The story's almost an intellectual exercise, an intellectual parable; philosophical, ecological, social and scientific themes lie beneath the bare-bones exterior. With the exception of maybe one extraneous scene, nearly every line of dialogue, nearly every scene has some deeper meaning, is foreshadowing something that will happen later on in the story, and/or is symbolic of something in the real world.

The characters, dialogue and acting are just wonderful; Bill Paxton, Bob Peck, Kitty Aldridge and Mark Hamill are perfect in their roles. The interesting bare-bones sets and minimal special effects really enhance the story by not overshadowing it. Who would think the wind could be a fictional character? It is one in "Slipstream."

Most science fiction movies are about capturing the viewer's eyes. "Slipstream's" about capturing the viewer's mind and emotions, and it has certainly captured mine. I recommend "Slipstream" to everyone and only wish there were more movies like it.


Episodic chase picture with an actual theme   February 1, 2002
Richard Sparrow (West Memphis, AR United States)
4 out of 6 found this review helpful

"We try to be perfect, but have to settle for being human. He tries to be humanm, but has to settle for being perfect."

In a world swept clean, Tracker (Mark Hamill) is the Lone Ranger, maintaining the last bit of frontier justice between the settlements and warring tribes. He and his partner are returning a rogue android for justice, when a bounty hunter (Bill Paxton) steals their prisoner.

The android, a very british sort, is the last person one would expect to commit murder, and I did miss who he killed and what his motivation for the crime was.

As they travel the Slipstream, a massive air-current, they pass various groups from the dregs of society (a semi-barbaric camp) to true primitives who worship the wind and eschew technology, to the last remnant of the cultural elite.

In the course of things, Byron, the android, learns about being human, but also that he never can be.

This movie could be compared to _Blade Runner_ both for plot and theme. But while Ridley Scott was content to give us fabulously cluttered mise-en-scene and ask the questions by symbolism, _Slipstream_ gives us minimalist sets, great actors, and asks the questions directly.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. The premise was good and innovative, the plot borrows from great traditions of both the cop movie and Huckleberry Finn. It also includes an homage to North by Northwest.

Watch it, but be ready to think.


Unique and interesting...   January 24, 2002
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

This movie probably won't appeal to fans of the typical action/adventure formula. It's really a complex character study about someone trying to figure out what exactly it means to be human. The story is made all the more poignant by the fact that the character in question isn't human at all. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but wouldn't be surprised to see it get mixed reviews.


Slipstream   October 10, 2000
Peggy Jo Shumate (Pineville, Missouri United States)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful

Bill Paxton has been in several of my most favorite movies. Slipstream was very unique and brought out a different Bill Paxton then we have come to know and appreciate. This movie had a much different flavor then most and to watch his interactions with the robot and then realizing the unusual qualities the robot personifies he learned to appreciate it's life and its desires about life and love.

Bill Paxton also had great characteristics in dealing with the law and women. He was touching and funny all at once.

I can't wait till they put this show on dvd 5.1 surround sound and widescreen. I can only imagine what the veiw will be and the senery... oh man hurry up and get this one on dvd fast!!! If you are an action fan you'll love this one. It is filled with action and excitement.