17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful., February 15, 2001
This review is from: Empire Of The Sun: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)
Emipre of the Sun is certainly one of the lesser known scores by John Williams, but don't let that fool you -- it very much has the high quality his music is known for.
The score starts off with a wonderful choral arrangement of the Welsh folk tune, 'Suo Gan'. This melody is a favortie of mine, this this is probably my favortie version. The other non-Williams music, the patriotic British march 'The British Grenadiers', is another favortie in yet another wonderful arrangement.
Williams's own music is quite a mixed grabbag. 'Jim's New Life' is a happy "bustling town" town type piece, while 'The Streets of Shanghai' is a rousing action piece. There are two more choral tracks as well, 'Liberation: Exsultate Justi', and 'Exsultate Justi'. Both are basically the same, but are extrememly wonderful, and prove that Williams is as much a master of choral writing as he is of fanfares and sweet themes. This theme is easily one of the great ones.
!But no review of this soundtrack could exist without mention of 'Toy Planes, Home And Hearth'. This piece is, quite simply, one of the most beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard. It's simple and elegent, yet masterful, and worth the price of the album alone.
Overall, I feel this is a must have for all score fans. It's easily on the same level as Williams's other masterworks. Just get it.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome music for an awesome movie..., January 5, 2002
This review is from: Empire Of The Sun: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)
This has got to be one of the best movie soundtracks ever! When you listen to it you can feel the emotions expressed in the movie...when you hear the music in the movie, it really tells how the people are feeling and it really sets the mood. I like celtic music a lot, and some of the songs on here (Suo Gan,and Exsultate Justi) are just my style. It has beautiful orchestrations and it is just a really beautiful soundtrack. John Williams was the person for this soundtrack...great job!
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sends chill's up the spine..., September 28, 2002
This review is from: Empire Of The Sun: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)
Whether or not you have seen Empire of the Sun bears no matter on the strength of this soundtrack. It is one of John Williams finest moments, and will live up to the standards of most soundtrack fan's. If you have seen the movie, and disagreed with the critics of the time, you would probably agree that the music is half the movie. The sounds surrounding many haunting images are a testimony to Spielberg and Williams infinate ability to collaborate. John Williams is also known to be a huge thread that connect's both Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, some of the greatest directors of our time.
Empire of the sun, with both it's timid and aggressive tracks, will help you during need of inspiration. ~s.a.o.s.~
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