SLIPSTREAM

UK, 1989, 102 minutes, Colour.
Mark Hamill, Bob Peck, Kitty Aldridge, Bill Paxton, Ben Kingsley, F.Murray Abraham, Robbie Coltrane.
Directed by Steven M.Listberger.

Slipstream is an unusual science fiction, futuristic adventure. It has many interesting elements - but it is also oddball and often not very persuasive. From the producer of Star Wars, Gary Kurz, it features Mark Hamill as an Earth pilot. Bill Paxton, however, is the hero, a bounty hunter in search of fame and fortune. The film was made in England and has a largely English cast: Bob Peck is the android Byron, Ben Kingsley makes a guest appearance as the leader of a community. F. Murray Abraham also appears as an elder.

There are interesting set designs and special effects as well as stunt work. However, there are so many ingredients and elements of the plot which are not tied up that in a way the film follows the winds of the slipstream of the title. However, it is an interesting film to see so many of the elements of science fiction that became popular in the '70s and '80s. The director is Steven M. Lisberger, who worked in animation, cartoons and commercials, an NBC special Animalympics and the feature movie Tron. He also made the John Cusack youth comedy, Hot Pursuit.

1. Interesting and entertaining science fiction? Fantasy? Parable of the future?

2. The director and his career, the background in animation and commercials? Computer design and techniques? The quality of the production? The cast?

3. The future world, its atmosphere, special effects, stunts? Musical score?

4. Audiences interested in and identifying with the world of fantasy: the hopes, the slipstream, the destruction, violence, quests?

5. The picture of the Earth: barren, the coastlands, the winds and the clouds, the gales? The different remnants of civilisation? The world of the police and their air pursuit? Androids? The wind worshippers? The various cultures, the drug runners?

6. Tasker and Belitski: their work, the pursuit, flying skills? The quest for Byron and the chase over the cliffs? The encounter with Matt and his bounty hunting? The pursuit, the antidotes to the poison? The confrontation with the drug dealers and their deaths? Tasker and the storm, the release of Byron? His vanishing - and Belitski and Matt searching for him? His wanting to reclaim the prisoner, the conflict with Byron, the shooting of Ariel? Byron and the final crash and Tasker's death?

7. Byron as hero, the initial pursuit, audience sympathy, the mystery (with the Hitchcock-style chase)? Byron's quest? Matt and his capturing him, handcuffing him? The plane and Matt taking it? The visits to the settlements? Avatar and his community? The drug dealers? The wind worshippers? His being tied to the kite and flying? His journey, the friendship and protection of Ariel? His discovery of the books, the possibilities of learning? His sense of mission? His discovering himself as an android rather than human? The plane, the crash and Tasker's death? His surviving, farewell to Matt and Belitski - his continuing quest?

8. Matt as young hero, the bounty hunter, brash, capturing Byron, handcuffing him? His explanations of himself? Going to his community? The dart, the poison - and the need for the antidote? Tasker and his pursuit, help? Montclaire and the drug dealers, the deaths? The communities, the journey, the friendship with Ariel? The escape - and Tasker's death? The search with Belitski? His giving up of his bounty hunting - and the farewell to Byron?

9. Belitski, partner of Tasker, sharing in his work in the pursuit, the adventures - and her survival?

10. Ariel (and echoes of The Tempest), from her world, the world of culture and learning, a guide for Byron, the conflict with Tasker and her death?

11. The portrait of the various communities, Avatar and his death, self-sacrifice, the fanatics, the group leaders? The hunters, the wind worshippers? The dregs of the future societies?

12. A world of uncertainty, religion and superstition? The elements of the past - technology, the need for beginning again? The construction of androids - and the significance of the android being the central focus, the quest of the android? The lesson for human beings?