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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
I watched Waterworld to see if it's as bad as I've always heard and I've got some takes
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. On July 28, 1995, Waterworld, the Kevin Costner-led sci-fi blockbuster, set sail. I was too young to see it when it first came out and by the time that I started watching older movies the few things I heard about Waterworld was generally how bad it was and that Costner's hero had webbed feet. So, as the movie's 30th anniversary is upon us — and it's streaming on Peacock in the US — I decided to finally give Waterworld a watch and see if what I've heard about it… holds water (sorry, couldn't resist). FYI, I'll be getting into some Waterworld SPOILERS below. Waterworld, directed by Kevin Reynolds (who also directed Costner's Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves) from a script by Peter Rader and David Twohy, is set in a future where the polar ice caps have melted and covered the Earth in water. Costner plays a drifter simply known as the Mariner, a mutant with webbed feet, gills and a dislike of normal humans. However, he ends up having to protect a woman, Helen (Jeanne Tripplehorn), and young girl, Enola (Tina Majorino), as they are being pursued by a maniacal Dennis Hopper (his character is named Deacon in the movie, but I just kept referring to him as Dennis Hopper) as the girl holds the secret to finding dry land. Looking at the actual reaction to Waterworld and its box office, I was actually surprised there wasn't as much vitriol as its reputation had led me to believe. While the movie does have a 'Rotten' score of 45% from critics and a 44% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, actually reading reviews from some of the biggest critics of 1995 — Roger Ebert, Todd McCarthy and Owen Gleiberman — the reactions were more middling than downright bad. At the box office, the movie earned $88 million in the US, which today wouldn't be a lot of money but was good enough for top 10 for the whole year of 1995. Having now watched the movie with my own two eyes, I can see where those critics were coming from. As pure blockbuster fare, there's some halfway decent action sequences and it's not an interminable way to spend two hours. But I wouldn't go as far as saying Waterworld is good or deserving of cult classic status, but it also isn't so bad it's fun to watch. It's more just blah. Waterworld desperately wants to be Mad Max with boats. Its bare bones plot basically checks all the boxes — loner comes across individuals that he reluctantly has to save from a crazy villain, eventually forming a bond before deciding he must move on and continue his loner ways. The biggest reason why that doesn't work as well here as it does with the Mad Max franchise is Costner. Most people today know Costner from his role as John Dutton in Yellowstone (also streaming on Peacock), where a scowl was basically his default setting, but his gruffness was part of the character's appeal. But in Waterworld, Costner's orneriness does him no favors. While the movie attempts to go through the motions of establishing why Costner's Mariner is this way and how his time with Tripplehorn and Majorino's characters eventually softens his heart, I just don't buy it. It's a flat performance and his character honestly struggles to be likeable for a lot of the movie. I'm just not sure if at the time, Costner could play this type of character. In the late 1980s and 1990s, Costner was best known for roles where he may have had some gruffness to him, but his natural charisma shone through (Bull Durham, Tin Cup) or when he's playing a much more affable character (Field of Dreams, Dances with Wolves). Even if we look at his character in Yellowstone, or his rough cowboy in Horizon: An American Saga, the toughness comes alongside a noble quality that tells us this is someone we can respect even if they're not dolling out hugs. None of those qualities are present in Costner's performance as the Mariner. The other big issue with Waterworld is that there are details that just don't make any sense. For instance, it's supposedly been at least a few generations since the melting polar ice caps flooded the Earth, to the point where some believe that any remaining dry land is a myth. Not even the Mariner has found dry land, yet he has a plant (albeit a small one that's not looking so great) at the beginning of the movie and then comes across a tomato plant on the atoll he meets Helen and Enola on. What we see from that atoll, it's unlikely it was growing any tomato plants. Where did these plants come from, and wouldn't they be arguably the most precious things to these characters? But after we see them, they're barely acknowledged again. A couple of other things that I just found odd. I still don't understand how all they needed to do to understand the tattoo on Enola's back to find dry land. It whittles down to them translating the Chinese-looking symbols to be latitude and longitude coordinates and something involving the magnetic poles of the Earth being inverted, but it's not easily understandable in the context of the movie (this video does a deep dive to explain it, though). Another part comes at the very end, when the group gets to dry land and they find a small village where people once lived. There, they find two skeletons, and one of them suggests they bury them under the dirt, believing it was their way. Again, how would he know this? It's been generations since anyone they knew would have been on dry land and the skeletons they find are simply lying on a bed, there's no evidence that these people dug graves, or any that we see at least. This one is nitpicky, admittedly, but it's just another detail that wasn't thought out or properly explained. There are a few things that worked for the movie, particularly Hopper's fun performance. Still, Waterworld's biggest fault is that it's middling at best, with Costner unable to give us a main character worth rooting for. I wouldn't put it up amongst some of the worst movies I've seen, but it's not one I'm going to have much desire to ever watch again. However, if you disagree and actually love Waterworld, or want to try it for yourself to see if you agree or not with my takes, then you can stream Waterworld on Peacock in the US; in the UK the movie is available via digital on-demand. