Author
|
Topic: In Defense of "The Ice Storm" - Discussion (Read 2884 times)
|
|
frodolives
Elijah Worshipper
 Offline
Posts: 153
|
 |
In Defense of "The Ice Storm" - Discussion
« on: March 05, 2003, 06:24:14 pm »
|
|
All "Ice Storm" discussion goes here!
I think that The Ice Storm is one of those movies where you'll either love or hate, depending on what you get out of it.
I think what people find weird about it is its so-called gratitious sex and drug-adling, as well as its seemingly slo-mo movement.
However, I think the whole point of the movie was essentially, to portray the workings of American suburbia in the 70's, in the middle of the Sexual Revolution.
But this was only a setup. But what Ang Lee did in this movie was to give the audience a glimpse of two families. As the title suggests, the story is a cold one. It gives us the feeling of 'look but don't touch'.
The family members are disconnected. Although they are intimate physically with each other, it is obvious that mentally and emotionally, they are strangers. But that's the point - this movie portrays that nothing should substitute the human connection.
I think that although people might find Elijah's character Mikey, weird and disturbed, he is the pinnacle of what I thought was the main theme of the movie.
Mikey is spaced out, alienated, symbolizing how detached he is from everyone else (such as not even realizing that his father had left). He captures the theme perfectly when he talks to Sandy, his brother, about space and its dimensions... how we can only see space in our own heads. To me, this meant that everyone had a sort of barrier around themselves. Like in the scene where Mikey dry-humps Wendy, Wendy only does so with a Nixon mask... again, a barrier.
These people are afraid to connect with each other, other than mere physical contact. That's why the sex is mechanical and dry. Like the ice storm, which encases everything in ice, these characters are the same... as if they themselves have a layer of ice around them.
Of course, Mikey's death is a tragedy, a consequence of this human disconnection.
I think "The Ice Storm" was brilliant, very much in the same vein with "American Beauty" without the upbeat, and may have even acted as its predecessor. The cinematography, the top-notch screenplay, and acting showcases from everyone around made it one of my favorite films, even before I was into Elijah. (Actually, I watched it without knowing Elijah and Mikey was my favorite character so I guess it was meant to be  )
Ang Lee has a talent for being a perfectionist. I find his incredible talent humbling, as he's able to jump from period to period with ease. (Think that his project before this movie was Sense and Sensibility).
The Ice Storm, I admit, is not an easy movie to watch. It's not a Hollywood movie, and it was never meant to be.
You might have been left dead in the cold by it, you might have been left empty...
But I think that was the point.
|
"Elijah looks angelic but his beauty of spirit is what makes his Frodo leap out of the screen. Unalloyed goodness is one of the most difficult attributes to act." ~ Ian McKellan
|
|
|
HiGhLy EvOlVeD
The Hooker Banana
*
Offline
Gender: 
Posts: 6146
hold your breath and count to 10
 
|
|
Re:In Defense of "The Ice Storm"
« Reply #1 on: March 05, 2003, 06:55:44 pm »
|
|
I really liked the ice storm.
|
 
|
|
|
Feline
Elijah Worshipper
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 277
I love YaBB 1G - SP1!
|
|
Re:In Defense of "The Ice Storm"
« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2003, 02:47:08 pm »
|
|
I agree with you : you can't watch this movie without having a strange feeling of love or hate. When I watched it for the first time, I was nearly crying at the end, not only because of Mikey's death, but because the characters are so isolated and share nothing but superficial relationship. I was touched by this movie, perhaps because I recognized myself a little...
Frodolives, you wrote about a barrier around ourselves. I usually refers to the "wall" that creates a distance between our mind and the others. It's the same idea.
-------------------------an't watch this movie without having a strange feeling of love or hate. When I watched it for the first time, I was nearly crying at the end, not only because of Mikey's death, but because the characters are so isolated and share nothing but superficial relationship. I was touched by this movie, perhaps because I recognized myself a little...
Frodolives, you wrote about a barrier around ourselves. I usually refers to the "wall" that creates a distance between our mind and the others. It's the same idea.
|
|
|
|
|
Feline
Elijah Worshipper
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 277
I love YaBB 1G - SP1!
|
|
Re:In Defense of "The Ice Storm"
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2003, 02:49:07 pm »
|
|
Oooops,
sorry for the last post  , my computer is playing naughty games with me  .
|
|
|
|
|
Raiwen
Guest
|
|
Re:In Defense of "The Ice Storm"
« Reply #4 on: March 12, 2003, 04:40:54 pm »
|
|
i loved the ice storm. did other ppl not?
|
|
|
|
|
ChinaBabieDoll
ElwoodzBabiGirl
*
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 6656
oOo yea Baby....
  
