- Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
- Video Codec: AVC/MPEG-4
- Resolution: 1080p/24 (23.976Hz)
- Audio Codec: English Dolby TrueHD 5.1
- Subtitles: None
- Region: A (Region-Locked)
- Rating: PG
- Run Time: 90 Mins.
- Discs: 1 (1 x Blu-ray)
- Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment
- Blu-ray Release Date: January 3rd, 2012
- List Price: $24.99
[amazon-product]B005YCEIFM[/amazon-product]
BestBuy.com:
Purchase Ice Quake on Blu-ray at CD Universe
Shop for more Blu-ray titles at Amazon.com
Overall
[Rating:3/5]
The Film
[Rating:3/5]
Video Quality
[Rating:4/5]
Audio Quality
[Rating:4.5/5]
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:1/5]
Click thumbnails for high-resolution 1920X1080p screen captures
(All TheaterByte screen captures are lightly compressed with lossy JPEG at 100% quality setting and are meant as a general representation of the content. They do not fully reveal the capabilities of the Blu-ray format)
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The Film
[Rating:3/5]
Ice Quake tells the story of geologist Michael Webster (Brendan Fehr) and his family as they fight for survival on Christmas Eve in Alaska. After learning that a massive ice shelf has collapsed in the Russian Arctic, Michael becomes skeptical as to the cause behind the sudden event. Not wanting to disappoint his family, the four venture out to cut down a Christmas tree on Mt. Phaeton. It’s once they start venturing up the mountain, that more events (ice geysers, permafrost and avalanches) related to the ice shelf, start occurring. Now it’s up to Michael and his team including Army Colonel (Victor Garber) to figure out how to stop these events before it’s too late. What results is a film that is surprisingly entertaining and is easily one of the best made-for-tv/dvd films SyFy has come up with.
Playing off as a kind of Roland Emmerich light disaster film, Ice Quake is an all around fun way to spend 90 minutes. The actual disaster moments can be a bit corny at times and certainly do look fake, but I still found myself kind of at the edge of my seat truly wondering how Michael was going to figure out how to stop these events. It’s during the action that the acting by nearly all is mostly convincing, especially that of Brendan Fehr in the lead role. Known for his recurring role on Bones, Fehr delivers here, acting all the different ranges of emotions. Victor Garber delivers as well. On an off note, I found it funny how his character was almost always drinking eggnog for the first 45 minutes. Just a funny bit I thought.
(For a different take, read our Ice Quake Blu-ray Review by Brandon DuHamel)
Video Quality
[Rating:4/5]
The 1:78:1 framed, AVC/MPEG-4 encoded transfer is quite good. The film’s tends to use a mostly muted palette that helps to bring out the Alaska setting. Grays, blacks and snow whites dominate the transfer. Even though the darker colors do encompass a majority of the transfer, there are still instances where brighter colors like reds, blues and greens are seen. These moments are equally as strong, detail-wise, as the darker sequences. Speaking of detail, there is a strong sense of clarity throughout the film. Grain is kept in check only having a slight layer during the avalanches. There is a bit of noise that can be noticed when the quakes begin, but minus that this is a generally strong offering by Anchor Bay.
Audio Quality
[Rating:4.5/5]
The film’s provided Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track is near perfect. Dialogue is well reproduced throughout whether during the smaller drama moments or the heightened action sequences. When the action beings, this track goes into full motion. LFE is deep and immersive offering us solid low end. Discrete effects like the cracking of the asphalt ring behind our ears making us quickly glance around to see exactly where the effects are coming from. Even the film’s score, kinda of action packed in and of itself, sounded great. Tracks like these all but help to bring home the action. All in all, Anchor Bay has put together a fine track here.
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:1/5]
The included supplements are presented in HD.
- Making of Ice Quake – Running 27:09 in length, this making of is quite extensive as Director Paul Ziller goes over a majority of the production of the film.
- Trailer – The film’s trailer (1:39) is shown.
The Definitive Word
Overall:
[Rating:3/5]
Featuring a solid V/A presentation and a surprisingly fun, well-made film, Anchor Bay’s latest Blu-ray for Ice Quake is one worth checking out.
Additional Screen Captures
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[amazon-product]B005YCEIFM[/amazon-product]
BestBuy.com:
Purchase Ice Quake on Blu-ray at CD Universe
Shop for more Blu-ray titles at Amazon.com
Overall
[Rating:3/5]
The Film
[Rating:3/5]
Video Quality
[Rating:4/5]
Audio Quality
[Rating:4.5/5]
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:1/5]
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