The Black Cauldron (Disney Gold Classic Collection)
Director: Ted Berman, Richard Rich
Average Customer Review:
DVD (03 October, 2000)
list price: $19.99 -- our price: $15.99
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Features

• Color
• Animated
• Closed-captioned

Reviews (104)

Why...why...*sob* why...
I watched this film through my fingers, too upset and horrified by what I was seeing to take in the whole view. How could the wonderful, humorous, epic Lloyd Alexander books be reduced to this? Why couldn't a respectable movie studio have picked up the license, and made a worthy film with talented actors? The entire spectacle just made me sick.

The very least Disney could have done would be to make a five-part series that covered all the books, but no. This is the only film there is, and it's not even based on The Black Cauldron. It's a muddled mix of that book (which was the second in the series) and The Book of Three (the first in the series). Blech.

And then--I can barely type this--Gwydion (forgive me if I mispelled it...) isn't in it. At all. He's one of the best characters in the entire series, and he doesn't even get a supporting role!? And that's only the beginning of the heinous omissions. There's nothing about the race to find the Cauldron, the sad trading of the magical brooch, or Taran's swallowing his pride for the good of Prydain, and that's only mentioning a few. Instead, we have some half-baked trash where Taran slashes through hoards with the magic sword Dyrnwyn for a while (when in reality he can't even draw it until he's earned the right), then giving it to the witches so he can destroy the Cauldron. Then Gurgi jumps in the cauldron at the end, but is somehow brought back. By this time, I was trying to find a way to retch and watch the movie simultaneously.

In all, this might be a decent movie to keep the kiddies occupied while you get the housework done, but why? Read them the books instead. Don't waste time and money on pointless trash.

The worst Disney film... Not!
Disney's The Black Cauldron may be the most unpopular Disney animated film ever, but it is so not the worst and it isn't even bad, really.Now, forget that it was rated PG, (So yeah, other PG Disney films included the horrid "Atlantis - The Lost Empire or Home on the Range, but it also included some highlights like Lilo & Stich!) The Black Cauldron offers a soft and interesting story to watch on rainy days, with lots of fun characters, humor and charm, the only thing missing that weakens the film is the lack of songs, but the soundtrack is beautiful.

The Black Cauldron is the story of Taran, a young assistand pig-keeper who is, by his trusting master Dallben, sent on a mission to protect one of the pigs, Hen Wen from the hands of the evil Horned King, who has discovered the powers of the little girl pig and wants to use them to find the Black Cauldron and with it, rule the world.Taran travels through forests eventually losing the pig and finding himself in desperate need of help and then gets caught by the Horned King, Creeper (A troll) and his men.There he finds not only Hen Wen, but also a sweet princess named Eilonwy and a good Minstrel named Flewddur Fflam, who journey with Taran in the search for the Black Cauldron, hoping to destroy it before the Horned King has a chance of using it.
Also adding to the fun is Gurgi, a cuddly creature who longs for friends, the witches of Morva and the fun and colorful Fair Folk.

The Black Cauldron offers a fresh story, although not as fresh or moody as The Rescuers (1977), the atmosphere is close to Sleeping Beauty (1959), very dark but with lighter moments which were missing in other gloomy films like The Great Mouse Detective.

Overall, a pretty overlooked and wonderful Disney film, it has something for everyone, times of scary and dark scenes, fun, musical and simply visually perfect scenes (Like the visit to the Fair Folk's underground cave) and moments for everyone else.Animation is Disney at their finest, very detailed.

4.4/5

Not a Disney "classic", but an interesting experience.
In 1985, Disney attempted to do a PG-rated swords-and-sorcery animated tale based on a good source material--Lloyd Alexander's CHRONICLES OF PRYDAIN.The resulting movie had a lot of winning things going for it--for one, the animation was impressive for its time, showcasing an early mixture of CG effects.A massive underscore by Elmer Bernstein (which remains one of the best for a Disney movie) substitutes singing characters here.In addtion, there are at least some well-defined (and created) characters, notably the young, inexperienced "pig-boy" Taran, the terrifying Horned King (voiced superbly by John Hurt) and of course the two "comic" characters, Gurgi (a Gollum-like character with a childlike innocence and more loyalty--and an equally cuddly voice) and Creeper (a great baddie sidekick for a villain).

And yet the movie is considered Disney's greatest failure. It is understandable to see why: for one, the movie flopped at the box office (in fact, it took more than 10 years after its theatrical debut to finally arrive on home video). Second, in trying to compress the five-volume "Chronicles of Prydain" into one movie, the story comes across as a little too overplotted and frustratingly leaves questions one is likely to have about its characters (and magic rules) unanswered. The third reason is that aside from the aforementioned quartet of Taran, the Horned King, Gurgi, and Creeper, the characters aren't as well defined or memorable as they could be. In particular, Princess Eilonwy (whose bitchiness from the novels has been noticeably toned down for the film) comes across as an underdeveloped heroine--her abrupt shift from berating Taran's boasting about who got them out of trouble to a quasi-romantic love interest felt jarring to me. The same, frustratingly, feels true for many of the other characters, even if some of them (Fflewdurr Flamm, an elderly minstrel whose harpstrings happen to snap every time he lies) are actually quite likeable and/or interesting (a trio of batty witches who hold the titular object).

But even with its flaws, THE BLACK CAULDRON is by no means Disney's worst animated feature (that prestigious title belongs to HERCULES and probably HOME ON THE RANGE). True, it is problematic, but I nonetheless enjoyed the movie and applaud the animators for painting a grim, gothic fantasy setting through art. If only the plotting and characters were better developed, it would've been a classic. I would definitely recommend reading the books to get a full experience on the universe Disney was struggling to portray but by all means try out the movie as well. It has a lot of high points and there are some great animation effects (notably when an army of skeleton warriors comes alive), even though it probably isn't one of Disney's best.

A word of caution to parents: this is probably not a good film for children to watch. THE BLACK CAULDRON was clearly rated PG for a reason--not anything in the way of graphic violence or profanity, but there are lots of scenes which do come across as nightmarish, especially those involving the Horned King.

As far as the DVD release goes, it's a bit sparse on the extras, but the slide-show feature on its production origins and spin-offs warrants the purchase alone. The visual transfer is well done (aside from a few film scratches and one period of dirt filter) and it sure beats watching a pan-and-scan version. The real star of the DVD, though is the Dolby Digital 5.1 sound mix. THE BLACK CAULDRON was originally mixed for six-track Dolby Surround, and the music by Elmer Bernstein comes across as brilliant and the dialogue separation is impeccable.

