This movie clearly has a small budget, looks cheap, and isn't very serious. Fortunately, that is exactly what the film makers were going for. I enjoy this one, though it is apparent by its score that most people don't. I just find it funny and I love the cast which includes Ron Pearlman and even Angelica Houston. Heck, John Carradine even has a small role in it, though his scene is absolutely pointless and adds nothing to the flick. In fact it is a rather serious scene especially considering the rest of the movie. This one doesn't look great, kind of like Space Mutiny, but unlike Space Mutiny this one isn't trying to be serious so the effects can be forgiven. This one has a band of space pirates that go after, you guessed it, ice. They do this at the beginning and get immediately captured and this sets up the rest of the movie. No work of art, but it is entertaining to me.
90 Reviews
Not 2001, But You Knew That
smittie-113 December 2005
Warning: Spoilers
"Ice Pirates" is one of those strange, twisted sf epics farmed out in the '80s after the success of "Star Wars" by people with a better sense of humor and more imagination than Lucas (he ripped off every Nordic legend and cultural/subconscious stereotype in the book, people!)but far less money (I know, "Star Wars" was a low budget flick). With the "Ice Pirates", it shows. And it's great. Without much moolah for special effects the writers had to, well, write, and the barrage of one liners/tete a tete/general tomfoolery make the "Ice Pirates" a good movie to watch over and over. Plus, the FX are pretty good for looking pretty cheap. Other notables:
Ron Perlman- my favorite bit actor, he's very... annoying in this film. And he lisps. And his hand gets chopped off. Which is worth catching. Along with the rest of the cast - wow!
The pimpbot.
The castrato factory that looks like the bottling plant where Laverne and Shirley work.
Michael D. Roberts reminds me of Richard Pryor... but Robert Urich's no Gene Wilder.
The sheer amount of STUFF that gets packed onto the screen... "Trespassers will be violated"!? A disembodied head!? Ninja Fightin' Robots!? And of course the space herpes. And the unicorns. And the very un-PG double entendres.
The creeping sense that the writers know more about classic sf than they're letting on, what with the "7th World" (duh...), the greenhouse palace, the playing around with time warps, and the seamless dropping of ideas and references.
Favorite bit: Sweetwater and Lankey Nibbs. Love that name! Love that chair!
Ron Perlman- my favorite bit actor, he's very... annoying in this film. And he lisps. And his hand gets chopped off. Which is worth catching. Along with the rest of the cast - wow!
The pimpbot.
The castrato factory that looks like the bottling plant where Laverne and Shirley work.
Michael D. Roberts reminds me of Richard Pryor... but Robert Urich's no Gene Wilder.
The sheer amount of STUFF that gets packed onto the screen... "Trespassers will be violated"!? A disembodied head!? Ninja Fightin' Robots!? And of course the space herpes. And the unicorns. And the very un-PG double entendres.
The creeping sense that the writers know more about classic sf than they're letting on, what with the "7th World" (duh...), the greenhouse palace, the playing around with time warps, and the seamless dropping of ideas and references.
Favorite bit: Sweetwater and Lankey Nibbs. Love that name! Love that chair!
Fun for what it is.
Hey_Sweden28 January 2014
"The Ice Pirates" is a pretty engaging off kilter comedy spoofing both space adventures and swashbucklers, with enough verbal and visual gags to make it pleasant, and impossible to truly dislike. It's clearly not aiming to be something particularly memorable or special, just an irreverent diversion on lazy afternoons. It's played enthusiastically by an interestingly chosen cast that helps it to have a cult-film sort of appeal. The script, co-written by director Stewart Raffill ("The Philadelphia Experiment", "Mac and Me"), has a muddled story but a disarming sense of humour. Not all of its scenes work that well, but it's sure to have its viewers smiling if not laughing out loud.
TV stars Robert Urich ('Vega$') and Mary Crosby ('Dallas') headline a cast also featuring Michael D. Roberts, Ron Perlman, Anjelica Huston, John Matuszak, Bruce Vilanch, and a too briefly seen John Carradine. Urich plays Jason, the leader of the title characters in a galaxy where water is the most precious commodity. After their latest escapades, they're captured by the baddies - dubbed Templars - and then acquired by princess Karina (Crosby) so they can help in a quest to find her father.
Reasonably good visuals and a decent score by Bruce Broughton help in the enjoyment of this little bit of escapism, as well as a fairly clever finale taking place inside a time warp where our heroes steadily age while fighting the bad guys. There are also a variety of interesting and likable characters, human, robot, and otherwise, with actors and actresses such as Natalie Core, Jeremy West, Alan Caillou, Marcia Lewis, Robert Symonds, Rockne Tarkington, Ian Abercrombie, Hank Worden, and Carmen Filpi in various small roles. Perlman is particularly funny as one of Jasons' comrades, while Huston gets to be a total badass.
This would make a decent double feature with another off the wall cult genre effort from the same year, "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension".
Six out of 10.
