Customer Reviews

The Passion Of The Christ - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

5 star:		(118)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

For all of those people self-righteously criticizing the soundtrack of this movie as being a lift off of Peter Gabriel's work, perhaps you should do some more research before making such an uneducated critique. Peter Gabriel, too, took the music for the Last Temptation from a significantly more historic source. The instruments used on both soundtracks is the duduk, a classic instrument used in Armenian music, which dates back to biblical times. Hence the choice to use it in both this film and Peter Gabriel's Last Temptation Soundtrack. Gabriel was in no way the creator or innovator of that sound, those melodies, nor the mood set by them. Armenian musicians have been mastering the duduk for over a thousand years. This soundtrack was inspired by them, and paid homage to them, much in the same way Gabriel has done for many years. But Gabriel doesn't have the sole ownership on being inspired by international and ancient music. This soundtrack was powerful and moving, due in part to the appropriate choice of instruments and musicians. People should try to appreciate the music for what it is, and not where you THINK it came from.

John Debney's intense, melodic score adds much atmosphere to Mel Gibson's magnificent film, but can also stand on its own as intriguing and lovely listening. It uses a lot of background vocals and chanting to great effect, and fascinating instruments that give it a middle-eastern flavor; notable is the duduk, which is an ancient double-reed similar to the clarinet, often used in Armenian folk traditions.

It is a score that changes from gentle tenderness to percussive strength, always interesting in its many moods. A few tracks have lush string arrangements, and track # 9, "Mary Goes to Jesus" takes flight on wings of sound.
Other contributors to the score are Jack Lenz, Shankar & Gingger, with lyrics by Lisbeth Scott. The sound quality is terrific and total playing time is 54'09.
It is all at once inspiring, peaceful, and energizing music, and a score that I will be listening to many years from now.
See the film, and hear the music; this is the rare stuff that changes lives with its beauty, power, and truth.

I had access to this soundtrack prior to viewing the movie. It is moving, riveting, and soulful. I can almost envision the elements that each title represents. My husband has listened to it nonstop while at work for the past 2 days and has come home with a totally different attitude.
I highly recommend this especially as background music to listen to while meditating on Sacred Scripture. (Not too loud, just softly in the background.)

First off, I'd like to say it's sad that people are actually putting down fake (obviously fake. no, not because they gave it a low rating) reviews for this soundtrack. That is very petty. Just because you're offended by the movie (and it baffles me to no end why so many people are offended by this movie. L E M M I N G S.) doesn't mean you should stoop to writing fake reviews. If you have to lie to help your cause, maybe your cause sucks.

Basically if you liked the Gladiator and The Seige (particularly the opening song Skeikh's Abduction) soundtracks, you'll like this. It's like a combination of the two but more so if that makes any sense. This is something you'll want to listen to on a good stereo to fully appreciate. Whether you like the movie or not or are even intending on seeing the movie or not, this is a very good score.

I love this music. It's a personal experience that brings what you're envisioning at home all alone or seeing on a screen in a theater right into your heart and soul. It makes the situation inescapable. You can't ignore that they are nailing the Man to a cross....He is dying for you and you can't stop it and He won't....He loves us enough not to. Can we wrap our minds around the idea of a love that deep in this world as we know it? I don't believe so. It's pain, it's hope, it's love, it's suffering, it's violent and it's peaceful........but most of all, it's perfect. Just like Him. This music brings those thoughts and feelings back to life inside me every time I listen to it. It fills me up when I'm empty and picks me up when I feel like I can't go any further.

Simply put, this is the best score I've ever listened to. And this isn't some yahoo saying that - I own over 400 movies scores which range from 1940 to 2006; and this is the cream of the crop. It contains some of the most moving, heart breaking, powerful, uplifting, tragic music I've ever heard. To say there aren't enough good words I can use about this CD is putting it mildly.
The score grabs your attention at track 2, and never lets go. Speaking of Bearing the Cross track, is there many more moving pieces of music you've heard in your lifetime? I sure can't say so. From there on, the music gets even better. Debney uses a wide array of ethnic instruments and his own brand of powerhouse percussion and aching strings to produce a listening experience like none other.
Then there's Mary Goes to Jesus, followed with The Crucifixtion. Unbelievable. Rarely am I almost moved to tears by music alone, but with these two tracks, I was. Then, eventually, we wind up at Resurrection, which is my favourite piece of music in the history of time. It's impossible to describe the power, the beauty, the undeniable spirit of this track alone. I remember my mouth being agape the first time I heard it.
Simply put - buy this score. There's a reason it's one of the most successful soundtracks of all time. Wether you're religious or a fan of scores or the exact opposite of both, I gaurentee this music will touch you in a way few others do. Absolutely perfect.
cheers
KZ

