Customer Reviews

The Last Starfighter: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

I tend to agree with all the other reviewers. This is a good bold soundtrack with a lot of melodies and themes running through it, in the vein of Jerry Goldsmith, or John Williams perhaps, but not quite at that level. It did fit the film well and is fun as well. The main theme is just terrific. Those not able to find this CD can often find it through a torrent, or if you're just looking for the main theme, it's on one of the Sci-Fi movie compilation re-recordings by Eric Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops and an excellent recording, probably better than the soundtrack.

What may be most interesting, and a somewhat obscure fact, is that Safan had a mere five days to work with a large orchestra to get the sound. Adding to this, he was mostly known as a composer and synthesist who liked to improvise using his powerful Synclavier system, so to hear him kick something out like this was really something. Safan later said it was the highlight of his career. The one disappointment is that for being such a skilled and accomplished synthesist, Safan's synth sounds on this soundtrack sound hokey and dated. None the less, it doesn't deter that much from the listening experience.

This soundtrack is easily one of the best of scored compilations out there. It is easily missed because of the type of film it was associated to, but well worth the search to find. I have never grown weary of the theme, which by the way, is so inspiring- it gives me goosebumps!

Everyone before me has written about Craig Safan's splendid score for "The Last Starfighter", and they all say that it is as good as John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, and everyone else--and it is.
Now for those of you who listen to classical music, compare that great opening theme to the final movement of Jean Sibelius' Fifth Symphony, and you know where this composer got many of his ideas. Great music, works well--Sibelius would have been proud.

I was introduced to film music by Star Wars. I love John Williams and own about everything he has ever written. So when I say "The Last Starfighter" score is on par with Star Wars, that's a big deal. It creates the same mood as Star Wars, but it's completely different--not derivative in any way.

The track "Into the Starscape" is absolutely the best. The only two compositions I can compare it to are "Throne Room/End Title" from Star Wars and Gustav Mahler's Symphony no. 7. Like Mahler, Safan uses every instrument in the orchestra and layers them in very interesting ways. He also uses several of each type of instrument creating a huge orchestral sound like Mahler.

If trapped on a desert island with only one album, "The Last Starfighter" score would be in strong contention for the only one I would want--and I own a few hundred film scores.

Since it is no longer available new, the price on the collector's market has gone up. As of this writing, it's going for about $120. There's a reason the price is that high--it's that good. If I hadn't already got it when it first came out, I would pay $120 for it without hesitation.

Greetings, Starfighter. Quite possibly my favorite popcorn/sci-fi flick, Nick Castle's "The Last Starfighter" is a great movie. Lance Guest is terrific as the title character and the supporting cast, led by Dan O'Herlihy (Grig), Robert Preston (Centauri) and Catherine Mary Stewart (Maggie), is just as appealing.

But where would a great movie be without an equally exciting musical score? That's where Craig Safan steps in with this masterful attempt. From the very first note of the opening title theme, the music grabs onto your ears with both hands and holds tight for the rest of the celluloid ride.

Safan's score obviously found its inspiration from the likes of John Williams and perhaps Jerry Goldsmith, but the mood is fresh and with a spirit all its own. In fact, the film came out in 1984, and it's still just as new and exciting as when I first remember hearing it.

A great movie, and a great score. Buy the movie. Buy the CD. Trust me, you'll like it.

This is an epic motion picture score in the tradition of "Star Wars." Craig Safan's score has the essence of "Star Wars," yet has an epic theme that is amazing in it's own right! Any serious fan of film music cannot do without "The Last Starfighter!" Grade: A+

The theme lended itself to rearrangement to fit the mood of any scene. Especially the action scenes.