Customer Reviews

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

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

 

 

It's too bad that LXG did poorly with critics and box office alike. My ten-year-old son absolutely loved the movie; because I saw it with him, I enjoyed it too, but was distracted with thoughts of all the ways it might have been better, even great.

The one thing about that movie that IS undeniably outstanding is its soundtrack. Wow. I had not heard of Trevor Jones before, but I'm keeping an eye out for his name now, and I expect greatness when I see it. Much of the score has a similar sound, and like John Williams, Trevor Jones gives each character a haunting theme that follows them through the movie and interweaves with other characters and with situations as they arise.

But unlike a Star Wars soundtrack, this one includes a few of other very different genres too: African "world music" (track 2 and 15, done authentically and enjoyably by Ladysmith Black Mombasa), and a period ballroom piece (track 4) that stands out like a bright gilt-and-brocade Elizabethan armchair in a dark and empty castle.

The general feeling of this soundtrack is dark, like the movie to which it gave life. Listen to this on a high quality sound system with a big subwoofer to really appreciate what Trevor Jones has done on the bass end of things. It moves from haunting to suspenseful to surging violence and back again; makes me wish someone would release a re-edited version of the film with improved character development etc., just because this soundtrack deserves a top flight movie to go with it.

It stands well on its own, by the way: anyone looking for spooky but non-cheesy Halloween background music will love this (try Mina Harker's Secret or Phantom's Lair). Looking for dramatic music for a home video or a film short? Shop the aisles of this album: it's top quality orchestral work that no one will recognize, as so few are familiar with the movie. Try the end of Treachery (the last minute and 20 seconds) or The Game Is On, or pick up 50 seconds into the first track, Dawn of a New Century.

But don't listen to this album alone on a dark stormy night. Strong stuff. ;-) That's why I ultimately had to give it only 4 stars-- it's overwhelming, despite the warmth and brightness of the three contrasting tracks.

With "Dawn of a New Century" we are quickly emersed into Trevor Jones' dark world of LXG. There are no sweeping moments, no comical, slap-stick moments. Just dark, heavy percussion and low brass grunts. I like it but it gets difficult to listen through the entire album.

The only "soothing" song on this album is "Promenade by the Sea". Its a nice, opera-like song and once its done, that's it. Back to the dark score.

The non-score songs, well, I wish they weren't there but its a way to distract the listener from the dark, gothic sounds. Avoid this if you're looking for something thematic, Elfmanish or similar to Last of the Mohicans.

The score for "The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen" is in itself an extraordinary score...with the exception of tracks 2, 14 and 15, which have absolutely NOTHING to do with the film itself and sound completely out of place in a movie like this (they'd seem appropriate for "The Gods Must Be Crazy" movies). Other than that, the score is breath-taking and pulse-pounding. Disregard numbers 2, 14 and 15, which sound like African voodoo or some crap like that, and enjoy the rest of the score. Trevor Jones (who has written music for such excellent movies as "Excalibur" and the inexplicably made-for-TV, but very well done, miniseries' "MERLIN" and "CLEOPATRA") is once again in top form. I also highly recommend the movie itself. If you're into classic literature, you will not be disappointed.