Icebreaker (2000)

The Age of Commercialism

best movie i've ever seen.

Best movie ever!

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

The plot in Icebreaker is such a mess that it doesn't merit much discussion. A group of terrorists descend on a Vermont ski resort looking for a downed plane carrying a nuclear device. In the end, however, the nuclear device is all but an afterthought as the head baddie sets his sights on the lesser goal of blowing up a ski gondola with one person on board. Ski patrol member Matt is on the case to stop the terrorists and save his fiancé (who is quite naturally the person on the gondola).How in the name of all that is Holy did the makers of Icebreakers get a cast that includes Sean Astin, Stacy Keach, and Bruce Campbell? Were these guys that hard-up for work? Do they enjoy skiing so much that a free weekend on the slopes of Killington was enough to entice them? Did the producers have compromising photos? I just don't get it. Astin may be a good actor, but he's not my image of an action hero. When I think of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris, and Rob Van Dam – Sean Astin is not the next name that comes to mind. Stacy Keach phones in his performance from the State line. It's obvious he has no interest in Icebreakers. As for Campbell, as much as I love him, not even he can save this thing. Bruce's charm, so evident in the Evil Dead Series or Brisco County or even Burn Notice, is not here. Like Keach, he doesn't look overly interested in the project. But the acting's not the problem – it's the muddled plot. I watched the whole thing and still have no idea what was motivating the terrorists. They want the nuclear device simply because that's what a terrorist would do. The take-over of the ski resort seemed so unnecessary. Their plan had not gone so off-track that they still couldn't have secretly gotten their weapon and disappeared. Why bring so much attention to their activities? The answer – it's in the script. The whole thing this is a complete mess. Character motivation in Icebreakers makes absolutely no sense. I'll give Icebreakers a generous 3/10.

This is not the best movie, but for a Sean Astin fan, it's a must see. As always, he is incredible in every role, as is he in this one. If you like action, you might enjoy this movie, but the special effects aren't that great. I know it must not have gotten many good reviews, but I would still recommend it to anyway. If you don't like it, at least then you'd be able to say you saw it and you know for sure. Sean Astin as always, is fantastic.

Ski patrol officer Sean Astin tries to save the day, his parents and his girl from an evil and deranged madman (Hollywood goof-ball Bruce Campbell) who has a nuclear device at a winter resort. Campbell leads some crazed terrorists in the venture and the only one who can save the group of hostages is the baby-faced Astin. Stupid and unintentionally hilarious venture for all involved as Campbell steals the show (as he usually does in sorry ventures) as a comical and bald-headed villain that will make you think of him as a very poor man's Gene Hackman from "Superman". Nothing really to recommend. Might have camp value for some, but that does not endear it. Turkey (0 stars out of 5).

Icebreaker had a limited budget. The production company made a heroic effort to make this film look big and for the most part succeeded. The number of extras, the explosions, car chases and wrecks, the fire fights and the entire ski lodge that was used for the set. In the end it was a hard shoot. The day time temps were sometimes 10 below with the wind chill factors. The film is worth a look if for no other reason than to see what dedicated film makers will go through to compete in the market place. It is also a pretty good escape film to just watch and enjoy.