|
|
Re:In Defense of "The Ice Storm"
« Reply #5 on: March 12, 2003, 05:52:43 pm »
|
|
o Ice storm is my all my favorite! i watched it so many times and it gave me new thoughts everytime i watched it
Ang Lee is one of my favorite director too
|
|
|
|
PHF1138
Arwen Tinùviel
*
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 6305
Av. by Nemesis of the HIM forums
|
|
Re:In Defense of "The Ice Storm"
« Reply #6 on: March 12, 2003, 07:55:25 pm »
|
|
Wow, I'm really glad I read this. See, I've been trying to decide whether I would actually want to see it or not, and I've heard that a lot of people didn't really like, or people told me it was no good or something, but I never really heard them say why. I think I'd really like to watch it now!! 
|
^Read my fic! You know you want to...^
(banner by 'letsgodown' from the Heartagram forum)
|
|
|
BrollyBaggins
Elijah Worshipper
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 235
"Aiya Earendil Elenion Ancalima!"
|
|
Re:In Defense of "The Ice Storm"
« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2003, 04:26:25 pm »
|
|
I didn't know whether i liked it or not the first time i watched it, the ending was irritating and i wanted a few qtst answered.
i watched it again and i actually think its a really good movie, not only does it have a great inside meaning, but the charecters are also very well developed.
Micked is my fav charecter and its not just cos of elijah, i think Mickey is such a sad and kind misunderstood charecter that just doesn't seem to fit in well w/ the rest of the world. He makes me laugh but when i think about it i feel kinda sorry for him. I even feel sorry ft or not the first time i watched it, the ending was irritating and i wanted a few qtst answered.
i watched it again and i actually think its a really good movie, not only does it have a great inside meaning, but the charecters are also very well developed.
Micked is my fav charecter and its not just cos of elijah, i think Mickey is such a sad and kind misunderstood charecter that just doesn't seem to fit in well w/ the rest of the world. He makes me laugh but when i think about it i feel kinda sorry for him. I even feel sorry for wendy, cos she so isn't what she actually wants to be.
I think elijah's acting is fantastic too, how on earth did he get through the molecules speech w/ out lauging??? gotta be an artist for that.
|
I'm not a star, a star is a ball of gas~ Elijah Wood
|
|
|
sassy119
Elijah Worshipper
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 286
|
|
Ice Storm
« Reply #8 on: April 14, 2003, 02:17:24 pm »
|
|
Man I just saw it. It was just on TV. Man very strange, poor Elijah
|
|
|
|
Malli
Guest
|
|
Re:Ice Storm
« Reply #9 on: April 14, 2003, 02:20:16 pm »
|
|
Somehow the part where he dies is the only part where he looks really good 
|
|
|
|
|
sassy119
Elijah Worshipper
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 286
|
|
Re:Ice Storm
« Reply #10 on: April 14, 2003, 02:27:16 pm »
|
|
What was up with the hair lol 
|
|
|
|
::Carrie::
Elijah's English Cigarette
*
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 2084
|
|
Re:Ice Storm
« Reply #11 on: April 14, 2003, 02:46:32 pm »
|
|
Havent seen it yet but hope to v soon! Is that the film in which he gets dirty with lucky Christina Ricci?
|
 
|
|
|
sassy119
Elijah Worshipper
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 286
|
|
Re:Ice Storm
« Reply #12 on: April 14, 2003, 02:54:10 pm »
|
|
Yeap 
|
|
|
|
Grawsywoll
The Insane Pervy Hobbit Fancier
*
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 6606
Queen And U2 Rock My World!
 
|
 |
Re:Ice Storm
« Reply #13 on: April 14, 2003, 03:08:09 pm »
|
|
He was GORGEOUS but the film was a flop! And he does'nt get REALLY dirrty with him... Only a few mild references as far as I'm concerned! 
|
Dressing like your sister
Living like a tart
If they don't know what you're doin'
Babe it must be art,
You're a headache, in a suitcase
You're a star.
|
|
|
::Carrie::
Elijah's English Cigarette
*
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 2084
|
|
Re:Ice Storm
« Reply #14 on: April 14, 2003, 03:13:10 pm »
|
|
ohhhh- well ta for letting me know!
|
|
|
|
Always & Forever // Messageboard | Powered by YaBB SE
© 2001-2002, YaBB SE Dev Team. All Rights Reserved.
hosting & support by ejwsites.net
|
|
Logged