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(DVD) Hey folks, before I begin take a look at the front cover. See the big guy on top, big mulsecs, menacing grin, huge axe? His name's Dark Wolf, and he is awesome. More on him later. Fire and Ice is a film by Ralph Bakshi, known for films like Fritz the Cat, Wizards, and other animated classics that never seem to get their worthy repute. This film came out shortly after American Pop and unfortunately did not make too much money at the box office. Watching the film, I really can't see why. This was one of the most enjoyable fantasy films I've seen in years. The film was a co-creation of Ralph Bakshi and Frank Frazetta, one of the most famous illustrators in the 20th century. As Bakshi says in commentaries and interviews on the DVD, making a film completely like a Frazetta painting would have been impossible, but he wanted to capture that atmosphere as best he could. In fact Frazetta fans will notice many easily recognizable homages in the film, particularly The Death Bringer. The plot is simple enough evil wizard Nekron (who is basically Emperor Palpatine in his teen days) is moving a mighty glacier across the land, conquering and destroying anything in his path. As he approaches Firekeep, last bastion of resistance, his mother kidnaps the Princess Tygra to give Nekron a mate and bring Firekeep to the discussion table. Mixed into this plot are Larn, lone survivor of a village destroyed by Nekron's glacier who falls for Tygra, and Dark Wolf, a mysterious figure following Parn who is after Nekron and is also awesome. Now, Fire and Ice was rotoscoped, and if you've seen Bakshi's Lord of the Rings you're probably cringing. However, do not fear the tinted live-action orcs are long gone. This is a complete animated film, and every one is fully animated. I might also add that they are very well animated, and even though live action was used to assist in keeping things like a Frank Frazetta painting it was not relied upon. Many creatures, such as the dragons (animated by a young Peter Cheung) and the giant lizard were animated normally. Plus, looking at the real life actors can clue you in on just how many liberties the animators took in moderating character designs. You think Tygra was that well endowed in real life? Think again! And the neanderthals were in fact normal guys moving about with their characteristics added later. (remembering the cheap outfits of the orcs in Lord of the Rings, I think we can be thankful for that) As an additional note, guess who did all the background artwork? Two young guys fresh out of college known as James Gurney and Thomas Kinkade. That's right, the guys who went on to do Dinotopia and uh lighthouses got their start doing this film. It's far from a completely perfect film some of the dialogue is a tad campy. You thought those scenes between Padme and Anakin on the balcony in Episode III were bad? Take a look at the scenes between Tygra and Parn in the ruins. But listen, this is everything a fantasy film SHOULD be. Giant lizards, sword fights, buff guys, ugly guys, lesbian witches, gorgeous women in bikinis, gorgeous women in bikinis being kidnapped by ugly guys, buff guys killing ugly guys, ugly guys getting trampled by giant lizards this film has it all. It also has a great cast, particularly Nekron and Dark Wolf. Nekron is a dirty bastard incarnate, who has unlimited powers and knows it, smugly ticking off other characters he knows he can easily beat up. For example, when haughty Prince Taro of Firekeep goes with an entourage to speak with him and get Tygra back, Nekron grins and states Nekron: I must admit that at first the idea of mating with your sister filled me with revulsion. Perhaps I should reconsider she is, after all, not entirely unattractive, as lesser beings go. This is followed by the Prince Taro trying to kill Nekron, only to be forced by Nekron to kill his own men and then himself. Didn't I say he was evil? But now this brings me to the absolute hands down best character of the whole film: Dark Wolf. As previously stated, Dark Wolf is awesome. Neanderthals in this movie should really be called Dark Wolf fodder as he takes out about half of Nekron's army during the course of the film. Lurking in the fog, tossing two rocks at once, using their own weapons against them, nothing can stop this guy. Although Larn is technically the hero, Dark Wolf is definately the true man of action, embodying the Death Dealer. He also has one of the best lines in the movie when Larn won't go after Tygra while Dark Wolf distracts the neanderthals. Dark Wolf: Go! Larn: No! Dark Wolf: *menacing scowl* THE HELL YOU WON'T! *tosses Larn off a cliff* The DVD itself is equally impressive. It's a two-DVD set, with the first DVD the film along with documentaries about the film, pictures of the live action sequences and animation
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(VISITOR) AUTHOR'S NAME
Ahmed
MESSAGE TIMESTAMP
20 december 2014, 03:37:17
AUTHOR'S IP LOGGED
190.72.247.59
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