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prime Video's latest No. 1 show is a 'Bosch' spinoff with Maggie Q — and it's 100% on Rotten Tomatoes
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. "Bosch" fans, rejoice: it sounds like Prime Video's follow-up is going to continue the series' legacy as a compelling crime drama. On July 9, the Amazon streaming service dropped the full first season of "Ballard," a new spin-off that shifts focus from Titus Welliver's Harry Bosch over to Renée Ballard (Maggie Q), the detective introduced in April's "Bosch: Legacy" series finale. One day after release, the show had risen to the No. 2 spot on the Amazon streamer (putting it second only to the lackluster action thriller, "Countdown"), but in the few days since, "Ballard" has become the streamer's top watch. Plus, "Ballard" has continued to hold onto that impressive 100% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes, meaning reviewers who've tuned in have liked what they saw. Ready to dive in? You can stream all 10 episodes of "Ballard" on Prime Video right now, or you can find a little more info — and hear what critics have to say — about Prime's newest release below. What is 'Ballard' about? If you're not up to speed, "Ballard" is Prime Video's next series based on Michael Connelly's books. Here, we follow Detective Renée Ballard (Maggie Q), who is charged with leading the LAPD's underfunded cold case division and taking on some of Los Angeles' toughest long-forgotten cases. Per the series synopsis, we know the series sees her investigating layers of crime that go back decades, including a serial killer's string of murders; as she does so, Ballard unearths a deadly conspiracy within the force, and enlists the help of her team and Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) to crack her cases, navigating personal and professional challenges along the way. In addition to Q and Welliver, "Ballard" also features Courtney Taylor, John Carroll Lynch, Michael Mosley, Rebecca Field, Victoria Moroles, Amy Hill, Ricardo Chavira, Noah Bean, and more. Should you stream 'Ballard' on Prime Video? If you haven't already started binging the 10-episode series on Prime Video, you'll be pleased to know that the first "Ballard" reviews are in... and the new "Bosch" spin-off has been warmly received. As we mentioned above, the series has earned a rare 100% approval rating from critics on the review aggregate site, Rotten Tomatoes. Admittedly, that score's only aggregated from nine individual reactions, but it's still an encouraging sign to see every critic who's reviewed the series (at the time of writing) liked what they saw. Reviewing for Variety, Aramide Tinubu, for example, called "Ballard" "one of the best police procedurals on TV," adding: "Smartly acted, beautifully paced and genuinely engaging, "Ballard" is a thrilling ride from start to finish." Similarly, Sherin Nicole praised the series for its "well sculpted" characters and for being "grounded by grit, genuine leads, and complex cases," adding: "This series fits right in with 'Bosch' and 'Bosch: Legacy': strident, true-to-life characters doing emotionally crushing work while dealing with the people and things that make life harder." CBR's Brittany Frederick gave the series an 8/10 score, arguing it was "rougher around the edges" than the previous Michael Connelly shows, but was nevertheless entertaining in its own right. "While "Ballard" isn't as iconic as its predecessor," she writes, "it is a worthy addition to the "Bosch" universe and a high-quality crime drama that will keep viewers satisfied for hopefully years to come." Comparatively, audience reactions for "Ballard" have been a little more split; it's landed an 80% rating from fans on Rotten Tomatoes. There are still a number of 5-star reviews present on the platform — one viewer branding it "another Michael Connelly masterpiece" — but some fans aren't nearly as keen; in a 1.5-star rating, one viewer said the series was "one cliché after another" and "a dull parody of a police procedural." Nevertheless, there are more positive takes logged at present, and, in tandem with the critics' takes, the consensus seems to be that "Ballard" is worth your time. In short, if you were sad to see "Bosch" come to an end, or you just love getting wrapped up in a fresh case, most people who've streamed the show recommend you stream "Ballard" on Prime Video as soon as possible. However, if police procedurals and crime dramas just aren't your thing, we can still help you find your next must-watch show. Check out our round-up of the best shows on Prime Video for tons more top streaming recommendations fit for any watchlist. More from Tom's Guide You can skip the Prime fee and still get Prime Day deals Best movies like "Heads of State," and where to stream them Prime Video just added a ridiculously fun dark comedy movie Solve the daily Crossword
