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Original 5.1 DTSHD Master Audio and 2.0 stereo audio options.Three cuts of the film newly restored from original film elements by Arrow Films.Whilst it’s good, it could have been so much better. Waterworld makes for entertaining viewing but it is impeded by the ongoing struggle between director and star. It’s so refreshing to see real sets and painstakingly created live action set-pieces. However, the sheer scale of the sets and the impressive stunt choreography gives it an authentic feel which is rare in modern cinema. Owing a huge debt to Mad Max, there’s nothing especially new or fresh (especially not the water) about this Kostner vehicle. Waterworld has all the making of being a classic post-apocalyptic action movie. The Mariner manages to escape along with the girl and her guardian (Jeanne Tripplehorn) but pursuit is not far behind. A group of pirates arrive, led by Deacon (Dennis Hopper), seeking a young girl (Tina Majorino) who has a map to a mythical dryland tattooed on her back. Due to his mutations he is captured by the locals. A loner, The Mariner (Kevin Costner), arrives at one of these atolls to trade a rare commodity (dirt). Those who are left cluster together in floating communities. Whilst there’s water everywhere, drinkable water becomes the main currency. The melting of the polar icecaps in the 21st century has resulted in water covering the Earth. In retrospect, it’s a pretty good action film. This is largely due to the size of the budget and production problems, both of which spiralled out of control. Whilst admittedly under-performing in the US upon release, Kevin Reynolds’s film has been harshly criticised. Despite eventually turning a profit, Waterworld has long been considered to be a failure. Two of the most famous examples are Elaine May’s Ishtar which flopped back in 1986 and Michael Cimino’s epic financial disaster Heaven’s Gate which set the standard in 1980. Hollywood has a long and infamous tradition of producing big budget blockbusters which bomb at the box office.