I am interested to hear anyone's opinion on what other composer's soundtracks are similar to Bernstein's "Heavy Metal". Example, anything by Goldsmith etc.?
Talgorn's Heavy Metal 2000 is an equal in terms of quality, though its musical sound is closer to Goldenthal's Final Fantasy.
(Bernstein's score to Slipstream is the bookend of an unoffical sci-fi trilogy of sorts - the other two chapters being Saturn 3 and Heavy Metal. Very sadly, this score is unreleased.)
The SLIPSTREAM score is great! I prefer SPACEHUNTER, but definitely a great score that deserves release.
As for the film itself, it has a totally game cast that delivers some good performances, particularly Mark Hamill and the late Bob Peck, and some nice aerial photography, but a better director and a bigger budget would have helped. (Heck, the VHS copy I used to have just recycled an EPISODE IV promo shot of Hamill for the cover!)
I suffered through all four hours of Slipstream because the score was good. The videotape jacket stated the running time of the movie was only a little over an hour and a half, but I know better.
That said, the score is so outstanding, one of Bernstein's best. I really hope that it shows up soon.
Also a score you might enjoy - Alfi Kabiljo's score to Sky Bandits. There was a Varese Club release of the score a couple years ago but you can still find it available on SAE.
I suffered through all four hours of Slipstream because the score was good. The videotape jacket stated the running time of the movie was only a little over an hour and a half, but I know better.
Four hours? The VHS I had was not four hours long. Only about an hour-and-forty minutes so, maybe a little under two hours (and I do remember it dragging a lot), but definitely not four hours.
Four hours? The VHS I had was not four hours long. Maybe about two or a little under (and I do remember it dragging a lot), but definitely not four hours.
Yes, I wasn't saying that it was literally four hours. Just that the film dragged and dragged and dragged. The score was so outstanding I sat through the whole thing for its sake, though.