Iceman Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Iceman" by Well Go USA, utilizing an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio, delivers an impressive visual experience. Shot digitally with the Red Epic, the film navigates through two distinct visual styles: a cool blue tone for contemporary scenes and a warmer, occasionally sickly yellow for the Ming era sequences. Despite these heavy color gradings, the detail remains impressively intact with excellent fine detail, especially noticeable in close-up shots. The contemporary scenes are vibrant and accurate, contributing to an immersive viewing experience. Moreover, the transfer boasts solid and consistent contrast and black levels with no compression artifacts or noticeable noise or debris.

Clarity and detail on this Blu-ray are exceptional. The visual depth is strikingly clear, although this sometimes exposes the limitations of the CGI. The black levels are robust, ensuring no crushing in darker scenes, while the color reproduction remains outstanding, with no banding or pixelation observed, even in highly colorful scenes. Flesh tones appear natural and well-defined, enhancing the overall authenticity of the imagery.

Overall, "Iceman" on Blu-ray offers a technically proficient and visually pleasing presentation, delivering on both clarity and color fidelity without succumbing to common digital artifacts. This release stands out for its ability to present a crystal-clear image across varying stylistic choices, ensuring a high-quality viewing experience.

The audio presentation of "Iceman" on Blu-ray features a robust set of options including Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Cantonese Dolby Digital 2.0, English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, and French Dolby Digital 5.1. This inclusion of various languages underscores an effort to cater to a global audience, likely leveraging the star power of Donnie Yen. Users are recommended to opt for the original language track, which is also available in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, as it delivers a superior auditory experience. The surround activity in this mix is stellar from the very beginning, with dynamic sound effects like trucks smashing, cryogenic tubes opening, and intense action scenes where fists and feet fly. Dialogue is crisply presented without any issues.

When it comes to technical performance, this Blu-ray release stands out as a reference-quality track. The lossless surround track notably enhances the film's action sequences, delivering an immersive experience that significantly enriches the viewing experience. The Low Frequency Extension (LFE) is particularly noteworthy, offering deep, earth-rumbling bass that activates only when necessary, adding to the film's intensity without being overwhelming.

The surround sound presentation is exceptionally well-executed. The channels capture the film's wirework and acrobatic feats with remarkable clarity and precision. Weapons and various other objects zip through the auditory landscape with fine precision, making for a thrilling auditory experience. Dialogue reproduction is consistently flawless, with the center channel capturing even the more absurd lines without any clipping or distortion. Overall, the audio presentation of "Iceman" on Blu-ray is top-tier, providing both an immersive and technically proficient experience.

The extras included with the Blu-ray release of "Iceman" are minimal yet informative, offering a comprehensive behind-the-scenes look. The primary feature, a 20-minute "Making Of" segment, is an assemblage of various shorter featurettes. These clips, branded with the Iceman 3D title and presented in high definition, explore different set pieces and include cast and crew discussions on their collaborative experiences. Though this featurette follows the common format found in many releases, it provides valuable insights into the production process. Additionally, the disc includes a high-definition theatrical trailer.

Extras included in this disc:

• Making Of: An assemblage of short featurettes covering various set pieces, with cast and crew discussions.
• Trailer: The high-definition theatrical trailer for Iceman.

"Iceman" presents Donnie Yen in a role that regrettably squanders his immense talents in a film muddled by convolutions and inconsistent tone. The movie juxtaposes martial arts and time travel elements, but fails to cohesively blend them, leading to a puzzling and often dull narrative. The plot follows Ming Dynasty warrior He Ying (Yen), who is revived in modern-day Hong Kong alongside sworn enemies. The storyline’s frequent oscillations between 17th-century flashbacks and present-day scenes disrupt the narrative flow and result in an inconsistent mixture of farce and soap opera.

The film attempts to weave elements of slapstick comedy, as evidenced by a bizarre scene where He Ying engages in an exaggerated urination upon awakening. However, this comedic touch is not sustained, leading to an uneven tone throughout. The proposition involving a magical time travel device tied to Shiva's genitalia is introduced but remains underdeveloped, further contributing to the incoherence. Despite brief attempts at humor and intrigue, the haphazard action sequences—marred by over-the-top wirework and subpar CGI—fail to deliver the visceral excitement expected from a Donnie Yen film.

Unfortunately, the technical flaws extend beyond the narrative. The CGI is lackluster and detracts from the film's visual appeal, reducing potentially thrilling scenes to cartoonish spectacles. Supporting characters range from annoying to unnecessary, adding little depth to the plot. Though the film sets up for an eventual sequel, it leaves much to be desired in terms of story cohesion and character development. Donnie Yen’s transition to caricature-like roles disappoints; his prowess deserves far better than the slapstick comedy "Iceman" offers.

Iceman, starring Donnie Yen, is a curious yet underwhelming addition to the martial arts filmography. A remake of the classic "The Iceman Cometh," this iteration struggles to engage audiences with its disjointed plot and overly ambitious use of CGI. The film's attempt to inject excitement through frenetic action sequences and middling 3D effects unfortunately falls short, leaving many scenes feeling artificial and uninspired. The potential for a memorable action flick is overshadowed by these technical missteps and the lack of coherent storytelling.

Despite its narrative shortcomings, the Blu-ray release of Iceman offers commendable technical merits. The video presentation is nearly reference quality, showcasing crisp visuals and vibrant colors that highlight the film's more engaging moments. Equally impressive is the audio, which delivers a powerful and immersive experience that elevates the viewing pleasure significantly. However, the Blu-ray lacks substantial special features, detracting from its overall value for collectors and fans of bonus content.

In conclusion, even Donnie Yen’s dedicated fan base may find Iceman to be largely monotonous despite its visual flair. This version, while technologically superior, fails to capture the excitement of the original "The Iceman Cometh." The inconsistent quality of its CGI and wirework further weakens its appeal. For those interested in technical excellence, the Blu-ray release shines, but the film itself leaves much to be desired. Fans will likely hope for a future project where Donnie Yen can fully display his talents unencumbered by such distractions.