Customer Reviews

Along Came A Spider (2001 Film)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm a big fan of Morgan Freeman ~ who done it? ~ and film-noir type films ~ but I'm a bigger fan of this man Jerry Goldsmith, is without a doubt one of the legendary icon composers on the Hollywood film-score scene.

This is a different Goldsmith, when I first heard this CD it was just alright ~ but play each track and hear what this composer has done for the story-line, think he's right on the mark.

Entire score is great, but the stand out is "TESTING", feel this is a gripping part of the cue, counter-parts emerge and each measure keeps you rivetted in your seat, which is what our composer does best.

Hats off to Jerry Goldsmith (producer) ~ Robert Townson (executive album producer) ~ and Varese Sarabande for giving each film-buff-collector what they crave, more film scores from one of the best composers of our time ~ JERRY GOLDSMITH!

Total Time: 34:59 on 9 Tracks ~ Varese Sarabande 302-066-238-2 ~ (2001)

ALONG CAME A SPIDER is one of my favorite Jerry Goldsmith scores. So it's kinda simple compared to his more acclaimed scores (i.e. TOTAL RECALL, POLTERGEIST, SUPERGIRL, etc.), but I still love it. A score does not have to be extremely original for me to enjoy it.

The film, itself, has some disturbingly eerie moments. Most of these moments would not work without this wonderful score. Jerry Goldsmith uses his famous style of orchestra and electronics. "The Ransom" is the highlight of the entire album. It is very similar to AIR FORCE ONE and U.S. MARSHALS, considering it uses that ascending 3-note motif he used in all three films. "Alone" is pretty simple. The only thing performed is a piano, and the piece, itself, is not very complex. However, it still makes a nice and soothing listen.

Why did I give this CD 4 stars if I like it so much? Well, the score itself deserves 5 stars, but the CD gets 4. There is almost 60 minutes of score in the movie, but only 35 minutes ended up on the album. ... I still dislike the fact that there is over 20 minutes missing. The one good thing is that, even though Goldsmith was under tight fees, he managed to pick the best selection of music. This is one of those Varese Sarabande CDs that is actually "enough", or in my case (being a major Goldsmith fan), almost "enough".

Do not get this album if you are looking forward to hearing "Soneji's Poem", "Dealing With A Madman/Sick Weirdo", "Missing Picture", "Dimitri's Computer Pal", "Empty Room", "Soneji's Death", or "Surveillance Tapes". They are not there.

Along Came A Spider is a decent score by the veteran composer Jerry Goldsmith. It is a typical Goldsmith score with all of his trademark sounds of orchestra and synthesizers. The score sounds great in the film, but as a work all by itself, is not as good as I had hoped. Metallic electronic noises are featured in the first and last tracks, which I guess represent a spider, because they kind of sound like one. A soft piano and string passage is present in the last track "Not My Partner", which shows Goldsmith trying to give us a big finale, but nothing really exciting happens. The rest of the majority of the score consists of action music with tons and tons of orchestra hits, mainly a brass motif. A lot of Total Recall style percussion work is present throughout the action cues. The only cue that really stands out is "The Ransom", which consists of what sounds like a theme developing, but it really doesn't. It's a great chase cue with booming 4 note percussion stabs and killer brass stabs. Along Came A Spider is a decent score, but don't let the spider webs develop from not listening to it enough. Put it in your player on occasion because it's not that bad. "The Ransom" is a 4 star track, the rest of the score rates about 3 stars, so the final rating I give it is 3 stars, which is not a bad rating at all, it just needed a little more tracks like "The Ransom" to boost the rating up a notch.

Like the reviewer before me, I have to say that this score doesn't start getting going until about half-way through. Then, it has some compellingly good tracks. Not that the rest of the score is bad, it just doesn't stand out for me (yet.) I am notorious, however, for having scores "grow" on me. So often, something that doesn't thrill me when I first hear it becomes a favorite later on. I can't say whether this score will be like that. But I think it is a solid offering, and an all-around decent score by this wonderful, prolific composer, Mr. Goldsmith.

It has a "US Marshals" "Air Force One" feel to it - it's a good score.

