Customer Reviews

Shanghai Noon: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

For those that enjoyed the movie Shanghai Noon, this is not a soundtrack to be passed up. The actual music contained in the movie can be a little misleading: DO NOT buy this soundtrack intending to hear any Kid Rock, Aerosmith, or ZZ Top songs that were played throughout the movie. DO buy this soundtrack if you enjoyed the old western style harmonies combined with the uniqueness of music from the far east, that Randy Edelman created for this movie.

Composer Randy Edelman who also composed "The Whole Nine Yards" - "The Last of the Mohicans" - "Gettysburg" - "Ghostbusters" - Executive Action" scores the lastest Jackie Chang kung-fu western - "Shanghai Noon". Edelman takes traditional western themes and blends them superbly with far east melodies. The result is a well-crafted and entertaining soundtrack, one the listener will enjoy immensely.

The entire album is a winner from start to finish. The record label, Varese Sarabande have left nothing to chance, with Edelman pulling out all the stops, with this rousing and rip-roaring western score. So saddleup buckaroo and visit the west as the sun sets on - "SHANGHAI NOON"!

Total Time: 57:30 on 28 Tracks/ Varese Sarabande - 302 066 154 2 (2000)

After seeing the incredible movie starring Jackie Chan and listening to the great music playing throughout including the Kid Rock popular song,we could not wait for the soundtrack. Imagine our surprise and dismay to find out it is all instrumental! Never do you hear the words that has become synonymous with this movie " you want to be a cowboy baby"...

Randy Edelman delivers yet another great score to this western/comedy film. The music is by far sweeping with orchestral delight, along with Chinese instrumentation and sounds of the west. Several themes are present throughout this score. The first one is the heroic main theme, which reminds me of an Elmer Bernstein composition. It can be found in "From East to West", "Shanghai Noon", and "Finale" in full, with snippets of it appearing in several other tracks. It is usually played on brass and strings, giving it a heroic feel. Another theme is found in "Forbidden City" and several other tracks and is a sweeping, full orchestral motif with dominating strings. Another theme is the theme for the princess, which is the love theme and can be found in "A Fragile Princess", among others. It too is a sweeping, full orchestral motif as the other one is. "Journey of the Imperial Guard" contains Edelman's characteristic synths and percussion played over what sounds like another motif that appears only a few times throughout. "Becoming a Cowboy in Carson City" is another cool track with a Jew's harp used to represent the old west and rapid sixteenth note string rhythms. Edelman uses his trademark humor passages throughout to add a light comedic touch. "Escaping Death", "Martial Arts", and "Rumble on the Train" contain good action music that keeps the same sound throughout. "Home on the Rangoon" is really "Home on the Range" played as a solo by one of the members of the UK Chinese Ensemble that was used for the score. "A Fading Wish" contains a piano solo played by Edelman himself. This score is still in some stores if you look carefully and by all means I recommend it.

Randy Edelman managed to combine the majesty of the old west with the mystery of the Forbidden City and come up with music that soars when it needs to soar and makes me smile (Bonding in Jail). It's hard to inject humor into a song, but he's done it. The "Marlboro Man Returns" in Randy's vision of the wide open spaces.

I absolutely loved this soundtrack,even though its not sold in australia for some reason just like a lot of other soundtracks.Thanks to Amazon i was able to get it.One point however i noticed there was one part of the movie score that was missing from the CD.Its the "Forbidden City" track and its missing the first minute when the asian symbols and actors names are displayed.I wonder why.Overall a great addition to my collection.

I loved the movie Shanghai Noon for it's unique story, style, the comedy, the actors, and of course, the music! Being a huge fan of music and particularly film scores, I was dying for this CD. I was not dissapointed with it in the slightest once I listenened to it. The music is fun, beautiful, well written, well performed, and simply awesome! If you liked the movie, and if you like good music, you will love this soundtrack!

Shanghai Noon had great music, I really enjoyed it and the movie was great. When you listen to the music, you can picture the scenes of the movie in your mind. This is the best music from a movie that I have heard in a while.

As a Counselor, music is very beneficial to my clients while doing work in sessions. Studies have shown that classical music is very therapeutic and relaxing, however, with children, it makes them sleepy. Fortunately, this CD is motivating enough that the children are not distracted from their work, yet do not get sleepy in the process. The music is soothing and frequently used with clients.

Plain and simple: a great soundtrack!
Somehow it got alot (i think) in common with the City Slickers II soundtrack, although the composer of that one is Marc Shaiman.
So if you like the soundtrack from City Slickers II, I am sure you're gonna like this one too and vice versa.

Thank you Randy Edelman for this soundtrack :-)