TV stars Robert Urich ('Vega$') and Mary Crosby ('Dallas') headline a cast also featuring Michael D. Roberts, Ron Perlman, Anjelica Huston, John Matuszak, Bruce Vilanch, and a too briefly seen John Carradine. Urich plays Jason, the leader of the title characters in a galaxy where water is the most precious commodity. After their latest escapades, they're captured by the baddies - dubbed Templars - and then acquired by princess Karina (Crosby) so they can help in a quest to find her father.
Reasonably good visuals and a decent score by Bruce Broughton help in the enjoyment of this little bit of escapism, as well as a fairly clever finale taking place inside a time warp where our heroes steadily age while fighting the bad guys. There are also a variety of interesting and likable characters, human, robot, and otherwise, with actors and actresses such as Natalie Core, Jeremy West, Alan Caillou, Marcia Lewis, Robert Symonds, Rockne Tarkington, Ian Abercrombie, Hank Worden, and Carmen Filpi in various small roles. Perlman is particularly funny as one of Jasons' comrades, while Huston gets to be a total badass.
This would make a decent double feature with another off the wall cult genre effort from the same year, "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension".
Six out of 10.
Low-down, dirty good fun
Turbo7-214 October 1999
I saw this movie as a kid and just watched it again. Some may think it's a sci-fi action flick that hit well below the mark. Others view as a comedy that hit pretty much dead-on. I don't really care ... it's got men being men, women kicking a**, lots of aliens and space battles that make a shoestring budget look appealing, but work anyway. It's lowdown, dirty, often vulgar, and succeeds in making just about every character in the bunch the butt of at least one joke. The only thing is, I can't remember any other movie that made Ron Perlman out to be the small, weaselly guy. Score one more for the Ice Pirates!
Great Fun
Sergiodave16 September 2020
For lovers of Star Wars (ep.4 - 6) this is a must see.They have borrowed so many lines and ideas it's insane, then they have intertwined great comedy. The effects are poor, the aliens and robots, a joke, and the enemies appear to be cast offs off Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I always thought Spaceballs was the best Star Wars spoof movie; I was wrong, this is better. Give it a try, its bonkers.
Light-hearted comedy - not meant to be a classic!!
Bevan - #44 July 2000
I saw this in college with the rest of the UMass-Boston SF Society gang, and no, this is no classic, nor was meant to be.
Like "Hudson Hawk," a light-hearted comedy unjustly slagged because moviegoers who'd never seen Moonlighting couldn't hack Bruce Willis not wading through bullet storms (and because judging from the MSTK-driven bottom 50 on IMDb, pack mentality rules), "Ice Pirates" bombed because most SF fans of the generation couldn't stand their genre mixed with humor; witness the prompt implosion just a couple years before of the very witty TV show "Quark" after only a handful of eps.
Maybe "Galaxy Quest" -- which spoofed the syndrome -- and "3rd Rock" changed the paradigm, but twenty years ago, SF fandom still expected to see Shatneresque painfully earnest pomposity in their futuristic dramas. Urich didn't deliver; his bad. Ice Pirates would no doubt do better now.
7/10.
Like "Hudson Hawk," a light-hearted comedy unjustly slagged because moviegoers who'd never seen Moonlighting couldn't hack Bruce Willis not wading through bullet storms (and because judging from the MSTK-driven bottom 50 on IMDb, pack mentality rules), "Ice Pirates" bombed because most SF fans of the generation couldn't stand their genre mixed with humor; witness the prompt implosion just a couple years before of the very witty TV show "Quark" after only a handful of eps.
Maybe "Galaxy Quest" -- which spoofed the syndrome -- and "3rd Rock" changed the paradigm, but twenty years ago, SF fandom still expected to see Shatneresque painfully earnest pomposity in their futuristic dramas. Urich didn't deliver; his bad. Ice Pirates would no doubt do better now.
7/10.
so bad that it's good?
SnoopyStyle31 May 2015
Water is scarce and the evil Templars from the planet Mithra have taken control of all of the supply. Jason (Robert Urich) leads a band of pirates in a raid to steal ice from the Templar fleet. Their raid turns into a kidnapping of Princess Karina. They are captured. Jason and his men are rescued by Karina who has her own plans.
It's a schlocky Star Wars derivative with a lot of campy 70s feel with some Alien and Mad Max thrown in. It's a lot of silly slapstick and broad sex comedy. I would like it if the jokes are actually funny. For some, this may be so bad that it's good. For me, this is mostly bad with a lot of amusement at how good actors get trapped in bad movies. The sets and costumes are a cheesy mix. The special effects are good B-movie work. I can't believe Anjelica Huston is in this. It's fun to see John Matuszak hulking over Ron Perlman. It's got bad sword fights, swashbuckling action and silly space battles. I'm not disputing that this brought a smile to my face which is always a good thing. It doesn't make it a good movie.
It's a schlocky Star Wars derivative with a lot of campy 70s feel with some Alien and Mad Max thrown in. It's a lot of silly slapstick and broad sex comedy. I would like it if the jokes are actually funny. For some, this may be so bad that it's good. For me, this is mostly bad with a lot of amusement at how good actors get trapped in bad movies. The sets and costumes are a cheesy mix. The special effects are good B-movie work. I can't believe Anjelica Huston is in this. It's fun to see John Matuszak hulking over Ron Perlman. It's got bad sword fights, swashbuckling action and silly space battles. I'm not disputing that this brought a smile to my face which is always a good thing. It doesn't make it a good movie.
