Customer Reviews

National Treasure (Original Score)

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Being a history buff, I loved "National Treasure". It had a great plot and distinctive characters (especially Riley). The movie felt like "The Da Vinci Code" except occurring in the historical regions of America. I personally loved the soundtrack which was composed by Trevor Rabin. It has energetic rhythm and tone that distinguishes it from other soundtracks that I have. The only downside is that the CD is strangely short at 38 minutes and 52 seconds. However, every track is very unique and effectively paints scenes of the movie.

National Treasure Suite (3:17): This track begins with a rising crescendo of strings and percussion. The piano also makes a profound presence in this track and is wonderfully blended with the other instruments. I don't know when this track is played during the movie though.

Ben (4:03): I love this track! It has a wonderful intro with the strings playing a majestic theme as Ben and his men are driving in their snow vehicles to find Charlotte. I think that the track backtracks to when Ben's grandpa is inspiring him with the story about the Free Masons in the attic during the opening scene of the movie. In any case, the track is great!

Finding Charlotte (1:05): This track is played when Ben is digging around for clues of the ship when his ice pick hits the bell of the Charlotte. The music has that suspense and then has a nice sense of triumph as Ben finds what he has been seeking for.

Library of Congress (2:27): This music is played when Riley is trying to convince Ben that the Declaration of Independence is too heavily guarded. Ben shows Riley the preservation room who is eventually convinced that they can pull off the heist. The track has a nice blend of strings to reflect the peaceful but suspenseful atmosphere of the scene in the movie.

Preparation Montage (4:53):Percussion and strings are in perfect harmony here as Ben and Ian are preparing to steal the Declaration of Independence. The song shifts between different cues to show Ben's approach of tapping into video feeds and getting fingerprints while Ian packs plastic explosives, silenced pistols, and breaching mechanisms.

Arrival At National Archives (1:55): I personally enjoy this track. It has a great driving beat with the strings as both Ian and Ben attempt to breach the National Archives security. The song ends with a great solo by the electric guitar as one of Ian's henchmen pumps bullets into the Declaration's bulletproof casing that is held by Ben who quickly retreats into the elevator.

The Chase (4:22): This is a very interesting track with many different tunes fused together. The music is played when Ben is trying to rescue Abigail from Ian. The fast-paced strings and percussion reflect the speeding vehicles as the two sides struggle on the road.

Declaration of Independence (1:43): Personally, this song bored me. It has soft strings accompanied by brass and incorporates the theme tune of the movie.

Foot Chase (3:34): This is my favorite track on the CD. It is really fast-paced with frantic-sounding strings and electric guitar and goes well with the scenes in which Ben is fleeing Ian's henchmen throughout the area around Independence Hall. It sound similar to "The Chase" but I think it sounds better overall.

Spectacle Discovery (3:18): This song has a wide variety of rhythms and is played during the part in the movie dealing with finding the ocular device for reading the map. Oddly, this song is out of order and should have come before the "Foot Chase".

Interrogation (4:30): This beautiful track sums up the theme tunes in the CD and has the great fast-paced strings with the electric guitar and percussion.

Treasure (3:38): This inspiring piece is when Ben and his comrades stare in awe at the huge treasure trove in the immense cavern. The strings and brass play nice, slow, and uplifting notes that reflect the happiness that floods everyone in the group, especially Ben.

I loved this CD and I highly recommend it. Aside from the tragically short length of the CD, I would say that this CD is well worth the money. I hope that this review helped!

Everytime I go to see a movie, I pay very close attention to the music playing in each scene and try to determine if it's worth buying. Generally, I don't see many films that amaze me like this one has. The score is perfect, wonderful, and thrilling. With the stirring theme for ben, the patriotic additions, and the fast-paced action themes, it is well worth the money. For me, it ranks up in my top five favorite soundtracks, along with pirates of the caribbean and the lion king. I would also recommend this for anyone who enjoyed the matrix pace of music, because it is somewhat similiar.

