Customer Reviews

Transformers - The Score

5 star:		(86)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I went out to purchase the score right after I saw the movie for the first time, and was dismayed to find it wasn't available. Now, after several months of waiting, us film-score aficionados finally have it. I am extremely impressed with it, as I was when I first heard it in the movie.

I very much like the "close," personal feel of the recording; it's like being in a small studio with the orchestra, as opposed to a large concert hall. There's plenty of action music from the film ("Scorponok"; "Downtown Battle"; etc.), but there's also a terrific mix-in of the slower, elegant thematic music as well as the "inspirational," pieces. Also, a pleasant surprise: "Sam at the Lake," and "Witwicky." These are very nice "fun" and "mischievous" pieces that recall some of the film's terrific comedic moments, and make for a nice change of pace from the other styles on the disc.

The music is very powerful, emotional, and one shouldn't be surprised to find your foot tapping along to it. This score is a must-have for all film-score buffs.

After months of sleepless nights, mid-day grumbles, and thoughts of suicide, my cure has finally arrived - and boy, it was just what the doctor ordered. Okay, so it wasn't that bad of a wait, but still, I was bummed that we were stuck with the "other" soundtrack (Ya'll know what I'm talking about, yes, *that* one) To make this review short and sweet, I strongly recommend this OST. It's VERY moving, I mean there some real quality on this CD. Just listens to tracks like "Autobots" "Optimus" "Bumblebee" "Arrival To Earth" "Bumblebee Captured" "Sam on the Roof" "No Sacrfice, No Victory" and you be the judge. Get this CD, it's awesome.

First let me set some things straight. I am a follower of everything Remote Control Productions. Hans Zimmer is my idol as a filmmaker and his music inspired me to become a writer/director. I follow everything Zimmer and everything Zimmer related, and I definitely tracked this score closely. Steve Jablonsky stated through a Soundtrack.net report before the film's release that a score was planned. The movie was released and people realized no score was out. Why did people go crazy? This happens all the time, if the score wasn't released with the film it just means the composer and his/her team didn't have enough time to compile an album. I'm glad people showed their support, but honestly it was always planned for release with the DVD and Jablonsky released a statement saying so. Anyway, great to see the support since we are likely to get that 2-Disc release we've been hearing about. Now on to the score.

Anyone familiar with Michael Bay's films should know that Jablonsky worked all the way back to Armageddon for Michael as an additional composer. So this relationship was a long time coming, and it's amazing how well their creative minds work together. The Island was Jablonsky's first solo effort for Bay and with Transformers the RC Team sound can be heard throughout. The score is wall to wall great music. It's hard for me to pinpoint a favorite track although Skorponok, Soccent Attack and Arrival To Earth come to mind as standouts. This is pure action scoring at its finest. It really isn't a complex score. You have a theme for the Autobots, a theme for the Decepticons and then the overall heroic theme for the film. A little mix and mash of Hans Zimmer style and you have one helluva action score. Score enthusiasts have to admit that Jablonsky borrowed heavily from the Batman Begins score, but in good nature. Also, who knew Jablonsky could pull some tears from listeners with Bumblebee Captured.

Overall this is a superb scoring effort to the type of movie it's accompanying. Sure, it's not the most original and complex score we've seen from the Remote Control Productions group, but it's one you can listen to over and over again. I'm glad the score is finally out and hopefully we'll be getting that 2-disc complete score that has been rumored if this release sells well. Good job, Steve.

As I'm writing this article, this score still has another month before it's release. But I've heard the music on the film, and it's nothing short of monumental. Steve Jablonsky has created a powerful musical identity in this album. It has moments of comic relief and suspense, emotional impact and lurking evil, and, of course, heartpounding action. But the strength of this album comes from it's epic thematic core. Jablonsky has created a host of innovative themes for all major parts of the film. The insidious, dark motives of the Decepticons are heralded by the ominous chanting of a male choir, the US Military leaps into action with a quick-paced, brass number, the mysterious Allspark resounds with a theme of wonder and awe, and the Autobots charge into the fray with a colossal and incredibly heroic fanfare. Jablonsky creates moments so moving, so powerful, and so epic, you'll find yourself swelling with hope, joy, and pride. Don't miss it.

So, after all this time, we finally get Steve Jablonsky'a score to Transformers. I wasn't really sure about haveing Jablonsky score the movie since I really only heard his work in Michael Bay's production of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which, sorry to say, wasn't anything to write home about. As the movie started I was very surprised by the opening theme for the Autobots heard over the prologue. I really kinda stopped noticing the score until the Autobots came to Earth. Then I was hooked.

Maybe it's because I was so engrossed in the film itself, I really didn't notice how good this score is. Sure, it's a shameless rip off from Hans Zimmer's earlier scores...but then again...so is POTC...one of my favorites. Alot of major score critics are going to rip this score apart like Megatron ripped Frenzy apart, but what makes the score fit is the fact that it hits every mark, just like POTC did. I was surprised at how much emotion was in this score. The Bublebee Captured is one of the saddest tracks on the album. I have to say, aside from the Scorponok track, which is a clear immiation of the Kranken track from Dead Man's Chest, the action music isn't the best. Sure it's heart pounding, but it is sub-par to the brilliance of the "awe" music such as Arrival to Earth.

So in closing, don't be surprised when this score is reviewed by critics as a mess of a score. But just because a score may not be orginal, doesn't mean it can't be fun and exciting and inspriational. I'm sure a lot of this score is going to make its way into my "Cardio" mix on my Ipod. Deffinately worth a listen.

