The most consistent criticism I have heard of this compilation is the terrible artwork. Yes, it is fairly awful, especially when compared to Hollywood '95. However, the music is generally as good and just as well performed. The selections are perhaps not quite as generally well known as they were on Hollywood '95 and this makes some of the tracks perhaps a little too non-descript. The selections from Phenomenon, Fargo and others seem to be a little dull for me. It's probably that they are not brash and exciting compared to my usual choice in music. However, the selections from Tin Cup, Flipper and Twister were welcome, especially as they are scores I would not have considered buying normally. However, they get a good rendition here and I was impressed by how good they were. The big successes of the summer are well represented, Twister, as mentioned as well as Independence Day and Mission: Impossible. The former is slightly longer than the track used on the original score, but this is due to a few extra sections rather than a slow performance. The Main Title from Mission: Impossible is rather strange in that it has a few extra beats here and there and so is considerably longer than the original. On first acquaintance this sounds odd (especially if you are used to the original or Elfman versions), but you get used to is after a while. The track from The Hunchback of Notre Dame is probably the best score track on the original and gets a reasonable rendition here. The choir sounds a fraction out of tune in places and tends to drag just a touch in places, but if you haven't heard the original, then it probably won't matter too much. The track from Sabrina is nice and I am glad that I have it as I wasn't going the get the original soundtrack. (Although it is actually a 1995 film). Perhaps not as good as Hollywood '95 overall, but still an impressive performance (once again) of a good selection of tracks from the year's movies.
Rating ~ 