Dragonheart II: A New Beginning
Mark McKenzie
" 2 strong themes in an otherwise decent listen "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Some movies aren't meant to receive a sequel, because they don't have anything to do with the first film. Dragonheart II: A New Beginning is one of the many in that list. However repeating the idea always makes for a chance to hear the same music of the first film being repeated by a different composer. And I'm sure Mark McKenzie was a positive and successful choice amongst the many fans of the first score.
As we all know, McKenzie is no rookie and he can truly breath emotional and melodic life into any feature film. So he does it with Dragonheart II as well. The main theme of Randy Edelman surely ignites the album with a fun nostalgic look back at the first score, but it doesn't take away both McKenzie's themes after that listen equally fantastic, meaning the main heroic theme in "I'm Flying?!" and the emotional theme in "My Heart goes With You". These 2 themes keep showing me what a fantastic composer he truly is.
As said, Randy Edelman's main theme gets 2 big time appearances in the score, namely in "Dragonheart: A New Beginning Main Titles" and "Of My Heart to Thee I Give", and two smaller ones in "Friar Peter Went to Heaven" and "Dragon Heaven". And if we're talking about highlights, notice what a stunning version McKenzie makes of Edelman's flying music in "I'm Flying?!" as the absolutely beautiful string work in "My Heart Goes With You". This love theme gets a song version too at the end.
Besides those lovely moments, it is a bit weaker around the edges after that. Most of the tracks are either short or not specifically brilliant. The action material is nice but misses either the time nor the excellent to put itself on the map.
So, McKenzie fans will surely discover moments worth hearing again, and in a way this once more shows his exceptional talents. And people that wanted more of the theme of Dragonheart will receive that thrill here within certain moments. But Dragonheart II: A New Beginning sadly doesn't outdo Edelman's first score when it comes to quality, amusement and thematic power, something I guess has to do with the more inferior B movie it supports.
Tracklisting
1. Dragonheart: A New Beginning Main Titles * (4.49) Excellent track
2. I'm Flying?! (2.17) Excellent track
3. Knighthood and the Old Code (1.57)
4. Friar Peter Went to Heaven * (1.28)
5. Liam's Awesome Fight (1.34)
6. My Heart Goes With You (Instrumental) (2.16) Excellent track
7. Dungeon, Skeletons & a Dragon (3.42)
8. Serenade to the Stars (1.03)
9. Dragon Heaven * (1.18)
10. Roland Bullies Geoff (1.21)
11. Renaissance Banquet (1.24)
12. Chinese Battle the Knight (2.11)
13. Withered Heart Tale (0.52)
14. Tai Chee (0.45)
15. Terragoth Ambush! (2.10)
16. Prophetic Transformation (1.20)
17. Dragon Fight! (1.25)
18. My Wise Master and Closest Friend (1.28)
19. Of My Heart to Thee I Give * (1.42)
20. My Heart Goes With You: Rona Figueroa (3.19)
* Contains Dragonheart Theme composed by Randy Edelman
Total Length: 39.36
As we all know, McKenzie is no rookie and he can truly breath emotional and melodic life into any feature film. So he does it with Dragonheart II as well. The main theme of Randy Edelman surely ignites the album with a fun nostalgic look back at the first score, but it doesn't take away both McKenzie's themes after that listen equally fantastic, meaning the main heroic theme in "I'm Flying?!" and the emotional theme in "My Heart goes With You". These 2 themes keep showing me what a fantastic composer he truly is.
As said, Randy Edelman's main theme gets 2 big time appearances in the score, namely in "Dragonheart: A New Beginning Main Titles" and "Of My Heart to Thee I Give", and two smaller ones in "Friar Peter Went to Heaven" and "Dragon Heaven". And if we're talking about highlights, notice what a stunning version McKenzie makes of Edelman's flying music in "I'm Flying?!" as the absolutely beautiful string work in "My Heart Goes With You". This love theme gets a song version too at the end.
Besides those lovely moments, it is a bit weaker around the edges after that. Most of the tracks are either short or not specifically brilliant. The action material is nice but misses either the time nor the excellent to put itself on the map.
So, McKenzie fans will surely discover moments worth hearing again, and in a way this once more shows his exceptional talents. And people that wanted more of the theme of Dragonheart will receive that thrill here within certain moments. But Dragonheart II: A New Beginning sadly doesn't outdo Edelman's first score when it comes to quality, amusement and thematic power, something I guess has to do with the more inferior B movie it supports.
Tracklisting
1. Dragonheart: A New Beginning Main Titles * (4.49) Excellent track
2. I'm Flying?! (2.17) Excellent track
3. Knighthood and the Old Code (1.57)
4. Friar Peter Went to Heaven * (1.28)
5. Liam's Awesome Fight (1.34)
6. My Heart Goes With You (Instrumental) (2.16) Excellent track
7. Dungeon, Skeletons & a Dragon (3.42)
8. Serenade to the Stars (1.03)
9. Dragon Heaven * (1.18)
10. Roland Bullies Geoff (1.21)
11. Renaissance Banquet (1.24)
12. Chinese Battle the Knight (2.11)
13. Withered Heart Tale (0.52)
14. Tai Chee (0.45)
15. Terragoth Ambush! (2.10)
16. Prophetic Transformation (1.20)
17. Dragon Fight! (1.25)
18. My Wise Master and Closest Friend (1.28)
19. Of My Heart to Thee I Give * (1.42)
20. My Heart Goes With You: Rona Figueroa (3.19)
* Contains Dragonheart Theme composed by Randy Edelman
Total Length: 39.36