Popcorn Reviews With Cybèle: Waterdance 

By Cybèle Elaine Werts  
CybeleW@aol.com

Popcorn Kernel Rating: 3 Kernels - Not a wild Friday night film, but definitely strong and contemplative fare those of you who like thinking films.

Sometimes I think I’ve seen enough martyr movies to choke a cow. You know, main character is paralyzed; got a head trauma; Lou Gherig’s disease; Alzheimer’s; AIDS or whatever. Character goes through five stages of grief: anger, depression and etc.etc.etc. Character shows TRUE character, rises above it all, and goes on to Make A Difference In This World. These TV movies are so predictable that you can turn the TV off after the opening credits; all the good stuff was in the previews.

The truth is, I only rented Waterdance because Wesley Snipes is on the box, and I was turned on by his rippled abs and authoritarian voice barking "Always bet on black!" in Passenger 57. Call me shallow and superficial if you must, but at least I know what my priorities are. In Waterdance, Snipes and a cast of unknowns are in convalescence for spinal chord injuries, the perfect setting for another martyr movie. I was wrong though, about his abs and the martyr thing too. I think this was pre-rippled abs stardom, and not a single character glistened with courage and strength. Only real people peopled this film. Strong and sometimes sickly. Cranky and sometimes quiet. Fearful and sometimes not. No soaring musical interludes of faith overcoming all problems, just a bunch of guys dealing with fear and getting on with it. Helen Hunt, in her pre As Good As It Gets skintight-shirt days, followed up with a quiet but not too self effacing presence. Cogent acting, creative dialogue and a firm grip on reality make this video worth renting.

Suggested Gustatorial Accompaniment: What do non-martyrs eat? I’m at a loss on this one. I myself was masticating Riesen chocolate chews (God’s gift to chocolate lovers) but I’m unable to fabricate any meaning to the choice of munchies.

Copyright 2000