Rating summary
| Movie |  | 4.0 |
| Video | | 4.0 |
| Audio |  | 2.5 |
| Extras |  | 3.0 |
| Overall |  | 3.5 |
Blue Ice Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 19, 2016
1985’s “Blue Ice” chases a darker atmosphere of sleuthing and world power, blending noir-ish interests with its collection of traditional adult film highlights. Director Philip Marshak ambitiously transforms a detective story into a journey that uncovers cult interests and the return of Nazi rule, working to create a compelling offering of cinema that’s not always entirely interested in a celebration of sex. “Blue Ice” doesn’t have the budget to match its imagination, but it does retain personality and pleasing oddity, keeping things interesting as the tale studies mystical powers and aggressive encounters.
Herschel Savage stars as Ted, a private detective working San Francisco who’s tasked by Big Man (Jamie Gillis) to find a special book that contains unusual powers. The tome is also wanted by a secret society of Nazis looking to achieve world power. Perhaps Nazis and sex isn’t the most comfortable pairing, but Marshak keeps the effort bordering on camp to ease audience participation, bringing in Ron Jeremy to add some comedy, while the remnants of the Third Reich are more “Hogan’s Heroes” than “Schindler’s List,” consumed with perfecting a serum that develops nymphomania in imprisoned females.
Blue Ice Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is challenged by different cinematographic styles, with Nazi encounters favoring a hazier look, while detective sequences are more straightforward, preserving clarity while battling focus issues. Detail is acceptable throughout, securing bodily particulars, while costuming and set decoration achievements are easily explored. Colors enjoy a tasteful refreshing, bringing out the power of primaries, offering bold reds on flags and blue jewels. Skintones are natural. Delineation is secure, reaching as far as the original photography allows. Source encounters speckling and some faint points of damage.
Blue Ice Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The 1.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is difficult to enjoy, with inherent issues and age conspiring to dilute feature's sonic reach. Dialogue exchanges vary in intensity, but muddiness remains, finding a few passages difficult to understand, losing key dramatics. Music fare better, maintaining presence on the track, but it's also lacking crispness. Louder acts of sexual response hit intended levels, and echoed interiors are retained.
Blue Ice Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
- Commentary features actors Bill Margold and Herschel Savage.
Blue Ice Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
"Blue Ice" isn't completely wacky, enjoying a degree of concentration from its cast, with Savage terrific in the lead role, capably handling the feature's fluctuating mood, which eventually dips a toe in fantasy to secure intended confusion. Sex sequences lean toward aggression, which is rarely pleasant, but it feels like Marshak doesn't really care about the basic expectations of adult cinema, going out of his way to make "Blue Ice" bigger in scale and menace to provide a more satisfying viewing experience. Cheap thrills are here, but there's also a strange mystery to hold attention.
