Rambo
Brian Tyler
" When you're pushed, composing is as easy as breathing! I think sometimes Tyler takes that too literally! "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
26 years after the first Rambo film (First Blood) was released, and 20 years since the last Rambo III aired, Sylvester Stallone is back for another round. After having successfully rebooted the Rocky franchise, Sly thought it was time to bring back John Rambo as well for another slice and dice affair. His own personal war is now Burma, Thailand, where he aids hired mercenaries on a mission to rescue a group of captured American missionaries.
Composer Jerry Goldsmith stood by Rambo in all 3 films, offering a wonderful classic theme and a trio of highly beloved action scores. Considering the musical voice of Rambo is no more, Sylvester Stallone hired the busiest composer of the past few years instead. And whether or not you're a fan of composer Brian Tyler, the man always offers something effective and enjoyable.
Now, this doesn't mean Rambo equals the likes of the Jerry Goldsmith scores for the Rambo franchise. No sir, Rambo is an effective and enjoyable powerhouse effort that sadly turns out all the familiar Brian Tyler tricks, .... AGAIN. The one thing that will lure Goldsmith fans to this album is the returning main theme for Rambo himself, composed by Jerry Goldsmith.
Opening the album, it is the soft noble tones of the Goldsmith theme that makes "Rambo Theme" a lovely nostalgic experience. Tyler does not temper with it, does not chance the pace, he keeps it just the way we remembered it (probably because Sly asked him to leave it alone). In that very same track, we also encounter Brian Tyler's own theme for the movie. Equally lovable and noble, it fits perfectly with the classic theme.
Now if you take away the main theme of Goldsmith and the main theme of Tyler, you're left with a brooding powerhouse score that withstands the sound effects of the movie perfectly. The problem is, it is exactly what we heard of Brian Tyler before. From the brooding opening "No Rules of Engagement" to the relentless Eagle Eye sounding brass, string and percussion rhythm that dominates the remaining 6 minutes. The only exception lies in the brooding rise of Goldsmith's own action theme.
Now, you will have noticed it as well during the 7 minute assault of "No Rules of Engagement", Tyler has his own action theme as well. And considering it made a decent enough impression in the second track, we have to mention that it also appears in track 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and in 11.
Pure percussive rain fuels the typical Tyler action style in "The Rescue", resolution is discovered through Tyler's own main theme in "Aftermath", rocking suspense heightens the senses in "Hunting Mercenaries", threat uncovers the true face of Burma in "Crossing into Burma", eeriness hides in "Prison Camp" and percussion dominates the somewhat boring "The Compound", there's enough material present on this overlong CD allright.
Relief and main theme statements are for the end of the score. In "Battle Adagio" we hear the main theme of Tyler with additional soft vocals, in "Rambo Main Title" Goldsmith's theme returns over the speakers as in "Rambo End Title", both in different versions.
In the end, the huge problem of Rambo is that it's too much and most of it is the same. Brian Tyler has not reinvented himself here and he's been churning out the same voice over and over again. Because I heard parts in Rambo that could have come out of Eagle Eye, Darkness Falls and countless others easily. It is the job of the composer to reinvent himself every time, if not they could just copy/paste a previous score from him and put it in the film. Tyler takes the effort to write something new, and yet copy/pastes still the same old tricks. That it's discovered in an insanely long album doesn't make it any easier. And with the mere fact all the exciting material is found in the first 7 tracks, it makes sure you'll have to drag your way through the album for sure.
Tracklisting
1. Rambo Theme * (3.34)
2. No Rules of Engagement * (7.09)
3. Conscription (2.55)
4. The Rescue (4.04)
5. Aftermath (2.33)
6. Searching for Missionaries (7.07)
7. Hunting Mercenaries (2.44)
8. Crossing into Burma * (6.59)
9. The Village (1.44)
10. Rambo Returns (2.44)
11. When you are Pushed (2.26)
12. The Call to War (2.52)
13. Atrocities (1.40)
14. Prison Camp (4.42)
15. Attack on the Village (3.01)
16. Rambo Takes Charge (2.23)
17. The Compound (7.48)
18. Battle Adagio * (3.10)
19. Rambo Main Title * (3.30)
20. Rambo End Title * (2.59) Excellent track
* includes themes composed by Jerry Goldsmith
Total Length: 75.42
Composer Jerry Goldsmith stood by Rambo in all 3 films, offering a wonderful classic theme and a trio of highly beloved action scores. Considering the musical voice of Rambo is no more, Sylvester Stallone hired the busiest composer of the past few years instead. And whether or not you're a fan of composer Brian Tyler, the man always offers something effective and enjoyable.
