Customer Reviews

Kate & Leopold

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Rolfe Kent's music is fine, though if you listen to it much you might be annoyingly haunted by the "Back where I belong" theme, which recurs a little too often.

But mostly I was disappointed with ...whoever was responsible for leaving out some of the best music from the sound track, and throwing in something that wasn't in the movie at all.

The CD omits a "Pink Panther" sound-alike piece from early in the movie, puts the Sting song first while it should be last, and puzzlingly throws in a vocal that wasn't in the movie to conclude the disc.

The sublime Strauss waltz that helps make the first ballroom scene so memorable is [missing]. ...

The video reveals the name of the waltz in the credits. It's "Tivoli-Rutsch Walzer" a track on "Strauss Dances," by the Gaudier Ensemble, ... The CD has the entire waltz, and a disc full of other joyous Victorian dances. Get it, and skip the sound track, if you want to recreate the mood of "Kate and Leopold."

You can sample the CD on Amazon, and maybe buy one .... The passage from "Tivoli-Rutsch" used in the movie is not on the sample, but it's the right one.

For starters, Sting won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song 2001, that's just the tip of the iceberg...Rolfe Kent provides an outstanding score for this James Mangold(director/screenwriter) story from Steve Rogers(original story/screenwriter)...with an abel cast of Meg Ryan(Kate), Hugh Jackman(Leopold) and Liev Schreiber(Stuart Bessler), the story falls short of all expectations...but never fear our composer for the score Rolfe Kent saves the day for the CD release.

With shades of Henry Mancini, various cues take a fun, quirky and comedy with sprinkles of romance, like "Charade" or "Man's Favorite Sport", much like Mancini, Rolfe lends a flavor of JAZZ, WALTZES and even MARCHES, that seems to fit and work...just give a listen to "YOU DID SO GREAT"(Kate's Theme), like something out of another Mancini film "The Great Race", don't get me wrong..."DEAREST KATE", blends much of "Our Man In Hollywood"(Henry Mancin) into each fascinating cue, providing melodic counterpoints, that Mancini could whip up in seconds, I like what Rolfe has done for this picture, gives it the texture and fabric that pulls off many scenes, it's about the only thing worthwhile...Kent's soundtrack!

So "film-score-buff" collectors, if it's good listening...you've come to the right place for comedy, light and whimsical music...as Henry Mancini lives through Rolfe Kent, gotta love it.

Total Time: 42:00 on 20 Tracks ~ Milan 35982 ~ (2002)

This is an absolutely wonderful and poignant CD. Cudos to Kent. My favorite part is the final cut by underground artist Jula Bell. I was so pleased to hear her singing on something like this. Cheers to Kent for having the guts to take a chance with someone who is a truly cutting edge artist known for her integrity. I was pleasantly surprised to see her name on the CD after hearing her shiver inducing track. Why did Sting get all of that attention? Bell's song blows doors on his. It's simplicity and bold melody is the heart and soul of the soundtrack. Why wasn't this song in the movie? Buy this cd to hear one of the best female vocalists out there---

The majority of cuts on the CD are run of the mill soundtrack fair. That being said, the CD is worth the purchase price for "Until" written and performed by Sting. I predict it will become an ageless favorite!

Rather than skipping this CD and buying only "Strauss Dances," as I recommended in June, buy both and copy them onto two sides of a 90-minute audio cassette.

Rolfe Kent's soundtrack holds up very well over time -- except for the last number, a vocal not heard in the movie. Rearrange and re-engineer the songs as you like them. I put "Tivoli-Rutsch Walzer" on the tape where it should have been.

You might also find Django Rhinehart's "Honeysuckle Rose," which worked so well in the movie, and insert that where it should be. Lose the "Back Where You Belong" vocal and let Sting sing last.

On the other side, let the Gaudier Ensemble serenade you with "Tivoli" and whatever other dances you like. Voila, the perfect tape.

The music on this cd is a lot like the movie...different, but with a great romantic edge to it. The only thing is that to enjoy it, you need to like music with no words that can put a picture in your mind...this does exactly that. If you loved the movie, I would DEFINATELY recomend this cd.

The soundtrack for "Kate and Leopold" is an excellent one, and the beautiful and dreamy musical segments evoke warm and happy memories of the delightful film and the scenes which are represented by the music.

I am very happy to have bought this CD.

I enjoyed this CD immeasurably. Kent is a genius with his timing. Very full Copeland and Stravinsky inspired overtures laced with a delightfully romantic motive all come together to climax with with the delicate and sweet bluesy "Back Where I Belong" sung by Jula Bell. What is disturbing to me is that new talent, Jula Bell has been overshadowed by Sting and his "Until". I enjoyed the Sting song, but think that "Back Where I Belong" would have been a much better choice as the soundtrack hit. Does anyone know where else I can find recordings with Jula Bell on them?

The soundtrack for "Kate & Leopold" includes the wonderful "Still" by Sting, but the rest of the soundtrack is instrumental. While stirring and reminiscent of the movie, calling up the images and dialog in one's memory, it's not something to listen to over and over. If you can find it, and don't want the incidental soundtrack, just buy the one song.

The CD was good quality. It played great and I had no problems at all. It was everything that I expected and more. This is now one of my favorite CD's and look forward to hearing it for a long time to come. Their description was accurate and I would be comfortable buying from this seller again.