Cult classic? Probably not. But having seen the "Riverworld" movie twice, I can say that anyone looking for an adventure with some style and thought behind it should give it a look. Author Phillip Jose Farmer created the Riverworld series in the 1970's, expanding it to 5 novels, although I think he was originally planning a trilogy! In Riverworld, human souls are intercepted on their way to the afterlife, ending up on a giant planet unified by a winding river.
This made for TV movie is from Robert Halmi Sr and Jr. It's not up to the high standards of previous efforts like "The Odyssey" or "Gulliver's Travels," but it's colorful and engrossing nevertheless. The story takes some characters and plot elements from the novels, but introduces new ones as well as it tells its own story that fits the confines of its 175 minute running time.
If you've read the books, you may miss some of the weirder Phil Farmer creations. You'll recognize Sam Clemens, but Tahmoh Penikett's Matt Elman and his lady love, Jessie (Laura Vandervoort) are new. Richard Francis Burton, the famed British explorer, is very different from Farmer's character and lisping neanderthal Joe Miller is absent.
A lot happens during the film, but I thought the directing was pretty crisp throughout. There's some breathing space between action scenes too, which is missing from a lot of 21st century action films along with some humor. Yes, the aliens who are running the show pop in a little too often and fight scenes, while good, are not real pulse-pounders, but those complaints don't break the movie. Tamoh is fine as the lead and Jeananne Goossen is affecting as a resurrected Japanese warrior.
This made for TV movie is from Robert Halmi Sr and Jr. It's not up to the high standards of previous efforts like "The Odyssey" or "Gulliver's Travels," but it's colorful and engrossing nevertheless. The story takes some characters and plot elements from the novels, but introduces new ones as well as it tells its own story that fits the confines of its 175 minute running time.
If you've read the books, you may miss some of the weirder Phil Farmer creations. You'll recognize Sam Clemens, but Tahmoh Penikett's Matt Elman and his lady love, Jessie (Laura Vandervoort) are new. Richard Francis Burton, the famed British explorer, is very different from Farmer's character and lisping neanderthal Joe Miller is absent.
A lot happens during the film, but I thought the directing was pretty crisp throughout. There's some breathing space between action scenes too, which is missing from a lot of 21st century action films along with some humor. Yes, the aliens who are running the show pop in a little too often and fight scenes, while good, are not real pulse-pounders, but those complaints don't break the movie. Tamoh is fine as the lead and Jeananne Goossen is affecting as a resurrected Japanese warrior.