Riverworld (TV Movie 2010)

Riverworld (TV Movie 2010). 2h 58m | TV-14

“Something that all the hated-it reviews have in common is that the reviewers either (a) read the books, or (b) felt the movie had no resolution. Well, I didnu0026#39;t read the books, and I enjoy films without clearcut resolutions (meaning the viewer has to actually think a bit), so I decided to have a go at it. If youu0026#39;re like me then read on.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;Riverworldu0026quot; is a SciFi Channel production which means you get to see a lot of SciFi veterans gracing the screen (3 from Battlestar Galactica), a lot of Vancouver scenery, and some made-for-TV special effects. Just donu0026#39;t expect a zillion dollar budget and Marlon Brando. You can definitely expect to be entertained in a very creative, action-packed way. By u0026quot;creativeu0026quot; I mean where else can you see a movie with blue people, samurais, spaceships, Mark Twain, conquistadors, the Chechnyan War, lawyers, crossbows, zeppelins (not the Led kind, but it wouldnu0026#39;t have surprised me), gods, robot horses, and did I mention Vancouver?u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWithout spoiling the fun, Iu0026#39;ll just say the story is about a reluctant hero who gets dropped into a game that will decide the eternal fate of humankind on some alternate world where life u0026amp; death donu0026#39;t necessarily come in that order. Nothing is really spelled out for us, and thatu0026#39;s what keeps things interesting even though the rest seems like a clearcut battle of good guys vs. bad guys. In other words, there are likable characters and loathsome characters, but we donu0026#39;t exactly know whou0026#39;s fighting for which side, nor do we even know exactly what each side wants to accomplish until nearly the end (and even then a lot is up for interpretation). The ambiguity raises the bar from an otherwise ordinary scifi adventure to a moral and philosophical mindbender.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAs far as entertainment value, I was impressed with some great swordfighting, a very interesting love mystery, vivid u0026amp; very human characters, and the whole feel of an epic adventure with no rules. Although itu0026#39;s a futuristic science fiction, it has a lot of throwback elements and a great backstory of warring gods. So in that respect the story is along the lines of the great classics u0026quot;Stargateu0026quot; and u0026quot;The Prophecyu0026quot;.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe scenery is just stunning, an epic journey up an endless river that figures in as prominently as any of the characters. More than once I was reminded of Herzogu0026#39;s u0026quot;Fitzcarraldou0026quot; and u0026quot;Aguirre, the Wrath of Godu0026quot;, two surreal adventures set on the savage, endless Amazon. But in this case the scenery and soothing Pacific Northwest setting contrasts against Herzogu0026#39;s cosmic chaos with natureu0026#39;s tranquility and majesty.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIt definitely got me interested in reading the Riverworld novels, but Iu0026#39;ve been told thatu0026#39;s a sure fire way to hate the movie, so maybe Iu0026#39;ll just leave well enough alone. If they ever do make this into a regular TV series Iu0026#39;m sure Iu0026#39;ll be a fan.”