Review: The Mighty (1998)

Composer: Trevor Jones

This is a little lengthy but hey, I have so much to describe on my experience with this score. You can find the best tracks in bold down in the tracklisting below. The Mighty is one of my all-time favorites.
Whilst Trevor Jones may be notable for his work on The Last of the Mohicans, it should not the only score of his that is worthy of a listen. When obscure films like The Mighty come out, they often just get muddled between the big-budget releases. Worse yet, The Mighty came out in the same year (1998) that Simon Birch came out; a film that deals with similar issues and had more advertising.

I enjoyed both The Mighty and Simon Birch but the scores are no comparison. The Mighty focuses on Celtic elements and with these elements, it does sound very different from your typical score. To be honest, you don't come across scores like The Mighty too often. It doesn't use cliché themes and it executes a perfect balance of intensity, emotion and happiness.

In this review, I will share my thoughts on each and every cue, along with the Sting's contributing tracks. As a bonus, I'll be discussing some rare, additional score, available on a promotional release (my cover is purple). There are additional tracks by B.B. King and Maia Sharp but I have not commented on those.

The Mighty (by Sting)
The score doesn't start yet but let this track introduce to the Celtic nature of the soundtrack. Trevor Jones and Sting worked together to make this track and so this is why you will find that Sting's contributions do sound similar to the score. This song works better in the remix, later on. Although, this is the first track, you don't hear it until some time later in the feature.

Past Times
The start of the score and a very promising start it is. Past Times is just over 5 minutes and leads us through the opening credits of the feature. For me, this particular theme really feels Celtic, although you will find some cues that feel totally different. A melody from Sting's The Mighty (of whom he worked with Trevor Jones to create) is noticeable ("...dragon's we slay" from the lyrics). Together with the overhead visuals of the Cincinnati, this showcases a great beauty.

Dreaming Clouds
The track that sets you off into a dreamy phrase, as you've probably noticed from the title of this cue. It feels light and it's the most relaxing cue on the soundtrack. I don't listen to this cue much, as I am in favour of the cues that really burst out with energy (see Free to Fly later on).

First Flight
A poignant side to the score. This plays when we see Kevin and how Morquio's syndrome has affected his normal ways of life. It does tend to pull on the heart strings but in no way very heavily. You'll find much more heart-pulling themes later on.

Life's Rough
This is a point in the score where you can actually hear the piano easily, along with some strings. This is a melody that feels emotional but like First Flight and Dreaming Clouds, it feels light. The melody ends around 2:20. From this point, the Celtic elements come in delicately to pull us from the light, piano theme. It does get a little eerie towards the end to blend into the next track, Danger by the Lake.

Danger By The Lake
Here we go with the intense part of the score. This part keeps you gripped, much like the respective scene at the carnival. I easily noticed how much difference this cue made to the scene. Towards the end, things calm down and you feel as if you are looking up to a heroic figure. In the case of this film, Kevin is seen with a sword.

City Walkers
Continuing on from the previous tracks, City Walkers provides us with a quirky theme. Although, I'm much a fan of the other themes.

Knights in Armor (promotional release only)
To be honest, I can't remember the placement of this cue in the film. I'm sure it was included. It does have the feel that City Walkers presented but this one pulls it off better. It feels quirky once again. It's a little short - I would have liked to have heard a longer theme.

Dungeons & Damsels (promotional release only)
So, this also wasn't included on the retail release. This adds a further 13 minutes of score. Indeed a long cue but there are more long ones later if you don't have the promotional release. With these long cues, you really are advised to listen in and be patient for the powerful elements to appear. This one starts of gently but around 2 minutes into it, you start feeling the intensity building up.

This one has some awesome horns and percussion in it. The choir chants aggressively further adding to the intensity. Then, out of nowhere the cue makes a sudden and yet a very beautiful change as if you've been freed from the dungeons or rescued from The Island. When I list in at around 4 minutes, it's just such a beautiful feeling.