Arrrrrgh! Pirates, robots, lasers, ...um ice! What more could you want?
grendelkhan19 August 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I love this film, despite its cheesiness. It's loads of fun, with a great cast. Robert Urich made for a great space-going swashbuckler, with tongue firmly planted in cheek. The film is filled with great character actors and decent special effects. Some of the comedy is pretty lame and it goes south when Bruce Villanch enters the picture, but picks up at the end.
The film is a blend of Star Wars, Errol Flynn, Monty Python/Mel Brooks, and romantic comedy. It's a bit ham-handed at times, but gets enough elements right to be entertaining.
Robert Urich is likable as the lead and is equally good at the action and comedy. Mary Crosby makes a decent love interest, but the pirate crew are more interesting: Ron Perlman, Anjelica Houston, John Matusak, and Michael D. Roberts. They make for a great ensemble and have some of the best lines and scenes.
If you want some good old B-movie goofiness, you can't go wrong here.
The film is a blend of Star Wars, Errol Flynn, Monty Python/Mel Brooks, and romantic comedy. It's a bit ham-handed at times, but gets enough elements right to be entertaining.
Robert Urich is likable as the lead and is equally good at the action and comedy. Mary Crosby makes a decent love interest, but the pirate crew are more interesting: Ron Perlman, Anjelica Houston, John Matusak, and Michael D. Roberts. They make for a great ensemble and have some of the best lines and scenes.
If you want some good old B-movie goofiness, you can't go wrong here.
Doctor, my "Ice"....
Mister-622 November 1999
I like the "Star Wars" series. I like a good, cheapo sci-fi flick every once in a while, too. Heck, I even like the Roger Corman-produced nickel-and-dime jobbies.
I do NOT like "The Ice Pirates", though.
For one, it just looks too cheap, you know? For a movie that's supposed to take place in outer space, it feels cramped and closed-in like it's being filmed in the front seat of someone's Mazda. And the special effects, while appropriately cheesy, look more than anything like foam rubber painted metallic gray.
Usually, I don't let things like that bother me, especially if the story and the characters are worthwhile.
They ain't.
The whole storyline, about these ne'er-do-well space pirates who decide to find a planet loaded with ice they can melt down and sell as water (a hot commodity in the future, I guess) is about as original as the jokes, which is not a compliment.
The humor comes in at about crotch-level (like that castrating machine you'll see early on), and everyone seems to have a cranky attitude. And who told John Matuzak that he was funny? Whoever did, shame on them. Good old Robert Urich tries, but he's a reliable actor on board a badly sinking ship (or starship, in this case).
I watched this one about three times and ended up feeling the same way every time - shanghaied.
No stars. In spite of of the presence of Huston (one year prior to "Prizzi's Honor") and Carradine (at the tail end of a once-lofty career), these "Pirates" should walk the plank.
I do NOT like "The Ice Pirates", though.
For one, it just looks too cheap, you know? For a movie that's supposed to take place in outer space, it feels cramped and closed-in like it's being filmed in the front seat of someone's Mazda. And the special effects, while appropriately cheesy, look more than anything like foam rubber painted metallic gray.
Usually, I don't let things like that bother me, especially if the story and the characters are worthwhile.
They ain't.
The whole storyline, about these ne'er-do-well space pirates who decide to find a planet loaded with ice they can melt down and sell as water (a hot commodity in the future, I guess) is about as original as the jokes, which is not a compliment.
The humor comes in at about crotch-level (like that castrating machine you'll see early on), and everyone seems to have a cranky attitude. And who told John Matuzak that he was funny? Whoever did, shame on them. Good old Robert Urich tries, but he's a reliable actor on board a badly sinking ship (or starship, in this case).
I watched this one about three times and ended up feeling the same way every time - shanghaied.
No stars. In spite of of the presence of Huston (one year prior to "Prizzi's Honor") and Carradine (at the tail end of a once-lofty career), these "Pirates" should walk the plank.
Funny Sci Fi
aesgaard4111 April 2003
Outside of Space Balls, there are very few actually funny and enjoyable Sci Fi comedies out there. Stunningly attractive Mary Crosby is a great reason to watch this movie unless you're female and then the recently late Robert Urich is your reason. The robots steal the scenes, there's some social comedies and political satires, but the best scenes are the time warp and the castrating assembly line as the heroes are threatened with becoming eunuchs. The cast includes Michael D. Roberts from Manimal and Angelica Huston from The Addams Family. This movie is definitely worth a see.
Two words - Space Herpie
The-Sarkologist22 February 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I have always liked this movie which is probably why I own a copy of it. Okay, when I first saw it I probably did not actually get many of the jokes (such as the space herpie or the eunuch machine) but it was a science-fiction film and back then I pretty much liked anything that was science-fiction. Coming back to it years later I have a new appreciation of the rather slapstick humour that makes up this film, and while I cannot quote it by heart, I am quite familiar with the story line.
