Batman Begins [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
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Free Music Notes for Batman Begins [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
Free Music Review: Excellent score to an excellent film
Hit: 5 Stars
First, let me say I enjoyed the film Batman Begins immensely. I thought it was the most "true-to-life" representation of the Batman story ever done and I was pleased with the stylistic choices made in the film.
That said, I found the Hans Zimmer/James Newton Howard collaborative soundtrack to be perfectly suited to the film and I was quite surprised to find that it also stood as quite a good listen on its own. I believe my surprise stems from the fact that when I first saw the film, I didn't hear the soundtrack, I FELT it. While this may strike some as an indication that the composer failed in his duty, it is in fact the highest aim of the film composer. So perfectly interwoven into the film was the score that my consciousness barely noted it (though if you asked me after I saw the film if I liked the music, I certainly would have said yes).
As many reviewers have already stated, the score evokes deep senses of darkness, foreboding, and despair, as well as tenderness, courage, and honor. The score, like the film, is a roller-coaster affair that may leave one breathless.
A few reviewers have stated that they were bothered by how Zimmer and Howard "ignored" or "trampled on" or "disrespected" Elfman's score for Tim Burton's Batman, released in 1989. This is absurd. For one, while many composers choose to include homages or references to previous scores if they're doing another version of the same (or in this case, similar) film (and yes, there are a few I could pick out in Begins), they "owe" those previous composers nothing at all. They are hired to produce a score which matches with the movie on screen. I absolutely love Danny Elfman's score for Batman, I have listened to it regularly for over a decade. But I firmly believe that Elfman's work would have been completely wrong for Batman Begins. Elfman's score screams brass and bravado, elements that would have grated against the grim, bleak Gotham City of Batman Begins.
For those who know their works, it is pretty obvious when Howard is doing the talking and when Zimmer takes over. Zimmer, in particular, has produced what I believe to be his best work to date. One reviewer decried his use of synths and went so far as to claim he had no musical talent at all. If synths are a problem with you, then yes, you may have issues with Batman Begins. But if you think Hans Zimmer is a no-talent hack, I would recommend you listen to the score to "As Good As It Gets," an amazingly uncharacteristic Hans Zimmer work. If you can listen to that and still come away thinking Zimmer has no talent and doesn't work with live performers, then I will have lost hope for you.
James Newton Howard also contributes some beautiful themes, most notably in my mind being the "Bruce remembers his parents" theme, though it isn't known as such. It pops up throughout the score and really gives perspective to the fact that in the end, Bruce Wayne is still a young man who misses his parents. It is reminiscent of Malcolm's theme in "The Sixth Sense," another powerhouse Howard score.
Overall, though, what struck me most about this soundtrack was how closely it is related to Don Davis' work for the original Matrix film. Structurally, the two are very similar: they eschew the use of dramatic musical motifs in favor of creating an entire sonic world in which the films can exist. Both scores sprinkle themes audiences come to know and recognize in the film (the aforementioned "Bruce/Parents" theme, the Neo/Trinity love theme, for examples), but those are not the focus of the music. And, just as people in 1999 condemned the Matrix score as being "soullessly atonal" and lacking any major themes, few people in America today would not be able to identify the echoing, brassy fanfare that heralded the start of one of the Matrix films.
I feel that the same thing will happen with Batman Begins. There may be an initial negative reaction to the "decentralized" nature of the score, but I am confidant that when all is said and done, it will be recognized for the truly great work of music that it is. Films like The Matrix and Batman Begins are, in my opinion, the future of things to come in the film score world. I expect to see many more well-made soundtracks in the style they are helping to establish.
Free Music Review: One Zimmer's best scores!
Hit: 5 Stars
In this new Batman series the cast and director has changed. And so has the composer. Actually one of the biggest films of the year is scored by two composers that are best friends and have always wanted to work together on a project. They are none other than Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard. Two established and leading composers of this age. By listening to this score the first two tracks you can clearly tell the sound is pure Zimmer using his usual dynamic synthesizers and while there is an orchestra its there for Howard. The listener can tell when its Howard and when its Zimmer. Being a big fan of Zimmer and adoring his scores to the Peacemaker, Drop Zone, Pacific Heights, Backdraft, and Gladiator this one is unlike his previous compositions. This one is dark, brooding, and mysterious yet it is very fun to listen to. Though Hans is known as an 'action music' composer so we never really get enough of his horror music. Well, anyone how is like Me and wants more dark music from this great composer then look no further than Batman Begins! The album starts out with the sound of enormous bat wings flapping away! There are some other bat noises created by electronic and orchestral strings in track five which this one a scary one. The score has a theme and a two sub-themes. In My opinion they are much different than the themes that Danny Elfman and Elliot Goldenthal composes for the earlier films. The sixth track is also a great one. The main theme is in full force in track ten and its an incredible listen! Two things I love what Zimmer does in this score is in track three he uses a huge bell sound and there is a moment in track four where a children's choir is present. It sounds really gothic. Howard's love theme is really a dramatic one and is remicent of his earlier works such as the Village. Its quite lovely. In fact, Zimmer and Howard takes a different approach to this Batman score than the other greats did with their's. The entire score is really perfect for the film. I love the other scores that Elfman composed and I thought that Goldenthal did terrific job as well but this one is the most different of all of them and the most dynamic. I think this score is Oscar quality, no question about it! If you are a big fan of these composers I strongly recommned you purchase Batman Begins today!Free Music Review: Batman Returns!
