Customer Reviews

Apollo 13: Music From The Motion Picture

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although composer James Horner may be better known for his Academy Award-winning score to James Cameron's Titanic, he has written music for other very successful films in a variety of genres, including Star Trek II, Star Trek III, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, Battle Beyond the Stars, and the Ron Howard-directed, fact-based Apollo 13.

MCA's Apollo 13: Music From the Motion Picture showcases a mix of original compositions by Horner and songs from the Apollo Program era (1960s-1972), with selected bits of dialogue from the movie (performed by Tom Hanks, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris, and other cast members) added in for good measure.

The album starts with the stirring yet somber "Main Title," featuring a trumpet solo by Tim Morrison (who also performed the trumpet solo for John Williams' "Born on the Fourth of July") that recalls both the heroism and sacrifice of the Apollo astronauts. This 2:25 cue is heard during the flashback to the Jan. 1967 Apollo One disaster which took the lives of Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chafee during a launch rehearsal.

After a small snippet of Walter Cronkite's July 1969 announcement that Neil Armstrong had stepped on the moon, there is a long section of album devoted to music from the period, including songs by James Brown ("Night Train"), The Young Rascals ("Groovin' "), Jefferson Airplane ("Somebody to Love") and Jimi Hendrix ("Purple Haze").

Horner returns after another dramatic bit of dialogue with his 10:04 cue "The Launch." This is perhaps one of the best selections in the album, as it captures the tension, excitement and awe of a Saturn V launch. With its stirring themes evoking the sense of wonder and adventure, "The Launch" is a marvelous piece of music that mixes orchestral and vocal performances that capture the emotions of the Apollo 13 countdown, launch and flight into space.

Other artists featured in this enjoyable soundtrack album include country legend Hank Williams ("Honky Tonkin' "), Norman Greenbaum (with his rollicking "Spirit in the Sky," which to me recalls the optimism and can-do spirit of the Apollo Program) and The Mavericks ("Blue Moon"). Annie Lennox also provides the beautiful wordless vocals in the "End Titles."

Some of my favorite movie scores have come as a result of James Horner ("Braveheart," "Field of Dreams," and "Titanic"), and "Apollo 13" is no exception.

Mr. Horner does an excellent job of delivering every emotion that was evident in the film. You know it's going to be a good score when you get goosebumps racing up and down your arms three seconds into Track 1. Mr. Horner takes you on an incredible ride, and for once you don't have to worry about getting sick!

I also like the way the use of dialogue is interwoven between some of the tracks. This is done very effectively, and kudos to whomever thought of that idea because it works great here.

I've only got two minor complaints about this CD, and if it weren't for these little details, this track would have received a 5-Star rating instead of a 4-Star rating. 1) The use of rock-era songs. Now I know a lot of people like them on here (and it saves money so they don't have to go out and buy another CD), but for hardcore movie-score buffs like me, these are a distraction. I don't like having to skip over songs; I just like to sit back and let the music take me in. 2) The numbers on the back of the CD case do not match the play list. For example, you think you're going to be listening to a score from the movie, but instead you find yourself hearing dialogue or a rock song. I don't know who missed this (or if it was even noticed), but this is just poor miscalculating on whoever designed the case.

Other than those two complaints, I love this CD. I love it, love it, LOVE it. I'm afraid I'm going to wear it out from all the times I've played it. If you're a fan of James Horner, or just movie scores in general, do not hesitate to pick yourself up a copy of the "Apollo 13" score.

The powers that be should have released an "orchestral score only" Apollo 13 soundtrack, as was done for (for example) _L. A. Confidential_. As it is, James Horner's beautiful, inspiring, and amazing work is obscured by intercutting with dialog and period pop tunes, and much of it is simply missing in action. An "orchestral score only" CD was actually compiled and pressed, but not released for sale; it was distributed to Motion Picture Academy members for award consideration. It sometimes turns up on eBay. Better yet, just buy the movie DVD -- the full orchestral score (exactly as released on the Academy CD) plays behind the title menus. And you get the movie too...

APOLLO 13 was a remarkable movie. I'll say that. However the CD I cannot say the same for. I suppose from skimming the previous reviews that the disc.....how shall I say it......sucks. You'd be right to just keep right on looking at the rest of the CDs because this one just isn't worth it. For some reason, Hollywood just doesn't get the "less is more" slogan. To entice their listeners, MCA put additional dialogue into the tracks, along with ill placed pop songs from the period. The dialogue is used as a bridge between the songs and the music, and, in some places, used as a track in and of itself while Horner's music plays softly in the background. Am I wrong or does this just seem like the company was too lazy to extract the music from the footage? You no sooner begin to feel the vide of Horner's music before the songs come blasting in, immediatly sinking the grandeur of the disk as a whole. Another low point is the way the track listings on the cover in no way correspond with the disk. For instance, track one on the cover says "1. MAIN TITLE. ONE SMALL STEP (DIALOGUE)" So why is it on my player does ONE SMALL STEP appear as #2? This throws everything up, making what would be track 10 track 16. In the end, there are 23 tracks instead of the intended 15. I can't even program the CD to play only Horner pieces without accidentally getting a Jimi Hendrix song in there or a James Brown number. APOLLO 13's score is a let down, and an incredibly rediculous format. Bravado to James Horner for his moving score. Track 19 (?) is especially moving, using an eerie harmonizing woman's voice much the way he did in TITANIC, but, in this case, a deeply interwoven tune with an arabian flavor. And the only piece of dialogue I like on the CD (!)is the rather impressive HOUSE CLEANING track, which includes the great special effects used when the tank stir blows the ship. Its symphonically masterful, and gives me chills. Much more than I can say for the rest of the film. If you have the change, here ya go. But if it's on your want list, get out the eraser.

