It’s time for another edition of Direct to DVD Dissection! On the slab this week is a film that takes the Dissection’s favorite supervillain in training and pits them against 3 uber Russians and puts them in the deadliest arena of them all: Canada.
The Story
Deep in the arctic, a military expedition unearths the remnants of a super soldier program from the past that threatens to spill into present. All that stands between these frozen soldiers and society are TC Cardinal, a Canadian Native living above the treeline, and Malraux, a scientist with a past connected to the Ice Soldiers.
The Cast
Dominic Purcell as Dr. Malraux. A scientist who comes to the Canadian Arctic to investigate claims of super-humans buried in the snow. It is not know if said super-humans live in solitude in a sort of fortress.
Adam Beach as TC Cardinal. A hunter in the arctic who joins up with Malraux on his quest to chase after the titular Ice Soldiers.
Michael Ironside as Col. Desmond Trump. A no-nonsense, by the book army colonel who is the security that guards the good doctor……to a point.
Gabriel Hogan as the Ice Soldier leader. The leader of the three soldiers with a long history and a resemblance to a certain almost unfrozen Nazi wrestler.
The Dissection
Dr. Malraux (Purcell) after arriving in the arctic.
The first thing to note about ICE SOLDIERS is that, even though it’s a three act movie, each act seems to have different builds. The first section of the film gives some details of the Soldiers and their origins in the 1960’s, and you know it’s the 60’s since pretty much every character on screen is smoking. The second half delves into building Purcell’s Malraux and the rest of the modern day cast, and the build in that. Then the third section pits the two together, introduces some new people, and that’s the movie. Still, the movie does keep them tied together, and the cast by the third act are a improvement on the earlier people.
Because of how the story is build, any character development is pretty much non-existent. The characters, from beginning to end, never move beyond any kind of role they were in. The only character that has anything close to a build up is Malraux, who’s story is suppose to be slowly revealed until the end of the film reveal. However, the “reveal” because very blatant and obvious after the second or third “hint”, that you just want the movie to get it over with. The movie can overlook it, since it tries to build this personal hunt that Malraux goes on to catch the Soldiers, but it falls flat, since the actions of the heroes leave something to be desired.
What is love? Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more...
The film has issues with keeping continuity for the Ice Soldiers later on, shown before as ruthless murderers who rape women and are methodical monsters, shown later bobbing their heads, NIGHT AT THE ROXBURY style, while listening to Russian rap and hanging out in the sole Russian themed strip club located in a small Canadian town. Also, they are built up as these genetically engeneered monsters who can survive literally anything, and it gets pretty muched tossed out when it comes time to the showdown.
Still, there are some good spots.The movie has a lot of good production design and the supporting hero of the second half, TC Cardinal, is well done. Also, the reveal of Malraux, while predictable, does help to explain motivation and the basis of his abilities highlighted in the movie. In all, it’s a movie that might be worth a look if you’re at a Redbox. It’s got a bit more build to it than most films of the type.
Still, considering the movie really has no real extras to speak of, apart from several film trailers and audio and subtitle options for English, Japanese, Spanish & Thai, it’s not something that keeps you the least bit invested in it after the credits.
The Verdict
The movie isn’t bad or good, and mostly stays in the middle. An average experience that you won’t regret, but won’t leave you with anything to really grasp.