Probably one of my favourite parts is when they pass through the time barrier at the end of the film and we see everybody getting older and older. That part was actually quite clever, particularly when Jason's son comes in to save the day, and then promptly vanishes when they successfully make it through the barrier. The robots are also cool, especially the one that runs and hides during combat, only to appear after it is over and starts to hit the enemy robot that has just been destroyed.
All I can say is that if you are a science-fiction buff and have not seen this movie then do your best to get your hands on a copy of it. Some have suggested that back when it was released people did not understand that you could make a science-fiction film funny. I guess that had something to do with the seriousness of many of the books and films that had come out. However this film was released after Douglas Adams had produced Hitchhiker's Guide in the myriad of forms (including a television series), which suggests that back then people were quite open to a science-fiction comedy.
Probably one of my favourite parts is when they pass through the time barrier at the end of the film and we see everybody getting older and older. That part was actually quite clever, particularly when Jason's son comes in to save the day, and then promptly vanishes when they successfully make it through the barrier. The robots are also cool, especially the one that runs and hides during combat, only to appear after it is over and starts to hit the enemy robot that has just been destroyed.
All I can say is that if you are a science-fiction buff and have not seen this movie then do your best to get your hands on a copy of it. Some have suggested that back when it was released people did not understand that you could make a science-fiction film funny. I guess that had something to do with the seriousness of many of the books and films that had come out. However this film was released after Douglas Adams had produced Hitchhiker's Guide in the myriad of forms (including a television series), which suggests that back then people were quite open to a science-fiction comedy.
Energetic Campy Fun
McQualude15 January 2008
Warning: Spoilers
A space pirate gets caught up in the affairs of a princess who is set on overthrowing a galactic empire...
Yeah this is a little, okay a lot, derivative. Ice Pirates is a homage or rip off, whatever you want to call it of just about every major sci-fi franchise of the mid to late seventies. There are the obvious heavy influences from Star Wars but also from Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rodgers, Star Trek and a minor nod to Death Race 2000. An interstellar war has destroyed nearly all water in the galaxy and what little remains is under the control of the Templars. Robert Urich and Michael Roberts play two pirates who steal ice from the Templars and sell it on the black market. Urich is captivated by a sleeping princess he finds during one of their raids and kidnaps her along with 2 million gallons of ice. Captured by the Templars while escaping, they are sentenced to be castrated and sold into slavery. The wakened princess saves the pirates from castration and arranges to buy them as personal service. The princess, however; really wants the pirates to help her escape and find her father who is rumored to have found The Seventh Planet, a water planet.
Ice Pirates is energetic, campy fun with many genuine hilarious moments. Such as the Ice Pirates accidentally breaking into an alien bathroom causing a flustered alien to lose it on the toilet. Or after they are supposed to be castrated, they are forced to wear skin tight white spandex jump suits while an old woman makes sure they are sufficiently tight in the crotch. The actors were forced to squeeze their genitals between their legs for the shot and are visibly uncomfortable, especially as the old woman grabs the fabric where their junk should be and gives a good yank. One man in the background apparently forgot to stow his gear as it is on prominent display. The robots provide frequent slapstick and potty humor which I won't spoil. Another interesting tidbit is the Space Herpes creature that runs around biting people and giving them herpes. Ice Pirates was made prior to the AIDs scare and during a time when herpes was the scariest VD anyone was concerned about.
Yeah this is a little, okay a lot, derivative. Ice Pirates is a homage or rip off, whatever you want to call it of just about every major sci-fi franchise of the mid to late seventies. There are the obvious heavy influences from Star Wars but also from Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rodgers, Star Trek and a minor nod to Death Race 2000. An interstellar war has destroyed nearly all water in the galaxy and what little remains is under the control of the Templars. Robert Urich and Michael Roberts play two pirates who steal ice from the Templars and sell it on the black market. Urich is captivated by a sleeping princess he finds during one of their raids and kidnaps her along with 2 million gallons of ice. Captured by the Templars while escaping, they are sentenced to be castrated and sold into slavery. The wakened princess saves the pirates from castration and arranges to buy them as personal service. The princess, however; really wants the pirates to help her escape and find her father who is rumored to have found The Seventh Planet, a water planet.
Ice Pirates is energetic, campy fun with many genuine hilarious moments. Such as the Ice Pirates accidentally breaking into an alien bathroom causing a flustered alien to lose it on the toilet. Or after they are supposed to be castrated, they are forced to wear skin tight white spandex jump suits while an old woman makes sure they are sufficiently tight in the crotch. The actors were forced to squeeze their genitals between their legs for the shot and are visibly uncomfortable, especially as the old woman grabs the fabric where their junk should be and gives a good yank. One man in the background apparently forgot to stow his gear as it is on prominent display. The robots provide frequent slapstick and potty humor which I won't spoil. Another interesting tidbit is the Space Herpes creature that runs around biting people and giving them herpes. Ice Pirates was made prior to the AIDs scare and during a time when herpes was the scariest VD anyone was concerned about.