So there you have it, my impressions of this flawed yet grossly undervalued entry to the Disney animation cannon. True, it's far from perfect, but as long as you don't compare it to the books (and acknowledge that it was created at a time when the studio was in something of a slump), THE BLACK CAULDRON is enjoyable and leaps and bounds above the weakest animated films ever made. ... Read more

Asin: B00004R99W
Sales Rank: 6620
Subjects:  1. Feature Film Family   

101 Dalmatians (Limited Issue)
Director: Hamilton Luske, Wolfgang Reitherman, Clyde Geronimi
Average Customer Review:
DVD (09 November, 1999)
list price: $34.99
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Editorial Review

Back in 1961, Walt Disney got a little hip with 101 Dalmatians, making use of that flat Saturday morning cartoon style that had become so popular. The result is a kitschy change in animation and story. Pongo and Perdita are two lonely dalmatians who meet cute in a London park and arrange for their pet humans to marry so they can live together and raise a family. They become proud parents of 15 pups, who are stolen by the dastardly Cruella De Vil, who wants to make a fur coat out of them. Cruella has become the most popular villain in all of Disney; she's flamboyantly nasty and lots of fun. But it's the dalmatians who shine in this endearing classic, particularly those precocious pups. Telling the story from the dogs' point of view is a clever conceit, a fundamental flaw of the live-action remake. --Bill Desowitz ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Dolby
• Animated

Reviews (20)

LOVED IT!!!
I bought this for my daughter 8 years ago when she could only say a handful of words, one of them "dog".We watched it almost everyday for about a year and it was known at our house as "the doggy movie".Did you ever notice that during the midnight bark, all of the dogs from "Lady and the Tramp" (one of the other favorite movies at our house) are shown?Yes, there issmoking andand implied drinking (not to mention the word "idiot" more than once), but this film was made in a different time with different standards of political correctness.Don't let other people's overly PC reviews shy you away from this movie.It's great!

Ick!Not for all kids!
People may think that 101 Dalmatians is a good choice for children's entertainment but I warn you, this is certainly not.For instance, there is way too much smoking here, which is something that never bothers me when it is only the villains smoking, but one of the "heroes," Roger is seen smoking way too much.Also, there's a weird and sort of disturbing atmostphere surrounding the film, an evil woman wants to skin a bunch of innocent puppies.Of course you know that Disney would never let something like that happen, so from the beginning of the film, you know how the story ends, which makes the film not very amusing for adults and a bit too disturbing for children.Please, view it yourself first before you let the little ones watch it.There's a lot of drinking, smoking and cruel words in this film.It's interesting that children usually like to imitate the villains, because Disney usually makes them the cool ones, and believe me, Cruella DeVil isn't a character you want your kids imitating.Skip this one, more suitable children's entertainment are films like Dumbo, Cinderella, The Rescuers or Mary Poppins.

One of my least favorite Disney films...
There's something about this film that bores me out of my mind.Nothing really happens in it, the whole story is about a bunch of dogs running back and forth trying to get home by avoiding the maniac Cruella DeVil, who wants to skin the 99 dalmatian puppies to make fur coats, a disturbing thought that sickens you through-out the entire movie.Neither the "heroes" nor the villains develop much personality during the movie so it's hard to care for any of the characters.The animation looks pretty good, but the backgrounds are the worst Disney has ever done, they are cheap one-color backgrounds which seem to come from that "Rhapsody in Blue" segment from Fantasia 2000.The story has a happy ending and thank goodness we don't have to hear about any of the puppies getting killed.The film features pretty good and creative gags like the "Twilight Bark" which was pretty amusing, but other than that, a pretty weak film, I'll never understand why Disney insists on making so many different versions of it.
If your kids understand what the character of Cruella DeVil wants to do with the puppies than I don't think they would want to watch this film, as I have said, it has a pretty disturbing thought in your head while you watch it.Skip it unless you are a Disney fanatic. ... Read more

Asin: B00001QEE3
Subjects:  1. Feature Film Family    2. Feature Film    3. Family   

The Rookie
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (26 March, 2002)
list price: $13.98 -- our price: $13.98
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Editorial Review

The soundtrack to The Rookie, a true story about a late-blooming major league pitcher, is as American as apple pie, the Stars and Stripes, and, naturally, baseball. Composed of down-home country-fried and blues-bred rock, the album evocatively simulates the feeling of America's storied frontier heritage. Seasoned performers like Steve Earle (the uplifting rustic rock track "Some Dreams"), John Fogerty (the swampy blues number "Blue Moon Nights"), and Willie Nelson (the vintage front-porch country of "Nothing I Can Do About It Now") conjure up the simpler times of dusty farms and sparsely settled plains. Contemporary crooners capture this mood just as skillfully--Ryan Adams's fragile "In My Time of Need" and "Tumbling Down," Allison Moorer's piano-sprinkled soul ballad, are both fit for the desolate open road. Never flashy or overwhelming, the album mixes these slower and upbeat tracks seamlessly, ensuring that its energy never drags. Moreover, the quality of the musicians and songs included is rock solid through and through, guaranteeing that The Rookie is one soundtrack that definitely hits a home run. --Annie Zaleski ... Read more

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (12)

Great value for the price
Excellent soundtrack and great price through sbcglobal.net (Amazon Marketplace). Excellent turn-around time, received item within a week.

A real boot-tapper
I find this soundtrack almost addictive.I love John Fogerty's version of "Blue Moon Night."Eileen Rose is amazing, and Willie is a welcome old friend.Your moods can go way up and way down listening to this stuff, a cool roller-coaster ride. When I feel like two-stepping, this is what I want to listen to.

Elvis Song
There was also an Elvis song in the movie that isn't on the soundtrack. Does anyone know the title? ... Read more

Asin: B00006312Z
Subjects:  1. Country-Rock    2. Pop    3. Roots Rock    4. Soundtracks    5. Soundtracks & Film Scores   

Mary Poppins: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack (1964 Film)
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (30 January, 2001)
list price: $11.98
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Editorial Review

If not for all the other highlights of Walt Disney's incomparable pop cultural legacy, it would be tempting to call Mary Poppins his crowning achievement. Released just two years before his death, the innovative live-action/animation/musical hybrid became an instant classic. It was nominated for 13 Academy Awards and a winner of 5 (including Best Actress for Julie Andrews and Best Musical Score and Best Song Oscars for the brother team of Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman). It's no stretch to call the Mary Poppins score the Shermans' most memorable of their 40-plus-year association with Disney. Boasting at least three bona fide classics ("A Spoonful of Sugar"; the Gilbert and Sullivan-esque romp, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"; and Oscar winner, "Chim Chim Cher-ee") and at least as many other contenders, the Shermans' score held the technical tour de force together while giving it a sense of ageless wonder to match the powers of its titular magical nanny. This edition restores the previously abridged "Step in Time" sequence to its original length and offers a terrific 16-minute bonus track for collectors: the Sherman brothers' reminiscences about their work on the landmark film interspersed with four of their original song demos. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Features

• Original recording remastered
• Soundtrack

Reviews (19)

This is not the Original LP album released in 1964
Just a word to everyone out there.I saw "Mary Poppins" in 1964, and bought its Original Soundtrack Album on Vista Records (a subsidiary of Disney).The score is not taken directly from the movie (as this "restored" CD release is).Instead, bits of music and dialogue were included in the LP to make more better segues; the "Overture" ends in an entirely different fashion; the biggest damage was done to "Supercali..." where the musical intro has been as well as the comical dialogue in the middle of the songhave been completely deleted. The sound engineers have stripped out all the charm and warmth of the original Soundtrack version, and yet they call it a "Restored" or "Remastered" version. This is why I continue to play the vinyl version (transferred to CD). And frankly, there is no reason to include all 8 minutes of "Step In Time."If you want all 8 minutes, just watch the DVD -- like every other song, that's where they lifted the music for this CD.