Well, I've read so far all the good and no so good reviews and want to contribe my 2 cents.
I've been listening to various scores that I own like MI2, Point of no Return from Zimmer, Star Trek by Jerry Goldsmith et. al., Tron by Wendy Carlos, etc, etc...

But to this day, I never had heard such an impact-lasting score like Transformers from Steve Jablonsky. True, he's a student from Zimmer, no denial, when listing to the score and put in the others from Zimmer, you notices bits, parts and cues from other music that has been already heard by his teacher (i.e. similar guitar riffs from MI2). But fortunately, they're not too many and not too "copy-cat" like.
Since the arrival of my CD last week, I only listen to this CD, because the new mix-down is far superior than the 52 track promo score. The 52 track is made for the movie and you can hear it. This score is trimmed for listening, it got twice the power than expected.

Some of my favourite tracks includes:

"Autobots":
a heroic, yet graceful introduction to our heroes of my childhood. When I always hear this track, I got Optimus Prime in mind.

"Decepticons":
is a lurking, threatening and a slow built up track, that has the kind of "umcomfortable feeling" to it. Supported by the choir, it describes best that the Decepticons are an unstoppable force coming like a storm from far away and that's there's nothing you can do about.

"AllSpark":
what I like is the solo-celli, that gives a calm momentum to it, while the guitar drives forward. The choirs set you in a mood like seeing a overwhelming sacred monument before you, which you like to touch it, but yet don't dare of it's beautifulness and uniqueness. When the drums and choir again kicks in, you know, how important this live-giving AllSpark is and why it must be protected.

"Optimus":
Just listen to the added flute-solo and compare it to the movie scene version, where Optimus Prime projects the holographic coordinates of the AllSpark at the observatory. A major difference! You can literally hear Optimus' hope of peace.

"Scorponok":
Throws you in the middle of the action, no time to rest. Running drums makes you believe that beast is after you.

"Cybertron":
Tells the listener the story of the devastated planet. Best described by Optimus with his words:" Our planet was once a powerful empire, peaceful and just. Until we were betrayed by Megatron, leader of the Decepticons. All who defied them, were destroyed. Our war finally consumed the planet and the AllSpark was lost to the stars..."

"Arrival to Earth":
The most sought after track! When the Autobots crashed in their protoform to earth. How much better and epic could you introduce these robots from Cybertron, that captured the hearts of the kids from the 80's?

I don't want got into length, so get this CD, you won't regret.

I'm the guy who started that online petition to get this score released so take that into consideration as to whether or not I'm biased in this review. But with that noted: it cannot be said enough how beautiful Steve Jablonsky's score for Transformers is. It is epic, majestic, often haunting, at times downright alien... and completely glorious throughout. It is in large part because of Jablonsky's score that I think Transformers as a franchise has finally matured into what it had the potential to become: more than a line of children's toys, but something with soul that all ages can enjoy. And Warner Bros. Records did a terrific job in engineering and producing this CD. If they've been working all this time to get it right, then I'm rather glad that they did the extra effort because the audio quality is *amazing*. And these aren't just the tracks that you remember from the movie either: most of them are significantly longer than what we heard in the film. My favorite tracks: "Autobots" (epic and heroic), "Decepticons" (Jablonsky REALLY conveyed the utter alien nature of the Transformers here in a way that's never been done before: "Decepticons" is music for mechanized Lovecraftian horror), "Optimus" and "Bumblebee" both reflect the soul of their respective characters, "Scorponok" is going to cause speeding tickets all over the place just like "Duel of the Fates" did so be warned. And the heart and soul of the album: "Arrival To Earth", without a doubt the most sought-after and asked-for theme not just from this movie but from the entire summer of 2007. This is the track from the scene when the rest of the Autobots come to Earth. This also is considerably longer than the movie version. This album is already a classic movie soundtrack and I am delighted and thankful that it is finally available. Absolutely recommended and let us hope that Warner Bros. Records will see how well it sells and release the 2-disc extended album that we've heard might be coming :-)

My brother and I have both been listening to film scores for over 20 years now. We've grown up on movie scores by John Williams, James Horner, Jerry Goldsmith, John Barry and Hans Zimmer. Basically, the best of the best.

This score is one of the best I've ever heard! It's incredible. I'm so happy it got released, and I'm so happy that we signed the petition to get it released! The movie is awesome, and the score is stellar!

He made sure to include on the CD all of the best pieces of music from the movie, including Arrival To Earth, and Scorpionok. It's just a great spine-tingling, adrenaline pumping ride, as exciting as the movie!

Absolutely beautiful. A great blend of choirs and electronic instruments, of techno rythms and classical ones.
Sad, sensitive, menacing, noble, playful, futuristic, this score has it all.

I signed the petition that Christopher Knight started, which asked for the release of this score. I am glad i did it because this has to be on the best scores i own.

The two main themes/songs, which people will want are:
Soccent Attack
Scorponok
Arrival to Earth (one everyone wants)

This soundtrack is phenomenal and i wouldn't hesitate buying it at all. At the time of the review i think all the copies are sold out. I preordered mine with one day shipping so that i could have it before i went on my trip to FL. This soundtrack is amazing and i cant wait till i am back home to start driving my mustang with this awesome music (don't get a ticket because of me please). If this score sells well, an extended edition will be released, so please, BUY IT.

Is it fear or courage, which prevents you from buying this score?