Waterworld: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [Soundtrack]

James Newton Howard | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 1, 1995)
• Original Release Date: August 1, 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Mca
• ASIN: B000002OXG
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #114,625 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Main Titles

2. Escaping The Smokers

3. The Atoll

4. Prodigal Child

5. Smokers Sighted

6. Swimming

7. The Skyboat

8. National Geographics

9. Speargun

10. The Bubble

11. Helen Frees The Mariner

12. Helen Sews

13. Slide For Life

14. Half An Hour

15. We're Gonna Die

16. Arriving At The Deez

17. Deacon's Speech

18. Haircuts

19. Gills

20. Why Aren't You Rowing?

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent score for a mediocre film, October 22, 1998

By 

Christopher M Davis (Winchester, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Waterworld: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

No one can deny that Waterworld, despite its massive budget and star-studded cast, is one of the worst movies to come out of Hollywood in years. It's score, however, is another matter entirely. I certainly hope James Newton Howard received some sort of an award for the incredible music he composed for this movie. Close your eyes while listening to the Main Title, The Atoll, and Escaping the Smokers, and in your mind you will see the film the way it should have been. From ethereal and haunting, to pounding and exhilerating, the tracks on this CD effectively convey the atmosphere of Waterworld - a desolate, post-nuclear ocean wasteland on which the last remnants of humanity struggle to survive against the elements and marauding bands of jetskiing pirates known as "Smokers." Even if you never see the movie (no one will hold it against you), the original soundtrack by James Newton Howard is an absolute must-have.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exotic and swashbuckling theme music for a new nautical age!, August 14, 2001

By 

Brent A. Anthonisen "Johnny Sideburns" (Alpharetta, GA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Waterworld: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

First, I refuse to buy into the notion that this was a bad movie; it wasn't (for further testimony from myself on this movie's behalf, I have written a review for the DVD release as well), and I still challenge anyone to at least rent it in order to form an opinion of their own rather than just listen to what the critics (and the sheep who went along with the critics) had to say six years ago.

Having gotten that off my chest, you could see the movie blindfolded and still enjoy James Newton Howard's score. He's proven himself to be considered on the same plateau as John Williams and Ennio Morricone with this production. The unconventional use of various flutes and pipes give the score an exotic feeling (and do a fine job of conveying the notion of an isolated soul, Costner's character, surrounded by endless sea breezes), and the African/Indian percussion used to augment many of the tracks bring forth the idea that the world has devolved to a primordial (if not primitive) era requiring a honed (if not brutal) survival instinct if anyone is to make it in the world as it has become.

When conventional orchestration is used, the result is a theme worthy of Errol Flynn, Douglas Fairbanks, (Harrison Ford?), any cinematic adventurer you care to name...it's big, wide-open, and exhilarating...what you'd expect God to play for you as you slice through the ocean, wind in your sails and salty brine in your face.

I'm not giving this review 5 stars because the tracks don't appear on the CD in the order that they're played in the movie (though this certainly doesn't detract from the music itself) and because the theme from Enola's music box (which she kept humming throughout the entire movie, providing a sense of foreshadowing for those who cared to look for it) WASN'T included. I thought that, for its significance, it would warrant inclusion on the soundtrack, if in a reduced orchestral form rather than music box chimes. Morricone would've included it, had he composed and conducted this work.

To sum up, this is a great soundtrack to (what I'm not alone in believing is) a great movie...you'd do well to experience them both.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sea-buried treasure.... one of Howard's best works!, January 18, 2001

By 

anthemic (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Waterworld: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

Whether or not you liked the film - the score for 'Waterworld' is one of James Newton Howard's most listenable efforts. It is a score that is able to sustain one's attention by altering pace and feel and avoiding repetitive melodies which often burdens the listener. Furthermore, Howard makes it interesting by foregrounding other instruments beyond the typcial brass or string sections.

As one might expect from a score about the ocean - the overall composition reflects two themes: (1)the dark and eerie (2)the triumphant and mysterious. Since, the film attempts to portray a futuristic time-space, Howard offers exotic drum beats, bells, and flutes to convey a sense of another world. The use of African-type drum beats can also be heard in another score -'Dinosaur' (a film set in past time-space). Howard tends to utilise and combine these elements well and 'Snow Falling on Cedars' is another film score which exemplifies that (particularly with flutes/chimes - see my review for 'Snow Falling on Cedars').

Referring back to 'Waterworld' - the first two tracks will draw you in like a moth to a flame. 'Escaping the Smokers' is a wonderful piece that echoes the Mariner's triumphant escape. At the same, it is not an overblown action cue that brings constant grinding halts with its string and brass sections (which one often hears in action cues).

Track 6 - 'Swimming' is utterly delighful and exemplifies the mysterious theme I referred to earlier. Here, Howard uses bell-like chimes, flutes, synthesizers, and strings combined with subtle choral permeations which offers the listener a sense of peace. Much can be said for many other tracks.

Overall, 'Waterworld' is a seamless effort and if you loved the score to 'Snow Falling on Cedars', then it is most likely you will appreciate this score. In my opinion, they are both better than 'Dinosaur'. That said, James Newton Howard engaged very well with what the film attempted to be.