Master Piece!
I love this CD! It is a collection of master pieces by the Sherman brothers. The music is fun to dance to and is a great way to brighten up your day. I love turning on my CD player and listening to Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke sing thier hearts out. This is my favorite album in my collection. It is fun for the whole family wheather you are a baby or a teen or an adult or a senior. I am a teen and I LOVE it.

My Favorite Soudtrack
This is such a great CD. It has all my absolute favorite songs on it. I think I've watched and listened to the movie and the soundtrack so much now thatI think I know Mary Poppins all by heart! The sound on this CD is just(how else can I express it?)"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!!!!"Julie Andrews's(Mary Poppins) voice is wonderful,and Dick Van Dyke(Bert)makes you remember "Chim-Chim-Cheree".I even use "Stay Awake" and the beautiful lullaby "Feed the Birds" sometimes when I can't get to sleep.This CD is absolutely a must have for Julie Andrews fans, Disney fans,or just anyone who needs a lift.Cheerio! ... Read more

Asin: B000056QE5
Subjects:  1. Musicals    2. Original Score    3. Pop    4. Show Tunes    5. Soundtracks    6. Soundtracks & Film Scores   

Toy Story: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (27 March, 2001)
list price: $17.49 -- our price: $17.49
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Editorial Review

When Disney and Pixar were producing their computer-animation breakthrough Toy Story, a project whose R&D costs alone demanded a blockbuster payoff, the conventional wisdom would have been to turn the music-scoring chores over to the stable of writers who'd made the likes of The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast such sound successes. Instead they wisely handed the task to one Randy Newman, a musician who'd built his reputation writing some of the most skewed and astringent pop songs in history. The result is a technological marvel with a very human heart. "You've Got a Friend in Me" and "Strange Things" offer delight to listeners of any age, while "I Will Go Sailing No More" sounds like a melancholy orphan from Little Criminals--even if it's only lamenting a goofy, marooned toy space ranger. Newman's instrumental score is by turns gleeful and heart-tugging--one of the richest musical scores of the genre. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Features

• Import
• Original recording remastered
• Soundtrack

Reviews (5)

The Musical Accompaniment to Pixar's First Big Picture.
TOY STORY was the first feature-length motion picture that Pixar released in theatres.The movie was literally ground-breaking in what it did for animation and also included one of the best movie plots to be seen on screen that whole year (1995).In addition, there was the music.Randy Newman has been plugging out show tunes for years on end. However, with the release of the TOY STORY, Newman entered a new era. Some will disagree and others will say that TOY STORY is when Newman sold out, but with the TOY STORY soundtrack, Randy Newman's music went mainstream in a major way and became popular with a whole new audience (largely composed of children and young adults).

TOY STORY is a buddy flick and the songs and music on the album reflect that.From the wonderful "You've Got a Friend in Me" to the charming instrumental "Woody and Buzz", the music and songs of TOY STORY reflect an awareness and mentality that is often missing in movie music.

I enjoy listening to the instrumental pieces on the album, but am especially fond of the regular songs. Those songs are:

"You've Got a Friend in Me"--the song that captures the whole
buddy-theme of the movie.As a sidenote, this was one of the
most requested songs on the children's radio show I used to
produce.

"Strange Things"--a song about one's self-awakening and the
frustration felt in the goings on.

"I Will Go Sailing No More"--one of the saddest and most
haunting songs I have ever heard sung in a movie, the song is
all about the loss of a dream.

The TOY STORY album isn't for everyone. However, fans of the film and Randy Newman fans will probably enjoy it, not to mention Disney maniacs.

One Of The Better Soundtracks
I'm not a huge soundtrack fan but this is a good soundtrack.It has all of the vocal songs from the movie along with most of the instrumental stuff.If you liked the music in the mvie this would be a good buy.

Newman gives us fun music to listen to
Randy Newman, in addition to being an excellent singer and songwriter, delivers a great orchestral score for Toy Story. "You've Got a Friend in Me" is a great song, along with "Strange Things" and "I Will Go Sailing No More." The instrumental tracks contain a lot of variations on themes from these 3 songs played, in addition to a lot of other themes and ideas. The average person might think that scoring for an animated film would mean that the music would have to fit the scene exactly on every single move, otherwise known as mickey-mousing, done in the old Warner Bros. cartoons. However, Newman scores it as if it were a drama and just listening to the music would tell you that. There are some comedic and fun parts in the music, which hint that it is an animated film, but not like the cartoons of old. The score is overall enjoyable, light-hearted, and fun. Other parts of the score contain jazz related ideas and there is action music present in several of the cues, which Newman does an excellent job writing. A great soundtrack to own and listen to for people of all ages. ... Read more

Asin: B000001M2S
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Soundtrack    3. Soundtracks    4. Soundtracks & Film Scores   

A Bug's Life: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (27 October, 1998)
list price: $11.98
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Editorial Review

One of the truly great ironies of modern American pop culture is the evolution of Randy Newman, social critic and songwriter superb, into one of the 1990s' preeminent scorers of animated films. As in Toy Story, Newman's music for A Bug's Life forms much of the crucial human dimension of the computer-generated visuals, replete with an upbeat, if ever-so-slyly fatalistic "theme" song, "The Time of Your Life." Newman's mastery of the orchestra sparkles here as he playfully romps from '40s-tinged big-band swing through Stalling-esque parodies and tomfoolery to mock-heroics worthy of Korngold and Waxman (or Randy's uncles--Alfred, Lionel, and Emil--for that matter). The brain trust at Pixar may have made impressive strides in forging their digital illusions of life, but they still seem eons away from replicating the musical synapses of Randy Newman's brain. If Walt's impending, much-rumored big thaw actually works out, will Newman be next in line for the Disney deep freeze? --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (10)

A score full of life
Randy Newman does it again with A Bug's Life. His previous efforts were the Toy Story scores, but this one clearly outdoes them both and is some of the best music written for a Disney film. The music itself is part jazz, part big band, and orchestral. The orchestral is by far the best of the three. The song "The Time of Your Life" written and performed by Randy Newman himself is an upbeat catchy tune that he has a knack for writing. The main theme is a heroic melody that is heard in "Flik Leaves", "Return to the Colony", "Flik's Return", "Victory" and "A Bug's Life Suite", which contains a bit of all the orchestral music in the score. The big band stuff is found in "Flik Machine" and "The City". The jazz part is heard in the song "The Time of Your Life" and pops up now and then, especially at the beginning of "Flik Leaves". The action music is superb and blows you out of your seat. It is present in "Red Alert", "Robin Hood", "Dot's Rescue", "Grasshoppers' Return", "The Bird Flies", and "The Ants Fight Back", as well as parts of "A Bug's Life Suite". The action music is dominated by a powerful brass section and snare drums. This soundtrack has a little something for everyone for all ages. It's got swinging jazz, groovy big band tunes, and powerful orchestral music. A must have!

