Narnia: Prince Caspian [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
![Narnia: Prince Caspian [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]](/images/Narnia-Prince-Caspian-Original-Motion-Picture-Soundtrack-B0015HZAP2-L.jpg)
|
List Price: Our Price: $9.33 You Save: $4.65 (33%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $4.30 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for Narnia: Prince Caspian [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
Free Music Review: "...I Know. You Had it Sorted..."
Hit: 5 Stars
I went into buying this CD Blind. When I first watched The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005), I paid little attention to the soundtrack in the background, so I had no expectations on that level. I Recognized the name Harry Gregson-Williams and remembering how much I loved his Kingdom of Heaven and Man on Fire scores, I decided to give this a listening to. I've yet to see THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN, so my review on the music will have no connection to the film whatsoever beyond speculation. (Maybe once I get my hands on the movie, I'll be able to tweak this baby.) That aside, when the very first film came out, the experience of watching it was underwhelming to say the least.
So when I started hearing rave reviews about "Prince Caspian" combined with how impressed I was by the trailers, I decided that giving a listen to the soundtrack wouldn't hurt. Sufficed to say, I am not disappointed with what I've purchased. Harry Gregson Williams has really crafted something magnificent here, only second to his KINGDOM OF HEAVEN score.
Every track is quite enjoyable with the exception of tracks 13, 14, and 16, all of which leave much to be desired and take some getting used to once you give them a propper listening to. The soundtrack gets across an overall seriousness and vast description of the dire situation surrounding the state of Narina (albeit, 1300 years later). Gregson-Williams manages to create a militaristic sound while maintaining the wondrous awe of Narnia with the blend of heavy and light orchestration. Even throws in a little electronic manipulation for fun.
-------
1. "Prince Caspian Flees" (4:37) - One of my favorite tracks on the score, it really sets the tone and strength of the soundtrack following. The vocals are strong and the orchestration is as frantic as the scene it supposedly describes (Prince Caspian running for his life, perhaps?). One thing I noticed about the Theme for "CASPIAN" was that it sounded like a terribly familiar theme used in another film. At first, I couldn't put my finger on it, but then as fate would have I remembered it around the same time it came back on TV. Gregson-Williams probably uses the first half of Klaus Badelt's very catchy and powerful theme for the 2006 Poseidon Remake. I happen to own said score for the adventure film and the resembles to both themes is so frightening its not even funny. - 5/5
2. "Kings and Queens of Old" (3:35) - This track more than likely is describing the three Pevensie children before their return to Narina. The theme is lighthearted, grand, nostalgic even with the music box instrument playing in the background. Overall, its a very nice piece. - 4/5
3. "Journey to the How" (4:47) - The very beginning of this track is a slow and steady build up. As it reaches its two minute mark, the music becomes more urgent, pretty much like a person making haste toward something (or being chased by something/one). The vocals are great and blend in well with the drums before fading into the background. - 4/5
4. "Arrival at Aslan's How" (2:59) - The first of the shortest tracks on the score (the second is "Armies Assemble"). Its not exactly the most memorable track on the soundtrack. The music rises and falls with vocals, and at the very end of it, sooths its listeners with a melodic flute. - 3/5
5. "Raid on the Castle" (7:08) - A sweeping epic piece in every meaning of the word, 'Raid on the Castle' is a dramatic action theme at its best. Its sound changes every minute the further you go into it and is more akin to KINGDOM OF HEAVEN than most of the tracks on the score. The 4:57 mark is by far the most powerful sequences in the track. - 5/5
6.-7. "Miraz Crowned; Sorcery and Sudden Vengeance" (4:49; 6:19) - Track six's title is self-explanatory and pretty much describes something I'm betting no one on the side of "Narina" wanted to see happen. That aside, the orchestration is a very foreboding mixture doom and ascension to sought after power. One of the horns at 1:38-1:45 reminded me of Michael Kamen's ""Lethal Weapon (1987)" Score" Score, and as far of a stretch of music genres that is, I suppose you wouldn't know what I meant unless you've actually heard the score without the movie. Overall, its an excellent track. - 4/5
Track Seven on the other hand, is actually quite creepy in the way its designed. No idea what it pertains to, beyond speculation, but its beautifully crafted. The chant like vocals and added electronic thumps overlayed upon what sounds like the same violin used in "Mystique's Theme" from Kamen's X-Men Soundtrack. Its pace really picks up around the 4:05 mark; The music becomes stronger the chants are more prominent, ethic instruments are utilized. Everything about this track is amazing. - 5/5