The score for ALONG CAME A SPIDER is one of Jerry Goldsmith's better compositions. In fact, the score for this film is truly a demonstration of his musical genius. ALONG CAME A SPIDER is a good film up to a point, but it becomes disturbingly mundane and predictable near its conclusion. It is Goldsmith's score that keeps this film afloat and gives it much needed energy, drive and suspense. That being said, I did find this CD a bit disappointing because it omitted a great portion of the score from this recording. You truly have to watch the film to appreciate Goldsmith's work here. The complete score is very dynamic and impressive. On deeper retrospect, I would say it is one of his best scores. However, this CD will have to suffice in the mean time.

This is an average score by Mr. Goldsmith. With 'Along Came a Spider' he once again use his trademark synth and brass style. Unlike the Goldsmith's last partnership with Lee Tamahori (The Edge), this score has no grand theme. The moody and themeless score is used mostly as a support of the subtle spooky atmosphere of the film. I find this score to be a stylistic mix suggesting scores like 'US Marshals', 'Hollow Man', and 'Deep Rising'. I would recommend this score to the Goldsmith completist not to someone just starting on Goldsmith.

While some might be lamenting the fact that there aren't any remakes of great songs from the past by artists that five years from now will warrant a "hey, look who covered this [insert name of artist who actually wrote and performed the song in the 50s/60s/70s/80s] song....[insert talentless yet at-the-time "hip" artist here)" from you or your friends. No, this is a 35-minute score album from one of the masters---Jerry Goldsmith.

The score pretty much follows in the footsteps of his more recent thriller scores (U.S. Marshals and Hollow Man, are the chief influences here), and upon first listen, might seem a little too by-the-numbers than usual, but at the halfway point of just about every cue, the score springs to life with relatively fresh, vibrant action material.

And while there are a few excellent cues (there is some fantastic, almost jazz-textured bass and piano, featuring former Don Ellis Orchestra members Chuck Domanico and Michael Lang, which warrants headphones-only listening), the fact that the film is such a piece of trash almost makes you forgive Goldsmith for not trying any harder than this (see also Deep Rising, another "dumping ground" film with a Goldsmith score conducted with his right hand while his left hand was covering his yawning mouth). The U.S. Marshals motif (that he used one way or another in everything he wrote in 1998, including the Oscar fanfare) makes a brief appearance, so fans of that can rest easy (and fanboys, you can start writing your angry letters to Goldsmith).

Bottom line: definate headphone listening for those bass/piano textures, some excellent yet almost too "easy way out" sections of action scoring, no Shaggy song, no theme, trash film, bored composer, somewhat disgruntled listener. Fans of LA Confidential's less-Bernstein moments, U.S. Marshals, Sleeping With The Enemy, Executive Decision, and Hollow Man should appreciate this.

Thanks for your time. I hope you can get something out of that review other than the fact that I ramble.

I would have expected more from Jerry Goldsmith. Certainly his score for "Along Came A Spider" is not his best work ever, but it's a bit better than "U.S. Marshals", if we talk about action music. In my opinion, the best track of this CD is 'The Ransom', in which a kind of theme is heard throughout and the suspense is better felt in here. The other action cues are interesting, but they don't hold the tension that 'The Ransom' does. The length of this CD is acceptable, and the important cues are heard here.

It's a awesome movie and I love the score!. Jerry Goldsmith has again come out winner. Along Came A Spider is the best. Hats off to Goldsmith for a another memorial score. This Soundtrack is one of my favorites. Track 7, "Ransom" and Track 8 ,"Cop Killer" are the best Tracks on CD. This is what you expect from a legendary composer like Jerry Goldsmith .

This must be one of goldsmiths greatest score ever, in my eyes.
It might be 30 minuts but it is worth it. And if you think it's a bad score you are so wrong. It sounds alot like star trek Insurrection and U.S. Marshals.The action music in this CD never stops!. If you want good music get this. Track 7, "Ransom" Rocks! if you are lising to Along came a spider, it's great to read one of the books(with Alex Cross). an impressive score Try Air force one or U.S. Marshals.