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Posted: |
Aug 11, 2009 - 2:05 PM
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By: |
Thor
(Member)
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I just watched this TOP GUN-lookalike from 1990 with Nicholas Cage, Tommy Lee Jones and Sean Young.
It's a pretty smooth and slick aviation flick (hey, that rhymed!) with a definite Tony Scott vibe. Some impressive aerial footage, for example. The character interaction leaves something to be desired, though - it never really glows between Cage and Young, and Jones' "mentor" role is a little halfbaked. Also, there's something wrong with the pacing here. When they're going on the "real" mission towards the end, all hell breaks loose and it's impossible to get an overview of the action between the good guys and the bogeys. Quick editing, swish, swoosh it goes in different directions. And then all of a sudden, it ends - at 1 hour and 20-something minutes.
But I love Newman's score. I've had this on a fanmade CD-R for many years and enjoy it. It's melodic, in-your-face and a perfect mix of 80's synthpop and orchestral finesse. Of particular notice is the opening/main titles, the funky music for the first training and the moody love theme between Cage and Young. A couple of nice Phil Collins songs too. I think this should have wide appeal - from 80's score fans like First Breath to more traditional orchestra fans.
Why is there no official score release?
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I have heard much good about this score. David Newman is not usually one of my favorites but this one may be interestimg.
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This is a really dopey movie that is lifted far above it's ambitions by Newman's score, one that mixes it's synth moments with the full orchestra as adeptly as Goldsmith might have. The aerial work is, indeed, exceedingly well done, and, for a pleasant change, easy to follow as to who's shooting at whom. Overall, this is a truly "guilty" pleasure for me that I wouldn't recommend to anybody but aviation buffs and fans of David Newman.
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Posted: |
Aug 12, 2009 - 4:08 PM
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By: |
Thor
(Member)
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This is a really dopey movie that is lifted far above it's ambitions by Newman's score, one that mixes it's synth moments with the full orchestra as adeptly as Goldsmith might have. The aerial work is, indeed, exceedingly well done, and, for a pleasant change, easy to follow as to who's shooting at whom.
Really? Personally, I had lots of problems during the last fight, with three good guy choppers, one bad guy chopper and two F16's. It just went too fast for me, and I grew up on MTV!
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Cool stuff, would have been perfect on that Rock Solid Themes collection.
So Newman never wrote anything similar or what?
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Same here…..
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I knew about the release then but I waited too long. Did the same with Zimmer's White Fang.....
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Posted: |
Sep 15, 2018 - 1:04 PM
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By: |
The Mutant
(Member)
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Watched Fire Birds (1990) last night for the first time. This movie was buried by Total Recall and Back to the Future III at the box office in the summer of 1990. I think I had caught some of it on TV back in the day, but honestly it’s so forgettable that I can’t be sure. Not even 90 minutes long, it’s a bit of a mess, but I dig the nostalgia factor and the absurd premise and dialogue. Tommy Lee Jones is great as usual despite an odd scene where he’s munching on an ice cream bar with chocolate smeared all over his mouth. Cage is over the top and chews up every scene - a nice contrast to Jones’ subtle, internal acting style. They apparently did not get along off-screen. And then there’s Sean Young. She’s supposed to be Cage’s ex flame, but there were zero sparks between them. Cage was not a fan of her on-set bullshit from what I’ve read and their love scenes are somewhat weird. There’s also some really obvious, half handed ADR. Despite all this, you wouldn’t really know it from watching them on screen. Jones And Cage actually have decent chemistry. The action scenes;in particular the climax; are cut so fast that they are nearly incomprehensible. You never really know who’s flying what or where they are in relation to each other. This director/editor should take a page from McTiernan’s handbook - geography within action is crucial. The one thing I really loved was the score by David Newman. Drum machines abound.
It’s a bit of a mess, but I enjoy watching it, and the end credits are pure 80’s feels (was shot in 88-89 released in 90) And I’m really enjoying the director’s commentary. He dishes some dirt on the stars clashing. Glad I picked it up!
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