Customer Reviews

Jurassic Park: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

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4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a musical composition, even outside the film, the "Jurassic Park" soundtrack may be the best film score ever made. John Williams finds a magical tone like his "E.T" and "Hook", mixes in the awe of his "Close Encounters", and amplifies the effect to create a truly great collection of themes and cues. The main theme is classic and gives a real sense of awe and wonder (much like the vision of dinosaurs bring in the film). This theme is enough to make the score great all by itself, but the "Jurassic Park" score contains a variety of small themes, each original and excellent in its own right. The first tense, action cue, "Incident At Isla Nublar" is a masterpiece for suspense and drama. Other cues, like "Hatching Baby Raptor" and "My Friend, The Brachiosaurus" introduce small, but beautiful themes that stand on their own.

Some film scores work well within their movies, but do not make easy listening in the living room. The "Jurassic Park" soundtrack, with the exceptions of some brief action cues, provides all-around great music for any mood. Place this powerful piece next to your favorite classical CDs.

(. . .)I declare, to date, that Jurassic Park stands as John Williams' greatest accomplishment in thematic material. I remember exiting the theatre, swept by images of dinosaurs, and for the first time in my life, humming the tune to the background music. It is beautiful, it is subtle, it so greatly personifies the dionsaurs by evoking their simplicity and the terrifying horror of mankind. It is a miracle that this works so perfectly, since Williams almost defies the rules of film scoring with this album.

Every track is listenable and gorgeous: 2, 4, 7, and 16 show the theme in all of its development, and everytime it is a staggering experience; 6 and 12 have that innocence Williams so successfully evoked in ET; 8 is an absolutely amazing undertheme; and the action cues successfully remain unique at all times and are never harsh enough to become unlistenable. In short, this score is a perfect listen from beginning to end, without rest, always with new thematic material and the developed main thematic material coexisting to form a wonderful experience.

I would recommend this film score to anyone with even the slightest interest in orchestral music or film scores. It stands out as one of William's greatest efforts to date and, my personal favorite theme of all time. It compliments the movie superbly, and I stand firmly in the belief that its absence would have made the film a failure: it worked THAT well, it was THAT powerful. This is the quintessential Must-Have Film Score!

John Williams has really outdone himself with this CD. Each track takes you deeper and deeper into a world where dinosaurs reign. Each track is different and original and never fails to lift you from your seat. The Jurassic Park theme particularily soars with majesty and triumph. This CD really is a must have. I recieved it when the movie first came out and I still listen to it. I bring it everywhere. It is one of my most treasured CDs. Listen to it and you will see how truly wonderful it is.

Here we have it - the most memorable and amazing soundtrack in the history of cinema. It is unlikely it will ever be surpassed. This is an amazing film were all technical barriers were broken and live-action dinosaurs were created as never before,and as I was a kid when I saw it,I sometimes got scared - they looked so real!As this is Spielberg` s best film,it also has the best score of any of his films. It has two main themes which are very memorable,the first beeing heard in "Jurassic Park Theme". The second is first introduced at the beginning of "Journey to the Island",an eight-minute suite of beautifull music. That is the more majestic and it is extremly powerfull and memorable. It really gives you the feel of adventure and majesty among the prehistoric creatures called dinosaurs. Di di di di di,da da da da da dah!That`s it. It is actually quite similar to "Hook",from which I think he wanted to create a similar,but even more majestic main theme. But these two main themes are not taking over the score too much. Here I can go through the tracks in order : the "Opening Titles" are very dark and mysterious,and they can really be scaring. Lasting for only 30 secs,they are still amazing. "Theme from Jurassic Park" introduces the first main theme,as mentioned above. "Incident at Isla Nublar" is heard both at the opening sequence as well as when Ellie and Robert looks for Malcolm. It has both dramatic action moments as well as a little creepy,nervousing music. It is quite exciting. "Journey to the Island" is a magnificent presentation of all the main themes,with strong chorus heard in the middle performances of the first main theme. Then it overgoes into a little parade music when they come to the Tourist Center. "The Raptor Attack" is a dark track,actually very similar to some dungeon cues of Star Wars. It features a menacing motif for the raptors,beeing the nastiest dinosaurs! "Hatching A Baby Raptor" introduces a very beautifull motif for the baby dinosaur,with some chorus,which makes it sound a little childish. Sometimes,I find it so beautifull and heroic that my eyes are filled with tears!This theme is only heard once in the score,and is like a peacefull version of Zimmer`s "The Lion King". "Welcome to Jurassic Park" is actually the "End Credits" (I don`t know why this wasn`t the last track on the CD),and if you wanna hear all the themes one by one,it is highly recommended. It begins with a piano solo of the JP theme as they are taking farewell of the island. Then,some more instruments are added,reminding me of Hook yet again. For 4 mins.,the first theme is heard,played with various,from piano solo to maximum orchestra!It is pretty soft sounding. It calms down in the end with piano solos,and you then think it is gonna stop,but nor - now it explodes into the second main theme,and you almost don`t want to sit still,because it is so majestic. It sometimes become a march,like the victory parade of "Star Wars". For two minutes,it goes on like that to yet again end in the peacefull first theme and some mysterious cues. Track 8 has a very beautifull theme for the sick Triceratops. It is almost sad,and very peacefull,played on soft strings and some other instruments. Together with track 4,6,and 7,it really portrays the magnificense of the animals. And this is probably the last majestic track. Now,the score quickly becomes more exciting,overgoing into "Dennis Steals the Embryo",which is sounding very mysterious,although not frightening. It features a strange theme for the bumbling,but smart bad guy. Sometimes,the music is getting very cold,almost like a Jerry Goldsmith theme for Alien as Dennis enters the cryo chamber. "A Tree for My Bed" is very similar to "Granny Wendy" of Hook,like a bedtime story track. This is the christmas version of the JP theme,a more exotic "Home Alone". It is pleasant to hear. "High-Wire Stunts" is the real contrast to the previous. It sounds very exciting and nervous,when Tim is climbing on the wires and Ellie is about to restore the electricity. It sometimes even has some church bells sounding here. Again,it gets quite similar to some SW action cues. Mostly,it is played pretty low,but in the beginning and in the end,it bursts out like a shock! "Remembering Petticoat Lane" is yet again,a track a là Home Alone,with it`s piano and solo strings. "Jurassic Park Gate" was never heard in the film. It begins hopeless,but then overgoes into a mysterious version of the JP theme played on native drums,with only a few instruments. After two minutes,it overgoes into the creepy and nervous "Eye to Eye",which is a dark track when the raptors are in the kitchen,hunting the children. This is the main track of strange horror music here,as the raptors are nearly discovering them. You are really waiting for something here - and I like that!It is very exciting,with some small performances of the JP theme. At the end,it bursts out into real action music. And the action is not over yet!It has just began! Because what follows this track is the best action cue of the soundtrack,which is the final battle music with the raptors in the big hall. "T-rex Rescue & Finale" features some 8 minutes of non-stop action music,with some themes heard only here. It has some really horrifying parts,when the raptors are nearly killing the humans!It is sometimes like a Jerry Goldsmith track,with the massive horns. The last track is a cut from track 7,and therefore,I do not have to review it. Over all,this is may be the best film score ever done,and it is really incredible. Beauty,majesty,excitement,action - it has it all!Williams did not failed while recreating the dinosaurs. This CD is invalueable,and belongs to the library of any serious soundtrack or Williams enthusiast!1000 words isn`t enough to describe it,so therefore these 982 words must be enough! GO GET IT!

