Customer Reviews

Batman: Original Motion Picture Score

5 star:		(69)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Undoubtably my favorite Elfman score. It's dark, mysterious, gothic and operatic yet playful and touching too. This isn't your typical action adventure film score. "Childhood Remembered" starts off quiet and mysterious and carries you along until you reach the unerving ending. I get chills most every time I listen to it. Very creepy stuff. Then you get big operatic tracks like "First Confrontation" and action-packed tracks like "Attack of the Batwing." Somehow Elfman manages to keep all of this sounding fresh and give it his own personal falir. Never do you have a sence of been there, done that with this score. His sound in these days was very distinct something that he's strayed from in recent films.

For fans of Elfman, Batman, gothic music and/or film scores this is something that should not be passed up. A distinctive one-of-a-kind find.

This is the best work of Danny Elfman and contains one of the best themes for a superhero out there. The music is bold, brassy, heroic, mighty, and percussive. It contains outstanding orchestral music that soars and never lets up. The Batman march is an extraordinary work that is used in almost every action cue, when Batman does something heroic. The music is mainly dark and gothic, which represents the dark knight and Gotham City perfectly. The dark, ominous music which is mixed with child-like rhythms and awesome action and adventurous music makes this score an incredible and thrilling ride. The action music really shines in "Roof Fight", "First Confrontation", "Batman to the Rescue", "Charge of the Batmobile", "Attack of the Batwing", "Up the Cathedral", and "The Final Confrontation". The love theme is also good and includes bits and pieces of Prince's song "Scandalous", which can also be found in "Kitchen, Surgery, Face-Off" and one tiny part of "Finale". "Beautiful Dreamer" by Stephen Foster is thrown in the score in various parts, such as "Photos/Beautiful Dreamer" (you think!), "Finale", and a tiny snippet if you listen closely toward the end of "Final Confrontation". The Joker's theme is a comedic like waltz that shows off the funny side of the villain. "Descent Into Mystery" contains great choral passages, along with wonderful string work and an explosion of the main theme. "Finale" is one of the best finales I have ever heard in a film score. It is powerful, awesome, mighty, bold, noble, and heroic. We are finally left with the "Batman Theme Reprise" which states his musical voice one last time. This is a truly awesome score that is without a doubt, one of the best and most powerful scores out there.

(Prenote: For some reason, Amazon decided to link this, the score album, with the song album. They do this sometimes when something has more than one edition, however in this case they are not the same at all. This is the score CD, comtaining Danny Elfman's BGM to the film, while the other contains Prince's songs )

Back in 1989, director Tim Burton and composer Danny Elfman teamed up for thier third film, an adaptation of the legendary comic book hero, Batman. They decided to go a totally different route from the 60s TV series, with a dark and gothic setting. It worked. Well. A big part of its success is the wonderful music Elfman wrote for the film.

The music starts off with what has now become the signature theme for Batman. It's a wonderful theme that instantly gets stuck in your head once you hear it. Over the course of the CD, it's played many times. The overall atmosphere of the music is dark, but that never stops it from being forceful and exiting.

Other notible tracks in the score include the wonderful 'Waltz to the Death' representing the Joker, some brilliant choral work in 'Decent Into Madness', and even a quote from the Stephen Foster song, 'Beautiful Dreamer'. But beyond these highly memorable and wonderful tracks there are plenty of great moments, with almost no dullness in between. Perhaps the best moment is in 'Finale', which is so grand and wonderful, you can't help but smile.

Overall, this CD is a must have. It's a classic that will live on after many others are forgotten, and it's still a prime example of what Elfman can do when he puts his mind to it.

For anyone with even a passing interest in film scores, or even music in general, this is must-own. Danny Elfman's score for Tim Burton's first (and best) Batman film is, in a word, magnificent. Inspired, memorable, and moving, Elfman's score is easily one of the greatest soundtracks in cinema history. Although fantastic if listened to alone, the way this music is used in the film itself elevates what is other-wise a very good movie into a great one. This score compliments the film so well, it's frightening. The main theme is a perfect reflection of Batman himself: it's majestic and powerful,yet tortured and dark.

This gothic, elegaic score is easily one of the finest soundtracks ever written, and stands as a testament to the power and importance music holds in the world of movies. You'd do yourself a tremendous service to buy this soundtrack, and at this price, you'd be hard pressed to find a reason not to.

The 80's were considered the start of some of Elfman's best scores. One of those scores was for Batman. It's very dark and gloomy and fits with the gothic Gotham City and the movie's hero. The Batman theme is simply the best and most heroic theme I've heard. Elliot's Batman theme doesn't come close to the magnificence of Elfman's version. The score makes heavy use of it but it never gets old. The score is particularly unique because of the giant size of the orchestra which was uncommon back then but Elfman handled despite being new to the movie business. Joker's theme is hilarious and sounds great as a crazy and dark waltz on track 18. The love theme is also great and fits well with the dark nature of the movie. From start to finish, this heroic score is worthy of any real soundtrack fan. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

Hello everyone. I am an avid collector of film scores, especially rare or out of print promotional items. With over 200 scores in my collection, I know my subject well. Although I do not own a copy of the 2CD Expanded Score from Batman, it is still well-worth looking into if you are an Elfman fan....or just a fan of film music. Here is a track listing for the Expanded Score:

CD1:

