Customer Reviews

Apocalypto

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

A lot of people either hate this score or love it and I can understand why: Like the film itself it's a polarizing release. I personally was riveted by the film and score after a few listens.

I always think the context to which a score is recorded is important to remember when rating it's quality. Often composers are given limited time, money and resources which obviously has a massive effect on the overall product and Horner was in short supply of all 3 when he recorded Apocalypto. Although Horner plagarises himself and others to a daring extent I think he did an admiral job with Apocalypto. The bulk of the score is made up of predominantly synths, percussion, pan flutes/pipes and the work of solo artist Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan whose unbelievable voice is the defining instrument in Apocalypto. It's his aggressive, chanting, growling work that I suspect is what puts most people off. Right near the start of the album in `Tapir Hunt' for example, Rahat's aggressive throat noises sounds like he's coughing up a pack of cigarettes. Despite this it works incredibly well on film during the actual tapir hunt scene.

This is more a `mood' score than symphonic work. Similar to Horners other score for A New World he incorporates bird noises and rainforest sounds in the bookend tracks `From the Forest...' and `To the Forest...' Highlights include `Holcane Attack', `The Games and Escape', `Civilizations Brought by the Sea' and the forementioned `To the Forest,'

Be careful you know what you're purchasing if you buy this score. A friend of mine lent me his copy so perhaps the fact I didn't pay for mine has a bearing on my review. It's by no means an easy listen initially but persistance pays for this impressively raw and aggressive feat none the less. More importantly it's original, which can't be said for many other Horner efforts

I rarely buy soundtracks but, not only was the film outstanding, the sound track stands on its own as a masterpiece. It's in my top 3 CDs of all time.
I have been a musician and composer my entire life so my standards are high.
Two songs are a little wild but they fit the film perfectly.
To The Forest, From The Forest, and Words Through The Sky are my favs, and I sometimes play those 3 alone on repeat for hours!
All the tracks are very original and quite powerful. Beautiful unique instrumentals with occasional gentle background vocals without words.
It works as quiet background music or you can turn it up and appreciate the extreme quality. Few soundtracks on their own can carry the emotion one felt while watching a film; however, this soundtrack does that and more.
I have studied southwest archaeolgy, anthropology, and MesoAmerica for many years and I think this music hits it right on.
It transports you to another place and touches many emotions inside your soul. I think it's the perfect score for the story in the film and the perfect score for the story of human experience.
James Horner, thank you for such an amazing accomplishment.
Mel Gibson deserves a lot of credit for the whole package. Bring on the Oscars!!

I wasn't sure on the first listen but after the 2nd or 3rd time I really started to like it. I haven't seen Apocalypto yet so I don't know how well the music goes with the film but I found it an enjoyable listen on it's own. The music is quite original and not what I expected although you can hear bits of The New World in some of the slower tracks, which isn't a bad thing, I love that score. I enjoyed the action jungle music, some of it had a Skull Island sort of feel to it.

In my opinion, James Horner is the master of movie scores. I have loved his work ever since I first heard it in the movie Legends of the Fall.He outdid himself in Zorro and Titanic also. Every piece of music that he composes is a work of art. His signature on music is so distinct that when I saw Apocalypto in theaters I sat down after getting a drink,heard a few bars and said to myself,"Awesome. Sounds like James Horner did the music". This score gripped me from beginning to end.

Unlike some of the reviewers below, I have seen the movie. I found the score amazing. For anyone interested, the movie is a flat-out action film. The film has little dialogue. The film relies on the cinematography and score. And to those that have seen the film, it is no disappointment. Tribal music is essential. It is a heritage music. And after seeing the film, I could not get the beating pulse out og my head. If this score, is anythign like the film, then it is well worth buying. Like I said, I have not listened to the soundtrack. But the incredible tribal sounds (seriously, Mel Gibson should have sought out Neil Barnes/Paul Daley of Leftfield for the score!) and the haunting vocal arias made the film both incredibly satisfying and rewarding. Watch it. Don't listen to the anyone who hasn't seen the film. They have no idea what they are talking about. James Horner is a great composer. No doubt. Variety makes a artist more spectacular.

If you want to express your opinion about a score, it's very important, while you are watching the film, to hear the music very carefully and try to understand and feel, the emotions of the composer himself.
At the same time you have to be able to memorize and "uncode" your personal feelings and emotions too...
It's hard to do this and it takes years to practice.
The film Apocalypto (the word apocalypto it's Greek, it means, to reveal, to unfold, to bring out, to let people know) is simply great, but with brutal and barbaric scenes.
The score "matches" excellent with the film!!!
It's simply Great!!!
Another Great Score...from a Great composer!
Well done Horner!

I enjoyed the movie when it came out, but the soundtrack did not make much of an impression. Someone mentioned the soundtrack on a high end stereo website, and after listening, I think the soundtrack stands on its own. It is consistent thematically and in instrumentation, unlike the compilation approach of, say Heat, which has a few outstanding and obscure tracks by a variety of artists. If you are interested in soundtracks or exotic percussion, give this one a listen. Also can recommend the work by Warren Ellis and Nick Cave on "The Proposition" and the "Assassination of Billy the Kid..."

This is a very different soundtrack from James Horner's usual work. He eschews traditional orchestration for native instrumentation and gives the music a tribal feel that matches the film perfectly. It is basic, with percussion and voice providing much of the sound, but it is the emotion that Horner manages to generate that carries the disc. It is difficult not to be affected by the pulsating rhythm and the low menacing growls that seem designed to unsettle the listener. If you have seen the film, it is not unlike the effects Mel Gibson used when Jaguar Paw was running for his life through the jungle - indeed, some of the sounds of the jungle make it onto the disc. This is music that sucks you in and demands that you get involved. That said, it is not to everyone's taste and I would imagine that if you have not seen the film, it may not appeal, especially if you are judging it by Horner's usual repertoire. But then, why not give it a go? I love it and you might too.

Apocalypto is not your usual film soundtrack. It's only 'themes' are the ethereal and tribal vocals, and the pounding percussion - these two elements are in most of the tracks, yet never get repetitive. Instead, James Horner is able to change and mix them to create any mood necessary: A sense of foreboding and dread, an intense action/chase scene or even a quieter, reflective piece.

There are a few tracks at the beginning which are a little too slow for me and lead nowhere, but this is made up for by the haunting, tense tracks of the middle and the action pieces towards the end. You have to give the whole soundtrack a fair go as it gets a lot better as it moves forward.

The soundtrack has a completely original sound to it, and is unlike the any other soundtrack I've heard from Horner. I would suggest buying this album if you love ambient music, music that really creates images in your mind of what is happening - music that suggests the story, rather than tells it. If you prefer more thematic works with tunes you can hum along to, I would not recommend this.

If you enjoyed the movie, then you will like this cd. It contains all the instrumental music that the feature contains. I really like it.