A Good, Solid Disney Score
It's solid, and some of the cues really sweep you up, but this is Disney, remember. However, don't get me wrong, Disney has a tradition of fantastic scores, and this one doesn't really disappoint... It's a good, solid score, and if you liked the film, you should definately get this.

Vast mood changes, yet unified--Newman does it again
This album has a little something for everyone.It begins with the loud, bright theme of "The Flik Machine", also containing the fast-paced "Red Alert" and the softer, more contemplative "Atta".Randy Newman has scored other Disney favorites like Toy Story 1 & 2, and does a supurb job with the Bug's Life album.As noted, the songs change theme dramatically from one piece to the next, yet they somehow all seem to fit into the overall soundtrack.Watch for the musical overtones of "The Time of Your Life" to appear in many of the tracks, along with slower renditions of "Red Alert", and slightly varied themes of the music presented in "Flik Leaves".In the end, this album is another great work by Randy Newman, as he once again scores one of Pixar's beautiful computer-generated films, and makes a soundtrack which is even more beautiful in its own special way.

~Kevin ... Read more

Asin: B000009N9Y
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Soundtracks    3. Soundtracks & Film Scores   

Toy Story 2: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (09 November, 1999)
list price: $11.98
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Editorial Review

For those who loved Randy Newman's score to the first Toy Story (but maybe not the singer-songwriter's gruff voice), check out Toy Story 2. Here, we get a handful of memorable vocal numbers: Sarah McLachlan sings the breathy "When She Loved Me," Riders in the Sky give their retro-swing treatment to "Woody's Roundup," and Robert Goulet croons Toy Story's anthem "You've Got a Friend in Me." The soundtrack's orchestrations are pure Newman--sometimes sweeping, sometimes whimsical, and always fitting for this fantasy story of toys coming to life. Of course, the "You've Got a Friend in Me" theme keeps popping up in the instrumentals, as do Western-themed melodies. Nothing monumental here, but a fun soundtrack nonetheless. --Jason Verlinde ... Read more

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (20)

Calms a fussy baby!
During my 9th pregnancy I would have this playing in the car while driving my 4 yr old Woody and 2 yr old Buzz around on errands.After Abby was born I would have to bring her along with us, and the first time she became fussy in the car I started the cassette.As soon as the first note of the first song played, Abby stopped crying.When she was 3 months old we had to drive from VA to New Orleans, and everytime Abby got upset, we had to play it.(ALOT! Through several states and back!)But it calmed her EVERY TIME! Now she is 14 months old, and it still soothes her, especially "When She Loved Me." Thanks to all creative forces behind the Toy Story movies!

One Of The Better Soundtracks
I'm not a huge soundtrack fan but this is a good soundtrack. It has all of the vocal songs from the movie along with most of the instrumental stuff. If you liked the music in the movie this would be a good buy.

Not a Disney soundtrack masterpiece
Even if the 'Toy Story 2' soundtrack is'nt so entertaining and powerful as the other soundtracks, there is many great tracks like the touching 'When She Loved Me', the new version of 'You've Got A Friend In Me', and some good instrumental parts from the movie, like the start sequence, and the chase in the airport. ... Read more

Asin: B00002ND9R
Subjects:  1. Film Music    2. Pop    3. Soundtracks & Film Scores   

Monsters, Inc.
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (23 October, 2001)
list price: $18.98
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Editorial Review

Sandwiched between the opening and closing numbers of the Monsters, Inc. soundtrack is the sort of far-reaching score we've come to expect from Randy Newman. Up, down, and all around, we swerve through the standard Disney scramble: there's a danger's-near ditty, a tearjerker, a rally-the-troops energizer, a plucky peek-a-boo number, and, as befits the hit Disney/Pixar movie, a hefty chunk of liveliness. But to say this soundtrack is nothing special would be to shrug off a solid effort from a musical legend. How easy can it be, after all, to stir so many moods as effectively as Newman does? He proves again his knack for making musical genius seem pedestrian. Fans of the movie will like eyeballing Billy Crystal's Cyclops character, Mike Wazowski, the sidekick to John Goodman's lead monster, James P. Sullivan (a.k.a. Sulley), on liner notes that unfold to a full-color poster, and they'll also enjoy the end-title buddy tune "If I Didn't Have You," reminiscent of Toy Story's "You've Got a Friend in Me." It's first performed as a souped-up Crystal-Goodman duet, and as a CD closer, it becomes a pared-down piano song by the inimitable Newman. --Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (4)

Monsters Inc.=RADNESS!
This soundtrack, along with many other Disney/Pixar soundtracks are fabulous.They Rock.There is no reason no one should buy this.It's great for everyone of all ages; even adults love it.

Great Soundtrac for a Great Movie
Sandwiched between the opening and closing numbers of the Monsters, Inc. soundtrack is the sort of far-reaching score we've come to expect from Randy Newman. Up, down, and all around, we swerve through the standard Disney scramble: there's a danger's-near ditty, a tearjerker, a rally-the-troops energizer, a plucky peek-a-boo number, and, as befits the hit Disney/Pixar movie, a hefty chunk of liveliness. But to say this soundtrack is nothing special would be to shrug off a solid effort from a musical legend. How easy can it be, after all, to stir so many moods as effectively as Newman does? He proves again his knack for making musical genius seem pedestrian. Fans of the movie will like eyeballing Billy Crystal's Cyclops character, Mike Wazowski, the sidekick to John Goodman's lead monster, James P. Sullivan (a.k.a. Sulley), on liner notes that unfold to a full-color poster, and they'll also enjoy the end-title buddy tune "If I Didn't Have You".

A monstrously good soundtrack
Randy Newman delivers another great score to Monsters, Inc., another real life animated film from Pixar Studios. The music is similar to what he wrote for both Toy Story films. The song "If I Can't Have You" is not a bad one and won Newman his first academy award for best song. The track "Monsters, Inc." is the melody to the song in instrumental form with the big band, swinging style that Newman used in "A Bug's Life". Another theme for Sulley and Boo is featured throughout, most notably in "Boo's Going Home". The fun music occurs when the heroic parts set in as in "The Ride of the Doors" and "Enter the Heroes". Good old-fashioned mickey mousing is featured throughout almost every track, but it is found the most in "Boo's Adventures In Monstropolis". Percussive elements are found in a lot of the cues, most recognizable in the action cues to keep the music upbeat and lively. This score basically is broken into 3 areas: the big band, jazzy type music, large orchestral music, and mickey mousing type music (which is mimicking every little action that is on screen). The best type is the large orchestral music which Newman excels at. Lots of brass and percussion make up most of the cues on here for an enjoyable listening experience. I hope that Newman continues scoring these types of films because he always does a great job. This is fun and enjoyable music to listen to and I think you'll enjoy it. ... Read more

Asin: B00005QK2X
Subjects:  1. Film    2. Original Score    3. Pop    4. Soundtracks & Film Scores    5. Vocal   

Mulan: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (02 June, 1998)
list price: $17.98 -- our price: $13.99
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Editorial Review

Lea Salonga, best known as the voice of Jasmine in Aladdin, steals the show here as the title character in Disney's Mulan. The former star of Miss Saigon adds touching elements to the feature, especially on introspective numbers such as "Reflection." Unfortunately, the voice of Donny Osmond, relegated to anthems such as "I'll Make a Man Out of You" doesn't really enhance the story line, a saga set in ancient China. Jerry Goldsmith provides the Far East tinge to the score, almost reminiscent of early Les Baxter. While Mulan is a far cry from the memorable Beauty and the Beast, it is both funny and charming. --Jason Verlinde ... Read more

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Reviews (161)

Enjoyable if incomplete score
The score for Mulan is one of the best of Jerry Goldsmith's scores of the last 10 years.He took a kid's movie and turned the music into something epic.My only complaint is, is that there is not more music on the cd.The songs are ok, some are better than others.Be A Man is fun, Reflections is poignant.Overall, for me the best part of the cd is Jerry Goldsmith's wonderful score.The songs don't detract from the score, although I wish there was more of it.

what's that's songs name???
does anyone know the name of the song that's playing in the movie while she's cutting her hair and putting on her fathers armor?i thought it would be on the cd but unfortunately it's not.

