Riverworld (2003)

One of the wrost movies I have ever seen

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

best movie i've ever seen.

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Maybe the book this was based on is better, maybe it's just as dire as this straight to TV movie which in reality should have gone straight in the bin. An astronaut dies and reawakens under water on a mysterious planet. It's not actually that mysterious as it looks Earth like still and the atmosphere is evidently breathable. After breaking free of his binding and swimming for safety he finds a capsule on the beach which has all the clothing he needs to survive on the baron landscape, a few cotton clothes which when unfolded make nice trousers and a shirt. He turns around to face the sea and all of a sudden a wave of people are swimming for shore too. They each have a capsule of clothing too. Disturbingly the clothes all fit the people perfectly and they aren't all the standard shape and cut, some of the woman manage to find capsules with skirts in, some of them have strapless tops in them. I noticed none of the capsules have underwear in them but all the people somehow have flesh coloured pants and bras. It becomes evident that people from all ages of Earth's like are on the beach together, people from the American civil war, Neanderthal's from the stone age, modern people… it's a who's who of people who lived and died on earth - including an alien who died on Earth in the future. This is not heaven nor Hell, it's like a purgatory where anyone who died on earth eventually goes. It seems Earth is no longer, these people are the surviving children of Earth and they have been reborn on Riverworld. This fresh crop of people are soon hunted down and trapped by existing inhabitants on Riverworld. The premise of the film from here is that the Astronaut leads a revolt to rescue the people who then set about travelling the river on a big boat looking for adventure and answers. I really can't say many good things about this. Perhaps the novel by Philip Jose Farmer was really good but this film adaptation, directed by Kari Skogland really isn't. The film was filmed in New Zealand and this was about the only saving grace as it offered lush landscapes and backdrops. The acting was wooden and laughable, the effects were poor, and the flow of the film was bad. Like the universal but unique clothing no answers to why everyone speaks a universal language is explored, nobody seems really to care that much that they are all dead but still alive - I'd want to celebrate that. The ending was left wide open, presumably for a TV series branch off or a follow up film but I really hope nothing comes of it. As this was made super cheap and broadcast on the Sy-Fy channel I can't see much coming of the open ending. I'm giving this 1 out of 10 and I'm thankful that I won't have to watch this ever again.

Farmer's novels were brilliantly imaginative, exciting, and captivating. Everything this trash is not. This is not an adaptation of the classic work, it corrupts and blasphemes what Farmer wrote. The characters have been changed and now are lifeless stick figures. For a story that deals so deeply with the concept of the soul, this junk is amazingly soulless. The producers and writers were delusional when they came to the abominable conclusion that they could "improve" upon essential details of the saga but keep a perverted version of the basic premise. All the majesty and vision of Farmer's masterwork is gone, the heart of what made it truly great cut out until it has no life at all.

On Movies4Men in the UK late night..until I read this IMDb..why, each time I go to a site the login has changed.. anyway, having watched this, realised it was a made for TV movie.. but.. as someone said, left high and dry at the end..as in WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? We are taken on a journey, guessing whats happened, some questions answered along the way, damned good action and story, I've not a clue about the books.. as a film buff this was good, very humorous as times..and then its the end.. AH.. OK..characters realised..on their way.. then.. well, i'm ready, aren't I. Another TV pilot? Drat and double drat! They suck you in.. how much did it cost to make? Cos its made for TV that doesn't matter? So not a box office flop then but.. I thought equally as good as any other adventure film? I saw the film maker.. Alliance and realised thats the same 'maker' as many sci fi TV shows.. I guess that should have told me. New Zealand.. very nice. I'd still like to know how much it cost.. was it destined for a series, did someone change their minds..?

Sorry for my English (It's my 2nd language)Of course, we are not talking about a masterpiece. I really like the story and I am sad that this Pilot did not end up as a TV series. The actors are very average but the story is not affected. What's very interesting is the idea of something different than Hell or Paradise when we die. I personally don't believe in Hell but I think there something after life. But enough about religious beliefs...It's also very cool to see different historical characters interacting together. Visually, the effects are good if we go back to 1993 and with probably little budget. After watching this movie, I will definitely buy the book to see that happens at the end...