A space comedy on the rocks.
ragana26 April 2005
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away (sound familiar), water has become the most precious commodity (this has got to sound familiar) and a small minority control its distribution (what a surprise, just have a heart attack and die from that surprise). A group of ice pirates (water renegades?
wet bandits?...oh wait, that last one's been used) try to discover the route to a fabled unlimited supply of water with a lovely but spoiled (Druish?) princess en tow and a group of idiots
er
despicable villains in pursuit.
This movie has the potential to be a really great comedic parody ("Star Wars," David Lynch's "Dune") but was just not handled correctly. It goes for, I believe the term is, "low brow" humor. It doesn't really succeed in being all that funny which is a shame since it has Angelica Houston, Ron Perlman and Robert Urich, (hence the three stars) who aren't exactly slackers in the acting department.
Definitely a rental and definitely have a drink straight up.
This movie has the potential to be a really great comedic parody ("Star Wars," David Lynch's "Dune") but was just not handled correctly. It goes for, I believe the term is, "low brow" humor. It doesn't really succeed in being all that funny which is a shame since it has Angelica Houston, Ron Perlman and Robert Urich, (hence the three stars) who aren't exactly slackers in the acting department.
Definitely a rental and definitely have a drink straight up.
I can see by the rating that some people missed the point...
bheadher2 December 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I can't believe that some people hated this one...it was never intended to be a masterpiece, it was intended to be a campy spoof of every low budget scifi movie ever produced...it's for those watchers of corny and weird humor...in other words, guilty pleasure...
It has unbelievable space battles, toy spaceships with strings you can see, and chummy acting, with a touch of sex thrown in for flavor...they were having fun doing the movie, so there is no reason for you not to like it...
Have some fun, enjoy...
It has unbelievable space battles, toy spaceships with strings you can see, and chummy acting, with a touch of sex thrown in for flavor...they were having fun doing the movie, so there is no reason for you not to like it...
Have some fun, enjoy...
The Poor Man's "Spaceballs"
gavin69426 August 2006
I never heard of "Ice Pirates" before having the film recommended to me by a friend. And now having seen it, I'm curious as to why because one would expect this to be high on a list of cult classics alongside "Zardoz". The story of space pirates who fight Templars and herpes to find ice in a universe where water has become a scarce resource. With robots and princesses to boot.
The connection of this film to "Star Wars" and "Space Balls" is obvious. A thuggish but charming lead actor captures a princess, who then joins his team to go on an epic quest. Ice Pirates is not a direct parody like Space Balls is, but enough of the same themes are present to see the influence is more than just slight.
I enjoyed the racial humor (which I won't go into here) and also the references to things obviously outside the realm of this movie's universe (Tylenol??). And the obligatory sex scene? Completely incongruous. A time warp scene makes absolutely no sense, but is so over-the-top that its senselessness can be easily overlooked for the humor. Elton John could have showed up to sing "The Circle of Life" for this scene.
The short of it is if you like Star Wars, Space Balls, or other such films you really need to give this one a try. The budget is smaller and the actors lesser-known, but the film has a big heart and you really haven't lived until you've seen Ice Pirates. Just make sure not to ask too many questions and don't hold your breath for a sequel (unfortunately).
The connection of this film to "Star Wars" and "Space Balls" is obvious. A thuggish but charming lead actor captures a princess, who then joins his team to go on an epic quest. Ice Pirates is not a direct parody like Space Balls is, but enough of the same themes are present to see the influence is more than just slight.
I enjoyed the racial humor (which I won't go into here) and also the references to things obviously outside the realm of this movie's universe (Tylenol??). And the obligatory sex scene? Completely incongruous. A time warp scene makes absolutely no sense, but is so over-the-top that its senselessness can be easily overlooked for the humor. Elton John could have showed up to sing "The Circle of Life" for this scene.
The short of it is if you like Star Wars, Space Balls, or other such films you really need to give this one a try. The budget is smaller and the actors lesser-known, but the film has a big heart and you really haven't lived until you've seen Ice Pirates. Just make sure not to ask too many questions and don't hold your breath for a sequel (unfortunately).
So bad its just bad
EdwardYates29 January 2011
There are some films that are so bad that they come back out the other side and become so bad they are good. Or at the very least funny - given time. This film is not one of them.
It's not like there isn't any effort involved in the making of this film either. Ron Perlman and Angelica Houston pop up as supporting characters - not that they are very good or have that much to do. So much so, you wonder why they even picked this film to be in. Equally the costuming for the most part is still pretty interesting. Some of the visual effects might now have been funny because they look so B grade if not for the constant abysmal dialogue peppered throughout the entire film. The nonsensical plot and padding out of the script with irrelevant and poorly executed sequences really make this film drag terribly.
It's not like they weren't making decent sci-fi films during the same period either. Ice Pirates hit cinemas one year after Return of the Jedi (1983) and seven after A New Hope (1977). Alien screened in 1979 and Blade Runner 1982. These films changed the face of filmmaking and none of these films have dated as badly as The Ice Pirates. Possibly the problem is because The Ice Pirates is trying to be a space-comedy-adventure: an extraordinarily difficult thing to well and this film fails on all three counts.