1. The Batman Theme (2:38)
2. The Future (4:08)
3. Robbery (1:00)
4. Roof Money (1:01)
5. Roof Fight (1:21)
6. Alley Meeting (1:29)
7. Grissom Loft (0:15)
8. Bad Guys Plan (1:39)
9. Wayne Party 1 (Vicky Waiting) (4:52)
10. Wayne Party 2 (Electric Chair) (4:08)
11. The Cave (1:18)
12. Factory Robbery (0:34)
13. 1st Confrontation (4:45)
14. Diner (0:16)
15. Kitchen, Surgery, Face-Off (Album Version) (3:09)
16. Kiss (0:12)
17. Meet the Joker (3:40)
18. Roasted Dude (1:01)
19. Flowers (1:51)
20. Clown Attack (1:45)
21. Photos/Beautiful Dreamer (2:30)
22. Joker's Factory (0:35)
23. Joker's Commercial (1:19)
24. Front Page 1 (0:10)

CD2:

1. Museum Wait (2:17)
2. Party Man (3:11)
3. Source Music (1:23)
4. Boo! (1:05)
5. Nice Toys (0:27)
6. Batman to the Rescue (3:57)
7. Decent into Mystery (1:32)
8. The Bat Cave (2:34)
9. The Front Page 2 (0:10)
10. Joker Visits Vicky (1:45)
11. The Joker's Poem (0:58)
12. Searching for Clues (0:39)
13. Childhood Remembered (2:42)
14. Love Theme (1:29)
15. Charge of the Batmobile (1:43)
16. Trust (4:24)
17. Attack of the Batwing (4:46)
18. Up the Cathedral (5:06)
19. Waltz to the Death (3:56)
20. The Final Confrontation (3:49)
21. Finale (1:46)
22. Batman Theme Reprise (1:27)
23. Scandalous (6:15)
24. Batdance (6:13)

See photos of the artwork/covers under "customer images"

I thought the Batman score was brilliant, although some of the music that they had from the 1989 movie wasn't on the CD. For example, the bit at the beginning when the boy and his parents got mugged in the alley way. Jack meets up with Eckhart. The Axis Chemical plan with boss Carl Grissham. And a few others that I thought should be good enough to be on the CD.
My favorite would have to be all of it, but track no. 17 would have to be my pick where the Joker and Vicky Vale going up Gotham City Cathedral and definately The Waltz (track no.18). I loved the Smiley tune that was not on the CD but in the movie where the Joker interrupts the news footage advertising his new Joker brand. That's tune's really fun to listen to. If you loved the movie, then this would be an ideal CD for you. Don't be dissapointed though that some music from the movie is not on the CD because it is still good to listen to.

That's right folks, only Danny Elfman could create such a majestic music for a superhero. He catches the heroism of soundtracks of Korngold and Superman plus gothicism from Bernard Herrmann's music. And it actually overpasses Superman score!
Spite the later scores from Eliott Goldenthal, only Elfman can put us in Batman mood.

The first track is the Batman's main theme, an impressive dark and heroic cue, mostly recognized as one of the best themes in cinema history.
"Roof Fight" is quick action music for Batman's first appearance.
"First Confrontation" is one of the best tracks using action music with majestic parts of Batman's theme as he makes his way at Axis Chemicals. The music goes tragic when Jack falls in the acid.
"Kitchen, Surgery, Face-Off" is a cozy music for a romantic part that goes darker and darker til Joker is presented with his clown-like theme.
"Flowers" is a calm yet tragic variation of the main theme.
"Clown Attack" has its volume higher and higher til the orchestra explodes showing Joker. A little and excellent music.
"Batman To The Rescue" is an action part as the Joker's men chase the hero.
"Roasted Dude" is a more ambiental one for a creepy scene with Joker.
"Photos/Beautiful Dreamer" has a calm beginning that goes darker plus a new music for Joker's loved one.
"Descent Into Mytery" is one of the most applaused of the score, cause it shows the main theme bigger and bigger til a fantastic explosion as the Batmobile enters-
"The Bat Cave" is an ambiental cue with great notes when Batman surprises Vicky.
"The Joker's Poem" is lullaby-like music as Joker says farewell to Vicky.
"Childhood Remembered" is certainly the most tragic cue using choirs to show a dark part of the past.
"Love Theme" is an instrumental part of "Scandalous" by Prince (which doesn't appear in the CD)
"Charge of the Batmobile" has a sensational beginning with a crescendo for Batman and an explosion for Axis destruction.
"Attack of The Batwing" is another fantastic action cue, with Batman's variations as he attacks Joker's plans. We hear bells when Batwing is about to crash.
"Up To The Cathedral" is another fantastic rehash of Batman's theme, this time very well syncopated as the hero climbs the stairs after the villain. NOTE: A curious resemblance with "The Tower" from VERTIGO.
"Waltz To The Death" is the Joker's theme in a full rendition for an action scene.
"The Final Confrontation" ends majesticly the fight with the fall's notes from track 3 are heard and Joker finds his end.
"Finale" is a cozy reunion of the love's theme plus the Batman's theme again since he'll guard Gotham City forever.
The Cd reaches its end with another fantastic "Batman Theme Reprise".

Overall, the CD is very good having almost every music from the mov, and the low price is nice.
If you want to hear the best of Danny Elfman-GO GET IT!

This is one of the best scores of 1989,if not the best.It captures the dark beauty of Gotham City,as the super hero Batman chases and captures the villains. Can someone explain me why this is was not Academy Award nominated???I can't understand,really.

The best score ever. Plain and simple