The Avengers
Alan Silvestri
" I still believe in heroes "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Put your hand up if you've already seen The Avengers. Put your hand up if you think it is one of the most fun movies of the last 10 years. Put your hand up if you enjoyed the witty humor, the strong characters and the unbelievable action. So, 3 cheers for The Avengers? Of course 3 cheers, because few movies can make 200 million dollars in one mere weekend. Add the second week to that (100 million) and the enormous overseas grosses and you have something that few movies can achieve, a smart blockbuster experience that is beloved by both critics and audiences. Hulk? Smash!
One of the most demanding tasks was finding the right sound for The Avengers. But considering Whedon only directed a single feature film before The Avengers (Serenity scored by David Newman), The Avengers initiative wasn't going to accept just anybody. And I doubt David Newman was the proper composer for those Paramount producers (though they should know better because they released The Phantom, which just so happens to be David Newman's rousing comic book candidate). So okay, someone else then needed to take their hands into battle. And then Alan Silvestri was a more logical (safe) choice. Scratch that, he was the perfect choice, considering not a year ago he supported Captain America through his first adventures.
But wait? Wasn't Captain America: The First Avenger a rather average affair of Alan Silvestri? Only salvageable because of that rousing main theme statement at the end? Yes for some it was, for others it was enough. And for most it became perfectly clear how The Avengers would sound like. Meaning more like Captain America and less like the good old Alan Silvestri. Then again, I would pick today's Alan Silvestri over most composers, because at least Alan Silvestri still has it in him to give us thematic music, even if I admit The Avengers isn't always delivering that.
In fact, The Avengers is seriously flawed. Definitely as an album presentation. 75 minutes is way too generous, and 75 minutes is way too much. The Avengers is not capable of keeping one's interest for that long, especially if you have to go through more music of the first half of the movie than of the second half. No, I don't mind soft music every once and a while, but The Avengers isn't particularly satisfying in the talk sequences of the film. Alan Silvestri uses these moments to deliver eerie pieces, underscoring the schemes of the villain and the uncertainty of the heroes. These moments aren't satisfying after a while, and above all they are too numerous on the album presentation.
From the very first minutes it's present, opening "Arrival" before delivering a pre avengers main theme statement for the arrival of Nick Fury. And it's heard a lot more after that. Quite boringly it supports the arrival of Loki in "Doors Open from Both Sides", quite mysteriously it extracts the first theme statement of Black Widow in "Interrogation", quite softly it paints some emotion for Pepper and Tony in "Stark Goes Green", quite appropriately it returns with Black Widow's theme in "Red Ledger" the moment we see Black Widow interrogating Loki, and quite inappropriately we see it dividing the action music in "Don't Take my Stuff".
In fact, this is the biggest problem of the first part. Talk and action are divided, interrupting one another frequently, delivering the smart feeling that you're actually watching a clever blockbuster that doesn't put its characters in the background instead of the action. But that puts Alan Silvestri's intentions into jeopardy, as it constantly stops and starts the action. "Don't Take my Stuff" suffers from this the most, "Performance Issues" as well. In the second part this is not a problem at all any more, considering every thing's been said, now it just needs to be done.
So expect the second part to deliver a whole different ballgame. "Assault" still interrupts the action in the middle, but it does have that amazing fanfare of the main theme to get our attention back. And after the sad "They Called It", expect nothing but action after that. Silvestri's action music follows the rhythmic brassy action style of Captain America, even stating the Captain America music quite clear in the motion picture when the Captain is making his heroic counter attack on the ship (sadly this moment is not featured on the disc). But the noisy action manoeuvres are ballsy enough, and "Seeing, Not Believing", "Assemble", "I Got a Ride", "A Little Help" and "One Way Trip" deliver us the rousing material we remember from the movie.
Now the thing that distinguishes itself from most of today's action music are the themes that Alan Silvestri specifically composed for this movie. As said the main Avengers theme (a wonderful heroic variation of the adventure theme of The Mummy Returns) was heard briefly in the first track, but it was heard even more prominently for the first time over the main logo after the action theatrics of "Tunnel Chase". It is also underscoring the "Helicarrier" sequence in parts (delivering more a Captain America sound instead) and it states its first action version in "Assault" over a very noticeable beat. It even returns with light choir in the beginning of "Performance Issues". But it never gets any better the moment Silvestri surrounds it instead with thunderous action music.
Yes, you remember the moments in the film. "Assemble" unleashes it first, the moment the Hulk stops the Alien carrier with a rather counter attacking block, and it literately fuels the excitement in "I Got a Ride" once it supports each hero's heroic battle during a 1 minute action spectacle. So say what you will about Alan Silvestri's less than stellar action music in The Avengers, but these theme statements do elevate the 2 specific cues to an unparalleled height, showing that themes do matter. They still make a difference when used properly, and Hollywood should take notice the way they influence an action scene of mammoth proportions with a rarely felt thrill.
Of course the main theme gets its salutation in "The Avengers", a 2 minute crowd pleaser that is as Captain America's march a showcase of how it's supposed to be done. But The Avengers theme isn't the only theme you ought to remember, because Black Widow's theme is of importance too. Heard quite eerily in "Interrogation" and "Red Ledger", it returns with a vengeance in "I Got a Ride" the moment Black Widow crawls upon an alien ship to do some damage. And when hearing that Black Widow theme together with the main Avengers theme, you will receive goosebumps for sure. Hell, I can honestly say that it already made my top 5 list of the year, no matter what will follow. Add to that the lovely dramatic music in "One Way Trip" and you've got a much better second half.
Which brings me to my to final conclusion. The Avengers isn't weaker than Captain America, but it's presented much weaker on album instead. It's a drag to get through the first 10 tracks (minus 2 or 3 cues), and the producers should have left several unworthy tracks at home. Besides Alan Silvestri's eerie music is not interesting to begin with, giving the first half a rather forgettable presentation. The action music itself (which dominates the second half of the album) isn't perfect neither, and doesn't come close to the action style of Alan Silvestri in the 90's and early millennium, but it does have one amazing advantage. And that is a theme, a hook that's used sparingly but most effectively. It literally elevates 2 stunning moments in the film to unseen heights, and commands the composers of today quite clearly to reinstate the use of themes and leitmotifs in musical scores from now on.
Honestly, The Avengers is a serious hit and miss affair. At one end, it continues the action sound of Captain America (which already wasn't beloved by all) and at the other end it delivers a honest to god boring first part. Knowing however that I think the world of it in the film, and that it has several top notch action tracks and theme statements in the second half, The Avengers can most definitely please me too. It's just a shame that Intrada Records (for once) missed the ball completely considering the album presentation, because The Avengers isn't good as a whole. It's however seriously epic during some moments. So make your own album presentation of about 50 to 55 minutes, and I'm pretty sure you'll appreciate it all the more. Now, the only question is: Gentlemen, what are you prepared to do?
Track Listing
1. Arrival (2.59)
2. Doors Open from Both Sides (3.29)
3. Tunnel Chase (4.47)
4. Interrogation (2.38)
5. Stark Goes Green (4.46)
6. Helicarrier (2.09) Excellent track
7. Subjugation (3.09)
8. Don't Take My Stuff (5.06)
9. Red Ledger (5.10)
10. Assault (4.25)
11. They Called It (2.41)
12. Performance Issues (4.56)
13. Seeing, Not Believing (4.25)
14. Assemble (5.21) Excellent track
15. I Got a Ride (4.00) Excellent track
16. A Little Help (3.49)
17. One Way Trip (5.50)
18. A Promise (3.34)
19. The Avengers (2.03) Excellent track
Total Length: 75.17
One of the most demanding tasks was finding the right sound for The Avengers. But considering Whedon only directed a single feature film before The Avengers (Serenity scored by David Newman), The Avengers initiative wasn't going to accept just anybody. And I doubt David Newman was the proper composer for those Paramount producers (though they should know better because they released The Phantom, which just so happens to be David Newman's rousing comic book candidate). So okay, someone else then needed to take their hands into battle. And then Alan Silvestri was a more logical (safe) choice. Scratch that, he was the perfect choice, considering not a year ago he supported Captain America through his first adventures.
But wait? Wasn't Captain America: The First Avenger a rather average affair of Alan Silvestri? Only salvageable because of that rousing main theme statement at the end? Yes for some it was, for others it was enough. And for most it became perfectly clear how The Avengers would sound like. Meaning more like Captain America and less like the good old Alan Silvestri. Then again, I would pick today's Alan Silvestri over most composers, because at least Alan Silvestri still has it in him to give us thematic music, even if I admit The Avengers isn't always delivering that.
In fact, The Avengers is seriously flawed. Definitely as an album presentation. 75 minutes is way too generous, and 75 minutes is way too much. The Avengers is not capable of keeping one's interest for that long, especially if you have to go through more music of the first half of the movie than of the second half. No, I don't mind soft music every once and a while, but The Avengers isn't particularly satisfying in the talk sequences of the film. Alan Silvestri uses these moments to deliver eerie pieces, underscoring the schemes of the villain and the uncertainty of the heroes. These moments aren't satisfying after a while, and above all they are too numerous on the album presentation.
From the very first minutes it's present, opening "Arrival" before delivering a pre avengers main theme statement for the arrival of Nick Fury. And it's heard a lot more after that. Quite boringly it supports the arrival of Loki in "Doors Open from Both Sides", quite mysteriously it extracts the first theme statement of Black Widow in "Interrogation", quite softly it paints some emotion for Pepper and Tony in "Stark Goes Green", quite appropriately it returns with Black Widow's theme in "Red Ledger" the moment we see Black Widow interrogating Loki, and quite inappropriately we see it dividing the action music in "Don't Take my Stuff".
In fact, this is the biggest problem of the first part. Talk and action are divided, interrupting one another frequently, delivering the smart feeling that you're actually watching a clever blockbuster that doesn't put its characters in the background instead of the action. But that puts Alan Silvestri's intentions into jeopardy, as it constantly stops and starts the action. "Don't Take my Stuff" suffers from this the most, "Performance Issues" as well. In the second part this is not a problem at all any more, considering every thing's been said, now it just needs to be done.
So expect the second part to deliver a whole different ballgame. "Assault" still interrupts the action in the middle, but it does have that amazing fanfare of the main theme to get our attention back. And after the sad "They Called It", expect nothing but action after that. Silvestri's action music follows the rhythmic brassy action style of Captain America, even stating the Captain America music quite clear in the motion picture when the Captain is making his heroic counter attack on the ship (sadly this moment is not featured on the disc). But the noisy action manoeuvres are ballsy enough, and "Seeing, Not Believing", "Assemble", "I Got a Ride", "A Little Help" and "One Way Trip" deliver us the rousing material we remember from the movie.
Now the thing that distinguishes itself from most of today's action music are the themes that Alan Silvestri specifically composed for this movie. As said the main Avengers theme (a wonderful heroic variation of the adventure theme of The Mummy Returns) was heard briefly in the first track, but it was heard even more prominently for the first time over the main logo after the action theatrics of "Tunnel Chase". It is also underscoring the "Helicarrier" sequence in parts (delivering more a Captain America sound instead) and it states its first action version in "Assault" over a very noticeable beat. It even returns with light choir in the beginning of "Performance Issues". But it never gets any better the moment Silvestri surrounds it instead with thunderous action music.
Yes, you remember the moments in the film. "Assemble" unleashes it first, the moment the Hulk stops the Alien carrier with a rather counter attacking block, and it literately fuels the excitement in "I Got a Ride" once it supports each hero's heroic battle during a 1 minute action spectacle. So say what you will about Alan Silvestri's less than stellar action music in The Avengers, but these theme statements do elevate the 2 specific cues to an unparalleled height, showing that themes do matter. They still make a difference when used properly, and Hollywood should take notice the way they influence an action scene of mammoth proportions with a rarely felt thrill.
Of course the main theme gets its salutation in "The Avengers", a 2 minute crowd pleaser that is as Captain America's march a showcase of how it's supposed to be done. But The Avengers theme isn't the only theme you ought to remember, because Black Widow's theme is of importance too. Heard quite eerily in "Interrogation" and "Red Ledger", it returns with a vengeance in "I Got a Ride" the moment Black Widow crawls upon an alien ship to do some damage. And when hearing that Black Widow theme together with the main Avengers theme, you will receive goosebumps for sure. Hell, I can honestly say that it already made my top 5 list of the year, no matter what will follow. Add to that the lovely dramatic music in "One Way Trip" and you've got a much better second half.
Which brings me to my to final conclusion. The Avengers isn't weaker than Captain America, but it's presented much weaker on album instead. It's a drag to get through the first 10 tracks (minus 2 or 3 cues), and the producers should have left several unworthy tracks at home. Besides Alan Silvestri's eerie music is not interesting to begin with, giving the first half a rather forgettable presentation. The action music itself (which dominates the second half of the album) isn't perfect neither, and doesn't come close to the action style of Alan Silvestri in the 90's and early millennium, but it does have one amazing advantage. And that is a theme, a hook that's used sparingly but most effectively. It literally elevates 2 stunning moments in the film to unseen heights, and commands the composers of today quite clearly to reinstate the use of themes and leitmotifs in musical scores from now on.
Honestly, The Avengers is a serious hit and miss affair. At one end, it continues the action sound of Captain America (which already wasn't beloved by all) and at the other end it delivers a honest to god boring first part. Knowing however that I think the world of it in the film, and that it has several top notch action tracks and theme statements in the second half, The Avengers can most definitely please me too. It's just a shame that Intrada Records (for once) missed the ball completely considering the album presentation, because The Avengers isn't good as a whole. It's however seriously epic during some moments. So make your own album presentation of about 50 to 55 minutes, and I'm pretty sure you'll appreciate it all the more. Now, the only question is: Gentlemen, what are you prepared to do?
Track Listing
1. Arrival (2.59)
2. Doors Open from Both Sides (3.29)
3. Tunnel Chase (4.47)
4. Interrogation (2.38)
5. Stark Goes Green (4.46)
6. Helicarrier (2.09) Excellent track
7. Subjugation (3.09)
8. Don't Take My Stuff (5.06)
9. Red Ledger (5.10)
10. Assault (4.25)
11. They Called It (2.41)
12. Performance Issues (4.56)
13. Seeing, Not Believing (4.25)
14. Assemble (5.21) Excellent track
15. I Got a Ride (4.00) Excellent track
16. A Little Help (3.49)
17. One Way Trip (5.50)
18. A Promise (3.34)
19. The Avengers (2.03) Excellent track
Total Length: 75.17