8-9. - "The Duel; The Armies Assemble" (5:58; 2:25) - This two are your basic action/drama fanfares. Track Eight's beginning is really a lot of build up spiraling down into chaos before finally coming together around the four minute-ten second mark. Thus it becomes frenetic like a frenzied battle. - 4/5; Track Nine's, orchestration resembles that of "Miraz Crowned" in some ways. Foretelling doom before a great battle as armies assemble to go to war. - 4/5
10-11. "Battle at Aslan's How; Return of the Lion" (5:20; 4:18) - Track Ten jumps straight into the action using the theme featured prominently in the 1st and 7th tracks, while managing to switch up the orchestration a bit and steadily become different as it does so. A great action theme. - 5/5
Tack Eleven's track pretty much hints what it could mean. The return of Aslan The Great Lion, with awespiring music to back him up. This is a really beautiful piece of music, quite fitting for the iconic character. It does of course jump right back into the action fanfare once the pleasantries are done and over with. - 5/5
12-15. "The Door in the Air; This Is Home" (7:55; 4:03) - Track twelve brings us to the finale of the score. Again, like track two its lighthearted, but instead of nostalgic, I guess its more of a sweeping farewell. The farther along it goes, it starts to sound a little like one of the three Harry Potter Scores composed by John Williams. Its the longest track on the CD and it really calms you down. - 4/5
Track Fifteen features Switchfoot's single "This Is Home" --- which is probably the best vocal on the entire soundtrack. I've been a fan of Switchfoot since "The Beautiful Letdown", and I was glad to hear something new from them. At first, it didn't think much of this song, but the more I listened to this the more I loved it. The lyrics are beautiful and instrumental is awesome. - 5/5
13-14-17. The Call; Dance 'Round the Memory Tree; Lucy (3:07; 3:38; 4:31) At first, Regina Spektor's vocals on The Call, more or less in the strain of Imogen Heap-Esque singers on a lesser scale, were harsh on my ears and the lyrics sounded too Juvenile (or simplistic) to me. However, when I listened to the song again and it wasn't as terrible as I remembered it to be. Its a somber, yet hopeful melody, reflecting the Pevensie's farwell and return to Narnia. It will never be my favorite song, but its by no means a terrible one either. It just doesn't do anything for me. -3/5
Oren Lavie's "Dance around the Memory Tree" was one song I hated the most the first time I listened to it; His dronning voice made me skip the song 50 seconds into it. Perhaps like Rob Dougan, his vocals are an acquired taste. Looking at it from that point, Dance, full of Forlorn and Nostalgia of what could never be again, has actually become my favorite vocal track on the soundtrack. -5/5
The melody in Hanne Hukkelberg's "Lucy" is the best part of the song; Hanne's vocals, again, do nothing for me. The lyrics do a sublte job of reflecting Lucy's character and her relationship with Narnia, most of all, Aslan. - 3/5
Overall, if your looking for a great soundtrack, this is the one to buy. I highly recommend it. ---- [a 5 out of 5] - (June 18th, 2008 - EDITED: 3/18/09)
Free Music Review: Harry Gregson-Williams' greatest film score: Prince Caspian
Hit: 5 Stars
I remember the first time I heard the score to Narnia: Lion, Whitch, and Wardrobe. I was camping with my family, and my mom and dad gave me the CD as a surprise. I remember lying there in the camper and I turned the volume up really loud and...I was just captivated. Yeah, Harry Gregson William's score to Sinbad was cool, but I had never heard anything quite like Narnia...
And then I listened to "The Battle". Anybody who's anybody has heard this fantastic piece of music. I listened to that song several times in the camper, then I snatched the car keys because I had to listen to it on louder speakers. It was so epic, not like Lord of the Rings, not like Pirates of the Caribbean, but just...perfect. And the movie rocked too.
So news of a second Narnia reaches me, and to be honest, all I can think about is the music. Sure, I've seen the movie twice in theaters because it is WAY better than the first, but I just couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of the film score,(much like the upcoming The Dark Knight). I bought it at a local FYE and quickly opened it.
The music far exceeded my biggest expectations. BUT, (yes a big but), It only began to grow on me on the third or fourth listen, which I found to be very annoying. But anyways, the one thing I love about it is that it is darker, much more mature, its almost like its had time to grow and develop into something bigger and much harder to appreciate! Its like "The Battle" from the first Narnia was only a glimpse of what was to come...
Plus, I LOVE the last four tracks at the end, the ones with singing or vocals or whatever, and I normally don't like music with singing. I don't own one cd from a band or group or whatnot, its all film scores. And usually I don't even put on the singing songs on my iPod because I don't like them. Even the songs on the first Narnia weren't really that good, only "Can't Take It In" was ok.
