Customer Reviews

Escape From L.A. (1996 Film Score)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Actually the music that I bought the CD for isn't there. The music I am talking about is the music played when Snake chases after Eddie on the surfboard and when Snake shuts down the earth. That music was way cool but what has been left on the CD is still quite good. But the CD is a tiddler at only 31 minutes long. I don't know why Milan did this. Carpenter is an ace musician and all his work should have been on this disc.

Carpenter really knew what he was doing when he got Walker to help with the score. Makes super background music for Quake II. The sounds are FAR more detailed than in EFNY. It's the bomb, as they say. I've had it for two months, and I still get a kick out of the main theme and the motorcycle chase. Kudos, Carpenter!

It's interesting how music goes as irreverent as the movie it was written for. John Carpenter does that in almost all his movies, especially "Escape From L.A.", in which he shares composition chores with testosterone lady Shirley Walker, a woman who knows her way through action film music.

The album opens with the classic "Escape From New York" theme, as arranged by Walker; this theme never sounded better. Carpenter's irreverence is best heard in 'Snake's Uniform' since you hear a lot of guitar effects in it. Yet I'd like to indicate that the highlight on this album is Shirley Walker's action pieces performed by both herself on synthesizers and herself conducting the orchestra -'Submarine Launch' is electronically fantastic; 'Escape From Happy Kingdom' and 'Crash Landing' show her best for orchestra. Also Walker knows what Carpenter wants since you can hear some irreverent cues such as 'Sunset Boulevard Bazaar' and 'Motorcycle Chase', a track with a "Batman Beyond" flair.

In general, this album is interesting, with honorable mention to Shirley Walker, an underappreciated composer who can show great chops in writing music for action films. Too bad this album is too short.

The rocking remix of the originial Escape from New York theme as well as Carpenter's "Snake's Uniform" track make this a must have for Carpetner buffs. Walker's compositions are strong back up to this overly maligned sequel/remake to the Carpenter classic.

This music is totally light-hearted and hugely enjoyable. Track 3 is so cool and track 9 is kind of spooky. I only wish more tracks from the film were in it.

Escape From L.A is a cool Cd. Even though I don't have the Cd, but just listening to the sample makes me want to buy it despritly!!!

CD came in an extremely timely manner and was sealed and brand new just as described by seller. Would most definitely consider buying from this seller again.

It's the track entitled "Scalped" on Dick Dale's 1994 CD _Unknown Territory_ (http://www.amazon.com/Territory-Dick-Dale/dp/B0000005QS).

It should have been, but isn't, on the film's soundtrack CD. But this CD consists only of the Carpenter/Walker score (i.e., their original compositions created for the film), so it doesn't belong on here. Some reviewers seem to think Carpenter wrote it, but he didn't.

The score is excellent (and the main theme is particularly strong), even if the runtime of the CD is a bit short. I'm posting this review specifically for the benefit of customers looking for the surf music, though, so I'll leave you to listen to the samples.

to sum it up! a mediocre soundtrack for a mediocre movie. WTF was milan thinking when they omitted one of the coolest songs from escape from la. which is the theme of snake surfing in pursuit of eddie. (played by steve buscemei)

as for shirley walker, sweetheart stick to doing what you do best and that's scoring BATMAN cartoons. even the final clash between snake and cuervo jones sounded like it came from the aforemention animated series. (sigh)

oh well, i guess i'll pass this one up.