Who can ever forget that first majestic shot of a helicopter soaring into the interior of the lush tropical island which contained Jurassic Park? The image itself was impressive, but it was John William's breathtaking music which really drove the experience home for me. The new Star Wars film notwithstanding, this is probably Williams' best-known score of the 90s, and it ranks right up there with his all-time greats. Every track on this album contributes something new, from the mysterious opening "Incident on Isla Nublar" to the tense, tightly-written action cues which dominate the second half. The frightening four-note motif of the raptors is particularly effective, and the majestic main theme, which subtly merges orchestra and choir, is one for the books. Williams' has the amazing ability to create a different musical signature for every major film he scores, and Jurassic Park is one of his most artful.

OK. Cards on the table; John Williams composes derivative Brahms. Is that so bad? He could do worse. The fact is, as a student of music, and a lover of Brahms, hearing John Williams' modern compositions (Brahms derivatives that they are) from any of the movies he has composed for is a wonderful experience. Williams is a master at the craft he does, and is probably one of the 3 or 4 greatest soundtrack composers ever ... my opinion. As a young boy I bought the soundtrack to Jaws, loved it, studied classical music as an undergraduate and immediately recognised Brahms in Williams' work. He was, for me, a sort of gateway into my enduring love of classical music. I owe a lot to Mr. Williams.

If you love the movie, you'll enjoy this soundtrack. It has ALL the excitement and wonder, straight from the Jurassic Park film. John Williams has talent for story telling with music, and this remarkable collection shows his expertise in composing. All sixteen tracks are a complete roller coaster ride of emotion. Sometimes when I listen to track number 7, Welcome to Jurassic Park, the piano solo will make me teary eyed, or I'll get goose bumps when the the whole orchestra comes alive with the JP theme. Other memorable tracks that have the same effect are Journey To The Island, Dennis Steals The Embryo, High-Wire Stunts and the T-Rex Rescue & Finale. Beyond a doubt, this CD is worth spending money on.

John Williams has a knack of composing film scores with themes that are catchy and grab you from the first moment you hear them. The main theme from Jurassic Park certainly displays these characteristics. The very first time you hear it, it strikes a responsive chord, and you know that you'll want to hear it again - and again.

While this music effectively enhances the film, it is strong enough to stand on its own and be enjoyed independently of the film.

This soundtrack is simply astounding! Williams manages to achieve the grandness of the beauty and compose it in music. This soundtrack is THE BEST of John Williams.

John Williams is able to show the evilness of the raptors, the excitement building up as the paleontoligists arrive at the island, and the final escape.

Words cannot describe how beautiful this soundtrack is.

Buy this soundtrack. Let yourself be immersed in a musical journey to Jurassic Park.

Quite a few years ago, when I had no soundtracks, and was not particularly attracted to them, I heard this CD and wanted it. I didn't get it then, but after listening to it again a couple years ago, my love for it was rekindled. It became one of the original soundtracks in my collection, which is now around 50. Like others here have said, it's greatness lies in the wonderful variance of themes, and very distinct different tracks. It covers a wide range of situations, from wonderment, to terror, to suspense, to beauty, to just about every situation imaginable. This is definitely my favorite Williams work, and considering his lofty resume of titles, that's really saying something. It is also quite different sounding than most of his other works, which for all being different, tend to have various points where they all sound the same. Of all the soundtracks I own, and have listened to, the main theme for Jurassic Park still ranks #1 in terms of beauty, inspiration, majesty; and just hearing it grabs my heart in a special way every time. It's the best! I recomend this soundtrack highly to anyone who likes beautiful, and also thematic music.