X-Men: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [SOUNDTRACK]

Michael Kamen

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 11, 2000)
• Original Release Date: July 11, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B00004U0Q3
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #80,986 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #66 in

  Music > Soundtracks > By Decade > 2000s

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Michael Kamen has become one of the most respected movie soundtrack producers and composers of the modern age. And he's never lost his connection with pop music, either: most recently, he conducted the orchestra for Metallica's S & M. Juilliard-bred, Kamen has orchestrated work for David Bowie and Kate Bush, among others, and his work with Eric Clapton on the movie score for 1987's Lethal Weapon merged his two worlds into one. The summer blockbuster X-Men is a perfect match for the man who brought both Terry Gilliam's classic, Brazil, and Die Hard to life. Here, the battle of Professor X (Patrick Stewart), who must protect mutants born with unusual powers--they can mindread and fly--against the holocaust threatening their freakish existence creates massive tension that Kamen's score elaborately fulfills. Using the L.A. All-star Orchestra at full throttle, Kamen is at his Wagnerian best for "Museum Fight" and "The Final Showdown," and is noticeably more gentle with the epilogue, "Logan and Rogue." Kamen knows how to action-pack a score for maximum effect. --Rob O'Connor

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not quite what you expect..., July 12, 2000

By	Finnius McArbuckle (OakTown) - See all my reviews

I have been eagerly awaiting the MUSIC for the X-Men movie for almost as long as I have been awaiting the film itself. I was expecting large, epic orchestra performing heroic themes and fanfare. I bought the soundtrack and was surprised to say the least. I do not know the work of Michael Kamen very well, save his work in Die Hard, so when I popped the CD into my player I didn't know WHAT to expect. What I got was a bit awkward at first. Sort of a hyper-active David Arnold (On his James Bond scores) mixed with a somewhat less restrained Mark Snow (X-Files). After the first listen I was put into an awkward mood. I listened to it again and only then did I see it's brilliance. It is a breath of fresh air. An awesome style, unpredictable and utterly new. I had not heard anything like it. Of this style I can only say this, if the movie is this different and good, it'll be absolutley amazing. You have never heard anything like this before. It is a very cool blend of at least half a dozen styles, Electronica, Leit Motiff, Full Orchestra. To sum up my ravings, it is wild. Something of a mutated heroic action score, which is fitting given the films subject matter. All in all, a satisfying listen.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most appropriate to the X-Men, November 29, 2003

By	Mike Hiscox (Dallas, PA United States) - See all my reviews

Of all chances, with Ottman not being able to compose and conduct the first film and Kamen stepping in, how did it become the perfect way for X-Men to come out in an ironic way?
Kamen came in when Ottman was to busy, yet Kamen came out with the best score to X-Men I could imagine. I just wish he was still alive.
You'll always hear about the title "Logan and Rogue", as you should because it is so pleasing to the ears and the most appropriate to the scenes in the movie.
Soundtracks always work the best in the movies, so you should really listen to the music in X-Men. You will then understand why Kamen took care of X-Men so well. Look at the scenes when Logan is fighting to save Rogue and his fights with Sabretooth, and Magneto confronting the X-Men and the police. And be sure to stick around for the end credits. I've heard from some of my peers that they liked the credits while they were conversing with each other. And every time I watch that movie or whenever I feel like it I listen to the end credits.
I swear you won't be disappointed with it especially if you respect Michael Kamen as much as I do. I find that he has his music true to the feelings of the movie, and that's what makes him so great.
Kamen died recently in November of 2003 due to multiple sclerosis at age 55.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Give it a try., July 23, 2000

By	"fiore82" (Auburn, AL United States) - See all my reviews

Everyone wanted John Ottoman to score this film, including the filmmakers. I believe that is reason numero uno why not many people like this soundtrack. But what can I say, I like it. I enjoy Michael Kamen's (excuse me, K-Men sheesh) addition to the film. Tracks like Death Camp, Ambush, X-Jet, Logan and Rouge, and my favorite, Cerebro are very nice. But I like the other tracks as well. I think another reason many people don't like this score is because there are no "hummable" themes like with Batman. If you listen enough, you'll hear what I believe Kamen means to be the X-Men's theme. Most notably when Cyke and Storm arrive during Ambush, the majority of Cerbro (though re-mixed), during the battle songs, the first part of X-Jet, and other places in different tracks. And, without trying, after only hearing this CD twice (and the movie twice), I found myself humming the variations of the X-Men theme and Logan and Rouge. Very enjoyable. Also, this may just be me, but if you are able to identify the X-Men theme in these tracks, it sounds a bit like Kamen *ahem* lifted the theme to the cartoon series. Not that that's necessairily a bad thing. But once again, that could just be me.