Buy the DVD. After the movie starts, go to the DVD menu. The entire sound track plays while the menu is on screen. At this point you can burn it onto a CD.

Yes, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I must admit that the other reviews here do not do this music justice. Perhaps the pop songs are a bit random, but the bottom line is that NOTHING could possibly take away from the quality of this score. Horner's music here is brilliant, passionate, triumphant... the horns, the drums, and the vocals all make for an absolutely stunning combination. The last two tracks prove that movie music can do more than simply support the plot. In my opinion, Apollo 13 was Horner's peak, and nothing since has surpassed it. Seriously, this is a deeply moving score. I strongly urge you to give it a chance.

But it could have been a great CD. By now you all know that this is one of Horner's finest film scores. It melds beautifully with the film and stands well on its own.

To its credit, MCA has released some great film scores such as Williams' ET and Eidelman's Star Trek VI. But they missed the boat with this release by including dialog and period pop songs and cutting back on the score. Horner's score contributed greatly to the emotional backbone of Apollo 13 adding immeasurably to the film's impact. When MCA became aware of the film's box office success, it added insult to injury by subsequently issuing a gold disc that added more sound effects and a surround mix. And left it at that for the public.

In extremely limited numbers, MCA issued a "promotional CD single" -- MCA3P-3432 -- which contains an hour of Horner's score and nothing else. The front and back covers are b&w images and text. If you look for it you might be able to find a copy in used CD stores.

Thank you MCA for releasing a fine film. I experienced it twice in its initial theatrical release and am happy to have it on DVD. I bought the official CD but it gathers dust since I found the promo. The promo is a gem. If you were to consider making special anniversary re-release of the film I think an official release of a score-only CD would be welcomed and, dare I say it, even profitable.

James Horner has created a bunch of awesome scores, but I think Apollo 13 is his best ever, PERIOD! The music is more dignified and happy, which makes it better than Titanic(the score for Titanic is kind of a downer, but believe me, its very good also, worth checking out), and the chorus vocals on Apollo 13 are so sweet! The trumpet solos on this album rule, and the added dialogue makes it feel like you're listening to the film. Here's the best tracks on the album: All Systems go--The Launch, Master Alarm, Re-Entry and Splashdown, and, the most awesome track on the album, the End Titles. I rate all 4 of those 50 out of 10. James Horner is a musical genius, so I HIGHLY suggest checking this soundtrack out.

"Apollo 13" marks James Horner's return to scoring evocative, adventure, epic music in a long time. The main title presents the evocative part as Tim Morrison (from Boston Pops fame) plays the trumpet in a very solemn way. The adventure part is best represented in the tracks 'Launch Control' and 'All System Go/The Launch', showcasing Apollo 13's lift off. I mean I was so happy to hear Horner back in the adventure arena. Then there is spectacular action in the two-minute track 'Master Alarm'. Then there are the quiet moments, the best being 'The Darkside Of The Moon', where Annie Lennox is heard wailing or singing -I don't know, but it's beautiful nonetheless. The album closes with Annie Lennox singing the adventure theme in the first quarter of the end credits, a track that compiles the three major themes of this fine Horner score.
But why am I giving three stars to this album? Call me a film score freak, but I have always loved soundtrack albums with orchestral score only; unless there are songs written by the composer hired for the movie -in this case, James Horner. However, there are songs which were popular at that time; I may not have a problem with that as long as I listen to them in the film, but together with Horner's music in the album...Well, that I don't like. Plus there are dialog and sound effect excerpts from the movie, and that makes the listening experience kinda hard to digest. Really.
I would have wished an only-James-Horner-score album, but I'm sure that, because of merchandising reasons, that could not have been possible. So I have no choice but to stick with this album...for the time being.

This is a good, if not great, rendition of the music for "Apollo 13". Problem: soundtracks which seem to cut against the mood established by Horner's original music. Truth is, when I hear this one, I frequently avoid everything but Horner's original compositions and the movie dialogs. THEN you can feel as if you were watching the movie. Two more things: 1)the female vocalist adds an almost dreamlike mood to the score; 2)the main title, which is excellent, draws and expands upon Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man". Listen to it and be make your own conclusions.