/8 "2006-06-16T22:08:08Z")
**ouryL** , don’t say a word against _The Postman_. The way that the blossoming of such an unlikely friendship between Neruda and the poor, barely-literate postie was portrayed was sensitive and funny. One of my favourite movies, ever. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-the-movie-waterland-why-did-everyone-like-it/360997/9 "2006-06-16T22:17:52Z")
If you haven’t read the book, I recommend it highly (_The Postman_). It’s way better than the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Clam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@Happy\_Clam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Clam)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-the-movie-waterland-why-did-everyone-like-it/360997/10 "2006-06-16T22:21:18Z")
The book _Waterland_, by the way, is a powerful and fascinating post-modern novel told through multiple stands of history and narrative. The film is not so good, but I would suggest that those who enjoyed the film were projecting their appreciation of the book (which won some sort of price-Whitbread?) on the film. Personally, I liked both, although admit the books loses a lot of subtlety being transferred to screen. Am I the first one to actually reply to the OP in the whole thread? How…unusual. ---
**Author:** ![2MuchTrivia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e9bcb4/32.png) [@2MuchTrivia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2MuchTrivia)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-the-movie-waterland-why-did-everyone-like-it/360997/11 "2006-06-16T22:25:56Z")
Another example of the too intelligent missing the original post…_Waterland_ was a very good film. Maybe you are too young to see what an immagrant carries with him/her, it is not always the promised land, just a new beginning. ---
**Author:** ![2MuchTrivia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e9bcb4/32.png) [@2MuchTrivia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2MuchTrivia)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-the-movie-waterland-why-did-everyone-like-it/360997/12 "2006-06-16T22:29:25Z")
Read the book by Graham Swift _Waterland_. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Clam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@Happy\_Clam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Clam)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-the-movie-waterland-why-did-everyone-like-it/360997/13 "2006-06-16T22:30:02Z")
> [@2MuchTrivia](#): > > Another example of the too intelligent missing the original post…_Waterland_ was a very good film. Maybe you are too young to see what an immagrant carries with him/her, it is not always the promised land, just a new beginning. Who is the “immigrant” in Waterland? The narrative is all based around the Fens and people who have lived there for generations. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Clam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@Happy\_Clam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Clam)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-the-movie-waterland-why-did-everyone-like-it/360997/14 "2006-06-16T22:32:08Z")
> [@2MuchTrivia](#): > > Read the book by Graham Swift _Waterland_. Gotta agree here, the book is much, much better. Had to write a piece of coursework on it some time ago, was amazed at the wealth of detail that Swift puts into the details, and the way that key themes keep reoccuring through Swift’s narrative…don’t let the poorish adaption put you off, the book’s structure is refreshingly original. ---
**Author:** ![2MuchTrivia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e9bcb4/32.png) [@2MuchTrivia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2MuchTrivia)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-the-movie-waterland-why-did-everyone-like-it/360997/15 "2006-06-16T22:36:18Z")
He immagrated to the USA and I saw him give lectures before I read the book. ---
**Author:** ![2MuchTrivia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e9bcb4/32.png) [@2MuchTrivia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2MuchTrivia)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-the-movie-waterland-why-did-everyone-like-it/360997/16 "2006-06-16T22:41:32Z")
As to the original post…I as an adult white male always seem to cry when I watch _The Color Purple_ it is empathy for the character not how much you identify with them. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Clam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@Happy\_Clam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Clam)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-the-movie-waterland-why-did-everyone-like-it/360997/17 "2006-06-16T22:48:40Z")
> [@2MuchTrivia](#): > > He immagrated to the USA and I saw him give lectures before I read the book. Oh, right, sorry, thinking of the original book. Another change I thought did nothing to improve the film, but I suppose some concessions had to be made to the American market. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-the-movie-waterland-why-did-everyone-like-it/360997/18 "2006-06-16T22:52:34Z")
D’oh! My mistake, and apologies. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-the-movie-waterland-why-did-everyone-like-it/360997/19 "2006-06-16T23:05:43Z")
> [@OpalCat](#): > > As has been pointed out, you’re thinking about Waterworld. Waterland is a different movie. As I always tell people, Waterland is in California and Waterworld is in Florida. Or maybe that’s Disneyland and Disney World. I always get those two confused. ---
**Author:** ![2MuchTrivia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e9bcb4/32.png) [@2MuchTrivia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2MuchTrivia)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-the-movie-waterland-why-did-everyone-like-it/360997/20 "2006-06-16T23:16:16Z")
_Waterworld_ was filmed in Hawaii. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-the-movie-waterland-why-did-everyone-like-it/360997.md?page=2)