Percy Jackson & the Olympians: the Lightning Thief by Christophe Beck was released Feb. 16th, 2010. The Review:
The Lightning Thief is Christophe Beck's latest work and just may just be one of his crowning achievements so far in the vast world of film scoring. It is fairly thrilling, purely orchestral, and contains some memorable moments.
There are energetic ostinatos, heroic fanfares, and thorough development and variation upon a number of solid (yet slightly derivative) themes.
Chrisophe Beck may be proving himself to be a worthy contender to Michael Giacchino with his ability to handle a full orchestra and create bold themes with numerous variations.
Tracks such as "the Minotaur", "Hydra", "Fighting Luke, Pt. 1 & 2" are superb action cues that showcase majestic, theme-filled pieces full of intense excitement.
Besides the action-packed tracks, Christophe Beck also addresses the mysterious and ethereal by way of cues like "Medusa", and "Lost Souls," and "End Credits".
Every track has something to offer and with a surplus of themes and secondary motifs for the multiple characters that inhabit the mythical world of Percy Jackson, the ride is quite engaging and beautiful at times.
Despite this being a "children's film score" there is intricate detail in the orchestration, decent emotional depth, and a true edge-of-your seat excitement to some great action cues.
Christophe Beck as a whole has risen to the occasion to create a satisfying 4 star fantasy score.
Tracklisting:
1) Prelude: A lovely opening cue that introduces the main theme, or what I will also refer to as Percy Jackson's theme. ***
2) The Minotaur: Intensely exciting - this is a detailed, exhilirating, and even passionate action cue which showcases some excellent writing for woodwinds, percussion and strings. ****
3) Chiron: An somewhat inspiring track of which features a lovely flute solo of the main theme similar to "Prelude" followed by a great horn lead into a majestic string melody before closing out the cue. ***
4) Victory: Another take on the main theme, this track is stimulating with soaring horns and woodwinds to rightly fit its title. ****
5) The Fury: This cue starts out lightly enough by way of interesting clarinet and flute work with whirring, bouncing strings. It then quickly ascends into a rousing fanfare full of turbulence - though ends a bit short of satisfying. ***1/2
6) Dyslexia: This cue is extremely brief, yet features a melancholy secondary theme for Percy Jackson. ***
7) The Hydra: A magical and electrifying cue, "the Hydra" is a perfect example of how action music should be. Instead of pounding us over-the-head with typical ostinato and electronic samples, it builds and grows along the way, utilizing racing strings, fantastic drum work (a la Dances with Wolves), and soaring brass to tremendous effect. *****
8) Medusa: An otherworldly choir ascends and descends tones, causing a shifting, unnerving feel to this ethereal cue, followed by lightly magical piano, harp, and strings. An ominous feeling in the music then takes over, becoming much more serious in tone - you can easily picture Medusa turning her victims to stone with no second thoughts. ***1/2
9) Son Of Poseidon: The proud and noble theme for Percy Jackson is gloriously displayed, though just too short. ***1/2
10) The Parthenon: This track is tenderly stirring and mystical while also driven by some intense fervor from the strings and woodwinds, but doesn't feel wholly developed as a stand-alone cue. ***1/2
11) Hollywood: David Arnold's exciting orchestrations are brought to mind in this celebratory exploration of the score's main theme, as well as containing the "Dyslexia" secondary theme. ***
12) Lost Souls: Moody and mysterious, this cue belongs in the same camp as "Medusa" - a great little story-telling piece. ***
13) Fighting Luke, Part 1: This is the start to a stunning duo of action cues. It starts out calmly enough, but by 1:30 the orchestra starts into unrelenting and undeniably fun action-packed string ostinatos accompanied by the main theme in a heralding fanfare. ****
14) Fighting Luke, Part 2: Right on the heels of its predecessor, this has one of my favorite moments of the album - starting at 1:03 - this track is exciting (and reminds me of John Powell's Phoenix Rising theme from Xmen: the Last Stand) with enormous choir, brass, and strings. ****1/2
15) Hades: Though this cue starts out darkly looming, it surprisingly gives way to a more child-like wonderment, unfortunately it feels a bit like filler. ***
16) Mount Olympus: Obviously majestic and "awe-inspiring", this track lives up to its name, and actually takes an unexpected turn by ending in a somewhat harsh fashion with whip-like percussion and ominous choir and strings. ****
17) Poseidon: Starting out a bit unnervingly, this cue is actually a thoughtful and regal
2) The Minotaur: Intensely exciting - this is a detailed, exhilirating, and even passionate action cue which showcases some excellent writing for woodwinds, percussion and strings. ****
3) Chiron: An somewhat inspiring track of which features a lovely flute solo of the main theme similar to "Prelude" followed by a great horn lead into a majestic string melody before closing out the cue. ***