Great...to match the movie!
Wow, the Disney music writers really outdid themselves on this one.

1)You'll Bring Honor To Us All - This isn't the best song, but still a winner. It really sets the stage for the rest of the album.
2)Reflection - This is a beautiful song. Lea Salonga's voice is wonderful, and it really matches the speaking voice well.
3)Make a Man - This is my favorite song on the album. It has a great beat. Donny Osmond does a great job, his voice really matches the speaking voice and the character.
4)Girl Worth Fighting For - Not one of the best, but a funny song. The lyrics and voices are great.
5)True To Your Heart - I didn't really like this one, but it's got a good beat, and matches the movie's message. ... Read more

Asin: B0000061CN
Subjects:  1. Film Music    2. Original Score    3. Pop    4. Soundtracks    5. Soundtracks & Film Scores   

Tarzan: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (18 May, 1999)
list price: $18.98 -- our price: $14.99
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Editorial Review

If anyone belongs in the "Whatever Happened To?" category of a game show, it's Phil Collins. Back in the 1980s, Collins was everywhere, having retinkered Genesis into a smooth, hit-making machine and embarking on a solo career that redefined adult contemporary music. He's still been busy, but nowhere near the spotlight. His latest project has been writing five songs for Disney's animated Tarzan. "You' ll Be in My Heart"--presented here in two versions, one with actress Glenn Close--is exactly the sort of ersatz orchestrated power ballad you expect from this sentimental guy. A duet with 'N Sync in "Trashin' the Camp" (also issued in two versions) is Phil's concession to the kids. Producer Mark Mancina's instrumental score mixes the expectant ambient sounds of the jungle with the slowly unfolding sounds of daybreak and jungle rhythms (provided by Collins on drums) that denote inevitable conflict. --Rob O'Connor ... Read more

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Reviews (209)

This album SUCKS
I'd rather sit in my apartment and repeatedly punch myself in the balls than listen to Phil Collins.I listened to part of this album once, and it haunted me for days. Unless you are an avid homosexual, I'd stray far from any of his music.Once again, Phil Collins SUCKS!

VERY TOUCHING
I think that this soundtrack is very touching. Phil Collins did a good job in the music and the lyrics.

The Music Behind The Man
When looking at a huge music star such as Phil Collins, people automatically assume the best out of him. He has so many albums, fans and awards so thus, the general public assume that someone as high quality as him would give it his all. Putting aside the film, and when you really look at the music, you see he did.

From the opening song "Two Worlds", you can feel the confliction and pain he tries to presents in the words. From having the young ape killed to having Tarzan's parents killed by the jaguar, you can hear him trying to present the pain. When he gets to the lyrics "No words describe a mothers tear, no words can heal a broken heart...," you can feel that glitter of hope when she hears the babys' cry.

With the songs "Son of Man" and "Strangers Like Me", Phil tries to present the confusion and hardship of growing up in a world where everyone is so different from you. Phil strongly presents the determination and wonder in both these songs as you see Tarzan grow up into the man he becomes and falls in love for the first time. When the scene of them in the trees with the birds, you can feel the angst in Phil's voice representing the longing of Tarzan to understand what it is he is feeling.

With "Trashing The Camp" version with 'N Sync, it could of been better though. This song was probably the downfall all in all of the album, making it gain a bad rep with some of Phil's fans. But he brings it all back with the song "You'll Be In My Heart"

Whether people agree with it or not, Phil Collins sings wonderfully in this album in my opinion. If you can feel the emotions trying to be presented in the songs, the singer has done their job and Phil Collins certainly did this. ... Read more

Asin: B00000IZ90
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Soundtracks & Film Scores   

The Nightmare Before Christmas: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (12 October, 1993)
list price: $11.98 -- our price: $10.99
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Reviews (92)

Amazing!!!!!
The Nightmare Before Christmas Soundtrack is the best movie score i have ever heard (maybe even the greatest cd......)!!!!!! This cd is not just a movie score, it is also a musical with feeling!!!!! Here is what i thought of each track:
1.Overture: this is just all the songs mixed into one, which is cool!!
2.Opening: the narration by Patirc Stewart is just what was needed to keep the listener/vewier interested.
3.This is halloween: this song is exactly what Halloween is!!!!!
4.Jack's Lament:my personal favorite, sang by Danny Elfman himself, explains Jack Skellington's problem in a song form.
5.docter finklestein/in the forest:if you haven't seen the movie,you might not understand this track.
6.What's this?:another song sang by Danny Elfman, this shows Jack's excitement when he is in christmas town.
7.Town meeting song:if are at the age when you know Santa is not real, this song can make you laugh. But if you are planning on buying this for a kid, this might scare him or her becuase this song explains santa as "sandy claws" and "like a red lobster, huge and red".
8.Jack and Sally montage:again, this song will not make any scense if you have not seen the movie yet.
9.Jack's Obsession: another song sang by Danny Elfman, this song helps jack realise what he should do with his new discovery about christmas....
10.Kidnap the sandy claws: this funny yet horrible song is performed by Paul Rebens, Catherine O'hara and Danny Elfman. It is about how Lock, Shock and Barrel will capture "sandy claws". again, this is another song that will most likely scare childeren.
11.Making christmas: this song explains how the citizens of Halloween town are getting ready for christmas, the wrong way.
12. Nabbed: this is another song that will make no scense if you have seen the movie.
13.Oogie Boogie's song: this bluesy song is performed by Ken Page (Oogie Boogie) and Ed Ivory (Santa or "sandy Claws"). This song is preety cool.
14.sally's Song; this is another song performed by Catherine O'hara. this song explains how Sally feels about this christmas disaster and Jack.
15.Christmas eve montage: even though this has no singing I think this is one of the best instrumental tracks on this cd.
16.Poor Jack: This song is performed by....well, I think you get the point. This song explains how Jack feels after his plan of spreading joy did not go as planed.
17.to the reascue: this score is durring the time Jack saves Santa and when Sally tells Jack how she feels about him.
18.Final/reprise: this song is performed by Danny Elfman, Catherine O'hara and the citizens of Halloween town. this has a mix of the songs and at the end it has Jack and Sally sing a romantic song .
19.Closing:this song has Patrick Stewart tells us what happeneds after.....not included in the movie!!!!!
20.End title:this is durring the end credits when most people leave the theater or shut off their DVD or VCR players.
21.Bonus track:this is the second part of the credits when everyone is usally gone....except me if I am with my dad.....