That and they decided to go nuts with the synthesizers. Which just seems to date films from the 80s awfully.
When I turned on the TV I was hoping for a bit of a romp or at least something that would make me laugh because it was so bad. Unless you are going to watch it for some interesting costuming please don't waste your time like I did.
It's not like there isn't any effort involved in the making of this film either. Ron Perlman and Angelica Houston pop up as supporting characters - not that they are very good or have that much to do. So much so, you wonder why they even picked this film to be in. Equally the costuming for the most part is still pretty interesting. Some of the visual effects might now have been funny because they look so B grade if not for the constant abysmal dialogue peppered throughout the entire film. The nonsensical plot and padding out of the script with irrelevant and poorly executed sequences really make this film drag terribly.
It's not like they weren't making decent sci-fi films during the same period either. Ice Pirates hit cinemas one year after Return of the Jedi (1983) and seven after A New Hope (1977). Alien screened in 1979 and Blade Runner 1982. These films changed the face of filmmaking and none of these films have dated as badly as The Ice Pirates. Possibly the problem is because The Ice Pirates is trying to be a space-comedy-adventure: an extraordinarily difficult thing to well and this film fails on all three counts.
That and they decided to go nuts with the synthesizers. Which just seems to date films from the 80s awfully.
When I turned on the TV I was hoping for a bit of a romp or at least something that would make me laugh because it was so bad. Unless you are going to watch it for some interesting costuming please don't waste your time like I did.
Still made me laugh 40 years later
RockdogsReviews29 August 2023
The year is 1984 and Hollywood is thriving with lots of slapstick comedy and B-rated movies. I guess that's why the 1980s has some of the best pop classic hits. If you are a fan of 1980s space comedies, you will truly enjoy this one.
This movie is generally underrated, which is to be expected, as all the Debbie downers out there expecting this to be something that it's not. Its a 1980s comedy, a spoof, and an excellent one to boot. This is not a serious sci-fi action adventure.
This movie is filled with talented actors before they hit it big. C'mon now, Sloth is in it. They work well with each other and they make the comedy work, unlike most modern day comedies. Their is never a dull moment in this movie and if you don't pay attention, you will miss most of the subtle humor that makes this movie work.
The biggest shortcoming of this film is the ending, where there's an over the top chase scene that is really out of this world. It amazes me that it works well for this movie. Another downside to this movie is that it rarely, and i do mean rarely, ever gets shown on any of the streaming sites. In addition trying to find a DVD copy is near impossible. If you do get a chance to get your hands on a copy of this movie, I highly encourage you to take a watch. You will not be disappointed.
This movie is generally underrated, which is to be expected, as all the Debbie downers out there expecting this to be something that it's not. Its a 1980s comedy, a spoof, and an excellent one to boot. This is not a serious sci-fi action adventure.
This movie is filled with talented actors before they hit it big. C'mon now, Sloth is in it. They work well with each other and they make the comedy work, unlike most modern day comedies. Their is never a dull moment in this movie and if you don't pay attention, you will miss most of the subtle humor that makes this movie work.
The biggest shortcoming of this film is the ending, where there's an over the top chase scene that is really out of this world. It amazes me that it works well for this movie. Another downside to this movie is that it rarely, and i do mean rarely, ever gets shown on any of the streaming sites. In addition trying to find a DVD copy is near impossible. If you do get a chance to get your hands on a copy of this movie, I highly encourage you to take a watch. You will not be disappointed.
Only one redeeming feature
morgoth-57 April 2001
The only redeeming scene in this movie is when the robots are sent out to fight 'karate style', there was one good spinning side-kick... and that is the best 3 seconds of the movie. Unfortunately, the rest of the movie has very little to recommend it -- there are better spoofs out there.
Campy Fun without CGI
avidnewbie17 July 2022
This movie is a blast. In many ways it achieves the exact same thing that Guardians Of The Galaxy does on a fraction of the budget!!! Silly in the best way possible yet sincerely acted by all parties involved. Although too raunchy for the kids it works just fine with grown ups. It borrows knowingly from all the best concepts of other bigger, better movies in eye wink fashion while still forging an identity of it's own. There's a bevy of stars on display here too. From Anjelica Huston to Robert Urich to Ron Perlman to John Carradine to name just a few. It's a pretty good way to kill a couple of hours on a Saturday night. What about the plot? No need to rehash what others have already said. Just watch the movie. You'll enjoy it.
B Sci-Fi at its best...
Enchorde24 July 2004
Warning: Spoilers
** Here might be spoilers **
In the future there is water shortage, so water, along with gold is very rare and expensive. And, as always when something turns worth enough it will attract criminals, say pirates for example. We get to tag along with two pirates as they attempt (and succeed, partly anyway) to steal a load of ice (why transport it as ice when water takes up less space in liquid form?) from the mighty organization the Templars (they're back!). The Templars is a wealthy organization that want to control the lucrative water-market, and stop all pirate activity. Our two heroes (?) find themselves captured and sold as slaves to a princess in a quest of her own...