I was not expecting an intense part to just move so quickly into a different, more moving theme. That part of the track has to be my favorite. After 5 minutes, the cue seems to speed up and then back into an intense state. Around 7 minutes, we're racing again. This part purely feels epic, intense and so fast. The orchestration is excellent. Trevor Jones really knows how to make a speedy part sound so awesome.

For the next few minutes, the cue stays calm. To end this cue, the piano is played slowly and lightly, with some strings coming in.

The Mighty Quest
You thought 13 minutes was long? Try 14 minutes. At least this track is more widely available, since it's on the retail release. The theme from Life's Rough is played at the start of this cue. A few minutes later, you can feel the emotion starting to pour in but with light instrumentation.

After 5 minutes, you feel it. You feel the change coming. You feel like there's someone coming but you just can't sense their direction. This eerie phrase certainly is a good listen. The percussion soon becomes more apparent, more deeper further indicating we're almost there. Although, around 7:30 there is no climax - the score just goes back to into a calmer but slightly fast theme. The horns come back in and are played so proudly.

This cue feels like a montage of the earlier themes but there's parts in here that are different. After 10 minutes, that build-up to an intense situation is back. You'll want to listen in for this part. Get ready for a race of the instruments. Like Dungeons & Damsels, this fast-paced part doesn't last too long, which is a shame.

For the remainder of this cue, we are in a sense of realization, with a small dosage of the choir coming in. Well, not quite. Be sure to listen to the last 30 seconds. A very splendid and fast-paced part to end it!

My Noble Knight
Another long cue? Well, not as long as the previous cues but you know, you're going to miss these lengthy cues. Like before, we start this one calmly. In fact, you can sit through this one without the direction changing. The beautiful soprano vocal will be sure to break into the toughest of hearts. The point in the film where this cue plays really had me teary. It was almost like I was trapped in this film. The soprano vocal was done by a boy called Chris Baron.

My Noble Knight must have been a theme Trevor Jones really felt. Since, he used this in 2006 at his live performance of various scores. Although, the soprano vocal at the live performance was done by a girl, Paula Alonso Martin.

Free to Fly
A beauty of a track. This cue is the climax of the score. This is the point where you hear a burst of instruments trying so hard to bring a smile on our faces after some very tough and sad moments. There is a steady flow to lead you on a journey - a journey where you too wish you could walk high above the world.

I love the build up to a big drop on a roller coaster and that's pretty much what I could say about this track. On the later half, the track spirals down into a blissful, happy theme. To match the events on-screen, it becomes more Celtic-like too. It ends gently but you're left wanting more despite being a decent length track. If you don't have the right track order, the track cuts out because it is meant to blend into the Future Times track.

One last point on this track - it's my favourite but unfortunately it does sound a little different to the one that plays on the end credits. I am not sure if they re-recorded the score but I really wish that version was included on the soundtrack. You can certain hear the percussion more in it.

Future Times
Continuing on from Free to Fly, let this one take you with Celtic spirit, the knights in shining armor, let it draw a conclusion to the score. This is a track I could associate with moving on with life, pretty much why it's placed at the end of the score. I truly hope your experience with this score has been an outstanding one, by the time you reach this track.

The Mighty (remix) (by Sting)
If you have the DVD release, you'll be able to watch the music video made for The Mighty. It features Sting in a Celtic-like setting, along with clips from the feature. The remixed theme is the one used in the music video. Compared to the standard track, I think this one stands out a little further - it has a more deeper, technical feel to it. I prefer this over the first track.


