Arctic Blue

This isn't the movie, I'd thought it be, plot wise, but nevertheless, I found it refreshingly different. You know any movie with Rutger, he will deliver on his fine actng stakes, chops. Like C Thomas Howell, after The Hitcher, these 2 were basically pigeon holed in B grade straight to video movies after a few more cinematic releases. A combination of The Edge, Deadly Pursuit and a little Surviving The Game, The Grey, Arctic Blue walks it's own different path, as quite an interesting action pic movie. The lesser detail of plot works better for it, in fact. In self defence, Rutger, one of a trio of trappers, shoots a rival trapper, another one out of three. The other two are left freezing to death. After a relaxing, wash down in a hot spring by a gorgeous Asian lass-a whore who practically has her legs wrapped around rough bearded Hauer's throat, he's picked up and charged with murder, where from here, we have a sort Deadly Pursuit, Berenger and Poitier thing going on, instead of more intensifying plot development, where a friendship grows between cop and bad/good guy, and an inspiring, admiring Point Break ending. A well acted action pic, and the beautiful whore is visually memorable and luring. Above average, run of the mill actioner/drama, that warrants a recommended view, and Hauer turning in another fine and cheeky performance, come summer, rain, spring or fall.

Since SOLDAAT van ORANGE where was uncovered by the still unknown Dutch fellow country director Paul Verhoven, the all-around Rutger Hauer went to America to make history, which indeed he really did, although the money spoke louder when he starts making pictures in industrial scale likewise in Artic Blue, a fine storyline on a contrived plot mixing about a couple of scientists Eric (Dylan Wash) and Anne Marie (Rya Kihlstedt) in an ecology area of environmental protection it planning a future oil extraction, when they face a kind of Neanderthals hunters raised in Alaska, the upcoming clash seems unavoidable due such enterprise will reduce the hunting place.

Within such a paradigm, the human life loses its essential value, so this trio-hunters led by Corbett (Rutger Hauer) one of them Lemalle (Johnny Cuthbert) a sort of wacko behavior shot a small group of tourist by hunting there killing at cold blood one of them without mercy making damages at their Pick-up letting there to die by freezing, therefore the veteran local Sheriff Sam (Richard Bradford) is willing arrest the killer, sadly he would be the next victim, thus the newbie scientist Eric takes yourself the assignment to deliver the leader Corbett in another town by plane, aiming for escape Corbett forced the small plane falling down, both survive in the nowhere at snow landscape.

Apart the far-fetched story concerning all those mishaps the movie allowed a valuable character study regarding the inexorable advance technology upon the old homesteaders that refuse these improvements that nothing appends at their lives, it's hardly focused on the offering, instead this the director enforces a matchup and vengeance as the mostly awaited, no so bad!!

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First watch: 1996 / How many: 2 / Source: TV-Youtube / Rating: 6.5.

There are so many holes and incongruities in this movie, I was considering hiring a private investigator to find the plot. One minute the hero and his prisoner (Rutger Hauer) are snowed in with wolves baying, the next minute they are basking in sunshine near a clear, crystal stream. Combine this with bodies being inexplicably hung in trees, shot bad guys suddenly recovering to their joke cracking best, Rutger athletically striding through the snow 5 minutes after being savagely stabbed in the leg and the apparent disinterest of the police in a trail of corpses littering the Arctic landscape and you have the most poorly directed, written and acted pieces of cinematic effluent ever to have polluted my TV set. I know what Elvis would have done to his TV set if he had ever watched this.

One of the finest cinematic pieces I've seen in quite some time. I enjoyed the many scenes involving running and snow. Mr. Hauer is one of the most gifted actors of our time, if not ever. Please rent this one as soon as possible.

Cinematography of the Alaska wilderness is a real plus, and a couple scenes standout, but for the most part "Arctic Blue" is a mess. Rutger Hauer is never going to advance his "B" movie career with these types of roles. Here he is nothing but a cardboard character, almost blending into the snowy landscape. The script is never believable, and there appear to be parts cut out that would have helped connect the dots. The ending seems to be sending some type of ecological message, but it is meaningless with the nonsense that precedes it. The two things that I will remember about "Arctic Blue" are the above summary "grapefruit" quote, and a flying pickax. Other than that the film is very forgettable. - MERK