Hit: 5 Stars
The steady climbing string music in the first teaser trailer was definitely not Danny Elfman but unmistakably "Batman." James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer have tried to collaborate on a film but scheduling issues prevented them from doing so.
Howard, still fresh off the success of The Village, provides the emotional setting of the film capturing Bruce Wayne's feelings of loneliness and anger. Zimmer, mostly known for his action scores, provides the - what else? - action cues for the film and, like always, he does not disappoint. Gone from the score are the main Batman Theme and comical sounds of the previous scores. This score is dark, creepy, action-packed and sometimes subtle.
"Vespertilio" is the opening track containing the music during the opening logos of the film. The sound effects shifts from one channel speaker to the other almost giving a "bat-flapping" feeling to it.
Throughout various tracks Howard's and Zimmer's talents shift between one another almost seamlessly giving the score a "solo composer" voice feel to it.
My personal favorite track is "Molossus". It starts with a bang of percussion, continues pounding for a while before it is joined by the rest of the "ensemble." The brass begins the accompaniment followed by the strings further adding to the tension before the main theme begins. After the main theme makes its appearance, the action continues with great underscore accompaniment in Hans Zimmer fashion.
A good example of a subtle track is "Corynorhinus". It's mainly played by a solo piano accompanied by a "string ensemble."
Overall, this album is a great fit to the latest Batman movie. This soundtrack definitely belongs next to the Batman and Batman Returns albums on your shelf. At a little over an hour long, there's plenty of music to go around. You will not be let down . . . unless you wanted an Elfman score. Keep in mind this is mainly an ELECTRONIC score not an orchestral score.
Free Music Review: Perfect
Hit: 5 Stars
Tim Burton's Batman is very much like Danny Elfman's score for it: over-the-top, obvious, and gaudy. Similarly, Nolan's Batman is like Hans Zimmer's and James Newton-Howard's music in that it is subtle, believable, and absolutely wonderful.
Batman Begins, in my own, humble, opinion, was one of the best movies last year only because it didn't seem to be written as "a super-hero movie" but instead as a uniquely human story whose protagonist just happened to be one Bruce Wayne. If you enjoyed the film, the music will not disappoint. With its especially dark and haunting feel, and occasional heart-pounding action sequences, the music matches the film perfectly. Underneath the low, dark, themes, exceptionally warm, lush, and strangely human string melodies occasionally emerge, helping to establish the fact that the focus of the movie truly is on the characters themselves and the individual relationships they have with one another. These motifs are spread out strategically through the soundtrack and are slightly scarce, making them all the more heartbreakingly beautiful when they do eventually surface.
As a huge fan of both Zimmer and Newton-Howard, it was especially entertaining for me to listen to the score and pick out the aspects of it that resembled more Zimmer's technique and more Newton-Howard's. I tend to enjoy James Newton-Howard's quieter works (such as the work he's done with M. Night Shyamalan) and Hans Zimmer's grander ones (like The Last Samurai) and was amazed how well these two styles meshed together. They complimented each other wonderfully and I was left wanting more. I only hope that the two will collaborate again in the future.
If you are sick of movies and the music that goes with them, that hit you over the head with the loud, grand, ostentatious, brass-filled themes, and are looking for something better, then Batman Begins is the soundtrack for you.
Free Music Review: the perfect Batman movie "an artists opinion"
Hit: 5 Stars
(first off...this is not a kid...just too lazy to "fill out paper work"... :p ) but i hope this review helps you a lot.
this batman-words cannot describe how powerful this movie was. the music alone played an outstanding-brilliant-hmm...hauntingly, traumatizing, and hypnotic role to me.
it was very heroic- but in a very dark and disturbed way. and it came to me: "some of the greatest classical music is only heard in movies" and some of the greatest music is really twisted -like how most people described this soundtrack already, for you.
The part in the movie that shows a lot of emotion with these brilliant classical peices playing, was when Racheal was posioned. The insane driving scene, and the part when batman screamed her name...there was something about The Bat's voice that made it one of the most powerful scenes in the movie, to me...
Danny Elfman's input was more comical,heroic, and triumphant. Hans Zimmer gave it a more sinister feeling and at the same time made it sound kind of hopefull and heroic. you will be very pleased- its an hour long- read a book and put this in your CD player. preferably the Batman Begins book or any other graphic novel-or comic. even better with the Bat. you'll get smarter. its good to be creative with this on too. lots of different visuals.
TRACKS 4 through 8 is a wonderful-morbid musical ride.(ten is really good too). The music with the scarecrow whispering is very creepy- but its a perfect theme for the character. The rest of the CD is just as magnificant and beautifully composed, listen to it as a whole to get the Full effect.
remember: four through eight. thank you for taking the time to read this review. 4-8. i can't stress four through eight enough...4 through 8. thanks again for reading this review.