John Williams, Hans Zimmer, James Horner, and now.....John Debney. Yes, with his extremely out-of-the blue score for The Passion of the Christ, Debney has risen to legendary status in movie music history. Not only was his score the best music of 2004 and only lost to Finding Neverland's because the Oscars didn't want to stir up controversy at their awards, but The Passion of the Christ's music is some of the most powerful and emotional music ever created. From beginning to end, there is never one dull spot on this soundtrack. Even Williams (movie music's greatest composers) has some boring songs on many of his soundtracks. But John Debney keeps the listener enthralled with a wide variety of instruments and a commanding, dramatic choir. Each song is different from the other, instantly destroying the chances of the regular monotony found in most every soundtrack. Below I have created the list of songs and each one's ratings.
1) The Olive Garden: B An excellent introduction to this film. Very mysterious. But, as I said, it's only the introduction

2) Bearing the Cross: A Drums and ethnic music fill this song and when the chorus comes in this song becomes indescribable in terms of emotions.

3) Jesus is Arrested: B Another dramatic song...chorus again uplifts it into greatness

4) Peter Denies Jesus: A Judging by this song's title, it obviously should be very dramatic. Debney delivers just that.

5)The Stoning: B+ An interesting combination of chorus and women soloist. Many emotions are stirred.

6)Song of Complaint: B- Possibly the worst song on the soundtrack but in no way is that saying anything bad about it. This song needs to be in this soundtrack for a "cool down" from the drama. Wind instruments used.

7) Simon is Dismissed: B+ I call this song the "Song of the Devil" because of its use in the film and it sounds exactly like a swarm of annoying insects never leaving the listener alone.

8) Flagellation/ Dark Choir/ Disciples: B+ One of the most emotional songs of the soundtrack. The title tells it all.

9) Mary Goes to Jesus: A This song starts of peaceful and then soars with the help of violins and chorus.

10)Peaceful But Primitive: A- Very good song leading up to best song on soundtrack

11) Crucifixion: A+ Best movie music song of the year. Powerful.

12) Raising the Cross: A Dramatic follow up to Crucifixion...Chorus does not disappoint once again.

13)It is Done: B- I changed my mind since this also could go into the category of worst song on soundtrack. But again it's greatly needed to "cool down" listener and their emotions.

14) Jesus is Carried Down: A If the listener has seen this film they know that Jesus being carried down from the cross isn't the only thing going on in this scene. One listen and it's an easy guess. No, not a stampede.+

15)Resurrection: A+ Only loses out to Crucifixion for best song of the year because of its lackluster finale. But still, the chorus and drums used in this song can inspire the listener. This song gets the award of Most Likely to Make the Listener Cry.

Exactly what I was hoping for in relation to the theme of this film - a haunting, moving score with scope and drama. Far more satisfing then the "Gospel of John" score which was plesant enough but overall forgetable, this one blends the middle eastern ethnic insturmentation and vocalizations seamlessly with the more western orchestral and choral elements to really grab the listener and transport you to another space and time. Other than a few passages that sounded like James Horners "Glory" for some strange reason, this is possibly one of Debneys best to date.

The score to "The Passion Of The Christ" is brilliant without compromise. The score is composed by John Debney, who did the scores to "The Whole Ten Yards" (2004), "Welcome To Mooseport" (2004), "Elf" (2003), "Bruce Almighty" (2003), "The Hot Chick" (2002), "The Tuxedo" (2002), "Swimfan" (2002), "Spy Kids 2: The Island Of Lost Dreams" (2002), "The Scorpion King" (2002), "Dragonfly" (2002), "Snow Dogs" (2002), "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius" (2001), "The Princess Diaries" (2001), "Cats & Dogs" (2001), "Heartbreakers" (2001), "Spy Kids" (2001), "See Spot Run" (2001), "The Emperor's New Groove" (2000), "The Replacements" (2000), "End Of Days" (1999), "Inspector Gadget" (1999), "I Know What You Did Last Summer", and "Liar Liar" (1997). This score has to be his best to date, but it is something different than we have heard from him before. I recommend that people get this score if they want to, because the score is just as powerful as the movie is.

I thought the soundtrack to this film was good. I enjoyed the music more so in the film than on CD, but it overall has some standout pieces that are heartbreakingly moving. "Crucifixion" is by far the best piece on the track that is tear evoking and I think it is a really powerful piece. I also think that "Resurrection" is a gorgeous piece as well that has an excellent and uplifting choir section. Unfortunately, the trailer music John Debney composed for the trailer is not featured on this CD, which is disappointing because it is very moving. If you like this, I would suggest Peter Gabriel's Passion: Music for The Last Temptation of Christ which Debney's score is totally copied from for the most part. Also, I would encourage listeners who enjoy this score to check out Lisa Gerrard and Patrick Cassidy's Immortal Memory which features some EXCELLENT pieces, many in Aramaic. It would be a wonderful companion piece to this film's score and I think many listeners would find the same emotion, sadness, and beauty that is featured on The Passion of The Christ's score.