Waterworld: The Extended Edition (2008) - DVD Review
Waterworld 2008 Extended Cut
Staring: KEVIN COSTNER, JEANNE TRIPPLEHORN, TINA MAJORINO, MICHAEL JETER, AND DENNIS HOPPER
Directed By: KEVIN REYNOLDS
Well it took “13″ years for the Extended cut of Waterworld to come out on DVD. Was it worth it? Yes, and no. (IMO), Waterworld has been cursed with a bad theatrical version ever since it came out in 1995. Those who don’t know, Kevin Costner fired Kevin Reynolds right after he turned in his final cut of the film. Costner then spent four months re-editing the film into what was known as the “Costner cut”, or the theatrical version.
Over the years talking to people about the film, I found out about the deleted scenes that were cut out. I have always wanted to see those scenes one way or another. In the Extended cut, I got my wish. With over 40 minutes of additional material I couldn’t wait to see this classic Sci-Fi film again. There was just one thing that botherd me as the film began, the disclaimer read,
THIS FILM HAS BEEN MODIFIED FROM ITS ORIGINAL VERSION TO CONTAIN ADDITIONAL MATERIAL, AND EDITED FOR CONTENT.
Edited for content,? Ooooh Noooo!!!!! As the film started out I noticed right away that the scene where Mariner pees into the cup was edited. Was this entire film going to be “watered” down? Unfortunately yes! Would it matter? Read on if ya dare!!!
The new cut of the film is awesome and a much better edit of the actual film. Its clear that Kevin Reynolds had a distinct vision he wanted for the overall story . He had an overall theme about Dryland, and how the people in Waterworld were all but dead or soon would be. The last of the humans feared the Mariner mutation as a confirmation of this. The new cut also looks very clean, there is no distinction in new footage looking old or thrown in. There are some fall backs in the musical score, but that’s to be expected.
SPOILERS AHEAD “WARNING” SPOILERS AHEAD, DANGER, DANGER, DANGER…
In the “New Cut” we see a different side to the residents of the Atoll. They don’t really like Enola. She has been causing a stir among outsiders with stories of the tattooed map to Dryland on her back for too long. They fear she will draw the Smokers to the Atoll. There’s a lot of new footage of the Mariner as he bargains his dirt on the Atoll. The scene with Nord is also expanded with new dialog describing that its August in Waterworld. After the Mariner is taken prisoner for being a “Mutation”, there’s some great new footage of Helen fighting in his defence, this only turns the Atoll mob council against her. There’s some great new scenes of the Atoll council classifying some of the Mariner’s artifacts as weapons to push they’re case for execution. There’s also additional new footage of Gregor formulating calculations from Enolas tattoo, and prepairing the escape Blimp.
The raid on the Atoll is awesome as the Smokers show up to take the girl, there’s some great new footage of the attack. New Deacon footage showing him golfing during the attack (viva, Apocalypse Now style) is pretty funny!!! The scene where Deacon executes a prisoner in his attempt to gain knowledge on the girls escape was improved by the editing, as the Deacon went into a sermon about Evolution. This scene also introduced us to the Deacon’s accountant. Costner really trimmed out a lot of Hopper’s scenes.
After the getaway, the tone gets darker as extra dialog shows us how the Mariner really dosnt give a shit about these two humans. The scene where Helen, pleads to the Mariner not to kill Enola as she takes off her clothes was totally edited to cut out the full backside shot. That really kinda pissed me off, as here we have a darker story yet the nudity is cut out???
Back on the Deez we cut to the scene where Deacon asks Toby how his eye looks. In the original version, Toby says, “it looks like shit” in the this version Toby says, “it looks like slime”. (Slime? What is this Ghostbusters?) There are some additional scenes at this point that show the Deez being rowed in pursuit of the Mariner, and the Deacon putting in his rusted out non-functional control tower as he mulls over pursuing the Mariner. (Great stuff!) There’s also a funny scene where the Sky Boat’s Captain (Jack Black) informs Deacon on the attack that killed Joe his gunner. The scene was somewhat tainted, as instead of the word “bitch” the dialog was changed to “witch” of the Atoll. ( Ah there’s that edited for content factor ;-)
Additional scenes back on board the Mariner’s ship, show that everyone on the ship is recycling they’re urine. The entire dynamic of time is stretched out as we see the Tomato plant used as a way to show how long the trio have been without food. The Drifter scene had some additional dialog as did the scene where the Mariner kills the mutated shark. Afterward Mariner asks Enola if she wants to eat the eyeball of the shark? She says,”no” as its the one scene where we really see the Mariner trying to bond with the child. What follows is a great scene where Enola tells the Mariner, that he doesn’t like her humming because he can’t sing. Later we hear the sounds of Miles Davis, as we see a corroded portable cd player with two rusted exterior computer speakers powered by a rusted car alternator fan wheel playing into the night. During this scene Helen explains how Enola washed up to the Atoll 6 years ago, and they all wanted to cast her aside because she was a considered a freak. These new scenes portray a deeper relationship between Enola and the Mariner.
As the film progresses and Enola is taken by the Deacon there are some cool new scenes on the newly formed Atoll as the Mariner takes out a few Smokers, and ignites they’re oil slick residue to lead him back to the Deez.
