The Last Starfighter: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [Extra tracks, Original recording remastered]

Craig Safan | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 23, 1996)
• Original Release Date: January 23, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
• Label: Intrada Records
• ASIN: B000000O71
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #177,864 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Main Title

2. Alex Dreams

3. Centauri Into Space

4. Rylos

5. Centauri Dies

6. Target Practice

7. Alex's First Test

8. Beta's Sacrifice

9. Death Blossom/Ultimate Weapon

10. Big Victory March/Alex Returns

11. Into The Starscape

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Decent Sci-Fi Music with an Epic Main Title, August 8, 1999

By 

Eriban (CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last Starfighter: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

Craig Safan's approach to scoring "The Last Starfighter" will seem comfortably familiar to fans of John William's "Star Wars" music. Safan utilizes a triumphant fanfare to develop the main theme. It's a very good theme, utilized often throughout the rest of score, definately the highlight of the CD. It's not a very well known theme however, and unfortunately it's likely that only sci-fi fans familiar with the film have had the joy of experiencing it. As said before, the main theme is the greatest highlight of the CD. The rest of the music on the soundtrack serves as decent sci-fi music to fill the needs of the action (as well as softer) sequences, but the best of these sequences utilize the main theme in one way or another. Those that do not seem a bit more ponderous (and shall I use the word "cheesy" here?) and are not as much as fun to listen to. In this way, "The Last Starfighter" fails to achieve the epic heights that some of the scores of John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, and David Arnold have achieved. Still, the CD is worth a look, if only for that one sweet theme.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not quite Star Wars but hey ... what is???, September 21, 2005

By 

Muzikluvr (NY NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last Starfighter: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

The Last Starfighter is one of Craig Safan's best works. For anyone who hasn't see it ... Starfighter was an early 80's cheesy sci-fi flick. It did boast rather advanced special effects for the day and actually has the distinction of having the first ever fully CGI ship in movie history. The story of the movie is pretty basic ... human teen is recruited through a video arcade game (remember - its the 80's and video arcades are on every other street corner!) to save the universe during an intergalactic war. Boy leaves girl to save universe ... boy is replaced by a replicant who his girl never seems to realize ISN'T him ... boy saves universe ... boy comes back and takes girl into space to live happily ever after.

Enough about the movie ... the score is AMAZING!!!! It stands up there with just about anything from John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith or James Horner. The score has no empty, pompous big-orchestra blatherings. It is solid and one of the only genuinely good post Star Wars sci-fi scores. What Mr. Safan offers is a space opera sound without falling into the cheap Star Wars imitation trap. Everything revolves around strong melodies, which were often lost to experimental sound in that era. The theme for The Last Starfighter has lived on as a favorite of movie theme buffs and is one of the most noble and heroic ever produced. The most remarkable thing about this theme is its versatility; its highly melodic construction allows for it to serve in romantic and dreamy situations as well as the battle sequences.

In the end, however, the depth of the layered brass is what elevates this score above most of its contemporary peers. I highly recommend this for anyone's score collection!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Greats, April 6, 2000

By 

Brian L. (Pearland, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last Starfighter: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

An amazing original, exciting soundtrack by Craig Safan. Written for an usually large orchestra consisting 6 different trumpet and 6 different trombone parts, it has many different themes and colors so the soundtrack never gets boring or too repetitive. I have collected some of the greatest soundtracks of all time and I give this one my full recommendation for someone who enjoys the James Horner, John Williams, and Jerry Goldsmith type of soundtrack. You won't be disappointed.