Riverworld [TV Movie] (2003)

A couple of years ago the American Sci-fi Channel made a successful (if slightly uninspiring) TV mini-series adaptation of the classic science fiction novel Dune. This success may have been a factor in adapting another classic science fiction story – Philip Jose Farmer's “Riverworld” series. However, it failed to repeat the success of “Dune” and, although the adaptation was intended as a pilot for a TV series, no such series was made.

The TV movie is set in a strange world that consists of a seemingly endless river surrounded by impassable mountains. On this world every human being who ever lived on Earth – up until its' 21st Century destruction – is destined to be reincarnated on the shores of the river. Emerging naked from the sea, they find themselves in a wilderness populated only by strange pillars. These pillars will provide food periodically, if the resurrectees use the 'grails', metallic cylinders they are all given. The situation is initially chaotic, but before the new arrivals can react to their situation a group who were resurrected previously arrive and enslave them.

The main character is American astronaut Jeff Hale (Brad Johnson), replacing the book's hero Sir Richard Francis Burton as the producers were happier with an American character rather than a British explorer. His companions come from several eras of history – including Alice Hargreaves, the inspiration for 'Alice In Wonderland', Polish concentration-camp survivor Lev Ruach (Jeremy Birchall), extra-terrestrial Monat (Brian Moore) and Roman Emperor Nero (Johnathon Cake). When they get to their captor's camp, Hale is determined to escape – especially after Nero seizes power but shows no inclination to free the slaves. Some escape and join a group of rebels who are building a riverboat, which they intend to sail away to try and discover the mystery of the river.

It is an intriguing premise, but the execution is mediocre. The acting is competent but unremarkable, the main character being particularly bland, and the script is resolutely average. There are a number of fight scenes, unfortunately the action is poorly directed and lacking in any tension or spectacle. The plot plods along, few mysteries are resolved (after this is merely a pilot) and there's no real excitement here.

In summary, an unexciting waste of a great premise. It is reasonably entertaining, but it's hard to feel any regret for the lack of a follow-up TV series.

Rating : 6 / 10

All content ©2003 William Marnoch.

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