6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.1 |
It began as a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration between two of the greatest icons of the fantasy genre: Controversial animator Ralph Bakshi and legendary illustrator Frank Frazetta. It became – and remains – one of the most startling animation epics of all time. Now experience a world unlike any ever seen, where savage warriors, horrific monsters and luscious maidens battle for the soul of a civilization in a time of good and evil, pleasure and pain, and Fire and Ice.
Starring: Randy Norton, Cynthia Leake, Steve Sandor, Sean Hannon, Leo GordonErotic | 100% |
Animation | 72% |
Fantasy | Insignificant |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 EX (448 kbps)
English, English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
D-Box
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
No one dared guess at the outcome of a meeting on the field of battle between fire and
ice.
The fantastical world -- the nether regions of Earth where odd beings and magical powers are as
commonplace as the sword and musclebound heroes -- is a staple of modern fiction. From
The
Lord of the Rings to The Chronicles of Narnia, from The 7th Voyage of
Sinbad to Conan the Barbarian, the heroes, villains, creatures, wizardry, and
mystical realms continue to enchant audiences with timeless tales of high adventure, might and
magic, unparalleled heroics, and disdainful villainy that make for the ultimate in escapist
entertainment. Seeing a resurgence now with the incredible popularity of the filmed adaptation
of
J.R.R. Tolkien's masterworks, the genre enjoyed another peak in the late 1970s and early 1980s
where the fantastical was to be found in stories set both eons into the past and centuries into the
future, with television programing like "He-Man" and "Buck Rogers" both incorporating genre
elements into their amazing worlds. In 1983, Ralph Bakshi, director of the controversial Fritz
the Cat, and legendary Fantasy illustrator Frank Frazetta teamed up for an animated
feature-length Fantasy original, Fire and Ice, a completely clichéd tale that stays
within the lines of genre basics and that plays out as nothing more than an
extended-length Saturday morning cartoon with virtually nothing of substance to offer that
couldn't be found on channel 4 at 8:00 AM, and at a third of the runtime.
Anyone seen a princess in a purple bikini?
Fire and Ice features a well-done 1080p, 1.78:1-framed transfer. Perhaps the most noticeable trait of the image is the avalanche of white speckles that cover most every frame. They seem inherent to the image and not a flaw of the transfer. They're clearly visible throughout but don't necessarily represent a great distraction to the overall viewing experience. Otherwise, this is another solid effort from Blue Underground. Colors are strong, particularly as seen in the tidal wave of red-hot lava at the end of the film. From the murky landscapes to more polished and bright interiors, the transfer offers a consistently solid color palette that won't be confused with a Pixar movie but looks just fine for an animated feature that's pushing 30 years of age. Lines are smooth, the 1080p resolution brings out the finer nuances of the animation, and there's a fine level of clarity to be seen throughout. On the whole, Fire and Ice makes for a fine Blu-ray presentation.
Fire and Ice debuts on Blu-ray with a pair of lossless soundtracks, one each of the DTS-HD MA 7.1 and the Dolby TrueHD 7.1 varieties. Occasional comparisons between the two showed the DTS track to be quite a bit louder and more bass-happy than the Dolby TrueHD offering. The bulk of the film was screened with the DTS track, and it indeed yields impressive results. Consistently loud and aggressive, it begins strongly with the presentation of the title music that features an Adventure movie motif and serves up note after note of sonic delight, with strong clarity and hefty bass in support. When the actual film gets going, the soundtrack doesn't let up. It rivals some of the better soundtracks available on Blu-ray through its sheer force of will and aggressive sound placement. There's a barrage of rear-channel activity and loud action across the front, but the track never sacrifices clarity in the process. The ice that encroaches upon Larn's village sounds (and feels) as if it's punching through the living room floor. Such sound effects are commonplace throughout the movie and there are but few reprieves from the delightful action-adventure soundtrack. Also featuring robust dialogue reproduction, Fire and Ice delivers another top-notch lossless soundtrack for Blu-ray enthusiasts to enjoy.
Fire and Ice arrives on Blu-ray with several extras, beginning with a commentary track featuring Lance Laspina and Producer/Director Ralph Bakshi. With Laspina leading the discussion and charting the course of the commentary, Bakshi shares the rich history behind the film, his association with Frank Frazetta, the origins of the story, the casting of the live actors that served as the basis for the animation, and much more. Animation fans will want to give this one a listen. The Making of 'Fire and Ice' (480p, 13:31) is a rough-looking and sounding vintage piece from Director Ralph Bakshi's personal VHS collection that takes a look at the process of creating the film, including the hand-drawn images and the Rotoscope process that begins with capturing the action with live actors and the process of animating it for the film. Bakshi on Frazetta (480p, 8:01) features the director speaking on his relationship with the famed illustrator. Sean Hannon's Diary Notes (480p, 14:06) features the actor that played Nekron recalling his participation in the film through a reading of his on-set memoirs. The film's theatrical trailer (1080p, 1:15) rounds out the collection of extras. This Blu-ray release of Fire and Ice is also D-Box enabled.
All told, Fire and Ice serves up a serious-in-tone wannabe epic adventure that makes for a passable 80 minute time waster but doesn't hold a candle to the genre's best offerings, either animated or live-action. It's competent, well-drawn, adequately-scripted, and voiced well enough, but there's no spark, no life, no real purpose behind it. As a Fantasy picture, however, it works for all that it's meant to be, a form of escapist entertainment that should satiate genre fans. Blue Underground's Blu-ray release of Fire and Ice impresses. Featuring a solid 1080p image, an incredibly robust lossless soundtrack, and a decent array of extras, Fire and Ice comes recommended as a rental for casual viewers and as a purchase for genre aficionados and longtime fans of the film.
1982
1982
35th Anniversary Edition
1977
Rio 70 / River 70 / Future Woman / Future Women / Mothers of America / The Seven Secrets of Sumuru / Die sieben Männer der Sumuru
1969
1981
Standard Edition
1984
1982
妖怪大戦争 / Yōkai Daisensō
2005
1983
1983
50th Anniversary Ultimate Edition
1971
Wan ren zhan / Man yan jam / 萬人斬
1980
1958
1952
1924
1987
デス・トランス
2005
1983
Warner Archive Collection
2011-2012
2024