A fairly tight, exciting, Saturday night adventure story that suddenly goes all muddy in its crises, so that at two crucial points, it is very difficult to know what is going on, or who knows what about it. It doesn't make much difference, though.

If this had been a routine Saturday-afternoon thriller, it might have been fun. But it's been stretched out to roadshow length and loaded down with lots of gimmicks to conceal the thinness of the story.

What Ice Station Zebra demonstrates is that one can have a world class director and a talented cast, but it is all a futile effort if the screenplay does not work.

Buy some popcorn and see the movie.