Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good - but one major flaw brings it down., March 13, 2008
The Golden Compass soundtrack is pretty solid. I would recommend buying it if you liked the music while watching the film.
However, there is one major problem: it seems as if Desplat was trying too hard on many of the tracks to make the music "epic" or more bombastic. As a result there are some tracks and many parts of tracks that bring this album down. Why is this bad, you ask? Well, the problem with trying too hard is that when you attempt to make something more bombastic, often the music suffers on account of it. As a result, it becomes more generic or just too much because there's no longer that emotional impact to the song anymore. The epic bomastic beats can draw you out of a piece that you were enjoying. Unfortunately this occured on more tracks then I wished.
Let's begin with "Sky Ferry". Now don't get me wrong, the song is great. It just seemed like they were trying to layer too many instruments on top of each other for a louder sound. It could've done without that. It's still a nice song overall; but there are times were it seems they added too much. "Lyra Escapes" is one I looked forward to; but the supposed energetic instruments pounding when she runs away ruins getting into the piece. It seems to detract tension overall rather then create it. After that, it's alright; but the intro ruins the piece somewhat. "Lee Scoresby's Airship Adventure" is another major one. I loved it until 0:43. Then the music becomes extremely generic trying to bring the epic sound as the ship sails over the water. It almost ruins the beautiful interlude before it. Maybe it's unfair to include "Iorek Byrnison" in there since I love most of the song. But, the same thing happens. Until 4:50 it's a fine piece, but when it becomes epic I get thrown out fo the piece because it's the same intruments pounding the same notes - which is great for a movie but not when you're listening to the soundtrack and want variety. "Lyra, Roger and Billy" was another one that I felt could be improved upon as well. Nice piece overall, but it tries too hard.
I sound like I'm whining here - but let me say that some of the music was a let-down in that sense. Maybe I'm just too picky.
That doesn't mean I don't love many of the tracks though. "The Golden Compass" is a very nice intro into the movie. It's a favourite of mine. "Letters from Bolvanger" is comprised of a piano ballad. It's a very calming, sweet piece of music. "Mrs. Coulter" was a great musical intro for the character - I've always liked it. "Dust" is a great track, I consider to be perfect for the movie. Similarly, "Serafina Pekkala" is another nice one. "Riding Iorek" manages to go into epic territory for the first little bit, but not too generic, then dies down with suspensful instrumentals as Lyra enters the cabin on the lake. "Ragnar Sturlusson" is overall pleasant. "The Ice Bridge" manages to build up appropriate tension without appearing to try too hard. It finishes on a perfect note. "Intercision" is another favourite of mine that perfectly matches the mood of the movie. "Rescuing the Children" and "Mother" are both very calming tracks, though I wish the latter was easier to hear at the beginning. "Iorek's Victory" is another nice one."Epilogue" is still a nice ending piece, even though it can be a bit bombastic at times, but not annoyingly so.
Other good tracks:
Lyra - Some of the chorus lyrics are a bit generic; but it's still a great song. Kate Bush sings it well.
Lord Faa, King Of The Gyptians - It's a tad mellow but there are some great instrumentals in it.
Samoyed Attack - Still good even though the sound can be generic. It's enjoyable.
The rest of the tracks, however: The Magisterium, Lord Asriel, Ice Bear Combat, Battle With The Tarters, and The Golden Monkey (though the ending to it is great) are generally throwaway tracks.
Overall, it's a recommended soundtrack with a mix of good and bad. Luckily the good overshadows the bad, but I just thought you'd like to know what you're in for if you're considering buying the music.
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12 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Different Side to Desplat, January 22, 2008
Alexandre Desplat writes lush, idiosyncratic scores, mostly for small films. Okay, "The Painted Veil" wasn't exactly small, but it certainly wasn't a $180 million behemoth like "The Golden Compass." I'm a big fan of his work, so I was curious to see if he could pull off the kind of epic grandeur we've come to expect from a Howard Shore or a John Williams. And he does, quite admirably. I thought the score was perfect for the film when I saw it, and I've gotten great enjoyment listening to it at home. If I have an objection, it would have to be that at moments there's something of the generic big movie score about the work. But it's a very, very good big movie score, so it's a minor reservation. Oh, and I don't care for the Kate Bush song at all, it's embarrassing, frankly. So check out "The Golden Compass." If you already like Desplat, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at this other side of him. And if you're just into sweeping movie music, you'll certainly be well satisfied.
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6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Golden Compass, Good stuff., February 17, 2008
I think the music is solid, well crafted. And Kate Bush's song Lyra is an excellent cap to the album. :)
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