Customer Reviews

Vertical Limit: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2000 Film)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I don't want to diss the fellow who wrote above with such disappointment, but this is a film score, not a collection of pop songs. In fact, it's one of composer James Newton Howard's better efforts, and that's saying something, as he's one of the best film music composers. This is a gripping, flavorful collections of soaring themes, exciting action cues, and warm, reflective tracks. Highly recommended! One of the best action scores of the year.

I have only recently focused on the film scores of James Newton Howard, and I must credit his very exciting music for the film "Virtical Limit" as the primary motivation. I have long admired several of his works ("Waterworld" and "Wyatt Earp"), but this score caused me to settle down and give this notable composer some serious time. Recently, I have also listened to Howard's wonderful music for "The Postman" and "Dinosaur." Overall, this has been a very enjoyable experience. The score for "Virtical Limit" served as the inspiration, and it deserves strong applause. Howard does everything that is necessary to accentutate tense scenes in the film, but he also has sweeping passages that are quite remarkable. He has made interesting use of percussion in many of his scores and it has become a recognizable trademark of sorts. Here percussion and chorus are used to great effect, especially early in the score. His main theme is memorable, as well, and is probably one of his best. An earlier review did, however find reason for complaint with this recording. He claimed that it did not include the end credits music, and sadly this is true, whatever the reason for the exclusion. The good news is that this will be remedied by the future DVD. On the other hand, most of this music is found in other parts of the score. I too would have loved to have even more of this wonderful, and for me motivating, score...bravo!

James Newton Howard, who had a remarkable year in 2000, really outdoes himself with this awesome, thematic action score. The first 7 tracks really shine, with "Utah" beginning the score with brass playing the main theme over heavy percussion. "Three Years Later" showcases the theme being played over the beautiful mountainous setting of the film. It is a heroic and noble 6 note fanfarish motif played mainly by the brass section. The theme gets more recognition in "Base Camp", "Maybe You Should Turn Back", and "It's A Good Song". A noble secondary theme that really gives you goose bumps is found in "You Wanna Do This?" This secondary theme is heard again in "Maybe You Should Turn Back", but not as noble and heroic as in the other track. There are some really good action cues as well, such as "Avalanche", which contains pulse pounding brass lines, forceful strings, and driving percussion. "Nitro" is another good action and suspense cue, with chasing percussion and ominous brass and strings. "Peter's Jump/Tom's Heart" is another great action and ominous cue, with plenty of suspenseful and action packed moments. "Your Father Was A Smart Man", "Annie and Peter", and "It's A Good Song" are 3 laid back cues that focus on the brother and sister of the film and not the mountain climbing adventures. As the first half of the soundtrack is much better than the second, don't let that talk you out of getting this. The second half is good, just not as good as the first. A solid recommendation all around.

James Newton Howard wrote a fine score to "Vertical Limit", a CD which opens with 'Utah', a track that reminds us of the kind of orchestrations he used in the main title for "Waterworld".

His action cues are somewhat reminiscent of Jerry Goldsmith's action pieces -'Three Years Later' falls into this category -, yet Howard injects certain style to them. I must praise spectacular tracks such as 'Avalanche' and, specially, 'Nitro'. We can also be touched by tender pieces such as 'Annie And Peter', and 'It's A Good Song'.

I must say that I found surprising that Varèse Sarabande released a forty-four-minute CD of a music score recorded in Los Angeles. However I am very pleased with the results, thus coming up with some of James Newton Howard's finest music ever written to date.

Varese Sarabande shares this outstanding score by James Newton Howard - "Vertical Limit" or "Music for Climbing Mountains"...either way this score contains cues that will keep you riveted to your seat.

James Newton Howard is probably one of the most under-rated composers around today - has scored over 60 films..."Space Jams", "Pretty Woman", "Waterworld", "The Sixth Sense" and Oscar's for "The Prince of Tides" (1991), "The Fugitive" (1993) and "My Best Friend's Wedding" (1997) - quite an accomplishment for any composer in today's film scoring genre.

Of course there are highlights - "UTAH" is the opening track with on-going percussion..."THREE YEARS LATER" is just price-less, with every turn and passage interwoven themes, joined by a chorus of haunting melodies..."PETER'S JUMP/TOM'S HEART" heavy on the main theme, percussion and piano, with brass and strings combined with pounding drums, very effective. In part, some of the cues are almost "Jerry Goldsmith" tributes, very close to the legendary composers style.

Howard manages to capture the films drawing-power, as well as it's emotional impact providing the vastness of the mountains and scenery through each musical moment..."film-score-buffs", this is one not to pass on!

Total Time: 44:35 on 15 Tracks...Varese Sarabande 066207...(2000)

Brilliant score by James Newton Howard.

Information for the guy who was expecting the trailer music on the album:

A little stupid to think this. Music from the film is hardly ever used in it's trailer. Why? Because the trailer is assembled before the score has been recorded and mixed. Trailer music is more than often music from other film scores or library music.

This beautifully evocative soundtrack is as shimmering and grand as the Himalayas. James Newton Howard has really performed magic: I listen to this CD for years now and find everytime something to enjoy again. That's really a good buy (or a perfect gift for music lovers).

I am a very big fan of James Newton Howard's music. Between his musical creations, and those of Hans Zimmer, I can survive the one hour plus commute to work and still remain relatively sane. As a former rock and ice climber, the only way i managed to resist buying this soundtrack when the movie was in the theatre (instead of in my DVD player) was the fact that i could not find it in a retail store! Several years, internet music downloads, and an MP3 player, i found myself both reminded and remembering this music and actively looking for it, and found the CD on Amazon.com.
The soundtrack for Vertical Limit is by no means James Newton Howard's best work; most artists grow with time, and he is no exception. However, to pass it up would be a mistake. For myself, it allows me to easily recall the film (Hollywood climbing films being something of a rarity, and i have always been a sucker for film soundtracks) but it can also stand alone as purely and simply entertaining music for the ear. If in doubt, watch the movie, and then decide whether this should be part of your music collection. If you enjoyed the music from the films I Am Legend and the Batman films, this just might be a pleasant surprise for you.

i love the movie and the cd its a great soundtrack ive seen a lot of movies but by far this movie and soundtrack is the best it hits the big time this is a movie i would love to see over and over agian with family and friends it should get no less than a 4 star but i think it should get a 5 star!

That's the best way to describe James Newton Howard's latest work, and it's certainly not a bad cd. The reason for the three is that while it is a good cd, it is not great. It is average, but certainly not bad, as the fellow below bemoaned. I personally do not like all the pop songs that clutter and ruin truly good scores. This is just the score music, but it's not bad score music at all.

The action cues are fast paced, and for the most part not too annoying. Their is also a love theme, which is pretty, and a grand and majestic main theme which is the best of them all. In fact, next to the "Dinosaur" main theme, it is the best that I have heard from Howard. The love theme and the main theme actually fit right together. While some of the action music isn't really the nicest to listen to on it's own here on the cd, it is great in the movie itself, which is really a good movie. That's really the key for a good composer: make it sound good in the movie.

So don't be dismayed by the three stars if you think this sounds like an interesting score. The only reason that I put it there is that I have heard so many, that I have to honestly compare it to all soundtracks in general. But it's really a pretty good score, especially if you like action music. After a rather subdued effort by Howard in his recent "Unbreakable" score, this is like a welcome blast of cold air hitting you, and waking you up. If this sounds good, go for it!