This is the film that most likely killed Kevin Costner’s A-Star status.

Fishtar, a nickname that Waterworld got for itself after becoming one of the biggest box office bombs of all time, is actually one of the most off-the-wall entertaining and insane films ever created. There is so much to dislike in this film, this is true, but those reasons are the same reasons I love it. When you have a film that has Kevin Costner as the main star playing a mutant fish, you have to disregard common sense and let the thrills thrill you. Do I care that the entire plot of the polar ice caps melting and covering the entire world in water is completely implausible? Heck no, I admire the fact that people tried to pass this off as scientifically possible. Second, do I care that these characters think of paper as gold, yet continually use paper to smoke cigarettes? Not at all. These little things all just make me enjoy the horribleness that is Waterworld.

Prior to Titanic, Waterworld was the most expensive movie ever created. Costner invested $22 million out of his own pocket into it because he had so much faith in the project. The movie-going public hated it, and now it’s branded as one of the worst movies ever. It isn’t that bad folks. Actually take the time to sit down and watch this film, make a drinking game out of it and I’m sure you’ll have fun. If you’re the type of person that can have a good time watching a bad film, then Waterworld is the film for you.

This Mad Max-on-the-seas extravaganza is notorious for the behind the scenes problems that arose during production. It’s reported that Costner wanted Kevin Reynolds, his friend, to be the director, or he would leave the project. Two weeks into filming, Costner and Reynolds had a falling out resulting in Reynolds leaving the project. Costner had to direct the rest of the film himself. There is no obvious change in style with the film, which leaves one to question how much did Reynolds or Costner do? Although, Costner does seem distracted playing the Mariner.

As far as the story goes, Costner, who’s half-human and half-fish, gets in trouble for not impregnating a woman at a trading post, so he’s imprisoned. As he’s about to be executed, pirates, known as Smokers in the film, come to create chaos. He manages to escape with a woman and her child, who seems to be of some importance since people believe the tattoo on her back is the map to dry land. So the Smokers go after the young girl and it’s up to Costner to keep her safe. Again, leave logic at the door and you’ll enjoy the entertainment value that Waterworld has to offer.

Adventure is what the film offers and adventure is what it delivers. People search for dry land and great action sequences ensue. Thrilling boat chases, large scale sets getting destroyed and hot air balloon antics. Two giant set pieces get destroyed in the film; one is the atoll, which is the trading post. The other is the tanker that Dennis Hopper uses. You’d be surprised at how much action and adventure is in a film that takes place on water. Waterworld manages to keep your attention

Despite Costner’s rather boring and bland performance, it’s Hopper as the over the top villain who really drives this film. Watching him chew on this role is great and hilarious. He has so much fun and it seems that he’s brought just a little bit of Frank Booth’s anger into this role. Playing both the villain and the comic relief, Hopper is the standout actor here. Tina Majorino is the young girl -- I’m not a fan of kid actors and here she doesn’t change my mind. Her annoyance stays throughout the whole film. Finally, Jeanne Tripplehorn is the love interest for Costner. She tries her best, but is overshadowed by the performance of Hopper. Just a little tidbit of information: Jack Black has a small role in the film as a Smoker. If you’re playing a drinking game, take a shot if you spot him.

Should I spoil the ending? The film did come out in 1995 and doesn’t involve a twist or anything, so why the heck not? They find dry land at the end. There, I said it. The cat is out of the bag. There is dry land in this film and I’m assuming it’s the top of Mount Everest, which is no longer covered in snow and has horses running around. Say what? Again, just leave all the common sense and logic at the door. If you question why there are horses here; why people trade with dirt, yet don’t know dry land is under them; or even why a little white girl has an Asian tattoo on her back, then you will not enjoy this film.

I’m open to the idea of Waterworld being possible. I’m even open to the idea of a sequel, which will never happen, or even a tv series. Seeing the world explored more, the different characters that inhabit it, it could have been fun. I can say that the film is severely underrated, and people hate on it for Kevin Costner, but no one will touch that with a ten-foot pole. So I’m stuck just reliving my Waterworld experience on DVD.

   -- Matthew Layden