The sinking of the Exxon Valdez was enhanced yet the dialog restricted by the (edited for content) cut. I did like it when the Deacon said, “If I can’t have Dryland nobody can!”
The Dryland ending was enhanced with a longer goodbye between Helen and the Mariner , she gives him a name, its really touching. The money shot of the entire film is next, when Enola, and Helen stumble upon a plaque that identifies the island as, Mount Everest.
In the end, the Extended Cut is superior I just wish they hadn’t dropped the ball with the edited for content crap!!!
The Dvd Extended Cut, 2 disc version of Waterworld also contains the Theatrical version and theatrical trailer.
Great review 790, Thanks!
I’m definitely going to check this out now. Waterworld is one of my all time favorites. I must admit, I too am bummed about the edited for content. Isn’t the point of releasing this is to show the film as the director originally intended? If he didn’t edit some of this stuff out before, why now? That’s ridiculous. Still, I’m going to go out a get this. Thanks for the heads up!
Its worth it Jon, but whoever was in charge of the editing should be kidnapped by the Deacon, and taken back to the Deez,,,,
Deacon Trivia:
(Sweet Joe!) Is a reference to Joe Hazelwood, the drunken captain that crashed the real Exxon Valdez in Alaska…
What rating did they give this extended cut? Don’t tell me… PG-13. If I had a dollar for every film they messed up to get a rating I’d be super… well, maybe not super, but…. well… certainly rich in the not too, distant future! Shakes head= ():-(
I’m of a mind to lay it down on an Avid and cut the original dialog back in. Did they make some futile attempt to readjust the film to get proper lip sync? EW call me if you need me I’ll be in the Anger Dome! ([:-@
Old Man,,, the Extended Cut was rated (Not Rated)…
They could have done anything they wanted…
^
I have a few ideas why this happened but its still hard to fathom they would do this on the Not Rated dvd. Its just sloppy, insulting work…
Parts of the extended edition were on ABC like 9 years ago.
I’m going to have to see this.
Yeah I figured that was the case. They were lazy and just recut the tv version.
Other than that the longer cut is a better film. The ending is very much improved…
I’ll watch it this weekend. That and Quantum. :)
I watched the first half of the extended edition. I can’t believe how this film has been watered down, no pun intended. ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS KEEP CONTENT THEY HAD AND ADD IN THE EXTRA FOOTAGE.
“The scene where Deacon executes a prisoner in his attempt to gain knowledge on the girls escape was improved by the editing, as the Deacon went into a sermon about Evolution.” Their are two guys. The deacon shots the other, which has been edited out. Lame. Plus the second guy screams: NOOO, which was changed to something else in this version, before being shot. Fucking weak.
And it looks like slime? In Valen’s name.
Yeah I was disgusted as well, FilmBook,,,
Even Valen would be pissed!
Most of the additional scenes are good though…so far.
Was this released on blu-ray by any chance?
Shayneneal,,, it was only released on dvd,,, ;-(
You know - Canadian TV played the extended cut just a few years ago, in WIDESCREEN, with ALL the missing footage AND ALL THE NUDITY and SWEARING…
I should dub that onto a dvd…
I miss living in Buffalo.
You know I havent been able to find this anywhere except online! I cant believe it, no stores here have it.
I really need to move out of hillbilly town.
I finished it.
@ Ken Almightly. I wish they would release that on DVD.
“cool new scenes on the newly formed Atoll as the Mariner takes out a few Smokers, and ignites they’re oil slick residue to lead him back to the Deez.”
Loved that part. Very cool. Explains how he found the smokers, even if it is far-fetched.
One of my favorite new scenes is the realization that the Mariner, even after showing Enola how to swim and giving her the crayons, was going to sell her and Helen to Slavers. Too bad the Smokers killed them first and hung their dead bodies as decoys to lore them in to a trap.
The editing for content was absurd. It ruined almost all of the funny parts except for: “Was this your big vision?”
The dryland part is good. I really liked the naming scene. And the extending ending.
I may have to stick with the regular version, I don’t know. I miss the swears,the violence and the butt shot.
Thanks for that info, Ken.
Somebody dropped the ball at Universal on this one.
Its like buying a new BMW with a huge dent on the side… What a letdown, again…
Your not alone Stan,,,
This was distributed in very limited release. The Best Buy and Frys stores near me only received 2 copies per store…
Maybe somebody realized they screwed up and there fixing them. I can only hope!
Yeah good points Filmbook.
I really miss, “looks like shit”, and ” I didn’t know you were a freaking retard!”
And yeah the backside shot was nice,,,
I agree the scenes at the slaver site gave a whole new twist to the film,,,
I also liked that smoker scene at the new Atoll, the Everest scene was the money shot, I couldn’t believe Costner cut that out ,,, ;-)
Freaking retard Costner!
You’re welcome 790.
This is unrelated, but “Ed Wood” was released (again) after the director decided he didn’t like the edit and some of the extras I think?
Maybe that will be the case here.
I missed out, but I know someone who was excited to buy the theatrical version on “HD-DVD”.
They might have to buy it for a fifth time now (if the theatrical version is available on blu-ray) lol…
A new Ed Wood cut,,,
I’m there!!!!