Tracks

1. The Mighty (by Sting) ****
   
2. Past Times *****
3. Dreaming Clouds **
   
4. First Flight ***
   
5. Life's Rough ***
   
6. Danger by the Lake ****
   
7. City Walkers ***
   
8. The Mighty Quest *****
   
9. My Noble Knight *****
   
10. Free to Fly *****
11. Future Times ****
    
12. Parting Request (by Maia Sharp)
13. Let the Good Times Roll (by B.B. King & Zucchero)
14. The Mighty (remix) (by Sting) *****
    

The above tracks are from the retail release. The promotional release excludes non-score (with the exception of Sting's The Mighty) and places in two tracks consisting of more score. Here are the two tracks:

• Knights in Armor ****
• Dungeons & Damsels *****
  

Verdict
The Mighty is one of my personal favorites. The varied themes, the uniqueness of it makes it worthy of multiple listens. If you like intense, jumpy, pure orchestral bliss, The Mighty has this on some tracks. If you're into Celtic music, you'll probably grow to love this too.

Additional Comments
The 1st Soncinemad Film Music Festival of Madrid Symphonic Concert CD contains a track titled Chapter Six - The Empty Book / Death of a Knight, which is a new performance of My Noble Knight. Only one track from The Mighty was performed live.


Rating

Review: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

Composer: Steve Jablonsky

Steve Jablonsky is back on the train with Michael Bay - Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Now, with a fantastic title like that, you've got to have a score to match it. What you have is a score that does that, a score that feels different to the first feature and doesn't just put out a crazy remix of the first score.

I have reviewed some of the tracks to give you an idea of what to expect. Should you get this soundtrack because you liked the first? Yes but this one feels much different, although you are presented with some brief themes from the first.

Prime
The first cue pulls you right into the score. It's a great piece from Jablonsky and feels patriotic. This element you will see pop up throughout the score. The choir come in to further pull on you and make the track feel grand and complete.

Einstein's Wrong
Steve somehow manages to put a track on a soundtrack that feels very different. This track follows the trend that Steamboy's Scarlet track offered. It's much lighter from the start. Not too far in, the direction changes and we've got the chants of the choir and something that seems more fantasy-like.

Nest
Woah! Straight to it with this one. It's loud, it's crazy, it feels like some metal / rock theme. Wait. This does use an instrumental excerpt from Linkin Park's New Divide track. This track was made for the feature and Jablonsky has carefully mixed it with the score well. I really am liking this theme. In fact, maybe I should go listen to New Divide - its vocal track and instrumental track.

The Fallen
Disturbing. Reminds me of Brian Tyler on the opening. It has that eerie feel - you could make this track work with a horror / thriller movie. It's just over 4 minutes but it doesn't change much, whilst some of the shorter tracks changes themes often and are shorter.

Infinite White
The emotional piece. The piece that will really sink into your heart. It evolves into something that I keep thinking is Gladiator. Seems like another trend - copy and adapt the stuff from Gladiator because we all know that score was just pure greatness. Bow down to Zimmer with this one.

Forest Battle
This is not a lengthy track but it sure is something I want to play frequently from this score. The reason being is Forest Battle uses the theme from the first feature and blends is well with Steve's new score. You won't find this theme come in until around 1:30, though.

Matrix of Leadership
Similar to Infinite White from the first part. We are once again feeling the emotion of Steve's score. The theme from the first feature is back in this track too. Listen to all of this because you've got a tribute to the Arrival to Earth track from the first score. However, it just ends so soon with this theme. Guess I should go back to the first score to get a decent fix.

I Rise, You Fall
A track that feels like something has been accomplished. Familiar themes are a must for this final track. When this stops playing, I feel a little sad inside. Surely there's a bit more score out there? This soundtrack offers some pretty varied tracks but it needs more. Maybe something later? We'll see...or hear.


Tracks

1. Prime ****
   
2. Einstein's Wrong ***
   
3. Nest (instrumental excerpt from Linkin Park's New Order) *****
   
4. The Shard ****
   
5. The Fallen ***
   
6. Infinite White *****
   
7. Heed Our Warning ***
   
8. The Fallen's Arrival ****
   
9. Tomb of the Primes ****
   
10. Forest Battle *****
    
11. Precious Cargo ****
    
12. Matrix of Leadership ****
    
13. I Claim Your Sun ****
    
14. I Rise, You Fall *****
    

Verdict
Sounds to be the best summer score of 2009. Steve Jablonsky manages to make something feel much different from the first score but does pay tribute to the familiar theme with some tracks. A fan of Steve Jablonsky's previous works will easily get into this. Some tracks, you'll need to wait out for the best parts but there are some where the best parts start out right away.

