FIRE AND ICE has always been one of those movies that is just visually unlike anything else, and this 3-disc Limited Edition SteelBook finally gives it the release it deserves. The new 4K restoration looks fantastic. The colors really pop and the detail in the animation and backgrounds is incredible without taking away from the original look of the film. Frank Frazetta’s influence is all over every frame, and seeing that artwork come to life in 4K with Dolby Vision is worth the upgrade alone. The new Dolby Atmos mix also gives the movie a much bigger sound and works especially well during the action sequences.
The special features are where this release really won me over. The new The Art of Fire and Ice: The Frank Frazetta Legacy with Sara Frazetta is easily one of the highlights and gives some great insight into Frazetta and the legacy of his work. I also really enjoyed Frank Frazetta’s Fire and Ice with Robert Rodriguez. You can tell Rodriguez has a real appreciation for Frazetta and the movie, which makes it fun to hear him talk about it. The Making of Fire and Ice and Bakshi on Frazetta are great additions, especially if you are interested in how this completely insane collaboration between Ralph Bakshi and Frazetta actually came together. The Ralph Bakshi commentary is also absolutely worth listening to.
There is a lot more packed onto the discs, including Sean Hannon’s diary notes, a behind-the-scenes photo gallery, poster and still galleries, and the theatrical trailer. I love when a release actually digs into the history of a movie instead of throwing on a trailer and calling it a special edition. The original William Kraft motion picture soundtrack on CD is also a really cool bonus and makes the third disc feel worthwhile instead of being added just to make the set sound bigger.
Overall, Blue Underground did an incredible job with FIRE AND ICE. Between the 4K restoration, Atmos mix, SteelBook packaging, new interviews, archival material, and soundtrack CD, this feels like a release made for people who actually love the movie and physical media. If you are a Bakshi or Frazetta fan, this is an easy recommendation and probably the definitive way to own FIRE AND ICE.