Overview: The most expensive film ever made at the time of its release, 'Waterworld' has thrilled audiences through the years with its awe-inspiring action scenes, gargantuan maritime sets and ground-breaking special effects.

A definitive post-apocalypse blockbuster, 'Waterworld' stars Kevin Costner (The Untouchables) as The Mariner - a mutant trader, adrift in a dystopian future where Earth is submerged under water and humankind struggles to survive on boats and in ramshackle floating cities.

Blu-ray Verdict: In truth, and I'm still unashamed to say it out loud, 'Waterworld' has been one of my favorite Sci-Fi films since my first viewings of it in 1995.

Most reviews of 'Waterworld' I read are quite favorable, yet it still seems like the movie has a bad rap. It seems some cannot forgive the film for going so ridiculously over budget. I say who cares how much it cost, it is not my money!

Hundreds of years ago the Earth was covered in water when the Polar ice caps melted due to global warming. The Universal studios opening logo is used to illustrate this, to spectacular effect. This is the setup for the film. At the heart of this tale is a search for humanity, and a new world the mythic "dryland".

The fantastic settings are unlike anything I have ever seen on film, and the action sequences are breathtaking. By filming almost exclusively on water the costs were excessive, but the film would have looked far less spectacular if they cut corners.

An example is the Atoll set. Sure they could have built this as a miniature, but it never would have been convincing. Going for broke (quite literally) with the settings is what makes the films look so amazing.

The performances in 'Waterworld' far exceed those of most Sci-Fi films. Kevin Costner as the Mariner is at his best, playing an animal bent on one thing survival.

Slowly he humanizes before our eyes thanks to the characters of Enola and Helen (played by Tina Majorino and Jeanne Tripplehorn). The love that develops between the three characters is believable, only because of the excellent performances.

Dennis Hopper is at his psycho scene stealing best in Waterworld. He brings to the character of The Deacon the humor that is inherent in all of his roles.

When he is on screen as the "religious" head of the motley band of Smokers the film is at its best. The Deacon believes in Manifest destiny and wants to do nothing more than find dry land and knock down trees, and build a golf course in the name of progress.

Scenes between Tina Majorino as Enola and Hopper's Deacon are mind blowing. Hopper plays these like a bad Uncle you would never entrust your child with.

Some things are explained in better detail here on some of the more indepth Special Features included on this magnificent Limited Edition 2-Disc Blu-ray set from Arrow Films (UK), which also manages to restore nearly an hours worth of material from earlier screenings.

That all said, to have a complete understanding of the film and how great the story truly is, this new 2-Disc is the version to start it all off with.

So, if you've scared off of seeing 'Waterworld' due to all the negative press down the years, I can honestly tell you that you are missing one of the BEST films of its time.

Then again, if you have already seen it, well, watch it all over again on this magnificent new Limited Edition 2-Disc Blu-ray set - you won't be sorry (as you already know, of course!) This is a Widescreen Presentation (2.39:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Special Features of:

2-Disc Limited Edition Contents:
New restoration from a 4K scan of the original negative by Arrow Films, presenting the film in three cuts
Original 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and 2.0 stereo audio options
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Six collector s postcards
Double-sided fold-out poster
Limited edition 60-page perfect-bound book featuring new writing on the film by David J. Moore and Daniel Griffith, archival articles and original reviews
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Paul Shipper

Disc One: The Theatrical Cut:
High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of the original theatrical cut
Maelstrom: The Odyssey of Waterworld, an all-new, feature-length making-of documentary including extensive cast and crew interviews and behind the scenes footage
Original archival featurette capturing the film's production
Global Warnings, film critic Glenn Kenny explores the subgenre of ecologically aware Hollywood blockbusters
Production and promotional stills gallery
Visual effects stills gallery
Original trailers and TV spots

Disc Two: The Extended Cuts (Limited Edition Exclusive):
High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of the extended US TV cut, which runs over 40 minutes longer than the theatrical cut
High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of the extended European Ulysses cut, which includes censored shots and dialogue