Tom's Guide
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Netflix just renewed its must-watch mystery thriller series 'Untamed' for season 2 — here's what you should know
Netflix confirmed today that "Untamed" will return for a second season, offering fans another suspense-filled descent into the dark heart of the wilderness. Written by Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith, the mystery thriller show starring Eric Bana was initially announced as a limited series. But Netflix seems keen to order more after "Untamed" crashed the Netflix top 10 shortly after arriving on July 17. It went on to rack up an impressive 24.6 million views in its first week of release. 'I am absolutely thrilled that we get the chance to bring another season of 'Untamed' to life,' Bana said in a statement shared by Netflix on Tuesday. 'The response to season 1 has been a testament to the incredible effort by our crew to deliver something truly unique. I can't wait to take Kyle on his next journey. Massive thanks to Netflix, John Wells Productions, Warner Bros. Television and our fans.' Bana will reprise his role as Kyle Turner, a brooding investigator for the National Parks Service who works to enforce human law in nature's vast wilderness. In season 1, the investigation of a brutal death sends him deep into Yosemite National Park, where he uncovers dark secrets that force him to confront a past he's been running from. "Untamed" is Mark Smith's second Netflix show of 2025 after 'American Primeval," a Western thriller that's on the short list for our favorite shows of 2025. So far this year, he's batting a thousand among critics and audiences, as "Untamed" is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with an 80% critics' score and 71% on the Popcornmeter. In her "Untamed" review, my colleague Alix Blackburn wrote, "If you're after a mystery that doesn't rely on gimmicks or overblown twists, 'Untamed' is the rare Netflix thriller that keeps things feeling real, and that's exactly what makes it work." Since "Untamed" only just got renewed for its sophomore outing, details are pretty scarce right now. But showrunners Mark and Elle Smith offered some details about what we can expect from Turner's next chapter. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. For starters, the next time we see him, he'll have already been working at a few different parks before landing at his season 2 destination to investigate a whole new mystery. 'Elle and I envisioned it as a stand-alone, six episodes,' Mark told Netflix of plans for the first season. 'But then the more that we got into it, it was just such a great cast … it was just like, 'Oh yeah, how do we keep this going?'' 'We've done Yosemite. What's the next park that could feel different from that?' co-creator Elle added. 'Each national park has such a different cultural identity, geographical identity. Being able to explore those places through the case and through Turner's journey is what's so fascinating.' A fresh mystery will accompany the new frontier as well. "We can make the case organic to a different kind of park, a different kind of landscape, [and] not have someone just fall off another mountain,' Mark said. 'Our theme has been that this park is our main character, this park is sort of alive,' Elle said. 'We do want to maintain that thread. Whichever park we choose will be a character, and it will kind of play a role in Turner's emotional frame of mind.' Given the change of scenery, Turner will be trekking into unfamiliar territory that puts him on the back foot. This time around, instead of playing the grizzled veteran, his role will be closer to that of his rookie sidekick, Naya Vasquez (Lily Santiago), in the first season. As Turner gets his bearings in the new setting, he'll also be getting to know its inhabitants. 'We're going to make sure we populate it with characters that are interesting and help him in ways both good and bad,' Mark says. It's unclear whether we'll see Turner's colleagues from Yosemite reprise their roles in season 2. 'We're trying to figure that stuff out because my God, we loved our cast and we loved the characters that they brought to life,' Mark said. 'In an ideal world, we would be able to pull something off.' "Untamed" has quickly become one of this year's most popular watches on the streaming service. With just six episodes, it's perfect for a weekend binge. Since the first season was planned as a limited series, there aren't really many loose ends to tie up or cliffhangers to explore in season 2. But if "Untamed's" sophomore outing is as compelling as its first, fans will likely be eager to dive into more classic murder mystery twists and turns set against the beautiful yet terrifying backdrop of the remote wilderness. There's no word yet on when "Untamed" season 2 will premiere. Production hasn't started yet, but if we had to guess, we'd expect a likely premiere sometime in late 2026 or early 2027. For now, you can stream the first season of "Untamed" (again) on Netflix or check out our round-up of the 5 best shows like "Untamed" to tide you over in the meantime. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Forbes
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Horror Movie ‘Weapons' Earns Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Score
