ADDITION: Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - March 08': With director, cinematographer approved transfers lately from Criterion it makes it that much harder to assuredly state that any DVD image looks 'incorrect'. In The Ice Storm it affirms on the Criterion box '"New, restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised and approved by director Ang Lee and director of photography Frederick Elmes". But I'll give you some of my impressions regardless. The Criterion is darker than the Fox disc (let's officially throw the Sandrew PAL edition out of contention) and has a decided greenish/yellow tinge (this can occasionally be the sign of a slowly failing telecine). The new two-disc looks a shade sharper and, most of the time, shows more information in the frame. I saw a couple of chapter ending combing incidents leading me to believe the 'alchemist' method of transfer was utilized. Bottom line is that it looks very good and I don't suspect its superiorities (or weaknesses) will in anyway detract from the essence of the film. It has clear and consistent 2.0 channel audio and optiional English subtitles. 

There is a wonderfully light and entertaining audio commentary featuring Lee and producer-screenwriter James Schamus. Near the beginning Schamus asks Lee "You're Chinese - how can you make a movie about Americans?". His response is "Ohhhh... F*ck you". I enjoyed the banter very much. Also on disc one is a 4:3 trailer. On disc 2 there is a new documentary entitled "Weathering the Storm" featuring interviews with actors Joan Allen, Kevin Kline, Tobey Maguire, Christina Ricci, Sigourney Weaver, and Elijah Wood. It runs 36 minutes and has most of the actors reflecting back on the film and how it positively affected their careers. There is a new 21 minute video interview with novelist Rick Moody as he discusses his personal response to the film adaptation of his second novel. Next is 32 minutes of footage from a November 2007 event honoring Lee and Schamus and their 10 collaborations over 15 years (including The Wedding Banquet, Eat, Drink Man, Woman, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Brokeback Mountain) at New York's Museum of the Moving Image. The Look of The Ice Storm is a three-part visual essay featuring interviews with the cinematographer, production designer, and costume designer. It runs about 30 minutes in total. There are 4, fairly inconsequential, deleted scenes lasting about 7 minutes with optional commentary. Finally a 20-page liner notes booklet featuring a new essay by film critic Bill Krohn.

I waver at times but often lean to this being Ang Lee's best film. The strong ensemble cast and highly detailed art direction definitely make it one of the best of the late 90's and an essential viewing experience. Criterion bring us a wonderfully complete package that DVDBeaver strongly recommends. The commentary and cast interviews further define appreciation of this masterfully made film. I'm so glad that this particular film was chosen for the 'Criterion treatment'.