There's got to be more score out there. In fact, over 110 minutes of it according to ScoringSessions.com.


Rating

Review: The Island (2005)

Composer: Steve Jablonsky

The Island is a modern masterpiece in film scoring. Whilst it certainly isn't traditional, it does very well at being a good electronic, synthesized soundtrack. There are other soundtracks that use the same techniques but Steve knows what he is doing and I give him praise for making such a great listening experience. This will likely appeal to newcomers of film score because of the more electronic elements.

In this review I describe my experiences with every track. These are all on the retail soundtrack, although at some point I may feature the expanded score tracks and will note these. Tracks to look out for include The Island Awaits You, Sector 6, I'm Not Ready to Die, Mass Winnings, Send in the Clones and My Name is Lincoln (the 'mainstream' track of The Island).

Don't go expecting coconut and steel drum sounds because that's not what The Island is about.


The Island Awaits You
This cue plays during the opening scene. The start to the score is impressive, it feels so deep and proud. The scene is beautiful - an epic opening shot of the sea and the beauty is further matched with the score. All seems well until things start to turn into a more darker style and we soon realise this paradise was not what it seems. I'd rate this higher except I didn't really like the darker change in this track.

Where Do These Tubes Go?
Hmm. Where do they go (you'll understand in the film)? Steve picks up the pace a bit and offers a fairly good but not quite the track to match the epic nature of the other tracks. It's not a track I listen to much from The Island compared to the others.

Sector 6
Impressive. Things are going energetic, things are getting serious. Sector 6 goes really high with the percussion and it just seems so powerful. Here a familiar theme starts and you'll hear different instances later on in the score. You may also notice 'woof' noises too but it doesn't detract.

Starkweather
I wasn't quite sure what to think of Starkweather at first. The cue didn't impress me until about 15 seconds into it. This feel very electronic and all the tracks do retain this feel. I feel this one is high up the scale for feeling electronic. The real gem comes at around 1:52, when you hear a helicopter sound effect and then turns into themes similar to the previous cue, Sector 6. Percussion is once again in control from here on. A steady heartbeat sound is heard, making this track feel intense.

At 2:37 the track takes a breather, like you've just escaped from the eagle's eye and then not a note too soon - you're back in the spotlight - percussion back on. The cue is ended with some strings to calm it down.

Agnate Ukuleles
I hate spelling this track. Again, like Starkweather, it didn't appeal right from the start. Things did get better but it took much longer to get to the good part. About a minute into this, it does go a bit higher but not a dramatic change of themes.

Around 1:43, the cue goes into a new direction. Things have slowed down. It's like you've just awoken and are looking into the distance, the sun glaring and an unreasonably large object is right in front of you. You, wondering what it is, step up and see the beast. The cue ends intensely.

You Have a Special Purpose in Life
A quote from the movie this track title is based on. Percussion is present but not as impressive as in previous tracks. Like Agnate Ukuleles, this takes a different direction at around 2:15. Things have slowed down and all we hear are very few instruments. The strings pretty much in domination now. These are the emotional instrument to the score I noticed. They're always played delicately in The Island's score, whilst percussion tends to lead the way with the more intense, action-type parts.

Mass Vehicular Carnage
The second track I don't listen to much compared to other tracks from The Island. This has some vocals in it, although I'm not sure who is credited for these (The Prom Kings?). It's fair but it feels more like a track to feature whilst the main score takes a break. The direction doesn't change much.

Renovatio
Right, well we're back and off to an incredible start. Energetic start and hopefully this will be a track to keep up well. Intense and incredible part keeping you far from sleeping at 1:07-1:21. After this, another change of direction. The pace is keeping steady for a little while but soon we're back into a more intense style. I highly suggest doing a search for 'Renovatio' since it's beautiful in a more visual way.