So I give the Nightmare Before Christmas 5 stars. One of the best scores i have ever herd of Danny Elfman or anyone else. If you liked this score or a Danny Elfman fan, I would recommend looking at "Music For A Dark Theater" 1 and 2, which has Scores that Danny Elfman did for movies and t.v.

Danny Elfman makes life worth living
You might think that you can only enjoy this CD if you're in preschool...you are very mistaken. This is probably my most listened to album...Danny Elfman's orchestration and use of the wind section(which is often neglected by film composers) is just amazing...Sally's Song is my personal favorite...you might be skeptical kinda wierded out the first time you listen to it...but just give it a chance because it is amazing!!!!

Haunting, beautiful, and spirited
This soundtrack is wonderful!The music is dark and haunting-- typical Elfman--and so beautiful.It's also catchy; I found myself wandering around humming the tunes when I first got it.Danny Elfman himself provides the singing voice of Jack, and he does a great job of infusing emotion into the songs.You feel Jack's pain and excitement and disappointment.The lyrics, which may feel very simple at first, actually fit quite appropriately with the style of the movie: kind of Dr. Seuss-ish with a twist.
As the movie is almost entirely songs, if you enjoyed it you will enjoy this soundtrack.Listening to this CD is almost like listening to the movie itself--the score that plays during dialogue is also included, and it's easy to recognize scenes by only their background music.
Of the tracks, my favorites were probably "Jack's Lament" and "This is Halloween," though there are no tracks I particularly dislike.Overall, this soundtrack is one of Elfman's best.It is more colorful and creative than most of today's soundtracks tend to be, and more haunting and artistic than the music you hear on most children's movies.Well worth the money, whether you are a fan of the movie or Elfman.Highly recommended. ... Read more

Asin: B000001M1W
Sales Rank: 1965
Subjects:  1. Christmas / Chanukkah    2. Pop    3. Soundtracks & Film Scores   

The Wizard Of Oz: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - The Deluxe Edition
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (18 July, 1995)
list price: $24.98 -- our price: $22.99
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Editorial Review

Lions and tigers and bears, the yellow brick road, gamboling midgets, warnings scrawled high above by a skywriting witch: No movie ever imprinted itself on young imaginations or endured in adult memory more than MGM's classic 1939 musical, and no movie score ever hooked as forcefully into our collective cultural memory. This exemplary soundtrack finally treats this deserved classic to a thoughtful and comprehensive rendering that confirms the enduring power of Harold Arlen's original music and E.Y. "Yip" Harburg's lyrics. On film, the songs unreeled as a mixture of discrete songs and multithemed medleys with frequent reprises, a presentation preserved here, epitomized in the "Munchkinland Musical Sequence." If not as concise as Bobby McFerrin's legendary, hilarious concert compression of the entire musical story, this telling of The Wizard of Oz relives the film just as vividly. "Over the Rainbow" is presented here with multiple alternate takes, making it a must for fans of Judy Garland. --Sam Sutherland ... Read more

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Reviews (16)

No Dialogue!!!
This is a really great CD set -- but be aware that it is ONLY the music. No dialogue. No voices unless they are sing as part of the songs (Over the Rainbow, Ding Dong the Witch is Dead, etc.). It's fun to listen to, but I was disappointed that it doesn't include the storyline. That should teach me not to take the time to listen to the audio clips before buying!! :)

The BEST "Oz" soundtrack yet!!!
I am a true Oz fan! I collect everything that I find (unless it's not in my price range) and when i saw this I couldn't pass it up, even though it was a bit pricier than I had expected. Trust me, this was well worth the price!!! I love this CD and the book that came with it is more than just a bonus, it is a God send! If your an Oz fan this is a must! You've got to have this. Don't just think because you have other soundtracks of Oz and such that you don't need to buy this! This is the only CD that has ALL the songs including the outtakes, and even half takes and the only one I have seen with a 52 page book! What more could you ask for?! This is truely a must have! If you are an Oz fan and/or collector be sure to pick this up to day. You won't be sorry!

All the Wizard of Oz Music!
This is a great addition to your "WIZARD OF OZ" Collection. I hae a copy of it and it's done very well. You can also get to hear many of the outtakes music stuff from the movie and that's really neat to hear too. There is also a wonderful extended verison of "Over The Rainbow" by Judy Garland when she filmed the movie she sang the song a few times but it ended up that they had to keep redoing the song a few times as heared on the CD because she ended up crying! ... Read more

Asin: B0000033JH
Subjects:  1. Film Music    2. Original Score    3. Pop    4. Show Tunes    5. Soundtracks & Film Scores    6. Standards    7. Traditional Pop    8. Vocal   

May It Be
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (19 March, 2002)
list price: $12.99 -- our price: $12.99
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• CD-single
• Import

Reviews (10)

i never received the cd to give you a review
i ordered the cd since january 1rst and so far it;s 29th and i havent received the cd yet
very disappointed and also nobody is anwering me back
its a fact the they took my money and never got back to me

BEAUTIFUL
Enya, has the most beautiful voice I have heard in years. She sings with the silkiness of milk and honey. Although it has only three selections on the CD, they all are worth it. I can't say enough about how lilting and captivating her voice is.

Great Music, Bad Price
Be advised: you only get 15 minutes of music.But you pay nearly full price for a full-size CD.
As always, Enya's music is most excellent.But somebody didn't do the math to determine that customers will be dissatisfied to discover that they get only three songs on this CD.It's hardly worth loading the CD into your player.You'll be swapping disks just after you sit down to enjoy it. ... Read more

Asin: B00005UE4B
Sales Rank: 5456
Subjects:  1. 5"CD Singles    2. New Age    3. New Age / Meditation    4. Pop   

Bicentennial Man: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (21 December, 1999)
list price: $17.98 -- our price: $13.99
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Editorial Review

Even the greatest names in film scoring have occasionally face a dilemma not so different from making a good Thanksgiving dinner: how to stuff a turkey. And not even noted scenery carnivore Robin Williams (playing a household robot who gradually becomes human) could mug his way out of this syrupy Chris Columbus-directed reworking of Pinocchio. Modern maestro James Horner dishes up a serviceable, twinkly score full of swelling strings and quietly "magical" passages; Spielberg-Williams Lite--not to mention a decade or so late. The James Horner-Will Jennings-Celine Dion team responsible for Titanic's "My Heart Will Go On" (and on and on and on) returns here with the decidedly tacked-on "Then You Look at Me." Dion retired immediately thereafter--'nuff said. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

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Reviews (38)

One main word CRAP!
This doesnt need to be a review as the music is CRAP!

