Customer Reviews

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Harry Gregson-Williams doing the score for this movie was the only glimmer of light it ever had. From the looks of it it's also a safe bet to say that it's the film's only saving grace, and indeed it is. Harry Gregson-Williams delivers a lush sweeping adventure score filled to the brim with ethnic flavors and romanticism.

On its surface this is a summer blockbuster adventure score. So we get a nice big adventurous theme to start us off. While it may sound very familiar to Alan Silvestri's The Mummy Returns theme it definitely holds its own weight. Then we have a second romantic theme, which is I believe the only uncharacteristic part of this score. By that I mean it's the one thing that doesn't sound like Harry. It has a Zimmer quality to it and reminds me of Pirates Of The Caribbean. With Jerry Bruckhiemer producing I wouldn't be surprised if Pirates was used as a temp track at all. Is that theme great? Absolutely! I love it.

The rest of the score is lots of fun and a great ride. I didn't expect Harry to toss in his signature electronics into the mix, but it works so well. It's almost as if his score to Kingdom Of Heaven got combined with one of his Tony Scott scores. I'm pretty sure I heard that fantastic Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare menu music percussion in there. There's also his signature motif. I guess I'll call it his "Middle Eastern Motif" since he uses it in any score that deals somewhat with a Middle Eastern setting or character. I remember it in Domino most notably and a few others.

In the end this was a fantastic score. It brings us these lush themes and places us right in the atmosphere and setting of the story. His electronic percussion and pulsing strings give it a shot of adrenaline and keeps the energy level high. It's what summer blockbuster scores are all about. Great fun done in such an amazing and memorable way that can still give you an emotional ride in full Gregson-Williams style.

When I saw the movie (which by the way isn't as bad as they say) the music got stuck in my head and I had to have the soundtrack. The opening music "The Prince of Persia" is beautiful and haunting, but the Raid on Alamut is brilliant. I have played those tracks over and over. I also love Alanis Morisette's I Remain, it has a unforgettable sound. this music is among the best I heard in movies for a long time.

I'm a huge movie music fan, and tend to follow certain composers as they convert me to their work. I fell in love Harry's work on Narnia and Kingdom of Heaven (one of the first soundtracks I purchased without seeing the movie), and have continued to be impressed with his work. With Prince of Persia, there are some familiar themes and similarities to other movies, but not to the point of distraction. I felt that the music very adequately transported me to the locations of the movie, with a middle-eastern flair, and the enchantment that accompanies it. If you're a fan of the movie, or of movie music, give this one a shot!

I have to admit that I thought the whole Prince of Persia thing sounded ridiculous when I first heard of it: "a movie based off of a video game??"
However, I saw the movie, and one of the things I liked about it was the score, as I like and own both "Narnia" scores by Harry Gregson-Williams.
One of my favorite tracks is the first one, titled "The Prince of Persia". Near the end of this track, a very majestic and beautiful rendition, compliments of our friend Harry :) of what I think of as "the main theme" of Prince of Persia.
"Raid on Alamut" will remind those of you who own the Prince Caspian soundtrack of "Raid on the Castle" and other pieces of that score. But even though it may remind you of Harry's previous scores in various ways, the the Prince of Persia score has a definite different theme, than say, in Prince Caspian. Harry Gregson-William proves that he is able to create different genres of music for different types of films. While Prince of Persia is basically fantasy, it has a different feel than the Narnia films. Harry Gregson-Williams creates a middle-eastern feel for his score. At the end of the score, you can listen to "I Remain" sung by Alanis Morissette (written by Alanis Morissette and Mike Elizondo).
If you liked the music of Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time, and just can't remember those themes you liked...this is the score for you.

