WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Ice Storm, The
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 29 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Henry Czerny, Adam Hann-Byrd, Tobey Maguire, Christina Ricci, Jamey Sheridan, Elijah Wood & Sigourney Weaver

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 3.5
Sound Rating: 3.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): 0275185
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 113
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1997
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Ang Lee
(Screenplay/Written By): James Schamus
(Story): NA
(Music): Mychael Danna
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Mark Friedberg
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Tim Squyres
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Ted Hope, James Schamus & Ang Lee

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Dolby Digital
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Based on the novel by Rick Moody, The Ice Storm takes an intimate, dark look at two families in 1970s Connecticut. The Hood and Carver families are tied by the adulterous affair between Ben Hood (Kevin Kline) and Janey Carver (Sigourney Weaver) and Hood’s precocious young daughter (Christina Ricci) who is learning about her sexuality and its effect on both of the teenage Carver boys. But when an ice storm threatens a momentous Thanksgiving weekend, the adults unleash an emotional tempest that will transform all of their lives.

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture, matted at 1.85:1, effectively and consistently carries a cold appearance throughout the natural looking color scheme. Interior scenes are sometimes wanting in clarity, but exteriors utilize a slightly bluish-gray hue to create the crisp, overall icy feel of the movie and its coming storm. There is minor chroma noise apparent, especially in interiors.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The Dolby® Surround soundtrack is conventionally produced with a monaural emphasis complemented with occasional stereo sound effects and music score. Dialogue is generally spatial and natural sounding for an enjoyable soundtrack when surround enhancement is present.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: