Robocop 3
Basil Poledouris
" Robo 3 is not worthy of your attention "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
After the highly successful Robocop, it was evident that crime needed a wake up call in the darker Robocop 2. That movie was scored by Leonard Rosenman. However for Robocop 3 director Fred Dekker had a special surprise, by letting Basil Poledouris return back to Detroit city. Sadly it could not rescue the poor excuse of a movie considering it lost its soul without Peter Weller as Robocop and the lack of a decent villain. Hell not even Lewis and Reed could save this stinker. Nope, it was Basil Poledouris who had to save the day in the end with this short score release.
And short it is, not even 29 minutes long. But perhaps it's better this way because the composer wasn't equally inspired after viewing this terrible motion picture. The score opens with "Main Title / The Resistance", and even if Poledouris adds the 3 note soul theme and the loss theme in the opening track, it lacks its biggest moment of all. Especially considering it's Poledouris theme, one kinda expects it here loud and firm.
But luckily it's saved for "Robo Saves Lewis". The somber music of the orginal Robocop returns as well, showing that Poledouris wants to add as much of the original as possible to the new adventure of Robo. And that's a good sign because that means the music will at least be up to standards during those moments. However that doesn't mean it are high standards because quite frankly Robocop 3 is far behind Robocop in terms of quality. A couple of Goldenthal brass moments in "Resistance Base", some eastern influences in "Otomo Underground", a totally unfitting Robocop march moment in "Murphy's Memories" and "Robo Fights Otomo", Robocop 3 soon shows there's a lack of memorable ideas when comparing the master with the pupil. One track actually does it right, then again one can't fail if you totally reuse the ideas of the first film in "Death of Lewis".
The new theme or fanfare of the movie turns out to be the opening fanfare in "Main Title / The Resistance". Returning in "Murphy's Memories" and nowhere after that, it is luckily better than the action music that the score has to offer. "Robo Fights Otomo" delivers during the fight percussion and moody noises that bring the once glorious music of Poledouris to a standard that's quite below par for such a gifted composer like Poledouris. Then again, who could be inspired to write something magical if you have samurai robots instead of actual robots.
Which means that the movie is partly the reason why Robocop 3 is so average. What was once a dynamite blockbuster resulted in a total joke when Robocop 3 stated this following line from ED-209: I am now authorized to... be loyal as a puppy. Nuff Said, but it also reflects on the music of Basil Poledouris. While sharing the moments that still make it a typical Basil Poledouris score, one can't help but think back at what remains one of the composer's ultimate treasures. It returns occasionally to the original ideas of the first film but lacks guts and excitement in the original music's department. And then even a standard fanfare as new main theme and the failure of using the Robocop march as a subtle theme can't save Robocop 3 from an average rating. It shows that even Basil Poledouris kept his good ideas for a worthy movie instead.
Tracklisting
1. Main Title / The Resistance (2.35)
2. Robo Saves Lewis (3.56)
3. Resistance Base (1.36)
4. Otomo Underground (1.49)
5. Murphy's Memories (4.36)
6. Robo Fights Otomo (4.27)
7. Nikko and Murphy (1.53)
8. Death of Lewis (3.46)
9. Sayonara McDaggit (3.38)
Total Length: 28.16
And short it is, not even 29 minutes long. But perhaps it's better this way because the composer wasn't equally inspired after viewing this terrible motion picture. The score opens with "Main Title / The Resistance", and even if Poledouris adds the 3 note soul theme and the loss theme in the opening track, it lacks its biggest moment of all. Especially considering it's Poledouris theme, one kinda expects it here loud and firm.
But luckily it's saved for "Robo Saves Lewis". The somber music of the orginal Robocop returns as well, showing that Poledouris wants to add as much of the original as possible to the new adventure of Robo. And that's a good sign because that means the music will at least be up to standards during those moments. However that doesn't mean it are high standards because quite frankly Robocop 3 is far behind Robocop in terms of quality. A couple of Goldenthal brass moments in "Resistance Base", some eastern influences in "Otomo Underground", a totally unfitting Robocop march moment in "Murphy's Memories" and "Robo Fights Otomo", Robocop 3 soon shows there's a lack of memorable ideas when comparing the master with the pupil. One track actually does it right, then again one can't fail if you totally reuse the ideas of the first film in "Death of Lewis".
The new theme or fanfare of the movie turns out to be the opening fanfare in "Main Title / The Resistance". Returning in "Murphy's Memories" and nowhere after that, it is luckily better than the action music that the score has to offer. "Robo Fights Otomo" delivers during the fight percussion and moody noises that bring the once glorious music of Poledouris to a standard that's quite below par for such a gifted composer like Poledouris. Then again, who could be inspired to write something magical if you have samurai robots instead of actual robots.
Which means that the movie is partly the reason why Robocop 3 is so average. What was once a dynamite blockbuster resulted in a total joke when Robocop 3 stated this following line from ED-209: I am now authorized to... be loyal as a puppy. Nuff Said, but it also reflects on the music of Basil Poledouris. While sharing the moments that still make it a typical Basil Poledouris score, one can't help but think back at what remains one of the composer's ultimate treasures. It returns occasionally to the original ideas of the first film but lacks guts and excitement in the original music's department. And then even a standard fanfare as new main theme and the failure of using the Robocop march as a subtle theme can't save Robocop 3 from an average rating. It shows that even Basil Poledouris kept his good ideas for a worthy movie instead.
Tracklisting
1. Main Title / The Resistance (2.35)
2. Robo Saves Lewis (3.56)
3. Resistance Base (1.36)
4. Otomo Underground (1.49)
5. Murphy's Memories (4.36)
6. Robo Fights Otomo (4.27)
7. Nikko and Murphy (1.53)
8. Death of Lewis (3.46)
9. Sayonara McDaggit (3.38)
Total Length: 28.16