Spacing on thin ice

As swashbuckling space adventures go, the 1984 sci-fi sendup "The Ice Pirates" has little competition. Non-fans would surely consider that a good thing.

Even those who appreciate the movie's sophomoric humor — space herpes, anyone? — would admit it's an odd duck. Water-hunting pirates wield swords as they fly spaceships; robots fight using karate, and TV mainstays (Robert Urich of "Vega$" and Mary Crosby of "Dallas") appear alongside Oscar royalty (Angelica Huston of "Prizzi's Honor").

Yet connoisseurs of fine '80s cheese will savor Warner Archive's sharp new Blu-ray ($22). There are no extras, save for a trailer, so fans will be left with watching the grade-Z feature again and again.