Beautiful Music
Listening to this CD is one of the most profoundly relaxing experiences you could ask for.The orchestration is wonderful, the melodies haunting--you can see and feel what the music is trying to convey with no effort at all.Pure enjoyment!

thought provoking and key to the success of the movie
I cry every time I watch this movie and listen to the soundtrack.It evokes how fragile and alone we truly are in this world.As humans we procreate to fiegn immortality, but in the end we are only mortal.This music reminds us to live in our humanity and celebrate that mortality.Experience love and loss with all that you are.If you have not, you cheat yourself out of the very thing that makes us what we are.One of my favorite movies and favorite soundtracks (scores).I only wish it included Faure's Dolly Suite (the piano duet between Andrew and Little Miss), thus the 4 and not a 5 rating.Enjoy life! ... Read more

Asin: B00003IRA1
Subjects:  1. Film Music    2. Original Score    3. Pop    4. Soundtracks & Film Scores   

Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (14 May, 2002)
list price: $13.98 -- our price: $12.99
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Reviews (112)

Michelle Branch
The girls name is not Michelle Branch! It is Sarah Maclaughlin!Don't say something unless you know it is true!

A Very, Very Misunderstood Album
I`m completely amazed to see so many websites and reviewers bash this album. Obviously, too many are too busy bashing Adams Voice to listen to the music, because its really great. Hans Zimmer and Bryan Adams is actually quite a good combinatino, because of Zimmers Past. The pairing of Zimmer and Adams have in this case crafted several great pop rockers, with some classic memorable Zimmer Instrumentals. Maybe most reviewers have become too cocky to see the fun and spirit in this album, but I know many listeneres who does. Great songs like "Here I am", "I Will Always Return", "You Cant Take Me", "Brothers in the Sun", "This is where I belong" and "Sound the Bugle" makes the Adams part far better than even his normal studio albums. It could be because of Zimmer though, but it sounds great,it is catchy and it is wonderful. "Sound the Bugle" is a beautiful and haunting song, one of the best Adams have ever sung.

The Instrumental parts are a joy for fans of Zimmers lighter and older scores where his need for experimentation wasnt so big. The focus is on creating rolling themes, rich soundscapes and memorable melodies, something Zimmer has strayed away from lately.

I definitely recommend this album to fans of both Adams and Zimmer.

DO NOT USE 'LISTEN TO CUTS'AS BASIS FOR BURNING THE SCORE
A wonderfull movie- especially if someone in your household has issues with animals being miss-treated. While there are moments of tension and the chance of seeing a horse hurt-it does'nt happen, and
Spirit Wins in a Big Way.
However, if you want an exact soundtrack re-production, do not use the 'listen to' cuts as they are not in the proper order.
The reviews of the songs are also not in order. To be sure-use the dvd itself to recognize the proper order. The list itself is not helpfull as it contains 2 or more of each 'main-title' & 'end title'
for example , I 'believe the 1st song following the Eagles flight is: RUN FREE-a six minute exploration of the landscape.
My own copy is out for loan...so I am not sure, but I believe the score makes most sense This Way:
1) Run Free
2)Here I am-Spirit is born
3)This is where I belong-early life
4)You can't take me-the capture
5)Get off my back-Spirit resists being broken
6)Don't let go-the Escape
7) Brothers under the sun-Spirit among the Indians
8) Rain- Spirit finds some freedom amongst the Indians & a pretty philly
9) Sound the bugle- Spirit is recaptured by the Cavalry
10)Nothing Ive Ever known- Spirit see's visions of his past life & Regains His Spirit
11)The Long Road back-Spirit Escapes & begins to travel Home
12)I will always return- Reprise
13)Here I am- reprise- Spirit arrives HOME.
14)HOMELAND-Re-united with his Mother & his Lady & herd a Free Romp of Celebration !! ... Read more

Asin: B000066C1N
Sales Rank: 1627
Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Film Music    3. Original Score    4. Pop    5. Soundtracks & Film Scores   

Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981 Film)
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (30 November, 1995)
list price: $16.98
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Editorial Review

In the '80s and '90s, John Williams has come to occupy roughly the same towering place in filmdom occupied by Henry Mancini for much of the '60s and '70s. Williams (who played piano on some early Mancini scores) carved out that distinction with exciting, full-blooded scores like George Lucas's Star Wars trilogy and the Indiana Jones cycle, Steven Spielberg's blockbuster tributes to the cheesy film serials of his youth. The first in that series, Raiders wears its retro-symphonic sensibilities like a badge of honor and indeed, DGG's expanded deluxe release plays like a more economic Mahler opus. A true film music classic, even if its sensibilities are 40 years misplaced. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

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Reviews (49)

"Raiders" Defines The Meaning Of The Words Film Score
One of John Williams' all time best film scores is, arguably one of the best in film history.

Sadly, Williams didn't win the Oscar for best score at the Oscars in 1982 (it went to "Chariots of Fire". What the *u*k?!) & this is a perfect example of how the Academy screws over noteworthy performers (another fine example is, Spielberg's, "The Color Purple").

This expanded release to "Raiders of The Lost Ark" is a classic example of blending action (the truck chase), &romance (Marion's Theme) with the overall theme of the film itself (the "Raiders" march).

If you've watched the film a million times you will instantly recognize a lot of this music. The score practically encompasses & embraces the screen time of the film itself, running at over roughly 75 to 80 minutes of music, from a movie that runs at 1 hr. & 50 min. With the average film score running at anywhere between 40 - 45 min., for a film screentime of 1 hr. & 40 min., the score to "Raiders" is practically a supporting character to the film.

The CD is set so that the score to "Raiders" starts at the films beginning and goes chronilogically through to the film's end.
This score has been on moratorium for some time, but, it's definitely worth every penny.

John Williams' score to "Raiders Of The Lost Ark" is a treasure that even Dr. Jones couldn't pass up.

Neither should you.

A musical triumph
Who hasn't heard "The Raiders March"?When you're looking for adventurous music, you turn to John Williams and the RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK soundtrack.Williams has contributed some of the best scores of all time, including STAR WARS, and RAIDERS definitely belongs on the list.From start to finish, you can feel the adventure, the action, and mentally re-live the finest moments of the masterpiece film.By all means purchase this grand musical triumph of the cinema - long live Indy!

The Raiders March: One of my favorites from John Williams
"Raiders Of The Lost Ark" has always been one of my favorite action/adventure movies along with "Indiana Jones and the Temple Of Doom" and "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade". I like those movies because I am a fan of Indiana Jones and because Harrison Ford is one one of my favorite actors. And since I liked the music from the movie so much, I decided to get the soundtrack to add to my Indiana Jones collection.

The music is excellent! One moment it can be soft and haunting or it could be loud and exciting. "The Raiders March" is a great one and of course, everyone is familiar with the song. It's also a good example of loud and exciting. An example of a dark and haunting track is the next one "Main Title: South America 1936". That song is also great and it is played at the very beginning of the movie. The whole album is amazing and I will never forget the musioc.

This CD also has a booklet that has a lot of information about how the movie was done. It includes notes from Steven Spielberg and John Williams, it tells a little bit about the story. There are also sketches and photographs from the movie. So, if you are thinking of buying this soundtrack then I would also suggest that you take some time to look through the notes.