4) Victory: Another take on the main theme, this track is stimulating with soaring horns and woodwinds to rightly fit its title. ****
5) The Fury: This cue starts out lightly enough by way of interesting clarinet and flute work with whirring, bouncing strings. It then quickly ascends into a rousing fanfare full of turbulence - though ends a bit short of satisfying. ***1/2
6) Dyslexia: This cue is extremely brief, yet features a melancholy secondary theme for Percy Jackson. ***
7) The Hydra: A magical and electrifying cue, "the Hydra" is a perfect example of how action music should be. Instead of pounding us over-the-head with typical ostinato and electronic samples, it builds and grows along the way, utilizing racing strings, fantastic drum work (a la Dances with Wolves), and soaring brass to tremendous effect. *****
8) Medusa: An otherworldly choir ascends and descends tones, causing a shifting, unnerving feel to this ethereal cue, followed by lightly magical piano, harp, and strings. An ominous feeling in the music then takes over, becoming much more serious in tone - you can easily picture Medusa turning her victims to stone with no second thoughts. ***1/2
9) Son Of Poseidon: The proud and noble theme for Percy Jackson is gloriously displayed, though just too short. ***1/2
10) The Parthenon: This track is tenderly stirring and mystical while also driven by some intense fervor from the strings and woodwinds, but doesn't feel wholly developed as a stand-alone cue. ***1/2
11) Hollywood: David Arnold's exciting orchestrations are brought to mind in this celebratory exploration of the score's main theme, as well as containing the "Dyslexia" secondary theme. ***
12) Lost Souls: Moody and mysterious, this cue belongs in the same camp as "Medusa" - a great little story-telling piece. ***
13) Fighting Luke, Part 1: This is the start to a stunning duo of action cues. It starts out calmly enough, but by 1:30 the orchestra starts into unrelenting and undeniably fun action-packed string ostinatos accompanied by the main theme in a heralding fanfare. ****
14) Fighting Luke, Part 2: Right on the heels of its predecessor, this has one of my favorite moments of the album - starting at 1:03 - this track is exciting (and reminds me of John Powell's Phoenix Rising theme from Xmen: the Last Stand) with enormous choir, brass, and strings. ****1/2
15) Hades: Though this cue starts out darkly looming, it surprisingly gives way to a more child-like wonderment, unfortunately it feels a bit like filler. ***
16) Mount Olympus: Obviously majestic and "awe-inspiring", this track lives up to its name, and actually takes an unexpected turn by ending in a somewhat harsh fashion with whip-like percussion and ominous choir and strings. ****
17) Poseidon: Starting out a bit unnervingly, this cue is actually a thoughtful and regal
track, revealing that the theme originally heard in the track "Dyslexia" is actually a theme for Poseidon. ***1/2
18) Homecoming: A typically triumphant end-of-the-story cue which features
18) Homecoming: A typically triumphant end-of-the-story cue which features
Percy Jackson's theme aka "the main theme" in a grander, slower version before ending on an energetic note. ****
19) End Credits: This cue is a 7 minute suite of the two main themes taken through numerous variations and expansions. A fine ending to a solid score. ****
19) End Credits: This cue is a 7 minute suite of the two main themes taken through numerous variations and expansions. A fine ending to a solid score. ****
Overall ScoreCrave Score: ****
WOW!
ReplyDeleteI'm really surprised by the high score! I bought the book last week and the movie opens next thursday, so I'll watch it and then i wil finally be free to listen to the music, that according to you, it's a blast!
I'm surprised myself ;-)
ReplyDeleteI hate giving so many soundtracks 3 or 3 1/2 stars nowadays and I didn't really think this would be any different - but I was blown away and I believe you will pleasantly surprised as well!
To me, it's like Harry Gregson-Williams' work on Sinbad or even Chronicles or Narnia, maybe better. There are absolutely no electronic enhancements as far as I could tell, and though there is a ton of action material, it never induces a headache like some Jablonsky, Bates, and even Brian Tyler music as of late.
It is a joy to listen to and the 60 minute run-time is perfect.
Also, another plus is the excellent mixing - the sound quality is superb.
I really am stoked to see what else Chrisophe Beck can do with more good blockbuster material.
(by the way, check out We Are Marshall by Mr. Beck - if you haven't yet heard it- its a solid 4 star score)
Better than Sinbad? Not even close. Sinbad was able to juggle several themes in all sorts of styles. This score has, what, three themes, and rarely moves beyond the typical fantasy sound.
ReplyDeletewell I love the Percy Jackson series and I'm really happy that Christophe Beck has created such a splendid soundtrack. I really want the score to come out so that we can play it at orchestra!
ReplyDelete