Night at the Museum
Alan Silvestri
" This isn't the night Alan Silvestri rocked the museum "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Ladies and Gentlemen, the most entertaining film of the year goes to … Night at the Museum! Not that it really was the most entertaining one, but it sure was fun to watch, plus it is always good for a couple of hundred millions at the box office. And basically why not? Special effects, Ben Stiller, a T-Rex and the fact everything in the museum comes to live at night. Consider it freaking awesome? Perhaps or perhaps not. Anyhoo the first composer onboard was John Ottman, but for whatever reason Alan Silvestri took on the role instead. And just consider that these 2 names were in fact perfect for the movie.
After all Ottman proved with Eight Legged Freaks what the term overblown fun is and Silvestri, well this is just his ballgame. But why is Night at the Museum not what it supposed to be? Fun? Gigantic fun? What's missing basically that justifies the words used by Varèse Sarabande to spice up their sales (namely gargantuan action adventure and one of the most exciting soundtracks of the year)? Before hearing the CD I would have agreed with them from the get go, because after all this is his ballpark. Now after having listening to it, a lack of creativity and interesting new ideas is what makes Night at the Museum in fact a minor disappointment.
It's not a total disappointment if you consider that there are still moments making Night at the Museum worth it. But altogether it is not enough. It starts with "Night at the Museum", a basic representation of all the themes (main and dark theme) in a lovely sort of suite. What isn't noticed here but reveals itself later on is that the main theme listens a bit like the Harry Potter theme from "Harry in Winter" (or its blazing performance in "Golden Egg" of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire). Of course it is sad such a good theme from Doyle needs to be heard in Silvestri's writing, but make of it what you will if this is pure coincidence or not. His other theme, the Ben Stiller theme is more evident that this is Silvestri all the way, due to the mambo beat and tune in "One of Those Days".
The main theme itself is spotted in numerous variations. As underscore supporting the drums in "Tour of the Museum", surrounding the craziness in "Meet Dexter", totally Harry Potter like in "Sunrise" or working around a mystery tune which crops up from time to time in "Study up on History". Basically it is everywhere, sometimes in just mere 2 notes. "Civil War Soldiers" is the longest track and apart from the choral dark theme this sounds like something out of Death Becomes Her with the fanfares, and sadly I didn't like that sound very much.
Of course craziness isn't far away and that's clear in many of the shorter tracks (6, 8, 9, 19 and 20). However noticeable are the following moments: the western Stiller theme in "The Iron Horse", a heroic explosion in "Saved by Teddy" or the Tomb Raider 2 moments in "Show you What I do".
Sadly nothing much really enlightens you, this because it's either too short or because it's deprived from an originality doses. Some relief is spotted in "Rally the Troops" and we bounce along with some electronic effects in "Tire Take Down".
But luckily and in this case it is really true, some moments still bring real enthusiasm to the music. "Cecil's Escape" has a big main theme statement, "Stage Coach" is brilliance in a minute and "Heroes Return" offers you a satisfying choral fanfare.
In a way it is weird how such an album can be so light in adventure. And yet, this score totally works in the movie's context. In fact it is beyond good in the movie. However this doesn’t change the fact Night at the Museum isn't exactly hitting you with one adventure after another. It has its moments, but I wonder how on earth some people can see this as bringing you a promised gargantuan action adventure.
Tracklisting
1. Night at the Museum (2.35)
2. One of Those Days (0.49)
3. An Ordinary Guy? (1.27)
4. Tour of the Museum (2.32)
5. Civil War Soldiers (4.08)
6. Out of Africa (1.07)
7. Meet Dexter (1.27)
8. Mayan Warriors (0.57)
9. Where's Rexy? (0.49)
10. West From Africa (1.49)
11. The Iron Horse (1.06)
12. Saved by Teddy (1.57)
13. Tablet of Akmenrah (0.37)
14. "Tracking, Dear Boy" (1.08)
15. Some Men Are Born Great (0.50)
16. Sunrise (0.42)
17. Study Up on History (2.15)
18. Teddy Likes Sacagawea (1.52)
19. Tearing Limbs (1.45)
20. Caveman on Fire (0.43)
21. Outrun the Sun (0.58)
22. Show You What I Do (2.55)
23. Tablet Gone (2.44)
24. "Theodore Roosevelt at your Service" (1.11)
25. This is Your Moment (2.10)
26. Rally the Troops (1.06)
27. Tire Take Down (1.21)
28. Cecil's Escape (1.26)
29. Stage Coach (2.28) Excellent track
30. Teddy In Two (1.18)
31. Cab Ride (0.50)
32. Big Fan (1.03)
33. Heroes Return (0.54) Excellent track
34. A Great Man (0.57)
35. Full House (1.21)
Total Length: 53.35
After all Ottman proved with Eight Legged Freaks what the term overblown fun is and Silvestri, well this is just his ballgame. But why is Night at the Museum not what it supposed to be? Fun? Gigantic fun? What's missing basically that justifies the words used by Varèse Sarabande to spice up their sales (namely gargantuan action adventure and one of the most exciting soundtracks of the year)? Before hearing the CD I would have agreed with them from the get go, because after all this is his ballpark. Now after having listening to it, a lack of creativity and interesting new ideas is what makes Night at the Museum in fact a minor disappointment.
