This site was conceived as a side project by a "tekkie" friend of mine who suggested I use my journalistic experience to write about something I love. We bandied about some ideas before settling on this one - largely because I had collected movie soundtracks for much of my life and thought I could write about them. We wanted the site to be user friendly, well-written and reliable.
Over time, I hope to attract other writers keen to contribute to the site, who don't mind foregoing the financial benefits they may be used to in the short-term for something that may, or may not, be profitable further down the line.
The gradual demise of the cd format, re-emergence of vinyl, along with the expansion of blu-ray dvd and downloads translate to an ever-changing market place; despite this, most of us still buy cd's and dvd's and I hope that you will use the Amazon links on this site to buy online.
We have also included mini YouTube video links that accompany the reviews, so that you can listen to your favourite theme music while watching a related trailer or clip from the movie; because film is a visual medium, there seems no better way of presenting it.
Finally, a note on the type of soundtracks featured. Though purists generally view albums such as "Top Gun", "Flashdance" and others like them, as unworthy of coverage on a film soundtrack site, preferring instead to focus on orchestral scores, we have taken the view that these albums have earned their place based on their continued saleability and affection with a large section of cinema-goers. We wanted to reach as broad an audience as possible and have developed the site with this in mind, without forgetting those fans for whom composers such as Bernard Herrmann and Jerry Goldsmith, among many others, are considered on a par with the master composers. We hope you can find your best movie soundtracks on this site.
Darkman.
1990, Universal.
Danny Elfman.
MCA, CD, 1990, MCAD-10094. Rating:
Liam Neeson plays a scientist, forced to use his newly created synthetic skin designed to mask disfigurements, on himself, after he is pushed into a pool of acid by gangster (Larry Drake). Sam Raimi’s black comedy horror is Frankenstein meets Batman: part mad inventor, part crusading vigilante, pining for the love he lost. Danny Elfman’s score is suitably dark, and dramatic, though following on so closely from his score for ‘Batman’, which also makes much of a waltz (’The Plot Unfolds’) and a march (’Main Titles‘), sounds less than original. The highlight, ‘Carnival From Hell’, plays to the films sense of grand guignol with a corrupted fairground theme that gives way to another helping of Elfman’s dark symphonic scoring, affirming his tendency to repeat himself. While it is unlikely to disappoint hardcore fans, ’Darkman’ remains both lighter (weight) and less intricate than many of his earlier scores, which is unfortunate considering his high regard for Raimi’s work and his love of the comic book genre. Darkman Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.
Track Listing:
1. Main Titles
2. Woe
3. Rebuilding / Failure
4. Love Theme
5. Julie Transforms
6. Rage / Peppy Science
7. Creating Pauley
8. Double Durante
9. Plot Unfolds
10. Carnival From Hell
11. Julie Discovers Darkman
12. High Steel
13. Finale / End Credits
Red Dragon.
2002, Universal.
Danny Elfman.
Decca, CD, 2002, 473 248-2. Rating:
Brett Ratner’s film version of Thomas Harris’ bestselling prequel to ‘Silence Of The Lambs’ sees Hannibal Lecter behind bars (again) and another killer on the loose, this time with Ed Norton as the detective in charge, in an enjoyable but unremarkable thriller. Much the same could be said for Danny Elfman’s score; while his melodic ‘Main Title’ is listenable and cues such as ‘The Old Mansion’ and ‘The Fire’ atmospheric, there is a sense that he is going through the motions, trading in the inventive orchestrations that made his work on ‘Batman’ and ‘Beetlejuice’ so impressive, for stock scoring that does the job but little more. The sound isn’t much better; dull, plodding and distant. Hans Zimmer’s score for ‘Hannibal’ is much better. Red Dragon Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.
Track Listing:
1. Logos.
2. The Revelation.
3. Main Titles.
4. The Cell.
5. The old Mansion.
6. The Address.
7. We’re Different.
8. The Note.
9. Enter The Dragon.
10. Threats.
11. Tiger Balls.
12. Love On A Couch.
13. Devouring The Dragon.
14. The Fire.
15. The Book.
16. He’s Back!
17. End Credits Suite.
Planet Of The Apes.
2001, 20th Century Fox.
Danny Elfman.
Sony Classical, CD, 2001, 5099708966621. Rating:
Jerry Goldsmith won an academy award for his post modern score to the original 1968 sci-fi classic, in which a lone astronaut finds himself abandoned on a planet ruled by apes. The 2001 re-make starring Mark Wahlberg wasn’t a patch on the original , saddled by a wooden performance from Wahlberg and lacking the intelligence of the first movie. Danny Elfman’s score however, makes the right noises for this type of film, forgoing Goldsmith’s sense of isolation and desolation, so in keeping with the original, for buckets of pounding energy. Both scores are heavy on percussion, creating some memorable motifs, particularly noticeable on Elfman’s ‘Main Title’ and Goldsmith’s version of ’The Hunt’ (see other entry). Despite this, Elfman may have been wise to tone down some of the noise in favour of more reflective material, particularly as it works so well on cues ‘Deep Space Launch’ and portions of ‘The Return’. Paul Oakenfold’s remix is loud and powerful - so, more of the same, then. A blast - off. Planet of The Apes Movie Soundtrack (2001). Review: Tim Mowbray.
Track Listing:
1. Main Titles
2. Ape Suite # 1
3. Deep Space Launch.
4. The Hunt
5. Branding The Herd
6. The Dirty Deed
7. Escape From Ape City/The Legend
8. Ape Suite # 2
9. Old Flames
10. Thade Goes Ape
11. Preparing For Battle
12. The Battle Begins
13. The Return
14. Main Title Deconstruction
15. Rule The Planet Remix (Remix by Paul Oakenfold)
