Ice Castles |  | Director: Donald Wrye
Actors: Lynn-Holly Johnson, Robby Benson, Colleen Dewhurst, Tom Skerritt, Jennifer Warren
Studio: Sony Pictures
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.94
Buy New: $6.99
as of 9/10/2010 05:53 PDT details
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Seller: Mama'sRecycledDreams
Rating:  69 reviews
Sales Rank: 3222
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Languages: Chinese (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Korean (Subtitled), Portuguese (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Dubbed), Portuguese (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Region: 1
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Running Time: 108 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 0 x 0 x 0
MPN: TM2543
ISBN: 076786400X
UPC: 043396062023
EAN: 9780767864008
ASIN: B000059XTL
Theatrical Release Date: December 31, 1978
Release Date: May 1, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
A young girl is on top of the world until a tragic accident dashes her hopes and dreams of becoming a world-class figure skater. Only with the help of those who love her can she prove to the world -- and herself -- that she still has the potential to realize her dreams.
Amazon.com
Not half-bad, this lightly engaging, potboiler romance concerns an ice skater (Lynn-Holly Johnson) who loses her vision in an accident but goes on to excel on the ice with the support of the guy (Robby Benson) who loves her. When she takes up with some rich schmuck, however, intertwining problems in her work and in love throw a shadow over everything. Nice performances, nice skating--the whole thing is a pleasant distraction. --Tom Keogh
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 69
 The movie that introduced the world to my schoolboy crush :) April 20, 2006
Darren Harrison (Washington D.C.)
17 out of 18 found this review helpful
I have been enchanted by Lynn-Holly Johnson's bubbly personality and amiable charm ever since I saw her skate across the ice rink in the 1981 James Bond movie FOR YOUR EYES ONLY. While the majority of Bond fans seem to dismiss her role as an oversexed, yet naive ice skater as nothing more than simple eye candy, I thought she delivered an incredible performance and was one of the most attractive of all the Bond women.
So, perhaps it is no surprise that I love the movie ICE CASTLES (made three years before she became a Bond girl), what is a surprise is that it took me almost 30 years to see it.
So, when it appeared under my Lynn-Holly Johnson TiVo wish-list I set it to record knowing only that it features Johnson in a lead role and involved ice skating. Yet, over an hour into sitting down to watch it I was once again entranced by Johnson and the unfolding human drama and hoping the movie would never end.
Yes, I am a sucker for tear-jerkers, especially when they tug so forcibly at the emotions. I expected to enjoy Johnson's performance, what I was not expecting was to get so caught up in the story.
Johnson plays Alexis `Lexie' Winston, a promising 16-year-old ice skater, living in Iowa (which as an aside provided extra interest for me, having lived there as an exchange student.)
Trained initially by small-time trainer Beulah (played by Colleen Dewhurst), Lexis jumps at the chance to take her dream of skating glory to the next level by accepting a coaching offer from world-renowned trainer Deborah Mackland (Jennifer Warren.) That is until an emotional Lexie takes to a late unsupervised ice skating session that results in an accident that leaves her blind.
It is the second half of the movie where this feature really shines and shows true courage (along with its leading character.)
It would have been so easy for the movie to have taken a `Lifetime' movie spin of showing a character dealing with shattered dreams and adjusting to her blindness. And at first it seems that the movie might go this route. But instead we see the courage of her family and boyfriend Nick (played by 1970s heartthrob Robbie Benson) in helping her get back on the ice and deal with her handicap determined to prove that she can still compete.
Featuring the Oscar-nominated theme song "Through the Eyes of Love" by former James Bond composer Marvin Hamlisch (1977s THE SPY WHO LOVED ME) and Carole Bayer Sager, ICE CASTLES is solid entertainment and very easy to recommend. In addition to those actors already mentioned this movie also features Tom Skeritt in an outstanding performance as Lexie's over-protective father.
I have to agree with the other reviewer who notes that this movie is one that even a guy can enjoy - I did, immensely.
