Real Steel
Danny Elfman
" Will hold out until the end "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Real Steel punched audiences silly with its new look at boxing. In this incredibly moving film, based in part on the 1956 short story "Steel" by Richard Matheson, boxing has changed everything. Now robots are battling each other in packed arenas, and fights depend on the armory rather than the stamina of the fighters. Charlie Kenton's robots are always losing, that is until his son and him find a boxer who might have the stamina for it, that is if Charlie teaches the boxer a few lessons in return. And needless to say Real Steel did what it supposed to, it fought its way towards a box office success, no small part due to Hugh Jackman, Dakota Goyo and Evangeline Lilly's performances and matching chemistry.
For the music, director Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum 1 & 2) didn't went for his usual collaborators Christophe Beck and Alan Silvestri, but for unusual underdog Danny Elfman. Elfman has been doing diverse projects for a while now, and when listening to Real Steel one will not immediately hear Danny's voice in it, which for better or worse will please or displease a lot of people. On the other hand, Real Steel's to the point and fairly straightforward, showing rather easily it's wonderful emotional heart.
The score is divided into several parts. We have the acoustic and electric guitar moments ("On the Move", "Into the Zoo", "Get in the Truck" and "You Deserve Better") that are literally scattered across the score, we have the occasional choral and vocal performances that add some emotion and Elfman magic to the arena ("Why We're Here", "Safe with Me" and "Bonding") and then we have the more heroic counterparts that are bursting with percussion, beats and heroic fanfares ("Meet Atom", "Atom Versus Twin Cities" and "Final Round"). Definitely watch out for that last one, a roller coaster ride of emotion and heart that makes the movie the winner it is considered to be today. In all fairness, they're very accessible and not that complex at all. On the other hand, for Elfman standards it might not be such a bad thing at all.
So Real Steel is not such a demanding score, but it does make for a thoroughly entertaining listen. Danny Elfman has scared some people with his occasional quirky scores, but Real Steel is not that at all. On the contrary, it's straightforward and it barely contains his usual voice (only the use of choir hints us of his presence). Plus the biggest strength is the undeniably amazing effect it has in the movie, literally uplifting every emotional scene and each heroic fight. Making it a must to see and hear inside the context for those who are still somewhat undecided.
Favorite Moment - Final Round (3.43 - 4.06)
You have to see this one on screen, it's literally making the movie 50 times better
Tracklisting
1. Charlie Trains Atom (1.59)
2. On the Move (2.39)
3. Into the Zoo (1.02)
4. Why We're Here * (0.55)
5. Meet Atom (3.18)
6. It's Your Choice (1.28)
7. Safe With Me (2.58)
8. Atom Versus Twin Cities (3.12)
9. ...For a Kiss (0.56)
10. Get in the Truck (1.13)
11. Bonding (2.02)
12. Twin Cities' Intro (1.20)
13. Parkway Motel * (1.48)
14. This is a Brawl (1.49)
15. You Deserve Better (4.03)
16. Into the Ring (1.12)
17. Taking a Beating (1.34)
18. Final Round (6.54) Excellent track
19. People's Champion (2.06) Excellent track
* featuring vocal by Poe
Total Length: 42.28
For the music, director Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum 1 & 2) didn't went for his usual collaborators Christophe Beck and Alan Silvestri, but for unusual underdog Danny Elfman. Elfman has been doing diverse projects for a while now, and when listening to Real Steel one will not immediately hear Danny's voice in it, which for better or worse will please or displease a lot of people. On the other hand, Real Steel's to the point and fairly straightforward, showing rather easily it's wonderful emotional heart.
The score is divided into several parts. We have the acoustic and electric guitar moments ("On the Move", "Into the Zoo", "Get in the Truck" and "You Deserve Better") that are literally scattered across the score, we have the occasional choral and vocal performances that add some emotion and Elfman magic to the arena ("Why We're Here", "Safe with Me" and "Bonding") and then we have the more heroic counterparts that are bursting with percussion, beats and heroic fanfares ("Meet Atom", "Atom Versus Twin Cities" and "Final Round"). Definitely watch out for that last one, a roller coaster ride of emotion and heart that makes the movie the winner it is considered to be today. In all fairness, they're very accessible and not that complex at all. On the other hand, for Elfman standards it might not be such a bad thing at all.
So Real Steel is not such a demanding score, but it does make for a thoroughly entertaining listen. Danny Elfman has scared some people with his occasional quirky scores, but Real Steel is not that at all. On the contrary, it's straightforward and it barely contains his usual voice (only the use of choir hints us of his presence). Plus the biggest strength is the undeniably amazing effect it has in the movie, literally uplifting every emotional scene and each heroic fight. Making it a must to see and hear inside the context for those who are still somewhat undecided.
Favorite Moment - Final Round (3.43 - 4.06)
You have to see this one on screen, it's literally making the movie 50 times better
Tracklisting
1. Charlie Trains Atom (1.59)
2. On the Move (2.39)
3. Into the Zoo (1.02)
4. Why We're Here * (0.55)
5. Meet Atom (3.18)
6. It's Your Choice (1.28)
7. Safe With Me (2.58)
8. Atom Versus Twin Cities (3.12)
9. ...For a Kiss (0.56)
10. Get in the Truck (1.13)
11. Bonding (2.02)
12. Twin Cities' Intro (1.20)
13. Parkway Motel * (1.48)
14. This is a Brawl (1.49)
15. You Deserve Better (4.03)
16. Into the Ring (1.12)
17. Taking a Beating (1.34)
18. Final Round (6.54) Excellent track
19. People's Champion (2.06) Excellent track
* featuring vocal by Poe
Total Length: 42.28