Customer Reviews

The Sixth Sense: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

James Newton Howard does a superb job in writing the music for this film. Listening to the CD was almost as creepy as watching the movie (which is terrific too!). Be careful when you get to track five ("Suicide Ghost"-it gave me a start!) Other great music highlights include "Tape of Vincent" (where Malcolm discovers Cole was telling the truth) and "Help the Ghosts/Kyra's Ghost" (freaky!!) I only have two things to complain about. One: the final track on the tracklist printed on the back tells the twist ending, a spoiler for those who haven't seen the movie (I had the same complaint about The Phantom Menace soundtrack, which listed two tracks that gave away Qui-Gon's death listed on the back of the CD. At least this soundtrack came out AFTER the movie was released). Two: the surprisingly short running time of the album, totalling only approximately 30 minutes. (Was this all there was in the movie? How about the hair-raising opening credits music?) But if you loved the movie like I did and you want a good CD to play at Halloween, this is still worth the buy (if you leave your player on "repeat" of course)!

I can't say, whether the soundtrack to "The 6th Sense" works the same wonderfully as a stand-alone score as it functions in the thriller, because I saw the movie first. I viewed it three times and definitely decided to purchase the score after that. I rarely buy a soundtrack after I have only heard and liked the music in the movie. But with this score, while having been so amazed by the film, I made an exception, which now I know I will never regret. James Newton Howard composed a piece that fits the movie mood as good as possible. Howard is, undoubtedly, capable of making a thematically richer theme ("The Prince Of Tides") or even more airy orchestration ("Junior"), but this time he cleverly held himself back. The result is more than satisfying. The music doesn't ever try to be a step or two faster than the story itself and lets viewers come comfortably through the fear or whatsoever without any revealing or disturbing effect. Yes, the score is somewhat short (John Williams' "Stanley & Iris" comes to my mind), some 30 minutes plus of the running time, but I came up with a small trick to make it about 20 minutes longer. As the music of the score doesn't dramatically change with every new bar - it's not its fault, it was meant to be done - you can programme your CD player and repeat several middle tracks (the choice is yours). It would only be so said "proper", if you kept the first and the last track at their positions if you wished to keep the movie's opening and ending unchanged. Well, when I first heard the music in the film, I was briefly reminded of the "Alien" score (or may be "Aliens" - I don't remember both exactly). Not the melody, but the distant feeling was the reminder. Nevertheless, that feeling quickly disappeared and I found, that further on the music was flowing its own way... What a great and playful score it is! Supportive, but great. If it weren't in the movie, you could be missing something mysterious, something hard to imagine. You would never feel the prickly things on the back of your neck. You wouldn't see dead people walking around like regular people. You wouldn't know, that someone next to you has already been dead... (Not to be continued.)

This is one of the most beautiful soundtracks I have ever heard! James Newton Howard has artistically orchestrated both beautiful and creepy music. I would definitely recommend this soundtrack to anyone who was impressed by the music of the movie when they saw it. The music stuck with me for days, and I can say that I love the soundtrack and have not regretted purchasing it. Also, I think that the length of the soundtrack, while short, is good for me. If I listen to a soundtrack, I want to listen to the whole thing, as if I were watching the movie again. Thirty minutes is a good time frame to sit down, close your eyes and just listen. If you are someone who likes to listen to a soundtrack all at once, the length won't bother you. Even if you think that thirty minutes is too short, the music is of high quality and worth the price. It's beauty will amaze you!

I have to agree with 95% of the reviews already written on this recording. The despair, sadness and torment are front and center in this collection. You have to be in the right frame of mind to really enjoy the message of darkness and gloom. The track that made me buy the CD was "De Profundis". This delicate flow of misery with the sinking cellos and basses during the minor key change took my musical spirit to another place. It was divine.

I really appreciate his Howard's use of low volumes to convey his thoughts. He fully understands that pianissimo (pp) can hit just as hard as a full throttled forte (fff).

Although the music and concept deserve a five star rating, the record company really [disappointed] the buyers by only including 29 minutes on the disc. This, sadly, makes this THE SHORTEST soundtrack I own and one of the THE SHORTEST soundtracks on the market. :(

I saw the movie twice, then immediately went out and bought the sound track....James Newton Howard's score masterfully complements the plot of the film, and listening to this CD will recall many of the film's most memorable moments. (The cut titled "Suicide Ghost" is especially effective!) I would give the CD the full 5 stars if only it weren't PAINFULLY short!

This is one of the most depressing soundtracks I have ever heard, and for that, the seizing quality of the instruments, the wild passion of the entire album - it makes it not something to listen to when you're feeling depressed. It has drawn me into severe melancholy because of its power. I'm absolutely in awe of it. One of the many things about it, however, is the variety of the songs. There is a distinct and marked change to every song, no matter how subtle, and it sweeps you away like a riptide. Without a doubt, listen to this cd. You will probably cry. See the movie, too. Very well done.

James Newton Howard's music for "The Sixth Sense" is brilliant. It is deeply moving, disturbing and - yes, at times even scary. It powerfully depicts the atmosphere of the movie. I wouldn't have missed it for anything in the world. The only problem with the album: it only includes 30 minutes of music. For instance, the music for the main titles and end credits is missing completely. I can only hope that at some point in time, a recompilation album will appear which gives us more.

Dear Sean Lane: Believe it or not it IS possible to review a movie soundtrack (or the movie) without RUINING THE ENDING. It is curtious (at the very least) to leave the surprise for people who haven't seen the movie (like me) in fact it's downright rude to give it away. A message to any readers: don't go any farther, there's a party pooper down the line who will ruin your viewing pleasure for this move. Thank you.

Friends of classical music, and more specifically, baroque classical music, will relish this examination of the geometry of fear. James Newton Howard has worked the finest language of communication into a vividly visceral masterwork worthy of each, and every spine-tingling moment. To see the movie is a worthwhile, but unnecessary step. If you wish to feel what Cole felt, by all means, place your emotions in the gifted hands of Mr. Howard.

A fan of finer music can but wish for further works by this poet of the universal language.

Respectfully Yours, Ryder S. Eckhardt

This soundtrack is one of the best I own out of the 19 I have. I'm a huge movie soundtrack freak and I loved the Sixth Sense when I saw it in theaters. The music is so compelling and peaceful, and then will terrify you in the next moment. This is the first time I have heard one of James Newton Howard's composed soundtracks, and he does it so beautifully. The music is just plain creepy at some points that it runs chills down my spine. The last track, Malcom is Dead, is the best one because it presents the element of shock when he realizes that he has been dead the entire time, and leaves off with a very sad and touching theme. If you liked the movie then this soundtrack is totally for you, I would definetely reccomend it to anyone who likes soundtracks and motion picture scores.