Ok, First of all I have to say. My favourite Score of all time is easily "The Day After Tomorrow" mainly because of The Song "presidents Speech" that song was up-most Amazing. butttttt, then came along "National Treasure" with the song "declaration Of Independance" and that blew me away. I don't know how trevor Rabin does but but he is on the best out there today. he makes beautiful music and it always works. National treasure is no doubt a success. I insist you all to pick it up you wont regret it. The whole cd takes you away with every song, it is soothing to listen and it is just a blast. I havent seen the movie but listning to the score makes me want to watch it now and i can't wait.

This soundtrack is not only the best possible companion to the excellent movie it accompanies, but it is also magnificent music by itself and one of the greatest action/adventure movie scores ever composed. Mr. Rabin's many variations to three or four central themes make this CD a pleasure to listen to, even if it is only about 40 minutes long. All the tracks are superb, with "Ben", "The Chase", and "Treasure" among the finest. The entire CD is superbly done, and it is well worth your $15.

This cd may be short (around 45 minutes) but it is still great. The tracks range from fast-paced speeds to slow, quiet speeds. The small cd time might make people think twice about buying it, but the quality of the music is astonishing.

Trevor Rabin has done such a fabulous job of writing this score that the first time you see the movie, the music isn't noticed - it does its job of moving the story, creating the suspense, drama, etc. Then, when you see it again, the brillance of the musical score is revealed. I get chills every time the TREASURE is played at the end of the movie, my heart starts racing during the FOOTCHASE, and I grow teary during the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE! THANK YOU, Mr. Rabin - it is awesome. Carrie Kimball, Shreveport, LA

Don't misunderstand me. Don Davis and John Williams in Navras and Dual of the Fates respectively are among scores I listen to almost daily, but there is something to be said for sticking with the strings in a Bourne-esq manner while at the same time not falling over the cliff into the action genre. The hero's theme (probably best brought out in the Charlotte sample above) is suprisingly simple, yet it can be likened to A New Hope's Vader theme. Very few notes can go a long way, something Trevor Rabin has expertly shown here.

It is difficult for me to describe this soundtrack without falling back to comparisons to other works, but it truly stands on its own. Nowadays, we are hard-pressed to find a truly original score, with Williams and Davis being the only who seem to be able to do so, but the National Treasure soundtrack still gets a perfect 5 stars from me because a grin literally crosses my face every time I hear the main theme. The visuals induced are nothing less than cogs turning and something greater than us all on the bring of happening.

As far as I can see, the main criticism is the length, or lack thereof, of the soundtrack. At just under 40 minutes, many say it is too short. However, would you like more of the same? I believe anything longer would have sunk the soundtrack. You get a multitude of variations on one theme that, invariably, is acoustically and psychologically pleasing.

Enough of the fancy words. If you have the money, I would highly recommend this. If not, at least borrow it from a friend to enjoy for a day or two. Quite frankly, this is my personal favorite soundtrack of 2004, and my standards are very high. Trevor Rabin has just established himself as one of the most subtle and fine composers of his time.

This is an incredible feat by former rock guitarist Trevor Rabin. It is intense, suspensful, entertaining, inspiring, and sometimes downright funky. This really is an excellent effort by Mr. Rabin, and perhaps the best he has put out.

This score, although rare for whatever reason is one of the greatest on the shelf. It is upbeat and addicting. Trevor Rabin is a master at getting you completely involved not only in the film but in the music as well. The Armageddon score, also done by him was just as great. His melodies are astounding and his themes are extremely catching. This score is a definite must for anyone's collection.

After viewing "National Treasure" I knew I needed the soundtrack. The music within the movie is a thrill-ride rush. It feel's adventurous. It's kind of adrenaline-rushing. It's amazing, that's why I like it. If you saw the movie and loved hearing that music, Buy this...Because, you'll love it.