Customer Reviews

Chain Reaction (1996 Film)

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The score for Chain Reaction that is actually heard in the movie is great.The high point is the rousing,exciting cue heard during the chase through the streets of Chicago,leading to the draw-bridge.For reasons that I will never know,this music is not included on the soundtrack.Neither is the music played during the end credits-very similar to the aforementioned chase music-included on this soundtrsck.The only thing that comes close is ICE CHASE,but it isn't as good.Instead you get to hear that annoying guitar sound that's played during the scenes that focus on Keanu Reeves.Astoundingly,despite its ommisions,this CD is only 30 minutes long.You'd be best off just recording the music directly from the movie.

The score to "Chain Reaction" is perhaps one of the most passive works composed by Jerry Goldsmith. The action cues are average, especially 'Ice Chase', in which you can feel that Goldsmith might be tired. Fortunately he later wrote something similar but better in "Air Force One." However this album is worth a listen because of the cues 'Meet Eddie', 'Open Minds' and 'Out Of The Hole'. 'Meet Eddie' presents the main title of this score where the trumpet plays a wonderful leitmotif to the Keanu Reeves character, and the synthesizers help the orchestra's performance skillfully. But pay attention to the end of the cue called 'Open Minds' where the french horn -one of Goldsmith's apparently favorite instruments- play a beautiful and touching melody that, if you hum it, tears may come out of your eyes. This is an interesting effort by Jerry Goldsmith, if not great. But you can take the chance of buying this album for the three cues I mentioned above.

I havce always loved Goldsmith's music and there is no exception here. A litte bit short, bus as one of Sweden's leading songwriters wrote: "Wonderful is short".