Free Willy 3: The Rescue
Cliff Eidelman
" Willy goes for a soaring conclusion "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Willy continued to get into trouble. While the first movie was the big surprise at the box office, it was inevitable that a sequel would emerge, losing half of the original's success. However a third felt completely unnecessary, which led to a ridiculous 4th entry and something of a short lived series after that. Luckily music wise, Willy never sounded better. The first is one of those amazing feel good Basil Poledouris scores, and the second tried to approach it slightly different (and slightly less successful too due to a short selection of cues on the album). But for number 3 new composer Cliff Eidelman received all the time in the world, at least the normal 30 minutes which was so standard for that specific era. Oh how we sometimes miss those short but perfect listening experiences.
For Eidelman, Free Willy 3: The Rescue can be seen as his last big orchestral score for quite some time. Even his last if we consider how he sporadically turned up in other movies after that. And even though it's not necessary for the fans, it is somewhat vital for producers nowadays to look back at what Eidelman has written, because the best scores of him are when he's let loose with an orchestra. Free Willy 3 is gorgeous and quite inspired too, especially if one knows Basil Poledouris' music well. For instance "Main Title" introduces us to Eidelman's own take on the Jesse theme, but it shares many resemblances to Poledouris' Jesse theme, only less bouncier (which is understandable considering Jesse's not a boy anymore). This theme returns in the lovely "Whale Call" and the simply mesmerizing beauty of "Birth", unleashing Eidelman's other theme for this movie, a haunting string melody that goes for the heart.
Even though some of the bounciness of Jesse's theme comes through in "Awakening", the rest of the cue is pretty sad. You can literally feel the sad outcome of the hunt flowing through your veins when Eidelman unleashes Francine Poitras' haunting voice at the end. That haunting voice is luckily kept for another occasion, when Eidelman expands the haunting melody in "Redemption", this score's most emotional piece.
A return to the darker music of Star Trek VI is kept for "The Hunt", when Eidelman unleashes terror and fear for the last time in Willy's life. Because it's beauty, redemption and soaring emotion after that. Like the string theme this time on piano in "You Were Right" or the one and only Free Willy main theme of Basil Poledouris in "A New Family". Because even though it's refreshing to hear so much new music, Willy is nothing without its main theme. And the "End Credits" luckily reminds us of Eidelman's equally mesmerizing main theme for Willy. Even though Free Willy 3 is incredibly short, something tells me it's just perfect the way it is. Eidelman's music is not racing with high energy, but the beauty that soars from the first to the last note is often unparalleled, making me wonder if this is perhaps the most beautiful music he's ever written. For the people who love beauty and nothing but beauty.
Favorite Moment - End Credits (2.49 - 3.15)
Though we heard it a couple of times before, the main theme just continues to melt your heart
Track Listing
1. Main Title (3.07)
2. Awakening * (4.06)
3. Harpoon Assembly (0.53)
4. Whale Call (1.29)
5. Birth (3.06) Excellent track
6. Willy Signals (1.03)
7. The Hunt (3.09)
8. Obsession (2.09)
9. Redemption * (2.36) Excellent track
10. You Were Right (2.08) Excellent track
11. A New Family (1.35) Excellent track
12. End Credits (3.49) Excellent track
* Solo Voice by Francine Poitras
Total Length: 29.10
For Eidelman, Free Willy 3: The Rescue can be seen as his last big orchestral score for quite some time. Even his last if we consider how he sporadically turned up in other movies after that. And even though it's not necessary for the fans, it is somewhat vital for producers nowadays to look back at what Eidelman has written, because the best scores of him are when he's let loose with an orchestra. Free Willy 3 is gorgeous and quite inspired too, especially if one knows Basil Poledouris' music well. For instance "Main Title" introduces us to Eidelman's own take on the Jesse theme, but it shares many resemblances to Poledouris' Jesse theme, only less bouncier (which is understandable considering Jesse's not a boy anymore). This theme returns in the lovely "Whale Call" and the simply mesmerizing beauty of "Birth", unleashing Eidelman's other theme for this movie, a haunting string melody that goes for the heart.
Even though some of the bounciness of Jesse's theme comes through in "Awakening", the rest of the cue is pretty sad. You can literally feel the sad outcome of the hunt flowing through your veins when Eidelman unleashes Francine Poitras' haunting voice at the end. That haunting voice is luckily kept for another occasion, when Eidelman expands the haunting melody in "Redemption", this score's most emotional piece.
A return to the darker music of Star Trek VI is kept for "The Hunt", when Eidelman unleashes terror and fear for the last time in Willy's life. Because it's beauty, redemption and soaring emotion after that. Like the string theme this time on piano in "You Were Right" or the one and only Free Willy main theme of Basil Poledouris in "A New Family". Because even though it's refreshing to hear so much new music, Willy is nothing without its main theme. And the "End Credits" luckily reminds us of Eidelman's equally mesmerizing main theme for Willy. Even though Free Willy 3 is incredibly short, something tells me it's just perfect the way it is. Eidelman's music is not racing with high energy, but the beauty that soars from the first to the last note is often unparalleled, making me wonder if this is perhaps the most beautiful music he's ever written. For the people who love beauty and nothing but beauty.
Favorite Moment - End Credits (2.49 - 3.15)
Though we heard it a couple of times before, the main theme just continues to melt your heart
Track Listing
1. Main Title (3.07)
2. Awakening * (4.06)
3. Harpoon Assembly (0.53)
4. Whale Call (1.29)
5. Birth (3.06) Excellent track
6. Willy Signals (1.03)
7. The Hunt (3.09)
8. Obsession (2.09)
9. Redemption * (2.36) Excellent track
10. You Were Right (2.08) Excellent track
11. A New Family (1.35) Excellent track
12. End Credits (3.49) Excellent track
* Solo Voice by Francine Poitras
Total Length: 29.10