If your a fan of Indiana Jones, John Williams, or you enjoyed the movie than this CD might be worthwile. ... Read more

Asin: B0000001AE
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Soundtracks & Film Scores   

Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (24 August, 1999)
list price: $34.49
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Features

• Import
• Soundtrack

Reviews (41)

Will there ever be an expanded edition release???
When I heard that the Indy trilogy was coming to DVD, I had also hoped that to coincide with that, they would finally release the full unabridged soundtracks of all three films...but apparently not.
There was an expanded release of the "Raiders of the Lost Ark" soundtrack several years ago (still missing a few cues). However the score for "Temple of Doom" is in DESPERATE need of an expanded release. It's really a great score, has many different themes, lots of action, and probably marked the latter part of John Williams prime 1976-1985. Since then he has still done great work, but hasn't matched the absolute perfection of his late 70's early 80's scores.

PLEASE PLEASE...re-release this score in it's complete form, along with "Last Crusade".

You do not believe, Dr. Jones?
So Mola Ram says in the classic film, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. And that is what I say to anybody who doesn't like this soundtrack;

"You will believe! You will become, a true believer!"

And love this music!

This is just one cool soundtrack. It is very hard to find nowadays, but if you can scoop it up, then by all means do so!

The music really brings life to the movie. Some of the tracks I really enjoy are 2, the Fast Streets of Shanghia, and the credits track. They are all amazing though.

Good Stuff!

Where is the re-release?
I have waited endless years for record companies to re-release all three indiana jones soundtracks on one trilogy, but it has yet to happen.They should release it just like they did the first 3 Star Wars movies.I'm sure there are unreleased tracks from Temple of Doom somewhere in a vault.

It is true that the 2nd Indiana Jones movie did not take itself seriously -- but that is because Lucas and Spielberg wanted to make an adventure movie similar to the 1950s adventure movies.John Williams reflects this with his brilliant but ridiculous music in The Mine Car Chase track -- one of my favorite tracks in all of film music.And who can forget Short Round's theme.Then the death trap/bug tunnel sequence, another ridiculous sequence, but musically a gem.IT is brilliant orchestration.The movie wasn't meant to be taken that seriously -- it was intended to be a romp, and Williams follows that romp effectively.

I always considered Raiders of the Lost Ark to be perhaps John Williams' greatest film music because it shows his ENTIRE range, from playful to militant to romantic to horrifying.This soundtrack is a close second.It is unfortunate that both Raiders and Temple of doom have gone out of print and are now impossible to get.

Ever since the advent of compact disks, record manufacturers are quick to make stuff go out of print -- I'm not sure of the reason.In the days of vinyl records, you could always buy a record years and years after it was released, but what do I know?Good music is hard to find.

I noticed that Home Alone is on the verge of going out of print, and The Lost World is already out of print.It doesn't make sense that the movie sequel is ubiquitous and available, but the music to that same movie is not.

I have often wondered why marketers have never thought of offering a 3 DVD set/3 CD set together in one package -- 3 Indiana Jones movies and the 3 soundtracks for one price.DVD marketers and record companies obviously have never collaborated with each other. ... Read more

Asin: B000007QSE
Sales Rank: 36454
Subjects:  1. Film    2. Film Music    3. Original Score    4. Pop    5. Soundtrack    6. Soundtracks    7. Soundtracks & Film Scores    8. Vocal   

Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (18 May, 1989)
list price: $11.98
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Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (49)

My favourite Williams
I came to John Williams' through Star Wars, but as much as I love those soundtracks, I have to say that this is my favourite Williams album.I find that it flows much better than some of his other soundtracks; I don't have to constantly turn the volume up and then down again.The music itself is really quite moving.Highly recommended.

John Williams' score for Last Crusade is lighthearted, fun
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade's soundtrack recording, like most albums of the genre, has its virtues and vices.Even keeping in mind that it was released originally in 1989 in records, cassettes, and the still-new CD format, it is still an album that offers John Williams' score for the third film in the Indy series, but not enough of it.

Having veered by design into dark thematic and musical territory in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, director Steven Spielberg, producer George Lucas and composer Williams decided to revisit the more fun and thrilling tones of Raiders of the Lost Ark, adding depth to Indy's character by including his father, Professor Henry Jones, Sr. and new themes reflecting the father-son dynamic and the quest for the Holy Grail.

Keeping in mind the limitations of this album, the music here is enjoyable.Listen to "Indy's Very First Adventure" (track 1) and you can almost see young Indiana Jones (as incarnated by the late River Phoenix) as he goes after the Cross of Coronado in a Utah cave, then is chased as he rides first a horse, then a circus train, to get the relic to the sheriff before a band of thugs catches him.It's a very 1930s-style action key in the vein of Erich Korngold, but (and here's the rub) it is missing the segue to the conclusion of the sequence as seen in the final scene, when the rogue archaeologist places his fedora on young Indy's head, then with the appearance of the Raiders March Phoenix's face is obscured, to be replaced by Harrison Ford's as Spielberg flashes 26 years forward to 1938 and a storm-tossed freighter off the Portuguese coast.

The music of The Last Crusade veers from the rollicking "Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra" (track 3 and one of the most clever cue titles), which has a recurring motif heard as underscore during Henry and Indy's adventures as they evade their Nazi pursuers.Williams intercuts that lively theme with a darker musical idea for the Nazis, which evokes an evil militaristic order (in the style of his Imperial March from The Empire Strikes Back) with its minor keys and jeering brass notes.The short cue "No Ticket" (track 6), heard when Indy, dressed as a German airship crewman, punches out SS Col. Vogel (Michael Byrne) and sends him flying from the Zeppelin's window, is wryly humorous, while "The Belly of the Steel Beast" (track 10), with its suspenseful atmosphere and rising crescendos recalls Indy's attempts to rescue his dad and Marcus Brody from an enemy tank in the desert of Hatay.

The famous Raiders' March is seldom heard on this CD, being briefly stated in tracks 3 and 10 and only coming to the fore in track 13, "End Credits (Raiders' March)," where it is married to the "Scherzo" and the sentimental theme for Henry.Nevertheless, for Williams' aficionados, this CD is an enjoyable one.

Not the last crusade for John Williams
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a solid action score that is worthy of a 5 star rating. John Williams excels once again in this next adventure of Indiana Jones. The Raiders March is largely underused in this score, instead giving room for some new themes. "Indy's Very First Adventure" starts out suspensefully and then explodes into some powerful action music. One of the new themes is found in "X Marks the Spot" and "Ah, Rats!!!" which is a beautiful string and brass motif. Another theme occurs in almost all of the action cues which is a theme for the Nazis played mainly on brass, especially on trumpet. "Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra" is an exciting action cue with bouncy woodwinds and bold brass fanfares. "Escape From Venice" is another solid action cue with lots of brass and snare drums with some Italian instruments thrown in to represent the setting. Most of the remainder of the music is of the action type with all of the themes, including the Raiders March getting a full rendition in the final track "End Credits". This is an overall great action score that I think you will really enjoy, especially if you liked Raiders of the Lost Ark. Just don't expect to hear much of the Raiders March until the final track. ... Read more

Asin: B000002LHC
Sales Rank: 56014
Subjects:  1. Orchestral Pop    2. Original Score    3. Pop    4. Soundtracks    5. Soundtracks & Film Scores