Customer Reviews

Windtalkers (Score)

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

 

 

No doubt that this is not one of James Horner's best score. I can tell this because the theme of the movie wasn't compatible with Horner's deep inner self, emotional style of music. Movies of this type such as Braveheart, Glory, Titanic, A beautiful Mind bring out the best in Horner. I recommend seeing the movie before buying any soundtrack. Some reviewers complained that the song in the commercial was not on the cd, it wasn't even played in the movie. You can't expect that for every movie(such as this and Saving Private Ryan). Another reviewer said that this cd was poor because it contained no Navajo songs(again none were played in the movie). Yes this album is poor, but not just because it doesn't contain any Navajo music.

This soundtrack is a major disappointment. There is no melody, only a repetitive one cord that the composer is trying to demonstrate how many ways he can have an orchestra, or one instrument from the orchestra play it. When Horner does give us a bit of variation to his music, he falls back on bits and pieces of his previous works. I heard snips of "The Perfect Storm" in this soundtrack. Too bad for his fans. Some of the most beautiful soundtracks have been done for War films. George Delerue's "Platoon", Hans Zimmers" "Then Red Line", Michael Kamen's "Bamd of Brothers, and recently Rachel Portman's "Hart's War", fall in this category. One of the all time classic war scores is James Horner's "Glory", so we know the composer is capable of producing something better than this.
Horner really missed an opportunity here. To integrate the beautiful Navaho music into this score would have been more appropriate to the film and to those of us who expexted a film score worth listening to.

If you were expecting a melodic or rousing score akin to James Horner's LEGENDS OF THE FALL, GLORY or TITANIC look elsewhere. This is an impressive almost ethereal score. It actually impressed me more on this CD than it did in the actual film. It has elements of cultural American Indian idioms, a sense of Americana depicting the land and the people and typical military cues appealing to the intellect of the listener. However, the greatest strength of this score is the feeling of camaraderie that comes out of the chaos and carnage of war. Horner depicts the intimacy of being part of that ode to death and demonstrates that there really is no glory in it. How you react during that experience and what you take away with you is really what is important. I bought this CD and took a long ride along a highway during a bright sunny day and just listened to it. I was moved by it and equally surprised at the depth of emotion that Horner had put into it. This is one of his great scores but will probably go unsung for some time. I am sure this score will be discovered in time for what it has accomplished.

Windtalkers had a chance to be such a good score. But thanks to James Horner's penchant for repeating himself, it's not. His Marine theme is enjoyable and the use of Native American chants is ok, but overall he simply redoes previous music. There's a bit of Enemy at the Gates and Mask of Zorro in this score. And he's not done reusing it, in Troy he uses some od the same music. If you are a hardcore Horner fan, buy this cd. If you don't mind the fact that it is repetative music, buy this score. Otherwise, stay away.

Once again, Navajo songs were pushed aside from the making of this soundtrack, there is no Navajo songs, nothing...

I am so angered as a Navajo myself, they should have put Navajo songs on the album but didn't.

This is more of Shakespeare's type classical music...! Do not buy!! If you want to purchase Navajo songs, I suggest you look elswhere!

p.s., if you want Navajo songs, may I suggest purchasing:

Dougles Spotted Eagle: Closer To Far Away

Sacred Spirits: Chants And Dances Of The Native Americans

Brule: One Nation

i found a mint copy of this album for dirt cheap in the amazon market place. this is a really nice score from James Horner....i'm surprised i don't already own it. there really isn't much else to say....its just very good. if you like the movie and you like Horner, you'll enjoy owning this soundtrack.

This is another good James Horner score. Yes, it does use some of his self-quotations from his other scores, but the overall result is a good one. The music mainly contains string passages, horns, and percussion. There is an American Indian like feel to this score that makes it sound great within the context of the film. The main theme is a 9 note string and sometimes indian flute motif that is found somewhere in almost every track, especially in "Taking the Beachhead" and "Calling to the Wind". When it is heard, the result is always a good one. Instead of utilizing all of the action, Horner instead focuses on the tension and drama of the film and this is shown much more in the music. This is not to say that there is no action music. Action music can be found in "Taking the Beachhead", "Marine Assault", "Friends in War", and "A Sacrifice Never Forgotten". These tracks consist of Horner's trademark action music with driving string and brass rhythms along with snare drum licks. The Navajo inspired music can be found in "Navajo Dawn", "First Blood Ceremony", "Losses Mounting", and "Calling to the Wind". If you are familiar with James Horner's style of music, then this will come as no surprise to you. Still, it is good and worthy of a 4 star rating.

This may not be the most helpful review for I have not actually purchased the score (oh well), but while viewing the mediocre historical/pretty good blow-em-up action film, I was distracted by Horner's score. Yes, he tends to rip off his own earlier musical scores--but I've never heard it this blatant before. Contrary to other reviews, it is not "Enemy at the Gates" that is pirated but "The Perfect Storm" which is used througout the film--and as for "Navajo" music, as others have stated, don't expect to find them here because none was even utilized in the actual film (unless, of course, you count Whitehorse's flute/recorder duet with Anderson's harmonica). The one thing about Horner's score that actually was pleasing was the lack of a cheesy pop song for the end credits (which can unfortunately be found at the end of almost every Horner score--save a few--from the last few years). If you want a truly memorable Horner score, check out his vastly underrated score for 2001's "Iris." It may not be war-like and visceral but at least it's more original than what is likely to be found here.

I think it really captures the men in their life on and off the field of battle. I really enjoy this CD. One of Horner's best!

Maybe I should have thrown my money into the wind. Haven't seen the movie yet, but all the commercials on the radio with the beautiful American Indian music, it's what I EXPECTED on this CD and was really mad that none of it was included even tho that was the main theme of this movie. Thanks for nothing. Unfortunately I don't have a sound card on this computer and couldn't listen to any samples but I bought the CD anyway, just blindly assuming that the beautiful American Indian music would be there. Instead, I get a CD full of tired, boring, military music and military drum rolls we've all heard before. I took this CD that I got today and tossed it into the wind.

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