The Ice Storm - Criterion Collection (1997)

Well done Criterion

The transfer is excellent, the extras are incredible, I especially liked the commentary track which made me appreciate this film even more. Well worth buying. Also, this is one of the rare occasions when a film based on a novel is actually better than the novel itself. While Rick Moody's The Ice Storm is an ok book, Ang Lee's The Ice Storm is a classic movie! June 21, 2008

Great cinematography and music, mediocre plot.

This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.

The Ice Storm directed by Ang Lee is a film about two families in Connecticut during the Thanksgiving weekend of 1973 It is based on the novel by Rick Moody. The film featured several child actors who later became stars notably Christina Ricci, Elijah Wood, Tobey Maguire and Katie Holmes. It is a controversial film due to it's plot regarding the sexual revolution, wife swapping and it's depiction of teen sexuality. I will not go into the details as people can read about much of it on the parent's guide feature on IMDB

The film did poorly at the box office but became a hit when released on home video.

The film follows the Hood family and the Carver family. The Hoods have a son and daughter and the Carvers have two sons. The film deals with the interaction between the two families and the parents who are distant from their children. One could almost say the parents emotionally neglect their children in the film. The film has valuable lessons about parenting.

I found the sex themed plot to be too much but this was compensated by the film's cinematography and excellent musical score making use of both Indonesian Gamelan music and a Native American flute music.

The special features are also good and more comprehensive that what was on ealier DVD releases of the film.

Disc one contains a theatrical trailer and audio commentary by director Ang Lee and writer James Schamus.

Disc two contains new interviews with some of the film's actors Joan Allen, Kevin Kline, Tobey Maguire, Christina Ricci, Sigourney Weaver, and Elijah Wood, a new interview with Rick Moody who wrote the novel the film is based on, scenes from an honors ceremony for Ang Lee and James Schamus which describes many of Ang Lee's films, video essays about the film's cinematograpy, and production and costume design, and finally several deleted scenes.

This is an OK film that I would have liked more if not for the sexual plot elements. May 23, 2008

A definite improvement on the previous edition

Another excellent edition by the folks at Criterion. The mastering highlights all the blue and icy shades of the cinematography. For the owners of the previous edition, you will see that the original Featurette was replaced with an updated version. A great ensemble cast and a great, thought-provoking film. May 15, 2008

"I'll Show You Mine, if You Show Me Yours."

Ang Lee's "The Ice Storm" is a brilliant, beautiful, but haunting film, that shows us how the sexual revolution of the 1960's brought about emotional devestation, once it hit the suburbs of the 1970's. This is a portrait of two upper middle class families, who are trying to find themselves in the decade of Watergate and Vietnam, where sex, drugs and infidelity are among the many obstacles to confront them. We are shown adults, who act like adolescents and adolescents, who are too quickly trying to become adults.

Ang Lee does an excellent job of recreating the era through architecture, music, wardrobe etc. But where he really triumphs is in creating an emotional framework, which makes us care about these people. All the actors involved with this movie give near perfect performances. Special mention should be made for actors, Kevin Kline and Joan Allen, who show us a married couple, who's relationship is in a downward spiral. Finally, kudos should go out to Composer, Mychael Danna, who provides the film with a beautiful, moody and meditative score, that stays with you long after the movie is over.

When "The Ice Storm" had it's original theatrical run in 1997, it came and went without much notice. The studio had totally bungled the film's marketing and release date. I personally loved this movie and was really shocked, when it did not receive even a single Academy Award nomination that year.

Now, over a decade later this wonderful film is finally getting the recognition it deserves from a small, but growing cult audience. This is no more evident, then the film's recent re-release to DVD by 'The Criterion Collection'. This rectifies the original 2001 release, which was pretty skimpy in the 'extras' department.'The Criterion Collection' (as usual) has done a marvelous job in supplying a multitude of extras. This includes an entertaining and inciteful commentary track from Director, Ang Lee and Screenwriter, James Schamus. They discuss both the film's production and it's themes. The two are also featured in a filmed 'Q&A' event at New York's 'Museum of the Moving Image'. Other extras include deleted scenes (with commentary) and a documentary featuring most of the film's cast. Also quite interesting is a series of mini-docs, which concentrate on the look of 'The Ice Storm' including cinematography, costumes and sets.

If you are a fan of "The Ice Storm" then this release is the way to see it. Highly recommended for fans of good drama! April 30, 2008

The Ice Storm...

came before American Beauty, and was better than American Beauty.
Ice Storm is a great film. first Kicking & Screaming, now this.
Criterion has excellent taste... April 24, 2008

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