I originally tried to write a traditional review for this new incarnation of “Riverworld”, but found it too difficult. The review just never came together, which happens when I find myself writing about a movie that I neither loved nor hated. “Riverworld” falls somewhere in there. As a result, I’ve written this non-traditional review. Please to enjoy.
WHAT IS IT: “Riverworld” is the second attempt by the SyFy Channel to create a TV series around the fantasy/science fiction novels by author Philip Jose Farmer, with the first one being 2003’s “Riverworld” (back when the channel was still the Sci Fi Channel). The 2010 version stars Tahmoh Penikett (of “Battlestar Galactica” and “Dollhouse” fame) and Laura Vandervoort (of “Smallville” fame). Penikett is Matt, a war journalist who is finally ready to settle down and Vandervoort is Jessie, a blonde, gorgeous tour guide. As Matt is popping the question to Jessie, a suicide bomber cocks block him, and it’s off to Riverworld for our heroes. “Riverworld” will air as a four-hour television event on the SyFy Channel April 18, 2010 as what is known in the industry as “a backdoor pilot” – that is, if the show proves to be a ratings winner, the network will consider an ongoing series.
WHAT THE HELL IS RIVERWORLD? Well that’s the question, isn’t it? Sort of like, “What the hell is going on on that island in ‘Lost’?” That’s the central mystery of the show – discovering the reasons behind the creation of Riverworld, which is, literally, a planet criss-cross with one giant, seemingly endless river. The premise is that, every person who has ever lived and died on Earth has somehow been reborn along the endless riverbanks of Riverworld. The purpose of their reincarnation is unknown, but it’s clear that otherworldly beings called Caretakers have designed the planet for some grand purpose. Food is supplied so no one starves, but everyone has reverted back to their prime fighting age – 30 or thereabouts (in the books I believe it’s around 25) – but there is no policing, so someone like, say, Hannibal the Cannibal could carry on his merry ways of dining on his fellow resurrectees if he so chooses. This has resulted in mini-kingdoms by various historic figures, something the show will, no doubt, dabble in often if a series would to happen. Time on Riverworld is also iffy and unpredictable, so you could die along with your best friend (or in the case of our hero Matt, your would-be fiancée) but she might end up on Riverworld years before you.
MATT’S JOURNEY: Being that Matt is our hero, we are introduced to Riverworld through his eyes. In the first two episodes, Matt finds himself the “chosen” champion of one of the Caretakers, who informs him of an ongoing civil war between the Caretakers, but does so in bits and pieces cause, well, what would be the point of just explaining the whole thing? Matt learns that in order to be reunited with Jessie, he must stop Sir Richard Burton (Peter Wingfield, of “Highlander” fame), who has allied himself with infamous Spanish Conquistador Pizarro (Bruce Ramsay). Burton, like Matt, has been brought into the confidence of another Caretaker (the top-billed Alan Cumming), who has assigned him his own mission. Along the way, Matt encounters other resurrectees: the female Samurai Tomoe (Jeananne Goossen), Samuel Clemens aka Mark Twain (Mark Deklin), and his old war cameraman, Simon (Arnold Pinnock), who helpfully informs Matt and us why there are no humans reborn on Riverworld past the early 21st century.
SO WHAT’S THE VERDICT? Interesting, but stale. The Brad Johnson 2003 version doesn’t fare all that badly against the new version, and if anything, the two-hour movie actually has much better pacing and action. 2010’s “Riverworld” looks like what it is – a moderately budgeted syndication TV show that probably blew most of its budget on all the lightning CGI. The sets are generic, as are the costumes, writing, and direction. You will never mistake the four-hour movie for anything other than four TV episodes stitched together.
So the question is, will it go to series on the SyFy Channel? Honestly, I can’t see that happening, as compared to the network’s other shows, “Riverworld” comes up lacking in pretty much every department. It could possibly survive as a syndicated action-adventure show, but I wouldn’t put money on it. The show doesn’t quite have enough “fun” to overcome its deficiencies ala shows like “Hercules” or “Xena”, or even the gratuitously sexy “Legend of the Seekers”. As our hero, Tahmoh Penikett has some nice one-liners and generally cuts a heroic figure, but he’s working uphill here.
