Customer Reviews

The Incredible Hulk

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

While it is true that this release is a CDR, those interested in the music and not the ingredients of the disc upon which it is burned or pressed will be very pleased with this soundtrack, which comes accompanied with a professionally printed tray label and booklet - and smashingly grand sound. Released by Marvel, it's as official a soundtrack as we're apt to get - and certainly as complete a one, with almost two hours of music (111.15 mins). How many other film scores get as much music made available coincidental with the film's release? Armstrong's main theme is terrific, with its repeated, pronounced X-strokes of violin, and his 3-note Hulk motif, itself a kind of swervy reflection of that main theme transposed to a sinewy violin figure wrapped in thick cords, entwining around and through the orchestra, embodying the growling tonality of the verdant beast's voice in those deep and substantial cello strains, echoed by a much higher reflective glinting of violins, all propelled by a driving pulse of strings and snarling horns. The score draws its relentless forward motion from these strokes of violins, driven by a recurring, low string ostinato. It's large and quick and powerful - an adroit embodiment of the green guy himself. Joe Harnell's poignant piano theme, "The Lonely Man," from the 1979 Incredible Hulk TV series, is nicely incorporated into the track "Bruce Goes Home." It's one of many affectionate nods to that influential show included in the new movie. The reawakened romance between Banner and Betty Ross (Liv Tyler) is characterized by a melancholy love theme, poignant strings and piano. I've found The Incredible Hulk to be a richly energetic and powerful orchestral score with effective electronic nuances built into its textures. Armstrong provides music that is both sensitive to the story's underlying drama and sustaining of the film's action set pieces. Hulk is melodically rich, provocatively vigorous, and thematically compelling, and is definitely one of the best scores of the year thus far.

Forget the format complaints. I too would have prefered a pressed CD. Big deal. I'm just glad that I have the 2 hours of this awesome music! Only Craig Armstrong can write frenetic and powerful music that is still so beautiful and listenable. Also check out "Elizabeth:The Golden Age"(my favorite score from 2007). This Hulk score is outrageously good. 5 stars!

Craig Armstrong deserves to win the Oscar for Incredible Hulk. The music in this film really captures the sadness of Bruce Banner's plight. I also love that Mr. Armstrong has included the classic "Lonely Man" theme from the TV series.

I've been a fan of Craig Armstrong since "Plunkett and Macleane" and his absolutely amazing "rescue" cue from that film. "The Incredible Hulk" is a worthy addition to his repertoire and stands out as one of the best modern superhero scores to date. It's action packed, tense, frenetic and somber and even has a snippet of the original Hulk TV theme!

On the technical side, I was also somewhat surprised to see the CDs are CD-Rs, but for someone who just loves the music, it didn't matter. It sounds perfectly fine to me. And if this is the beginning of a trend (releasing the FULL score, even on a CD-R) then I'll take it over a pressed, partial score CD any day.

This score is better than Iron Man, better than Fantastic Four, better even than Spiderman in my opinion and should be picked up regardless of the technology. Listen to it LOUD!

Listen,
Don't let the fact that these are Pro-made CD-Rs and not factory made CDs deter anyone from buying this item. The score is great, the price is great and the packaging is great.

This is simply put an 'Incredible' job by Craig Armstrong yet again! If you are a fan of his past scores like Moulin Rouge and Elizabeth the Golden Age, then this is the score for you. He combines sweeping orchestral style, with modern techno beats and adds his own flare to bring this score to life. I think that it's one of his best pieces of work to date!

One of the best musical scores of the summer, The Incredible Hulk by Craig Armstrong really nails the character and fits the scenes extremely well. I absolutely love the 3-note introduction to the Hulk in nearly every transformation scene and gives it an old school monster appeal. While the format (CD-R) is a bit annoying, it doesn't take away from the emotion created in each track. Highly recommended for superhero fans and music lovers alike.

This is an (pardon the pun) incredible score. Craig Armstrong's music for Marvel's second studio film is full of great moments, from start to finish. Armstrong is new to the superhero genre, previously scoring films like Ray, Moulin Rouge, Tomb Raider 2, and World Trade Center, but he doesn't let that show.

This powerful score holds onto the listener from the very first track, "Arctic," which ironically enough is from a scene that wasn't even in the film. Armstrong doesn't disappoint as he continues the powerful score, culminating up to the "Hulk Theme (End Credits)" on the end of the second disc. There is so music great music on here that's hard to come up with anything bad to say.

There are great moments of action like "Favela Escape" and "That is the Target" to great moments of poignant sadness with tracks like "It Was Banner" and "A Tear." Armstrong does it all, even performing "The Lonely Man" within the "Bruce Goes Home" track located on the first disc. A lot of the music reminds of a cross between James Newton Howard's scores for The Fugitive and King Kong, both great scores.

I definitely found this score to be not only one of the better ones released this summer, but one of the highlights of all superhero films ever made. This is just truly a fantastic piece of music. I'm glad that I saw the movie first, that way I can relate what I'm hearing to what I've already seen. It's harder to do it when you hear the score first, which is what I did to Prince Caspian and Indiana Jones.

To make a long story short, if you enjoyed the music of Iron Man, then Craig Armstrong's score for the Incredible Hulk is for you. The double cd release for the Incredible Hulk is by far one of the best scores to come out in a long time...a strong representation via 22 cuts per disc. In my personal opinion, while the movie was every bit as good(if not better) than Iron Man, the score is far superior to the music of Iron Man. Dare I say it rivals and surpasses Danny Elfman's score to the HULK(2003).WIth regard to the quulaity of the release, YES, it is CD-R as Marvel decided to release the music to this film independently as opposed to doing it through Universal music(perhaps for cost/budget related reasons...because I'm certain that the renowned Danny Elfman ad Universal may've cost Marvel an arm and a leg back in 2003). My advice to those who're hung-up about the CD-R format is to purchase more than one copy, one for collectible purchases and maybe a good couple for your listening pleasure. At any rate,even though I kind of hoped for the Hulk theme intro/dialogue from the 80's tv series or/and the theme from the 1960's cartoon(as was done with the Iron Man sdtk...lol) this score is a keeper and a worthy investment...HULK SMASH!!!!!

It's rare that a score for a film in the super-hero genre to stand alone as music and not telegraph what sort of movie it was made for. As brilliant as some of those scores are, there is no mistaking Superman's underscore as anything but for a guy flying around in blue tights. This is not a slight, it makes for some of my favorite music.

However, Craig Armstrong's Incredible Hulk score not only perfectly backs the film for which it is written, it also stands out as a great score and enjoyable listening experience. Hearing the music on its own, you'd have no clue this was music for a comic book movie. It's dark, serious, romantic, brooding and exciting. It is, I guess I'm trying to say, accessible to people who might prefer scores outside the genre.

Mr. Armstrong delves beneath the surface to give us a clear view into the psyche of Bruce Banner and his alter ego. His action work is gripping as well. Randall Larson's review expresses it all better than I could, so I refer you to his review.

Yes, the album is on a CD-R, not a pressed CD. Yes, I know some people really get upset over that. It's cheap, sets a bad precedent, blah blah bla, yadda yadda yadda. Well, fine, those people can miss out. This album is made on demand by Marvel and is only $17. It's two CDs and pretty much complete. If this were a Decca album, it would be 51 minutes, one disc and the same price with the same quality packaging and sound. The only people who lose are those who don't buy it because of their own self-imposed standards.

Film score aficionados should be in it for the music.