Hot Shots! Part Deux

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Of all the movies Basil Poledouris could score, a hilarious spin off like Hot Shots isn't directly something that promises much. After all this is a joke, a five second scene and continuing with the next joke. And true, the jokes are so good that you will laugh and miss the serious five second part and then the next joke already starts, eventually you laugh for 90 minutes. And then what to think of the score, it will obviously support the comical nature of the movie right? Well, then you obviously haven't heard Poledouris' take on the entire score. This soundtrack is full blooded seriousness and without knowing it could appear in a similar Robocop or Starship Troopers feature like that. Of course there are several things that distinguishes itself, like the American patriotic style or the heroic fanfares but all this is simply Robocop meets Starship Troopers in Hot Shots! Part Deux fashion. And of all the composers Basil Poledouris secured our listening pleasure for sure. It simply sounds astonishing for such a hilarious movie. Wanna find out how hilarious it is? One scene in particular: soldiers are prepared to jump out of a plane with parachutes, each one says "Geronimo" and then they jump until a Indian (dressed in original cowboy and Indian clothes) jumps and says "Me". Get it?!

Of course insanity is always fun but the musical score shouldn't go to waste because of it. And especially Poledouris went for the full score, it is action oriented and has both a heroic fanfare ('Reel 5') and a full blooded action theme ('Colonel Torture' and its masterful extended moment in 'Compound Escape'), truly the highlight of the score. And in all the romantic mood we get a nice little Lady and the Vagabond moment in 'The 3 Bears / Flurvian Sea') and the full fight music in 'Dipsong Fight'. Especially the last has again some amazing fanfares of Poledouris' action music. No matter how you imagine the music to sound for parodies, they will be miles away in structure when you will hear Hot Shots! Part Deux. Another joke? Why not: "When the President (Lloyd Bridges) jumps in the water with a diving suit there are two questions that bother him. Will they get in time to rescue the prisoners and just when his voice heightens in tone he is asking himself why he is breathing Helium instead of Air". You at least have to get this one?!

Back to the score, Basil Poledouris fans will surely love this one. It is not only tremendously exciting to hear but it also has trademarks towards Robocop, Starship Troopers, towards the action music and several hints to Free Willy, thanks to the light romantic side. But especially, it isn't simply the score you would place with a Hot Shots movie. Describing it is easy, it simply can work in any action movie of its type. The score is short but a great listen and several cues are mixed together to get the perfect fit of a track, meaning especially those comical moments are gone and the best moments are heard after the other. End result: it becomes the best possible listening experience. Ohh, want another joke?? Okay here we go; We are at a train station, a person is reading his newspaper and is standing right next to the train, the ticket inspector is shouting "Board Board" and the man keeps turning his head obviously thinking "Will you stop already" before he is hit on the head by a man carrying a board" Get it? Please people work with me. Okay have it your way. A nice listen, for those who have lots of money.

\ЕЕЕ/

Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Title (1.29)

2. Dipsong Fight (3.35) Excellent Track

3. The 3 Bears / Flurvian Sea * (3.01)

4. Reel 5 (3.16)

5. Colonel Torture (3.19)

6. Gotta Light? (6.06)

7. Compound Escape ** (4.02) Excellent Track

8. Saddam Battles / Freedom Fighters *** (5.00)

* Includes "Innamorata" by Harry Warren and Jack Brooks

** Includes "Father Know Best" Theme by Irving Friedman and Don Farris

*** Includes "Sea Hunt" Theme by Ray Llewelyn

Total Length: 30.01

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: Basil Poledouris ===