Being an avid Prince of Persia game player from the early mac version to the Outstanding PS3 game, I was so looking forward to the movie and was NOT disappointed. The movie was spectacular and was enhanced by the wonderful soundtrack by Harry Gregson-Williams. The music definitely set the tone for each scenes and added drama as needed. I love Alanis Morossette's "I Remain". I downloaed that one for my iPod. There was another song I hoped would have been the final song, Lacuna Coil's Our Truth on the Karmacode CD. The song has a major middle eastern feel, enough edge to have the folks walk out of the theatre pumped up and lyrically it was perfect for the Sands of Time.
"...Clock is ticking while I'm stealing time, Can't you turn it back? Stop the cycle
..."
But alas... Great Sound Track for a great movie.

I'll admit I have no intention of seeing this movie; I never played the games and the amount of CGI in the trailers probably cost more than the combined GNP of several nations, and usually serves to hide a missing plot. But as a lover of soundtracks I was eager to check this one out.

Gregson-Williams displays the usual Remote Control Studios chops- synthesized drum trax and other blended electronics joining the male chorus, electric cellos and frantic string cues. Throw in some stock Arabic chants and its not a bad mix at all, just also not very memorable.

There seems to be a pattern on most of the tracks- a sweeping opening, a dip or two into minimalism to highlight the undercurrents before switching into a brief flurry before the end. I also didn't notice any discernible heroic motifs, other than the drum and cello combo that's very similar to Djawadi's work on Clash of the Titans- that one shows up repeatedly.

A few highlights:
The Prince of Persia: Title track is very reminiscent of Goldsmith's Mummy- strings, programmed bongos, choral chants, horns and Spanish guitar blending into typical sweeping Middle Eastern motifs. Not bad at all, actually.

Raid on Alamut: Some very rhythmic drum combos invoke the sense of furtive excitement. A few changes in tempo along the way sweep you along with the tide.

Running from Sheikh Amar: Chiefly comprised of the aforementioned Clash of the Titans electric cello and drum impact combo.

Visions of Death: The looped drum tracks and stereo effects work very nicely through your headphones.

No Ordinary Dagger: Follows the formula to a tee. Starts with the most powerfully evocative strings on the cd, then dips in the middle and slides into a brief crescendo towards the end.

The Passages: Gets kinda fun in the middle, with all manner of instruments coming together in a rush of excitement before settling into what seems like a discovery of some kind at the ending.

The Sands of Time: One of the better tracks. Action, excitement and mystery all come together in this one; the middle's especially good but again, it goes out with a slide instead of a bang.

Destiny: The standard reflective denouement with a hint of promise for a sequel.

I Remain: The now-obligatory token radio track, sung by Alanis Morrisette. Whatever.

Overall it's a really good thing he has going here, but it's never sustained for some reason. Right when things get interesting they slow down and barely resume before ending; by the fifth track it's gets kind of frustrating. Overall, I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could.

This was a journey through the desert from start to finish.

I rarely buy soundtracks as they usually contain elements that mar the final product, not so this. It is a melodious music movement through the the Persian wonderland.

Even Alanis Morrisette is great in the final track I Remain, not her usual grating voice.

If you enjoyed this movie, this music will take you back through the scenes, but you do not have to see the movie to enjoy this very special piece of music.

Having scored the first two installments of The Chronicles Of Narnia for Walt Disney Pictures, Harry Gregson-Williams returns with a vengeance to score their latest blockbuster "Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time." Befitting an action-romance set in Persia, the score is equally as engaging, with Prince Of Persia, Raid On Alamut, The Sands Of Time and other cues supplementing the action portion of the movie, and the closing song I Remain performed by Alanis Morisette and one, two or three other cues supplying the romance part. Remeniscent of The Rock, and Walt Disney Pictures' own Pirates Of The Caribbean scores by Hans Zimmer. See the film and buy the soundtrack.

Best film score. Even though not every piece of music that's in the movie is on the cd, it's still one of the greatest ever.

I loved the movie and the music so bought both the DVD & the CD. Was dubious about the story line so rented it first. Should have known that Gyllenhaal AND Gemma Arterton (in new version of "Clash of the Titans") would do a job well done with a GREAT new story line. Funny & exciting.