James Bond is the foundation text for the espionage genre. It set the standard for suave spies, thrilling missions, and luxurious lifestyles, captivating audiences for decades. Naturally, countless films have tried to emulate the Bond formula, offering high-stakes espionage, globe-trotting adventures, and charismatic secret agents.
However, not all of these attempts have lived up to the legacy of 007. While not as bad as director Russell Mulcahy's disasterpiece Highlander II: The Quickening, released the preceding year, Blue Ice is still boring and pointless. It's also weighed down by post-Cold War malaise, without a menacing enemy to lend it tension.
There are a few decent if forgettable action scenes, but they're undermined by awkward love scenes and moments of unintentional comedy. The film was adapted from a popular comic strip, though it fails to capture the charm of the source material. Instead of a solid plot, the viewer is left with flashy outfits, vibrant colors, and little substance.
It's a shame, considering that Modesty Blaise had the potential to be entertaining, and was ahead of its time in imagining a female James Bond-like figure. It's not really worth watching now as anything other than a Swinging Sixties curio. XXX: State of the Union PG-13ActionAdventureCrimeDocumentaryMysteryThriller Where to Watch Not available*Availability in US Cast Ice Cube , Samuel L.
Jackson , Willem Dafoe , Scott Speedman , Peter Strauss , Xzibit Runtime 101 Writers Rich Wilkes , Si.