Stuart Gillard (director) / Robert Hewitt Wolfe (screenplay), Philip Jose Farmer (books)
CAST: Tahmoh Penikett … Matt
Laura Vandervoort … Jessie
Mark Deklin … Sam
Peter Wingfield … Burton
Jeananne Goossen … Tomoe
Romina D’Ugo … Allegra
Kwesi Ameyaw … Youseff
Thea Gill … Female Caretaker
Alan Cumming … Judas Caretaker
Arnold Pinnock … Simon
Bruce Ramsay … Pizarro
Well i think this is even worse than the 2003 version. Too bad….
I’m confused. ‘Dark Dominion’ speaks in the past tense – has a ‘sneak peek’ already been aired & i missed it? Never knew of the existence of the 2003 version but read this FANTASTIC book series in the early 80s and have dreaded its cinematic-rendering ever since as am usually very very disappointed in juxtaposition to the rich imagery of the written word.
i watched and i loved it. i am searching to see when the mini series will begin. i thought it was full of action and the characters kept me and my guests waiting for more and wondering what was going to happen next.
I actually thought the 2003 movie was fairly decent as far as Sci-Fi (or Sy Fy now…ugh) shows go. Its a shame they went back to the drawing board.
First of all, the first two books in the Riverworld series first came out in 1971 with “To Your Scattered Bodies Go” and the “The Fabulous Riverboat.” The third book (The Dark Design) in 1978, the fourth book (The Magic Labyrinth) 1980. The fifth book in the series (The Gods of Riverworld) was released in 1983. I know this for a fact because I have all five books, and I am currently reading the series for the “sixth time.' The first movie was an utter piece of crap. Seeing the trailer of this new one, looks a bit better, except for Samuel Clemmons has a mustache in the trailer and doesn't have one in the book. Actually, nobody has hair anywhere, except on their heads. Looking forward to seeing this new mini-series.
I hope it's better than the last one they tried! Riverworld is RIPE for being made into a long long series. It has all the ingredients needed but they keep doing it WRONG! IT absolutely SHOULD be one of the best series ever, but someone's got to write it correctly and you've got to focus on what made the book so addictive–the idea of building new societies along the banks of the river with famous figures from history and how each little new society fashions itself and how each of these historic leaders vie for power. It's character driven, a study in sociology, psychology with of course cool sci-fi stuff and neato spectacle! But alas, if it is the same production company that did the recent Tin Man and Alice, it might be as terrible as those were. God Alice was awful! Just awful! Let's hope they hired better writers.
Well as was expected, this was a badly done worse than the first. SyFy should work with story lines that translate better to the screen. Farmer's Riverworld series is better left alone or just do it right.
To bring the tower into the first 4 hours of the show takes out the build-up & mystery Farmer put into 3 books. The 2003 version still retained enough mystery and story to want you coming back for more even though it strayed far from the original books. SyFy would do better if they just picked up a show like Josh Whedon's “FireFly”. At least the story lines are easier to put to film.
I never watched the 2003 series, found parts 1 & 2 on bell online and actually enjoyed it, had no idea it was apart of a TV series and thought maybe it was a 3 part movie lol…. ok stupid back to reality.
I guess TV ratings will prove or disprove whether it will last, whether the people on here like it or not…
where's joe miller, kaz, herman goering? i'm watching it right now, yes, it lacks. i wonder if an animated or cg version would work. what about dreamgum addiction, rivermonsters, capt sir richard francis burton and the reasons for his fame? not to mention the angst of samuel clemens. john lackland, it would have to be very ambitious. but……. i'll take what i can get. thanks syfy. your other logo was so good, you don't mess with perfection.
I got so sick of hearing him ask about Jessie that I wanted her to die.