Topline 'Weapons,' a new horror movie opening in theaters next week, earned a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes from its first reviews, after the movie's eerie marketing campaign—including a video of more than two hours of surveillance footage—went viral online. "Weapons," from director Zach Cregger, opens in theaters next week. (Photo by Alberto E. ...for CinemaCon) Getty Images for CinemaCon Key Facts 'Weapons' has a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes based on its first 11 reviews, meaning all critics so far have given the movie a positive review. 'Weapons,' which opens in theaters Aug. 8, is a horror film about an entire classroom full of children vanishing in the middle of the night, except for one, according to distributor Warner Bros. The movie was written and directed by Zach Cregger, who previously wrote and directed the horror movie 'Barbarian' (2022), which was also well-received and has a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes. 'Weapons' stars Josh Brolin as the father of one of the missing children and Julia Garner as the children's teacher. Deadline projected 'Weapons' could earn $25 million or more in its opening weekend, a solid start for an original horror movie. What Are Critics Saying About 'weapons?' Lyvie Scott, a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic for Inverse, said 'Weapons' is 'haunting and cerebral as it is almost cartoonishly funny,' praising the movie's balance of 'gory shocks' and 'visceral physical comedy.' Chris Evangelista, a critic for the horror movie website SlashFilm, said the film 'taps into very modern fears without laying it on too thick,' stating the movie portrays paranoia and fear parents may feel after watching cable news. Evangelista called 'Weapons' 'one of the best horror movies of the year' and said Cregger is 'one of the most exciting voices in the genre right now.' In a five-star review for the horror publication Dread Central, critic Josh Korngut praised the cast performances and called the movie 'near-perfect,' calling it 'shocking, original, and grotesquely funny all at once.' Some critics, including Rotten Tomatoes-approved Matt Neglia, felt the movie lost steam at the end, stating Cregger 'missed an opportunity to tell a story that is more emotionally rich and relatable' and opted for a 'facile solution.' How Did The 'weapons' Marketing Go Viral? 'Weapons' garnered attention in the spring for a marketing campaign some movie publications compared to that of the 'Blair Witch Project' for its use of found footage and its realistic portrayal of the marketing materials. Warner Bros. published a video of surveillance footage on YouTube, titled '2025_░_░_06: which portrays children running through town in the middle of the night. The video is exactly two hours and 17 minutes long, similar to the time the children disappear in the movie: 2:17 a.m. The studio also published an online website, which is fashioned like a local news outlet and contains news articles about the children who disappear from town in the film. Surprising Fact The bidding war to secure the rights to 'Weapons' was reportedly intense, with multiple production companies making offers. New Line Cinema, a production company owned by Warner Bros., won the auction in January 2023 after making a $38 million offer, with Cregger earning $10 million and the ability to decide the final cut, a deal the Hollywood Reporter called 'unprecedented' for a filmmaker who had only directed one movie before. Other companies that made bids include Universal Pictures and Monkeypaw Productions, the production company owned by horror director-producer Jordan Peele. Deadline reported Peele parted ways with his management shortly after losing the auction. Further Reading Summer Box Office Opening Forecasts For 'Fantastic Four', 'Weapons', 'Freakier Friday' & More (Deadline) New Line Wins Intense Auction for 'Weapons,' the New Movie From 'Barbarian' Filmmaker Zach Cregger (Hollywood Reporter)
Forbes
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The Two Best Horror Films Of 2025 Grab 100%, 99% Rotten Tomatoes Scores
Weapons It's about to be an absolutely crazy two weeks for horror movies, as the currently best-scored pair of films of 2025 will release within ten days of each other. That would be Together, out Wednesday, July 30, and Weapons, out Friday, August 8. Now, reviews are coming in for each, and as of now, they have a near-perfect and perfect-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score, respectively, even beating out Sinners. As it stands, Zach Cregger's Weapons, his next film after the stunning Barbarians, has a perfect 100% from a limited number of critic reviews in. It's had a number of harrowing trailers and is now releasing full clips that the internet is finding deeply unsettling. Meanwhile, it's pretty clear that Together is a lower-profile film, but it has more reviews in and has stuck at a 99%. If Weapons drops at all, that would make Together the best-reviewed mainstream horror movie of the year. It stars husband and wife duo Dave Franco and Alison Brie, whom you would not normally pair (no pun intended) for a horror movie, but it's supposed to be excellent. Together Here's where the two currently rank among the best mainstream horror films of 2025: My gut tells me that Weapons may drop below both Together and Sinners as more reviews come in, as there just aren't all that many right now (I'm not clear on why the embargo seems to have lifted for only a small number of outlets). Together may stay that high, as I would expect fewer reviews to come in overall, with it being a lower-profile film. Though both may drop below Sinners at some point, which has an incredible 402 reviews in, locking in that 97%. If you want to know what each is about, here's the synopsis of Weapons: And Together: I'll be seeing both and will report back if the hype is worth it. Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