Now this is a Sci-Fi movie... and as is almost mandatory in movies of lower "artistic class" (or how you would like to put it, I hope you know what I mean) there are a lot of plot holes but above all, a lot of funny but rather bad jokes and twists. However, the main idea in the movie seem to be to combine a buccaneer adventure with futuristic space war. Hence we have a lot of old clothes and manners and robots doing the fighting with swords and axes (yes, there are pistols and guns, but they're seldom used, why it is so I cannot imagine). And there is a lot of odd creatures popping up here and there.
Now the cast act like they're supposed to do in a movie like this. The characters live their lives full of jokes and adventure, without a care. The acting is as you can guess, no Academy-material, but it suits the movie very well. Watch out especially for Ron Perlman in an early role, others of note is Huston, Crosby, Urich, Carradine and Matuszak.
If you like pirate-adventures or science fiction, or better, both, you should definitely watch this movie at next opportunity...
5/10
In the future there is water shortage, so water, along with gold is very rare and expensive. And, as always when something turns worth enough it will attract criminals, say pirates for example. We get to tag along with two pirates as they attempt (and succeed, partly anyway) to steal a load of ice (why transport it as ice when water takes up less space in liquid form?) from the mighty organization the Templars (they're back!). The Templars is a wealthy organization that want to control the lucrative water-market, and stop all pirate activity. Our two heroes (?) find themselves captured and sold as slaves to a princess in a quest of her own...
Now this is a Sci-Fi movie... and as is almost mandatory in movies of lower "artistic class" (or how you would like to put it, I hope you know what I mean) there are a lot of plot holes but above all, a lot of funny but rather bad jokes and twists. However, the main idea in the movie seem to be to combine a buccaneer adventure with futuristic space war. Hence we have a lot of old clothes and manners and robots doing the fighting with swords and axes (yes, there are pistols and guns, but they're seldom used, why it is so I cannot imagine). And there is a lot of odd creatures popping up here and there.
Now the cast act like they're supposed to do in a movie like this. The characters live their lives full of jokes and adventure, without a care. The acting is as you can guess, no Academy-material, but it suits the movie very well. Watch out especially for Ron Perlman in an early role, others of note is Huston, Crosby, Urich, Carradine and Matuszak.
If you like pirate-adventures or science fiction, or better, both, you should definitely watch this movie at next opportunity...
5/10
So much silly fun
bowmanblue23 July 2019
In the wake of 'Star Wars,' many film companies tried their hand at some sort of 'big budget space opera.' Most failed. Few could ever create such a rich and memorable universe. However, in the case of the - now 'cult favourite' - 'The Ice Pirates,' it actually managed to produce something truly memorable, if a little bizarre.
The premise is pretty straight forward for a science fiction movie: in a far-flung galaxy water has become the most hard to come by commodity and a big, evil planet controls the supply, therefore leaving the rest of the universe to become subservient to them. What makes it different is that 'The Ice Pirates' is an outright comedy. It never takes itself seriously and is all the better for it. For a start, it sort of shoots down its own 'serious' plot by having - literally - 'pirates in space.' When you think of pirates your mind probably brings up images of Johnny Depp in 'Pirates of the Caribbean.' And you wouldn't be far wrong here either. You have effectively, long-haired, blouse-wearing dandies with cutlasses hijacking spaceships.
You could probably ask questions like, 'Why do the space pirates use cutlasses and swords when the people they're fighting all have laser guns?' But if you really want to dwell on plot inaccuracies such as that, then you're not going to get much out of a film like this.
For a start you'd be missing the amazing eighties sets and costumes. Seriously, for a low budget film the sets are amazing and it's a testament to what can be achieved with 'practical' effects over vast (and, in my opinion, unrealistic) computer-generated landscapes.
The cast all play their parts well. I didn't really think anyone really stood out. You may notice both Ron Perlman and Angelica Huston's names on the cast list, but they're not really in it as much as you might expect and their performances are not an indication of what they're capable of. The real 'stars' of the film are the armies of robots both the pirates and those they're robbing from seem to possess. Despite the droids never actually talking they steal every scene they're in due to their slapstick and crazy antics.
If you're in the mood for a well thought-out space opera that doesn't take itself too seriously and has all the rich and varied style and flair of 'Star Wars,' but played for laughs rather than drama, then check this one out. It's a well-deserved cult classic from yesteryear. It really does have scenes that will stay with you forever... even if it's just what the bad-guys do with captured pirates on a conveyor belt - OUCH!
The premise is pretty straight forward for a science fiction movie: in a far-flung galaxy water has become the most hard to come by commodity and a big, evil planet controls the supply, therefore leaving the rest of the universe to become subservient to them. What makes it different is that 'The Ice Pirates' is an outright comedy. It never takes itself seriously and is all the better for it. For a start, it sort of shoots down its own 'serious' plot by having - literally - 'pirates in space.' When you think of pirates your mind probably brings up images of Johnny Depp in 'Pirates of the Caribbean.' And you wouldn't be far wrong here either. You have effectively, long-haired, blouse-wearing dandies with cutlasses hijacking spaceships.
You could probably ask questions like, 'Why do the space pirates use cutlasses and swords when the people they're fighting all have laser guns?' But if you really want to dwell on plot inaccuracies such as that, then you're not going to get much out of a film like this.
