Ice Soldiers (2013)

This Canadian movie is one of a rare breed where the action takes place in Canada with Canadian characters. Aside from that fact, and maybe also with Adam Beach's somewhat likable performance as a Native who helps the main protagonist, there's nothing good to say about this entire package. How this got a decent review in the Canadian newspaper "The National Post", I cannot say. The first half of the movie is almost entirely deadly dull, taking forever to reintroduce the threat that first reared its head in the introduction. The second half of the movie is not that much better, with a still sluggish pace and action sequences that are slow and clumsy at best. It's actually a miracle that we do get some action sequences, because a number of key moments either take place out of camera range or were simply not filmed at all. When Michael Ironside (who is in less of the movie than you might think) cannot give himself or his surroundings any life, you know that something is very wrong.

During the Cuban missile crisis a plane crashes in the Canadian arctic. Folks from a nearby station arrive and rescue 3 survivors. They are all blonde and tall. The physician there is a girl and she's attracted to the sole conscious survivor. Next, he breaks free and kills everything in sight.50 years later an oil expedition arrive to the area. Part of it is a scientist named Malraux and his Russian sidekick. In charge of the oil exploration is some mean lady called Frazier. Some paramilitary team lead by Col. Trump is also involved and they mostly join Malraux, whose goal is to find the 3 guys from the intro. They could be the result of a Nazi experiment or just Russian soldiers trying to take over NY. He and the paramilitary team set up camp near a mountain. When bad weather threatens to end the operation, Malraux explores a cave and finds the three bodies. They are transported to the station and put on life support. Then their hearth start beating again. When Malraux tries to kill these guys, he's placed in custody. Then the guys wake up and ravage the camp.Malraux survives with an injured leg and starts limping after the three guys. He runs into an Indian who offers to take him to the next town. On the way they stop at a camp where the three guys have just killed everyone. Malraux and the Indian manage to survive and make it to the town where the Russians are enjoying drinks and strippers. That's when Maulraux confronts the guys and we learn some secrets.Ice Soldiers starts out pretty well. The part at the exploration camp is pretty good. Things start going downhill when Malraux goes ofter those guys. Direction is pretty good. Acting is also good. Purcell, Ironside, Beach, Branzea, Sullivan are all solid. The problem is with the dialogue of the script. Very little is said and when something is said it's either confrontational, or unclear. The overall story has some interesting ideas. But it gives up these ideas or doesn't explore them to turn into an ordinary chase/action movie. Several things that happen are completely unbelievable and should have been handled better. Had this movie stayed at the camp for the entire length of it, it would have turned out better. Still, it's different and enjoyable.

4.25 of 10. It's hard not to like a film that makes a scientist an action hero. Unfortunately, beyond that and some impressive snow action and chases, this isn't a breath of cold, fresh air.The film is weighed down far too much by melodrama and action clichés while the science fiction elements are soft and rarely explored like the surrounding snow. It's too bad because there is an interesting plot setup.If you don't mind "pro" wrestling fight scenes mixed with your action and and non-sequiturs in your science fiction, you might be able to enjoy this. I'd rewatch Colony instead if your looking for Wintery sci-fi.

Sometimes, I'll watch a movie because of who is playing a main character. And I don't mean I'm looking for any of the "usual suspects." I mean I want to watch an actor I see in movies, but who often seems to have some secondary role. Dominic Purcell's name caught my eye in this one.TV roles are all well and good, but it is often refreshing to see such an actor play the lead or a main role (Bryan Cranston in Cold Comes the Night is another example). Here, Purcell plays a part with little need for drama, and little opportunity to demonstrate acting talent. To be fair, that was his character here, but the movie was still an enjoyable semi-action flick. The plot is tied into the 1962 Cuban Missle Crisis, but only tangentially. The Sci-Fi aspect overwhelms any real historical theme. And the plot-twist has so many clues dropped that it seems like a made-for-TV movie.Regardless, the movie held my attention and Purcell's adequate performance was well supported by Michael Ironside and Adam Beach (who must unfortunately play the native American with an alcohol history stereotype).As an aside, the movie might have been better if Purcell's character had developed more of a romantic interest in Camille Sullivan's character, or if the characters of the super soldiers (especially No. 1) had been fleshed out some more. eg. "bad ass wakes up after 50 years and his mission seems a little stale in a completely changed world." As it is, they come off as new Rap music fans who want to have sex with the first woman they lay eyes on.No academy award winner here, or even high action, but still a fair watch for a story requiring little mental effort.