I'm Not Ready to Die
Now, with a title like that, this track has to be a darker turn for the score. Indeed. We start off in a realization state, with the piano being used but very minimal. The piano is rarely featured on this score. At 53 seconds in we make the jump and off we go. Fast, dark and just plain awesome. This is one of the few tracks you'll need to listen to again. At 1:31, the darker elements are further emphasized and we're going down the road of gloom. The track is nearly finished but hey, a change of direction so late in. An awesome one, whilst it lasts.

This Tongue Thing's Amazing
Here we go with the familiar theme of The Island. This track is a light, since I guess your focus, from the point in the movie, would most likely be the tongue action. It doesn't last long and the score makes another change at 1:20. It feels like a 'we need to get out of here...somehow' track. The choir you'll hear faintly in this. The track doesn't go too far out of its way and stays fairly calm.

Mass Winnings
Another highlight of The Island's score is this track. It starts off dark, goes into a theme we've heard earlier. The strings and horns are back. A little later, comes the percussion element, which does great at going at a steady pace. It's just over 5 minutes and the next track is pretty lengthy too. In fact, on my player, they're both at 5:07.

The Craziest Mess I've Ever Seen
What a track title! Surely a cue with this title has to be great, right? Yes. At 0:25 it sets us up. Then, back into a calm state but not for too long. 0:57 we're getting ready and percussion is leading us, along with the choir and horns. The best part for me occurs at 2:13. It's like a big train that's going out of control and there's no stopping. It's a shame though, since this theme doesn't last very long.

However, I am once again pleased at 2:51. Things are just too crazy here. I am not sure what I can compare that sound to. It remains crazy up to 4:32. The heartbeat effect here is very intense here and the choir lead us with the familiar theme of The Island.

Send in the Clones
Fairly energetic and the end for our intense score. At 1:27 it does slow down and does remind a bit of what Call of Duty 4's score (released later). Not too long after, the pace is picked up. Now, to get the best from this track, you'll have to listen in to the wonderful piano at 3:46. It's just so emotional and even on an action-packed movie like this, it works very well. A real treat this was.

My Name is Lincoln
Having listened to The Island's score so many times now, it's hard to come up with a favorite track. I guess I should go for this one but this one, since it's the defining theme for The Island. It's this one track most people seem to only care about because it plays so well and is featured during the ending. Nothing is intense - this is a goodbye, see you later theme.

The choir are great, the rhythm to this is great. Some may say this one sounds similar to Hans Zimmer's Now We Are Free from Gladiator. In a way, it does but when you listen to this one, you will always remember it from The Island. In comparison to the rest of the tracks, this does feel quite different.

Blow (by The Prom Kings)
This is the only track (vocal) not from Steve Jablonsky (Mass Vehicular Carnage does feature vocals too but is credited to Steve Jablonsky). This one is featured during the bar scene. It didn't stand out very well in the movie but you do start to enjoy it when you give it a few listens on the soundtrack. Blow feels a bit too common and it's something I'll either just play or not play at all. It's not something I really want to listen to when I have all that score from Steve Jablonsky.


Tracks

1. The Island Awaits You ****
   
2. Where Do These Tubes Go? ***
   
3. Sector 6 ****
   
4. Starkweather *****
   
5. Agnate Ukuleles ****
   
6. You Have a Special Purpose in Life *****
   
7. Mass Vehicular Carnage ***
   
8. Renovatio ****
   
9. I'm Not Ready to Die *****
   
10. This Tongue Thing's Amazing ****
    
11. Mass Winnings *****
    
12. The Craziest Mess I've Ever Seen ****
    
13. Send in the Clones ****
    
14. My Name Is Lincoln *****
    
15. Blow (by The Prom Kings) ***

Verdict
The Island is one of the best to come out of 2005. It's very intense, action-packed and has some great emotional themes too. This is the soundtrack that got me into Steve Jablonsky's works and so far, for me, it is his best. Yes, I have heard Transformers but it comes close but not that close.


Rating