Customer Reviews

La Femme Nikita: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

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

 

 

This is one Eric Serra soundtrack in which each track not only fits the scenes in the film perfectly but also evoke images of rich visuals and emotions for the listener. The standout tracks for this imagery are as follows:

Rico's Suicide Gang - Brooding start-up, rock-like rebellious sound

Failed Escape- Playful, yet, menacing

Learning Time- Passing of time towards a positive direction.

A Smile- laid back groove that really symbolizes Nikita's painful soul and struggle in trying to muster a smile as if to say, "What do I have to smile about ! " or " I have nothing to smile or laugh about in my life !"

First Night Out- very seductive and tantalizing.This is Nikita's first glimpse of the outside world in three years since joining the government. She's like a cat discovering new territoy ; Curious, yet cautious.

NPOKMOP (instrumental for Dark Side of Time)- I still don't know what NPOKMOP stands for- Anyway, it's a perfectly written dark and sinister piece for the assignment/test that will make Nikita a full legitimate government assassin ! The heavy breathing and hissing sound effects are very creepy and ominous.

Another positive is that this soundtrack by Serra is not thematically confusing as the one to The Fifth Element ( talk about a potporri of music genres)...

Eric Serra is at his best with this pounding, exciting soundtrack from the original motion picture. The mixture of deep bass, offbeat guitar chords and beautiful alto sax of Gilbert Dall'Anese makes this a great listen for writing, driving, or activities where you need some adrenalin flowing!

For me, this movie and its soundtrack constitute the highlight of the partnership between director Luc Besson and composer Eric Serra -- a collaboration that covers 'Subway', 'The Fifth Element' and 'Big Blue', amongst others. 'Nikita' seemed so perfect to me that I couldn't understand why Hollywood chose to do a re-make so quickly.

The sleevenotes on my CD give little away, besides saying that the music is performed by the mysterious RXRA, presumably a Parisian studio band. The whole soundtrack has a metallic, late 80s feel to it. There are Lyle Mays-like synthesizer flutters here and there, but it otherwise seems wonderfully disconnected from the rest of the world, in the way that so much French music is.

Inevitably the best tracks are based on the Nikita love theme: 'Fancy Face' (track #9) and 'The Free Side' (track #13). The worst track is clearly the last one -- it was a serious misjudgement by Serra to put himself forward as the singer!

I have no idea how the soundtrack stands up on its own for someone who hasn't seen the movie. All I can say is go and see it -- you won't be disappointed, and you can practice your French at the same time!

"La Femme Nikita" is an excellent film, and the music makes it an even better film. Eric Serra is a wonderful composer who knows how to make great sounds. Here we have some great orchestral music and eletronic music as well. In fact, I could call Eric Serra, a genius! The music flows with the action, making it more entertaining. Emotions of excitement and deepness are felt all throughout this wonderous score. The best one is "The Dark Side Of Time," that is just a great, great song. "La Femme Nikita" is a great film made better by a great score.

Knowing that a soundtrack to a film like this existed, I had to acquire a copy of my own.

I have absolutely no regret with regards to purchasing this CD, as Eric Serra - scoring films like "Subway" and "The Big Blue" - enhances my listening pleasure to this glorious new-wave/new-age synthesized score.


For starters, tracks like "Rico's Gang Suicide" and "A Smile" send me off to another world, with their sensetive synthetic nature, whereas tracks like "Let's Welcome Victor" and "Failed Escape" present to us, as a listener, a smooth melodic rhythm..

Then, of course, who dares forget the lovely vocal single, "The Dark Side of Time," which is performed my Mr. Serra himself?


Overall, this CD gets a 5 star rating from me!


-Albert