Customer Reviews

The Pledge

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

 

 

I was not happy to see that Nwahulwana was not included on the soundtrack, but having downloaded the song from another site (where it is legal and free to do so), I am satisfied with the music inclusion in the final CD product. My one complaint is that the music is not in the same order that it appeared in the movie. This is something I've always hated. When you release a soundtrack you should release the music in the same order in which it was heard in the movie. With that said, I will move on to the positives of the CD. The music from The Pledge was so perfect for this movie, and the very best music is track one (The Angler). Without this music in particular, the CD would not have been worth buying. I thought this was the most beautiful opening music for one of the most gut-wrenching movies. Listening to it puts me in a mood that I just can't explain with any other word than melancholy. Another piece of music that I was glad was included was that which was heard when Detective Black appeared at the Larson crime scene. There's a feeling of dread I think one gets every time this music is heard, and it was also very appropriate to this movie. Ginny's Picture and The Swing were also outstanding pieces of music which reveal the gleeming contrasts this movie displays. The music playing while Chrissy is on her swing is uplifting despite the fact that she is an obvious sitting duck for a killer out looking for someone just like her, while the music playing while Detective Black is looking at Ginny's picture on the school hallway wall reminds us that some of the most beautiful things in life are target number one for some of the most deranged sickos on the planet. I was so glad to see this CD finally come out as I had all but decided that its release was never to be. I highly recommend that anyone considering it but who hasn't seen the movie yet see the movie first and then you'll appreciate the CD even more.

Amazingly the best song in the entire movie is not on the sound track. The song is called "Nwahulwana" but it is mispelled in the credits as "Nwalhulwana" (making finding anything out about it through web searches impossible as I discovered). It's performed by Wazimbo & Orchestra Marrabenta Star de Moçambique.

Thankfully a record company that distributes the original album posted a good mp3 of the song.

Song catches you the moment it begins. What were they thinking leaving it off the soundtrack?

This soundtrack is a combination of lyicral and melencholy sounds I'd say of African, South American, and American Folk background. If that's hard to imagine, well, without hearing it you can't imagine it. This music so very well set the tone for this completely "unHollywood" film. Quality through out, while it may not appeal to some tastes, that doesn't undermine the quality of the film or the music.

This is quite unlike anything I've heard. I recommend it heartily.

I would love to buy the soundtrack for this movie, but I did not find the african music song from the movie. I'd love to know who sang that song and its title.

Does anybody have an idea on where to download or find Nwahulwana/Nwalhulwana? Please e-mail me: sayit2me@gmx.de

The Music itself is good, but it's just not my style.. I usually prefer a soundtrack over a score.

For those looking to legally download Nwahulwana, google the title, and the very first hit (Piranha) has a link at the top right, that says MP3, click that for a list of all music you can download, Nwahulwana is part of that list. I'd post the link itself, but I know I'm not allowed ;)

There is a great song at the end of the movie that sounds like it's by Van Morrison. Who is this, and why is it not on the soundtrack? Loved the movie by the way.

A lot of previouse reviewers have summed it up: This could be a great soundtrack if it had only included the best tune that happens to be in the movie. Wonder why they omitted it??
otherwise, the soundtrack stays true to the movie...

This is a sub-par score. Not a phrase I would've expected myself to say considering it was a score composed by two of my favourites, Zimmer and Badelt. But there's nothing coherently interesting in this music. It was OK for a background listen, but if you're driving along in a car and want something to grab your attention, this album will probably put you to sleep. It's ambience music, through and through. The first track has some strange Horner like woodwinds in it, and Church Nightmare has an excellent suspense drive to it. But, other than a couple rather beautiful cues on the piano, there isn't much else here. Creepy strings that are usually attatched to thriller scores aren't heard, literally, until the last track. So basically, if you're a Zimmer/Badelt completist, you'll want this album. If you like well done ambience music, give it a shot. But a word of warning - I only paid 9 dollars for it, and it wasn't really worth a cent more.
cheers
KZ