Another ice skating movie that is well worth checking out is THE CUTTING EDGE.
Keep the Kleenex handy! August 26, 2000
Becky
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
"Ice Castles " is a heartwarming, emotional story about triumph over tragedy and love conquering all. When Lexie Winston (Johnson) a talented figure skater with her mind set firmly on the five rings is blinded in a freak accident, her career appears over, and she hides herself from the world, unwilling to face or accept what has happened to her, but bolstered by the love, support, and faith of her childhood sweetheart Nick (Benson), her father (Skerritt), and her first coach (Dewhurst), she makes a triumphant return to life, and in extension, to figure skating. Excellent performances, excellent scenery, and excellent skating make this movie a perennial family favourite which can never be watched without shedding tears.
The DVD is excellent... March 1, 2003
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I first saw "Ice Castles" in the theater in 1978 (loved it), and for years have been watching it in pan-and-scan VHS. The first time I saw it on DVD (today) was a revelation. There's so much more on the screen with those durned black bars at the top & bottom! The illusion of more with the picture filling your screen is just that -- an illusion. No more artificial camera movements, glorious wide angles in the skating scenes, and the overall picture and sound have cleaned up nicely. It no longer has that darkish "70's" look to it! On the negative side, I could make out the dialog more clearly than ever, and realized that some of it is cheesier than I thought (although the acting and particularly the cinematography seem as good or better than ever). It's always been Waverly, IOWA... not "Waverly Island." Doh! "Triumph over adversity" movies were very popular in the late 70's & early 80's in particular (I'm sure everyone remembers "Rocky"), and in my opinion "Ice Castles" is one of the better ones. Now with it showing in glorious widescreen digital, it can be experienced again like the first time I ever saw it in that theater. If you've only seen the VHS version, get the DVD -- it's worth every cent.
Adorable hooey....I hate to say it, but I LOVE this movie! September 18, 2003
A. L. Kennedy (Brooklyn, NY United States)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Ok, it's 25 years later. We're all older, jaded, and not so mushy-gushy anymore. Nuff said. I remember vividly the day I saw this at the Alpine Theater in Brooklyn during a very rainy day in 1978. I had started skating in 1976 after Dorothy Hamill captured the gold. My mother's secret crush on Robby Benson led us to the theater. (I think that was the only time we agreed on a moive--EVER.) The message--despite the feathered hair, bell bottoms, and over-eager acting--is a positive one. When great people with strong beliefs come together for one goal? Amazing things will happen. And it's not completely untrue that blind people don't skate. There is a skating club for the legally blind. Brian Boitano works with them. One more thing: yes, that's Lynn Holly-NOT a body double-doing all those skating moves: she was a silver medalist in the Novice division of the US Nationals in 1974. After skating on what turned out to be a hairline fractured leg, she gave up competing and became a featured performer with Ice Capades. She also skates in "For Your Eyes Only", but that's another review...Ice Castles is a quiet gem brought gorgeously back to life via DVD. Even if you're not a skater, go get it. Love and miracles? Hey, it could happen! ;-)
I love this movie... November 13, 2000
T.G. (Newcastle, WA USA)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
"Ice Castles" is the type of movie that isn't made much by Hollywood anymore (the one exception I can think of off the top of my head is "Awakenings"). The "Triumph over Adversity" genre seems to have died with the innocence of the 70's and 80's, and the start of the cynical 1990's. It's really too bad, because many are just too cynical anymore to enjoy an innocent, heartwarming tale. Gorgeous photography, excellent acting by most in the movie (I could do without Robbie Benson) and ultimately a story so moving that it will make anyone not jaded by the world start weeping. Oh, did I mention that the soundtrack is terrific as well? If you can find it, rent it. It's a slice of the past, a slice of life and contains some positive messages, as well as being pure entertainment and a wonderful love story. Never a throwaway, if you like it you'll be able to watch it over and over. Oh, and throw away your copy of "Edward Scissorhands," because this one beats it hands down and all over the place.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 69
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