But holy cow, this new Narnia music is intense! Yes, all the old themes are back, except for Mr. Tumnus' theme, well maybe its in there somewhere but not straightforward. But the new themes kick some serious butt! The choir is frantically epic, similar to Starwars but better. And I adore every song on the score, unlike the first Narnia where there were only a couple of songs that I listen to.
The best, though, are: Prince Caspian Flees, Raid on the Castle, Miraz Crowned, Battle at Aslan's How, and The Call.
So if I'm so freaked out about this music, shouldn't it be my first pick of 2008(so far)? Well, Michael Giacchino's score to Speed Racer for some reason wins first place. But Narnia 2 is so close in 2nd that you can barely tell them apart.
If you're an idiot and you've waited this long to buy this music, then get out there and buy it already! Its a good thing that the music has grown and is now ready to be more intense and epic!
This is Harry Gregson-Williams' greatest film score.
Free Music Review: You Might Find Harry's Score Darker Than You Remember (UPDATED)
Hit: 5 Stars
THE SOUNDTRACK ALBUM:
Harry wastes no time setting the dark mood for the second journey through the World of Narnia. PRINCE CASPIAN feels more of a sequel to KINGDOM OF HEAVEN with Narnia themes since it contains healthy doses of choir throughout much of the tracks giving the score a richer, grandeur, more epic feel that the 1st Narnia somewhat lacked.
The best part of this release from Disney is that we get a near full hour of score before the pop/rock songs! And if that isn't enough, the enhanced CD contains a photo gallery and the official movie trailer. Besides the bonus features and lengthy score, there's a small booklet (10 pages long) containing plenty of movie stills and liner notes by director Andrew Adamson.
AS HEARD ON FILM:
As I suspected, the score album serves as highlights of the cues heard on film (typical). Much of the new themes for the film were left out of the score album as if only the action cues counted. The quirky mouse theme was left out. Other great underscore was left out as well such as the opening scene build up to "Prince Caspian Flees," and the prelude to "Raid on the Castle".
The score was nearly wall-to-wall in a 2 hour and 20 minute film. Sadly, the album release gives the impression that this Narnia score is just a "rehash" - which in part it is since it's a SEQUEL! - as many other reviewers have expressed. (I sure doubt both Narnia scores will be given the "complete recordings release" treatment.)
OVERALL:
Truly, the score it much better heard on the film, but the album still merits my 5 stars. The score is dark, tense, suspenseful, epic and grand! It's my favorite score of the year thus far - that is until the new INDIANA JONES score is released a week after this writing =D
Free Music Review: More booming and energetic!
Hit: 5 Stars
After seeing Prince Caspian (Narnia 2) today, I had to run out and buy the CD. Few movies do that for me.
I enjoy booming/energetic sequences, and these are my favorite songs so far.
1. Prince Caspian Flees
5. Raid on the Castle
10. Battle at Aslan's How
The music from the movie did remind me a little of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, but that was expected. Actually I would be disappointed if there wasn't any continuity in the music between the two movies (similar to what was done with the Lord of the Rings trilogy). Overall Narnia 2 is more booming and energetic than Narnia 1. My favorite song from Narnia 1 was The Battle and it took too long to to get to the good part.
This soundtrack is right up there with other good soundtracks I have acquired recently like Beowulf Soundtrack, Transformers - The Score and Children of Dune.
Five stars definitely!
Free Music Review: A worthy follow-up to the first soundtrack.
Hit: 5 Stars
I loved the original soundtrack to "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" and I have become a fan of Harry Gregson-Williams from his work there and in "The Kingdom of Heaven." I have been highly anticipating the release of "Prince Caspian" and this soundtrack definitely lives up to my expectations.
"Prince Caspian" brings back some of the main themes from LW&W so this score is a fitting follow-up and continues where the first film leaves off. You will recognize themes from "The Wardrobe" and "The Battle" from the first score. This one is definitely darker and has some wonderful soaring vocals reminiscent of the vocals from battle scenes in "Kingdom of Heaven" and the first Narnia film.
Among the highlights are: "Prince Caspian Flees," "Raid on the Castle," "The Duel," "The Armies Assemble" and "Battle at Aslan's How." I also love the songs, particularly "The Call" (featuring Regina Spektor's ethereal voice) and "This is Home" (another winner by the band Switchfoot).
The entire soundtrack is strong and Harry Gregson-Williams once again delivers. I am very pleased to have him back, and hope to have him score "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" as well. If you are a fan of the first Narnia score, then I highly recommend the original soundtrack to "Prince Caspian."