Riverworld (2003)

Riverworld is an strange alien world with one large river where everyone on earth who dies wakes up around the same age and speaking the same language or rather that they all understand each other's words. There are metal cannisters which contain clothing and dispensers which give food. People who have resurrected earlier have built primitive societies some of them barbaric.Riverworld is based on the 5-book series by Philip Jose Farmer which had a very interesting concept but was poorly executed, terribly padded, bland characters, and had a very anti- climatic ending.This movie actually got me interested in reading the series to see how it ended but I quickly realized that this film adaptation was actually better than the book.For one thing the hero in the film is a 21st century astronaut who is familiar with technology and the concept of aliens and thus was the audience's go-between into this strange new world with famous people in history. In the book it was the 19th century explorer Richard Burton. The human villain in the film is the megalo-maniac Nero whereas in the books it was King John who was not a very convincing bad guy historically or even in the book series.Already I saw the hero-villain aspect had been improved from the book. The astronaut guided by the mysterious beings of the planet wants to travel down river while Nero wants to establish a new empire for himself.It's a shame the series never got off the ground because I would have liked to see how they would have improved upon the original concept.All in all I recommend this film for a lazy Sunday viewing - however I cannot recommend the book series. While the first book is interesting, it quickly goes downhill from there and is not worth the time.

On Movies4Men in the UK late night..until I read this IMDb..why, each time I go to a site the login has changed.. anyway, having watched this, realised it was a made for TV movie.. but.. as someone said, left high and dry at the end..as in WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? We are taken on a journey, guessing whats happened, some questions answered along the way, damned good action and story, I've not a clue about the books.. as a film buff this was good, very humorous as times..and then its the end.. AH.. OK..characters realised..on their way.. then.. well, i'm ready, aren't I. Another TV pilot? Drat and double drat! They suck you in.. how much did it cost to make? Cos its made for TV that doesn't matter? So not a box office flop then but.. I thought equally as good as any other adventure film? I saw the film maker.. Alliance and realised thats the same 'maker' as many sci fi TV shows.. I guess that should have told me. New Zealand.. very nice. I'd still like to know how much it cost.. was it destined for a series, did someone change their minds..?

An obvious "Made For SciFi Channel" movie. Although completely controlled by clichés and incongruous chances, it is a quaint and cute movie. Many of the famous/successful sci-fi writers have used many of the ideas here for basis for their works. Riverworld is a conglomeration of many good stories. It is some what of a shame that many of the main characters (good and bad) had to be formed in such a hurry at the beginning. Most of the characters were performed well by the actors. Some were a bit silly - which only takes from a good story. Luckily the script was OK, scenery was super-excellent (New Zealand I guess), and very good 'store bought' props.

I re-watched this today, and still like it. Phillip Jose Farmer's works were always fun but no great classics, so I don't mind that the movie deviated a lot from any of the books. Books is books, movies is movies. The scenery of New Zealand is almost worth watching just to see it - it is truly spectacular. The story is the expected thud and blunder of folks showing up nekkid on a new world, so I was willing to put up with that just to get the riverboat launched. Hale, Sam Clements, and Nero seem interesting enough and good enough; with this kind of movie, the plot and the effects are mostly what matters. Of course, with Sam Clements on board, we could expect more inventions with the flavor of the "Connecticut Yankee ...". I hope that they make more of these -- c