It's not a total disappointment if you consider that there are still moments making Night at the Museum worth it. But altogether it is not enough. It starts with "Night at the Museum", a basic representation of all the themes (main and dark theme) in a lovely sort of suite. What isn't noticed here but reveals itself later on is that the main theme listens a bit like the Harry Potter theme from "Harry in Winter" (or its blazing performance in "Golden Egg" of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire). Of course it is sad such a good theme from Doyle needs to be heard in Silvestri's writing, but make of it what you will if this is pure coincidence or not. His other theme, the Ben Stiller theme is more evident that this is Silvestri all the way, due to the mambo beat and tune in "One of Those Days".
The main theme itself is spotted in numerous variations. As underscore supporting the drums in "Tour of the Museum", surrounding the craziness in "Meet Dexter", totally Harry Potter like in "Sunrise" or working around a mystery tune which crops up from time to time in "Study up on History". Basically it is everywhere, sometimes in just mere 2 notes. "Civil War Soldiers" is the longest track and apart from the choral dark theme this sounds like something out of Death Becomes Her with the fanfares, and sadly I didn't like that sound very much.
Of course craziness isn't far away and that's clear in many of the shorter tracks (6, 8, 9, 19 and 20). However noticeable are the following moments: the western Stiller theme in "The Iron Horse", a heroic explosion in "Saved by Teddy" or the Tomb Raider 2 moments in "Show you What I do".
Sadly nothing much really enlightens you, this because it's either too short or because it's deprived from an originality doses. Some relief is spotted in "Rally the Troops" and we bounce along with some electronic effects in "Tire Take Down".
But luckily and in this case it is really true, some moments still bring real enthusiasm to the music. "Cecil's Escape" has a big main theme statement, "Stage Coach" is brilliance in a minute and "Heroes Return" offers you a satisfying choral fanfare.
In a way it is weird how such an album can be so light in adventure. And yet, this score totally works in the movie's context. In fact it is beyond good in the movie. However this doesn’t change the fact Night at the Museum isn't exactly hitting you with one adventure after another. It has its moments, but I wonder how on earth some people can see this as bringing you a promised gargantuan action adventure.
Tracklisting
1. Night at the Museum (2.35)
2. One of Those Days (0.49)
3. An Ordinary Guy? (1.27)
4. Tour of the Museum (2.32)
5. Civil War Soldiers (4.08)
6. Out of Africa (1.07)
7. Meet Dexter (1.27)
8. Mayan Warriors (0.57)
9. Where's Rexy? (0.49)
10. West From Africa (1.49)
11. The Iron Horse (1.06)
12. Saved by Teddy (1.57)
13. Tablet of Akmenrah (0.37)
14. "Tracking, Dear Boy" (1.08)
15. Some Men Are Born Great (0.50)
16. Sunrise (0.42)
17. Study Up on History (2.15)
18. Teddy Likes Sacagawea (1.52)
19. Tearing Limbs (1.45)
20. Caveman on Fire (0.43)
21. Outrun the Sun (0.58)
22. Show You What I Do (2.55)
23. Tablet Gone (2.44)
24. "Theodore Roosevelt at your Service" (1.11)
25. This is Your Moment (2.10)
26. Rally the Troops (1.06)
27. Tire Take Down (1.21)
28. Cecil's Escape (1.26)
29. Stage Coach (2.28) Excellent track
30. Teddy In Two (1.18)
31. Cab Ride (0.50)
32. Big Fan (1.03)
33. Heroes Return (0.54) Excellent track
34. A Great Man (0.57)
35. Full House (1.21)
Total Length: 53.35