Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Evocative Horner score recalls triumph, tragedy of Apollo 13, November 18, 2003
Although composer James Horner may be better known for his Academy Award-winning score to James Cameron's Titanic, he has written music for other very successful films in a variety of genres, including Star Trek II, Star Trek III, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, Battle Beyond the Stars, and the Ron Howard-directed, fact-based Apollo 13.MCA's Apollo 13: Music From the Motion Picture showcases a mix of original compositions by Horner and songs from the Apollo Program era (1960s-1972), with selected bits of dialogue from the movie (performed by Tom Hanks, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris, and other cast members) added in for good measure. The album starts with the stirring yet somber "Main Title," featuring a trumpet solo by Tim Morrison (who also performed the trumpet solo for John Williams' "Born on the Fourth of July") that recalls both the heroism and sacrifice of the Apollo astronauts. This 2:25 cue is heard during the flashback to the Jan. 1967 Apollo One disaster which took the lives of Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chafee during a launch rehearsal. After a small snippet of Walter Cronkite's July 1969 announcement that Neil Armstrong had stepped on the moon, there is a long section of album devoted to music from the period, including songs by James Brown ("Night Train"), The Young Rascals ("Groovin' "), Jefferson Airplane ("Somebody to Love") and Jimi Hendrix ("Purple Haze"). Horner returns after another dramatic bit of dialogue with his 10:04 cue "The Launch." This is perhaps one of the best selections in the album, as it captures the tension, excitement and awe of a Saturn V launch. With its stirring themes evoking the sense of wonder and adventure, "The Launch" is a marvelous piece of music that mixes orchestral and vocal performances that capture the emotions of the Apollo 13 countdown, launch and flight into space. Other artists featured in this enjoyable soundtrack album include country legend Hank Williams ("Honky Tonkin' "), Norman Greenbaum (with his rollicking "Spirit in the Sky," which to me recalls the optimism and can-do spirit of the Apollo Program) and The Mavericks ("Blue Moon"). Annie Lennox also provides the beautiful wordless vocals in the "End Titles."
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Houston, we DON'T have a problem . . .", October 19, 2001
Some of my favorite movie scores have come as a result of James Horner ("Braveheart," "Field of Dreams," and "Titanic"), and "Apollo 13" is no exception.Mr. Horner does an excellent job of delivering every emotion that was evident in the film. You know it's going to be a good score when you get goosebumps racing up and down your arms three seconds into Track 1. Mr. Horner takes you on an incredible ride, and for once you don't have to worry about getting sick! I also like the way the use of dialogue is interwoven between some of the tracks. This is done very effectively, and kudos to whomever thought of that idea because it works great here. I've only got two minor complaints about this CD, and if it weren't for these little details, this track would have received a 5-Star rating instead of a 4-Star rating. 1) The use of rock-era songs. Now I know a lot of people like them on here (and it saves money so they don't have to go out and buy another CD), but for hardcore movie-score buffs like me, these are a distraction. I don't like having to skip over songs; I just like to sit back and let the music take me in. 2) The numbers on the back of the CD case do not match the play list. For example, you think you're going to be listening to a score from the movie, but instead you find yourself hearing dialogue or a rock song. I don't know who missed this (or if it was even noticed), but this is just poor miscalculating on whoever designed the case. Other than those two complaints, I love this CD. I love it, love it, LOVE it. I'm afraid I'm going to wear it out from all the times I've played it. If you're a fan of James Horner, or just movie scores in general, do not hesitate to pick yourself up a copy of the "Apollo 13" score.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Great score. Where is it? (on the DVD...), July 18, 2006
The powers that be should have released an "orchestral score only" Apollo 13 soundtrack, as was done for (for example) _L. A. Confidential_. As it is, James Horner's beautiful, inspiring, and amazing work is obscured by intercutting with dialog and period pop tunes, and much of it is simply missing in action. An "orchestral score only" CD was actually compiled and pressed, but not released for sale; it was distributed to Motion Picture Academy members for award consideration. It sometimes turns up on eBay. Better yet, just buy the movie DVD -- the full orchestral score (exactly as released on the Academy CD) plays behind the title menus.
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~ James Horner
~ John Williams
~ James Horner
~ James Horner
See all 23 tracks on this disc
is quite Album-Oriented Rock (AOR), with hints of Pop”
