Firstly I want to say that I did thoroughly enjoy "Chasing Ice", this was a film I was assigned in class to view and write a review about. With this in mind I did actually take pleasure in both the film and the writing of this review. Now talking about the actual film and the contents of it, "Chasing Ice" followed the story of established photographer James Balog and his determination to bring awareness to global warming while pursuing his passion of photography. Typically when topics such as this are discussed figures and graphs are the driving force, but in this documentary a different approach is taken. It uses personal anecdotes to appeal emotionally to the audience. Whether it's James Balog talking about spreading awareness and its importance to him all while he causes himself physical pain, or how he brings to mind the world in which his daughters will live if climate change isn't stopped, the invocation of emotions is where the persuasion is aimed. Personally I don't know how I feel about this, I went into the film many years after its release and already a firm believer of climate change so I don't believe I have any bias. The dramatization of a very objective topic felt strange to me. I did appreciate the cinematography and thought that overall the film did an excellent job sending its intended message. I just wish it would've done it differently, to me there were two distinct narratives of the film and this effect was so prevalent that I think they could've been entirely independent. James Balog is very accomplished in life and how the film captured this by showcasing his dedication, work ethic, and passion was executed well. The other half of the film was about the work of the Extreme Ice Survey, and how it impacted and changed the lives of not only the people involved with the project but also the general public. Throughout the film I almost felt as if the split between focuses was harmful to the fluidity and effectiveness of it. In my opinion I believe the biggest problem with the film was the lack of identity, while I was watching this I found myself wanting more details about one subject or the other. Almost like each narrative was fighting for screen time, one moment there was a heartfelt story about James and his life and the very next there was emphasis on a peninsula of an iceberg breaking off. The dynamic just felt awkward and forced. The conclusion felt like a rushed and unplanned point that just happened to come. The presentation of Extreme Ice Survey's photographs and the crowd's reactions was something I just did not understand. I think when the film was conceptualized this moment was supposed to be critical and inspiring, yet I felt lost. I had just watched the entire documentary which James was presenting, no new information was proposed, just an emphasis on the audience's reaction. At the end I was left wanting to know more about both topics and truly believe my interest would be satisfied if the topics were separated. Overall I would recommend this film to anyone who is interested in photography, environmentalism, or a fan of inspirational stories but I'd be sure to tell them that it's very average in its execution.
Review of Chasing Ice
