The Karate Kid III
Bill Conti
" Awkward 3rd part holds the biggest track yet "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the limited release
Bill Conti's third score for The Karate Kid is a curious one. He shows the orchestral progression and the fact that each new movie holds a new theme. And yet, The Karate Kid III feels like a score that can't end with a bang. This is strange considering all the ingredients are there. Sadly it had to box up against the brilliant second one of the series. What Bill Conti always does right is going to what came before it, while adding new layers of themes to it. This one is no different.
With "Main Title" a more suspenseful feel is reached, using the interaction theme. Noticeable is more orchestra and less synths are used, creating thereby a shining main karate kid theme in the middle. Also noticeable is the new theme or approach to determine the Terry character, namely a scherzo of strings and style. In "Terry Silver" it is mostly classical and fun, in "Terry's Next Move" it moves slower like it is based on suspense. Finally in "Terry Sneaks In" the pleasant scherzo ends the average build up.
Returning however is the ethnic material and the main karate kid theme of the second movie (that cool exploding one) briefly spotted in "The Last Tree", while the main karate theme is beautifully presented in its finest form during "The Hidden Tree". It is this album's moment where a real emotional key note is reached.
The action music is somewhat differently than what came before it because "Mike States his Case" uses the action tunes of the previous scores (but more orchestral which is nice to discover). Of course it is understandable that the middle part (The Karate Kid II) held more ethnic material and that was also its biggest strength. But it is nice to see the Karate Kid music grow in volume. With "Getting the Tree" a selection of styles are noticeable, from upbeat scherzo's to soft music. And new for the genre is the racing violins and pounding percussion that shouts danger in "Jessica's Slip".
Perhaps most notable of all is that the music doesn't linger behind like it should do. For instance "Daniel Sings Up". Here Mr. Miyagi's theme is used but quite frankly, that's it. Or cues 12-14 that basically fly-by unnoticed. Luckily such a great theme as the love theme doesn't go by unnoticed and how briefly it remains, "Jessica's Kiss" is a real lovely piece of work.
The rhythm picks up a pace in "Miyagi Kicks Butt" but again nothing spectacular happens. This is sad considering I hoped that the action music would progress, and at least in the various action moments of the film. The always stunning main theme on surging strings is ever beautiful in "Kata Training" but then again, we already heard it. Only the variation at the end is new to discover.
But like in any Karate Kid score you have an ending that outdoes the rest, and no difference here when we reach "The Final Blow". It remains amazing how Conti can hold his most explosive music for last. And so he has because this actually is the most powerful track of the entire genre. The love theme is actually used first to warm up the proceedings and when the rhythm picks up more speed, the brass truly blasts the power away.
Sadly this track comes a bit too late. The middle wasn't really intriguing and the scherzo / new theme is nice but nothing special as well. The Karate Kid III is thereby a bit the weaker one of the bunch. It sure holds the genre's most powerful track and a wonderful flute / string theme is always nice. But we heard that already before. Talking about new material it limps behind. Luckily it feels right at home in the successful genre. Because part 3 of four is where the score lingers behind, but where the finale hits you silly with sheer delight.
Tracklisting
1. Main Title (5.36)
2. Terry Silver (1.14)
3. The Last Tree (1.55)
4. Terry's Next Move (2.55)
5. The Hidden Tree (3.25) Excellent track
6. Terry Sneaks In (2.12)
7. Mike States his Case (1.07)
8. Getting the Tree (4.32)
9. Jessica's Slip (1.06)
10. Daniel Sings Up (3.08)
11. Miyagi's Prayer (1.00)
12. Daniel Submits (1.21)
13. Miyagi's Shut Out (0.34)
14. Terry Owns Daniel (0.38)
15. Jessica's Kiss (0.48)
16. Daniel's Resolution (1.42)
17. Miyagi Kicks Butt (1.56)
18. Kata Training (1.55) Excellent track
19. Bonsai Prayer (0.35)
20. The Final Blow (4.03) Excellent track
Total Length: 41.42
With "Main Title" a more suspenseful feel is reached, using the interaction theme. Noticeable is more orchestra and less synths are used, creating thereby a shining main karate kid theme in the middle. Also noticeable is the new theme or approach to determine the Terry character, namely a scherzo of strings and style. In "Terry Silver" it is mostly classical and fun, in "Terry's Next Move" it moves slower like it is based on suspense. Finally in "Terry Sneaks In" the pleasant scherzo ends the average build up.
Returning however is the ethnic material and the main karate kid theme of the second movie (that cool exploding one) briefly spotted in "The Last Tree", while the main karate theme is beautifully presented in its finest form during "The Hidden Tree". It is this album's moment where a real emotional key note is reached.
The action music is somewhat differently than what came before it because "Mike States his Case" uses the action tunes of the previous scores (but more orchestral which is nice to discover). Of course it is understandable that the middle part (The Karate Kid II) held more ethnic material and that was also its biggest strength. But it is nice to see the Karate Kid music grow in volume. With "Getting the Tree" a selection of styles are noticeable, from upbeat scherzo's to soft music. And new for the genre is the racing violins and pounding percussion that shouts danger in "Jessica's Slip".
Perhaps most notable of all is that the music doesn't linger behind like it should do. For instance "Daniel Sings Up". Here Mr. Miyagi's theme is used but quite frankly, that's it. Or cues 12-14 that basically fly-by unnoticed. Luckily such a great theme as the love theme doesn't go by unnoticed and how briefly it remains, "Jessica's Kiss" is a real lovely piece of work.
The rhythm picks up a pace in "Miyagi Kicks Butt" but again nothing spectacular happens. This is sad considering I hoped that the action music would progress, and at least in the various action moments of the film. The always stunning main theme on surging strings is ever beautiful in "Kata Training" but then again, we already heard it. Only the variation at the end is new to discover.
But like in any Karate Kid score you have an ending that outdoes the rest, and no difference here when we reach "The Final Blow". It remains amazing how Conti can hold his most explosive music for last. And so he has because this actually is the most powerful track of the entire genre. The love theme is actually used first to warm up the proceedings and when the rhythm picks up more speed, the brass truly blasts the power away.
Sadly this track comes a bit too late. The middle wasn't really intriguing and the scherzo / new theme is nice but nothing special as well. The Karate Kid III is thereby a bit the weaker one of the bunch. It sure holds the genre's most powerful track and a wonderful flute / string theme is always nice. But we heard that already before. Talking about new material it limps behind. Luckily it feels right at home in the successful genre. Because part 3 of four is where the score lingers behind, but where the finale hits you silly with sheer delight.
Tracklisting
1. Main Title (5.36)
2. Terry Silver (1.14)
3. The Last Tree (1.55)
4. Terry's Next Move (2.55)
5. The Hidden Tree (3.25) Excellent track
6. Terry Sneaks In (2.12)
7. Mike States his Case (1.07)
8. Getting the Tree (4.32)
9. Jessica's Slip (1.06)
10. Daniel Sings Up (3.08)
11. Miyagi's Prayer (1.00)
12. Daniel Submits (1.21)
13. Miyagi's Shut Out (0.34)
14. Terry Owns Daniel (0.38)
15. Jessica's Kiss (0.48)
16. Daniel's Resolution (1.42)
17. Miyagi Kicks Butt (1.56)
18. Kata Training (1.55) Excellent track
19. Bonsai Prayer (0.35)
20. The Final Blow (4.03) Excellent track
Total Length: 41.42