Astro Boy

Have you ever wondered when scores can simply become fun once again? It was back in the good old days of the 80's that sometimes scores (and movies) needed to be just that, and nothing more. Now that feeling is long gone, yet I have this feeling Astro Boy may be one of the better, more fun scores of 2009. And all this because it sometimes feels like John Williams, perhaps a personality trait composer John Ottman took over once he scored Superman Returns.

And a fun score always starts with a good old fun main theme. The sweet like nature of "Opening Theme" might predict otherwise, but the soaring quality of this baby does not. It's expended soaring version alongside some Hook ideas in "Astro Flies" gives me the first full blown version I was looking for.

Luckily the bombast and the cuteness is nicely interwoven between one another. The Williams chaotic build up of "Start It Up", the lovely playful nature of "Morning Lessons", the electronic support during the rousing action in "Blue Core Pursuit", the magical build up in "Designing Toby", the touching dramatics of "I Don't Want You", the craziness of "One of Us / Meeting Trashcan", the lovely theatrics of "I Love Robots / Hamegg's Story", they all present a part of Ottman's storytelling mode.

So, it may be true that the first part is less interesting than the second. But Ottman's score isn't filler music whatsoever. While the best part lies in the rousing second part, Ottman keeps the action, the development and the playfulness strong enough and interesting, so you don't lose yourself when listening to it. But as said, it is that second part that shows us just how fun Astro Boy can be.

We begin with "Reluctant Warrior", or the track where the second part of it suddenly erupts with Golden Age fanfares, ethnic material and main theme statements. The lovely secondary theme in "Cora's Call" and the suspenseful "Egg on Hamegg" all lead to the great finale, where Ottman finally brings us that main theme in all its wonder.

The rise in "Toby's Destiny" couldn't be used more majestically than here, the blazing performances in "Saving Metro City", the choral power during the explosive end in "Final Sacrifice", the rousing blast of some almighty heroic music in "Robot Humanity" or the sheer wondrous concert performance during "Theme from Astro Boy", this soundtrack knows how to end its listening experience.

Sure, Astro Boy may be with its faults and dead moments, but there is no reason to dismiss the sheer excellence of a main theme when brought through this kind of brevity. And that main theme alone takes many faults away. Whether John Ottman did right or wrong with X-Men 2 or Superman Returns, I feel Astroy Boy deserves more credit than just being an Ottman score. Because the powerful music is just too good to dismiss. And with a heroic theme that is destined to become of the best of this year, a score goes a long way in capturing your good old spirited mechanical or biological heart.

Tracklisting

1. Opening Theme (2.06)
2. Astro Flies! (3.14) Excellent track
3. Start It Up (3.57)
4. Morning Lessons (1.50)
5. Blue Core Pursuit (3.58) Excellent track
6. Designing Toby (4.48)
7. I Don't Want You (1.22)
8. One of Us / Meeting Trashcan (2.29)
9. I Love Robots / Hamegg's Story (2.21)
10. The RRF / New Friends (2.58)
11. Reviving Zog (1.59)
12. Reluctant Warrior (4.43)
13. Cora's Call (2.27)
14. Undercover Robots (0.51)
15. Egg on Hamegg (3.29)
16. Toby's Destiny (4.31) Excellent track
17. Saving Metro City (3.47) Excellent track
18. Final Sacrifice (2.47) Excellent track
19. Robot Humanity (3.23)
20. Theme from Astro Boy (4.34) Excellent track

Bonus Track
21. Robots are our Friends (Infomercial) (1.27)

Total Length: 63.01