Now I've only heard bad things about the Brian De Palma film but I've heard reasonable reviews about Sakamoto's score. Although I know he won for The Last Emperor, I don't really know much about his scores.
Snake Eyes was decent on first listen, the best cues were the first and last cues with the simplistic main theme performed by the orchestra. It's a nice theme which is quiet somber and mourning. The rest of the score can be a bit eclectic but there are some nice cues in there also.
Next on my Sakamoto search list is: -Wuthering Heights -Femme Fatale -The Last Emperor -Tony Takitani -The Sheltering Sky
Snake Eyes is one of the best Sakamoto's scores. Wuthering Heights is beautiful too, too bad the album isn't available a bit more easily.
I could also recommend (besides obvious The Last Emperor no collection is complete without) The Sheltering Sky, Little Buddha and Femme Fatale - all of those have at least some terrific themes - Bolero from Femme Fatale is especially worth mentioning as one of the greatest Sakamoto's compositions:
Blast from the past! I used to love this flick (despite how bad it is) and the score is super. The hallway chase scene is where it's at.
I'd love to see the alternate ending where they get thrown underwater and smooshed by the giant rolling ball thingy. They even mention it in te dialogue.
Now I've only heard bad things about the Brian De Palma film but I've heard reasonable reviews about Sakamoto's score. Although I know he won for The Last Emperor, I don't really know much about his scores.
Snake Eyes was decent on first listen, the best cues were the first and last cues with the simplistic main theme performed by the orchestra. It's a nice theme which is quiet somber and mourning. The rest of the score can be a bit eclectic but there are some nice cues in there also.
I think Snake Eyes film is a very underrated film. Snake Eyes score is one of those scores that really works great in the film but on it`s own doesn`t get as good as one would hope. There are however a few cues that I like on the CD.
By the way Snake Eyes is so far the only Ryuichi Sakamoto soundtrack in my collection.
I can't stand Nicolas Cage, but I think Snake Eyes is a great "movie movie". While the acting stinks and the whole plot is predictable and cheesy, it contains some of DePalma's slickest camera techniques. It's shameless in its visual indulgence, but I love every shot (e.g. that incredible overhead tracking shot that pans over the interiors of several hotel rooms). It appeals to the part of me that fell in love with Hitchcock films when I was a kid; pure cinema and the camera's "personality", if you will.
Sakamoto's score is exceptional IMO and served the film beautifully. A memorable main theme, and best of all for me is the hallway pursuit; great tension/suspense music that I play frequently.
No question that this is my favorite score Ryuichi ever did, including Femme Fatale, Mr Lawrence, Last Emperor, etc. It has a lush intensity that reminds me very much of the heyday of Donnagio scores for De Palma. I'm a ridiculous fanboy of the director, but this film is not among my very favorites, despite some brilliant sequences.
If I had to pic a favorite cue, it would be this one:
Now I've only heard bad things about the Brian De Palma film but I've heard reasonable reviews about Sakamoto's score. Although I know he won for The Last Emperor, I don't really know much about his scores.
Snake Eyes was decent on first listen, the best cues were the first and last cues with the simplistic main theme performed by the orchestra. It's a nice theme which is quiet somber and mourning. The rest of the score can be a bit eclectic but there are some nice cues in there also.
Next on my Sakamoto search list is: -Wuthering Heights -Femme Fatale -The Last Emperor -Tony Takitani -The Sheltering Sky
You don't have LITTLE BUDDHA on your list, better, IMO, than every title on your search list, a score that effortlessly combines ethnic with exotic, melodic, varied and at times epic, a truly stunning score, I have no hesitation in putting it in my top 50 of all time.
hey anyone know the specific cue for when the boxer character is telling his story to the Cage character. it's a brilliant piece of restrained music, especially the "here comes the pain" moment when the camera goes into his ear revealing the ear piece
hey anyone know the specific cue for when the boxer character is telling his story to the Cage character. it's a brilliant piece of restrained music, especially the "here comes the pain" moment when the camera goes into his ear revealing the ear piece
The part of this score is actually the sensational song, "Sin City". One of my all-time favorite rocks songs.
That's a great call - fantastic song.
Sakamoto is a favourite of mine. I find alot of his music can be categorised as intimate, almost chamber, such as Snake Eyes, Silk, Wild Palms or High Heels, while other scores are pretty avant garde (for film scores) such as Gohatto or Love is the Devil. Also highly recommended is his score for Wuthering Heights, which is hard to find but well worth looking out for...
But has anybody else has a problem with the CD? On some cues there is some electronic hissing sound. Not for very long and only for some seconds - still, a pity.
But has anybody else has a problem with the CD? On some cues there is some electronic hissing sound. Not for very long and only for some seconds - still, a pity.
Just finished listening to my CD of this score, and you're right -- there are several glaringly awful mastering errors toward the end of the score, among the worst I've ever heard on a commercial CD. Almost completely ruins this brilliant score on album.
But has anybody else has a problem with the CD? On some cues there is some electronic hissing sound. Not for very long and only for some seconds - still, a pity.
Just finished listening to my CD of this score, and you're right -- there are several glaringly awful mastering errors toward the end of the score, among the worst I've ever heard on a commercial CD. Almost completely ruins this brilliant score on album.
I´m wondering whether it is one particular pressing that has these errors.
Is anyone here who has a CD pressing that is fine? And if so - from which year and which country?
This is a gorgeous and thrilling score that is never really talked about - I actually can't imagine the film having a better score. The finale cue, "The Storm," is one of the best cues from any De Palma film - the thematic development is extraordinary.
Are there any Sakamoto scores that are anything like his work with Brian De Palma? I'm mostly familiar with his Bertolucci scores (which are beautiful), but he's an outstanding composer for thrillers and I'd love to hear anything by him that sounds anything like "Snake Eyes" or "Femme Fatale."
I'd love to see the alternate ending where they get thrown underwater and smooshed by the giant rolling ball thingy. They even mention it in te dialogue.
A big chunk of it is featured in DE PALMA documentary that came out a couple of years ago.