Now, this doesn't mean Rambo equals the likes of the Jerry Goldsmith scores for the Rambo franchise. No sir, Rambo is an effective and enjoyable powerhouse effort that sadly turns out all the familiar Brian Tyler tricks, .... AGAIN. The one thing that will lure Goldsmith fans to this album is the returning main theme for Rambo himself, composed by Jerry Goldsmith.
Opening the album, it is the soft noble tones of the Goldsmith theme that makes "Rambo Theme" a lovely nostalgic experience. Tyler does not temper with it, does not chance the pace, he keeps it just the way we remembered it (probably because Sly asked him to leave it alone). In that very same track, we also encounter Brian Tyler's own theme for the movie. Equally lovable and noble, it fits perfectly with the classic theme.
Now if you take away the main theme of Goldsmith and the main theme of Tyler, you're left with a brooding powerhouse score that withstands the sound effects of the movie perfectly. The problem is, it is exactly what we heard of Brian Tyler before. From the brooding opening "No Rules of Engagement" to the relentless Eagle Eye sounding brass, string and percussion rhythm that dominates the remaining 6 minutes. The only exception lies in the brooding rise of Goldsmith's own action theme.
Now, you will have noticed it as well during the 7 minute assault of "No Rules of Engagement", Tyler has his own action theme as well. And considering it made a decent enough impression in the second track, we have to mention that it also appears in track 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and in 11.
Pure percussive rain fuels the typical Tyler action style in "The Rescue", resolution is discovered through Tyler's own main theme in "Aftermath", rocking suspense heightens the senses in "Hunting Mercenaries", threat uncovers the true face of Burma in "Crossing into Burma", eeriness hides in "Prison Camp" and percussion dominates the somewhat boring "The Compound", there's enough material present on this overlong CD allright.
Relief and main theme statements are for the end of the score. In "Battle Adagio" we hear the main theme of Tyler with additional soft vocals, in "Rambo Main Title" Goldsmith's theme returns over the speakers as in "Rambo End Title", both in different versions.
In the end, the huge problem of Rambo is that it's too much and most of it is the same. Brian Tyler has not reinvented himself here and he's been churning out the same voice over and over again. Because I heard parts in Rambo that could have come out of Eagle Eye, Darkness Falls and countless others easily. It is the job of the composer to reinvent himself every time, if not they could just copy/paste a previous score from him and put it in the film. Tyler takes the effort to write something new, and yet copy/pastes still the same old tricks. That it's discovered in an insanely long album doesn't make it any easier. And with the mere fact all the exciting material is found in the first 7 tracks, it makes sure you'll have to drag your way through the album for sure.
Tracklisting
1. Rambo Theme * (3.34)
2. No Rules of Engagement * (7.09)
3. Conscription (2.55)
4. The Rescue (4.04)
5. Aftermath (2.33)
6. Searching for Missionaries (7.07)
7. Hunting Mercenaries (2.44)
8. Crossing into Burma * (6.59)
9. The Village (1.44)
10. Rambo Returns (2.44)
11. When you are Pushed (2.26)
12. The Call to War (2.52)
13. Atrocities (1.40)
14. Prison Camp (4.42)
15. Attack on the Village (3.01)
16. Rambo Takes Charge (2.23)
17. The Compound (7.48)
18. Battle Adagio * (3.10)
19. Rambo Main Title * (3.30)
20. Rambo End Title * (2.59) Excellent track
* includes themes composed by Jerry Goldsmith
Total Length: 75.42