I read the books and all the negative reviews are accurate. However, something about the ending, and just gliding serenely along the river in the coolest boat on the planet kind of worked -- I found myself smiling. And then the abrupt ending (with a blatant sequel tease). I didn't realize this might have been a pilot for a series, but it DOES explain a few things.
The beginning of the movie is pure schlock, and as someone who read the books, it was jarring. The entire Nero story arc is a fabrication because "the series needs a villain" -- and Riverworld can make said villain immortal, right? Well yes, but ... when you're reborn your new location is randomly chosen; you're not going to always be perfectly positioned in front of (upriver from) the steamboat so as to frequently attack it -- but it sure looks like that's how the series would have unfolded (gad). They probably would have mixed it up -- Nero shows up either every 3rd or 4th episode or something
The continuity of the "river" is badly done. In some shots, where a beach is needed, it appears that the filming was done on a barren rocky OCEAN beach (waves, no sign of far side, etc). But other shots (typically looking down from the air) seem to show fjord-like waterways with lush vegetation (but still not a river).
This had *potential* for six stars, but deduct one for the schlock (especially the beginning), and another for bastardizing Philip Jose Farmer's fine books so badly. So four stars total.
Alternatively, I can start with 3 stars for mid-grade schlock (it's better than JCVD's Cyborg which I rated at 2 stars) and add one star for my happy smile. So either way, it's four (4) stars .
The beginning of the movie is pure schlock, and as someone who read the books, it was jarring. The entire Nero story arc is a fabrication because "the series needs a villain" -- and Riverworld can make said villain immortal, right? Well yes, but ... when you're reborn your new location is randomly chosen; you're not going to always be perfectly positioned in front of (upriver from) the steamboat so as to frequently attack it -- but it sure looks like that's how the series would have unfolded (gad). They probably would have mixed it up -- Nero shows up either every 3rd or 4th episode or something
The continuity of the "river" is badly done. In some shots, where a beach is needed, it appears that the filming was done on a barren rocky OCEAN beach (waves, no sign of far side, etc). But other shots (typically looking down from the air) seem to show fjord-like waterways with lush vegetation (but still not a river).
This had *potential* for six stars, but deduct one for the schlock (especially the beginning), and another for bastardizing Philip Jose Farmer's fine books so badly. So four stars total.
Alternatively, I can start with 3 stars for mid-grade schlock (it's better than JCVD's Cyborg which I rated at 2 stars) and add one star for my happy smile. So either way, it's four (4) stars .