For a start you'd be missing the amazing eighties sets and costumes. Seriously, for a low budget film the sets are amazing and it's a testament to what can be achieved with 'practical' effects over vast (and, in my opinion, unrealistic) computer-generated landscapes.
The cast all play their parts well. I didn't really think anyone really stood out. You may notice both Ron Perlman and Angelica Huston's names on the cast list, but they're not really in it as much as you might expect and their performances are not an indication of what they're capable of. The real 'stars' of the film are the armies of robots both the pirates and those they're robbing from seem to possess. Despite the droids never actually talking they steal every scene they're in due to their slapstick and crazy antics.
If you're in the mood for a well thought-out space opera that doesn't take itself too seriously and has all the rich and varied style and flair of 'Star Wars,' but played for laughs rather than drama, then check this one out. It's a well-deserved cult classic from yesteryear. It really does have scenes that will stay with you forever... even if it's just what the bad-guys do with captured pirates on a conveyor belt - OUCH!
an entirely different movie depending on viewer maturity
Aylmer4 December 2015
Another one of those movies where my own 8-year-old Self and my 35-year-old Self would give it entirely different reviews. It was certainly a great movie to grow up with in the 80's and even though it's not nearly as bonkers as SPACEBALLS, I remember liking it a lot better because it's certainly a lot darker and contains a lot more tension, thrills, and suspense.
8-year-old:
Really fun space action movie gets off to a bang but quickly bogs down in some talky bits and lack of action and funny jokes until about halfway through (I still have no idea why that pointless and long Carradine scene was included). However right at the point when Urich asks a guard for a drink and splashes it in his face, the movie starts getting good and maintains an energy that just gets better as the film goes along. Annoying romantic subplot interrupts a lot of great space battles and robot action. The (often incompetent) robot henchmen are tremendously well-realized and provide the lion's share of the enjoyment. Good music, fun costumes, lots of fun action and effects mainly hampered by mushy stuff and jokes that flew right over my head.
35-year-old:
I'll agree on most of those points, only I had no idea at the time how cheap this movie looks. Some of the effects come off well for the time and it's got a good dingy ALIEN-style art direction and production design for the ship interiors. Also look out for the great cast of up- and-comers who exhibit great some chemistry together, not to mention Mary Crosby is absolutely stunning. Unfortunately most of the humor falls flat, mainly being aimed at very young teenagers, featuring a very unwelcome cameo from an irritating Bruce Villanch.
However, this film certainly has an idiotic charm to it that I haven't seen a lot of movies manage quite this well. It's a goofy slapstick for fits and starts yet retains enough of a respect for its own universe to preserve a sense of gravity and pathos enough to be emotionally resonant at times. A lot of this is thanks to Bruce Broughton's excellent old fashion musical score and the strength of the performances. Robert Urich was certainly a capable and charismatic leading man who unfortunately never quite escaped TV and he shall be sorely missed.
8-year-old:
Really fun space action movie gets off to a bang but quickly bogs down in some talky bits and lack of action and funny jokes until about halfway through (I still have no idea why that pointless and long Carradine scene was included). However right at the point when Urich asks a guard for a drink and splashes it in his face, the movie starts getting good and maintains an energy that just gets better as the film goes along. Annoying romantic subplot interrupts a lot of great space battles and robot action. The (often incompetent) robot henchmen are tremendously well-realized and provide the lion's share of the enjoyment. Good music, fun costumes, lots of fun action and effects mainly hampered by mushy stuff and jokes that flew right over my head.
35-year-old:
I'll agree on most of those points, only I had no idea at the time how cheap this movie looks. Some of the effects come off well for the time and it's got a good dingy ALIEN-style art direction and production design for the ship interiors. Also look out for the great cast of up- and-comers who exhibit great some chemistry together, not to mention Mary Crosby is absolutely stunning. Unfortunately most of the humor falls flat, mainly being aimed at very young teenagers, featuring a very unwelcome cameo from an irritating Bruce Villanch.
However, this film certainly has an idiotic charm to it that I haven't seen a lot of movies manage quite this well. It's a goofy slapstick for fits and starts yet retains enough of a respect for its own universe to preserve a sense of gravity and pathos enough to be emotionally resonant at times. A lot of this is thanks to Bruce Broughton's excellent old fashion musical score and the strength of the performances. Robert Urich was certainly a capable and charismatic leading man who unfortunately never quite escaped TV and he shall be sorely missed.
Incredible piece of junk
alexfromhorn22 October 2010
To keep short: It was disgusting. The roles were completely random. The costumes, change from scene to scene. The cameraman had certainly no experience. The cuts were so awful that it was sometimes so hard figure whats going on. The plot did not really exist. It was certainly all reused stuff from other film. It was so confusing like watching a monthy python movie BUT in a negative way. I think I haven't seen a lot of movies were you got to see so many rope-swings. It was like rope-swing move, and again, and again... incredibly bad. All of the robots were useless and stupid. Why did fight with simple sabres instead of using laser weapons??? They had laser weapons but only sometimes.
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