The Musketeer
David Arnold
" a score for all, but not the one of Arnold's career "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
After The World is not Enough, it seemed that David Arnold was hardly getting the attention he deserved when it concerned commercial publicity. After the non release of Shaft (only in several commercial outlets including bootlegs), the arrival of a bold heroic super score could change everything again really quickly. The people seemed more than desperate to embrace anything that came their way, and The Musketeer is worth embracing, even though it's not the score I wished it could have been. Because Arnold's score, in the entire thematic action style needed to pack the punch more than the pleasure. I mean Independence Day and Godzilla were fun listens and offered the person listening a hell of a blast.
The same goes with The Musketeer but the fun is absent from time to time, or at least not fully present. But do not panic. There is still enough to warrant a good listen, to keep you going for its 50 minutes running time.
What any movie needs is a main theme. We all know that but heroic scores and movies need that more than ever, and mainly it needs to create this impact unfelt before. And with all his skills director Peter Hyams chose one of the all time greatest in the list 'best suited to ape if you want a success movie'. Superman becomes the living prove that the theme can work on the ground. But still one thing has to be there, the cape. In the end it is Arnold's own version of John Williams' main theme that makes the impression during the first track.
Sadly, I was disappointed that Arnold couldn't develop his own themes and ideas. A man as talented as him can for goodness sake come up with some supreme themes. Anyone forgot the impact of Wing Commander? But Hyams simply wanted the movie to sell. Basically he thought a modernized Williams' theme could do the trick for his gun ho adaptation of the classic novel. So Arnold's version is excellent and I do mean that, but it didn't make the impact I hoped for. "Main Title" nonetheless remains the biggest and best possible action version that you will find of the main theme in The Musketeer.
From begin to end the attention is mostly drawn to the action music. So the romantic aspect of the story remains secondary to that ruckus. Not sad when it concerns Arnold fans, yet this isn't another Godzilla or let's dream Independence Day. This is a mix between the old and the new Arnold, creating ruckus and creating thematic enjoyable ruckus. The better action moments I encountered were in the short but stunning "Fight Inn" (which has a good alternate version of the main theme). And while "The Riot Begins" is a nice one, nothing can compare to the absolutely riveting "Coach Chase". This is a showcase of endless energy, riveting capacity and mindboggling intensity. Or something we missed too much from him these days.
The lighter moments of the soundtrack, mostly reflecting the growing love between D'Artagnan and Francesca are good but nothing special. It is always the same thing with these love themes, I need a spark and I missed that with this charming but unsatisfying theme.
Near the end Arnold sends his main theme through a stirring string moment in "All For One ..." while "The Charge" brings again the better of the Brit. "Scalling the Ladder" is sadly a bit too much for me I'm afraid (bringing his more recent James Bond music to the mix). It even felt like Arnold was losing his interest towards the ending of the movie. That is also why I find the first part of the score (the first 8 to 9 tracks) the best. This shows why "Ladder Fight" begins exciting enough before losing focus near the end. And "Ceremony" is lovely enough (despite the obvious final Superman notes).
Altogether this all feels like the Arnold of the recent James Bond movies, with the exception that it breaks the mold from time to time with an astounding boost of potential. You can more or less see The Musketeer as the definitive step from the ID4 to the James Bond Arnold of today. Meaning it became a score for all, but not the one of Arnold's career.
Tracklisting
1. Main Title (2.14)
2. I Will Find Him (4.45)
3. Fight Inn (1.50) Excellent track
4. D'Artagnan and Francesca (2.17)
5. Jailhouse Ruck (3.03)
6. Mansion Impossible (2.34)
7. The Riot Begins (4.39)
8. Coach Chase (4.58) Excellent track
9. Down by the River (2.28)
10. Prepare Duschamp for Hell (1.18)
11. Ride to Paris (1.50)
12. Febre (1.36)
13. All For One ... (3.41)
14. The Charge (2.36)
15. Scaling the Tower (2.32)
16. Ladder Fight (2.55)
17. Ceremony (4.11)
Total Length: 49.39
The same goes with The Musketeer but the fun is absent from time to time, or at least not fully present. But do not panic. There is still enough to warrant a good listen, to keep you going for its 50 minutes running time.
What any movie needs is a main theme. We all know that but heroic scores and movies need that more than ever, and mainly it needs to create this impact unfelt before. And with all his skills director Peter Hyams chose one of the all time greatest in the list 'best suited to ape if you want a success movie'. Superman becomes the living prove that the theme can work on the ground. But still one thing has to be there, the cape. In the end it is Arnold's own version of John Williams' main theme that makes the impression during the first track.
Sadly, I was disappointed that Arnold couldn't develop his own themes and ideas. A man as talented as him can for goodness sake come up with some supreme themes. Anyone forgot the impact of Wing Commander? But Hyams simply wanted the movie to sell. Basically he thought a modernized Williams' theme could do the trick for his gun ho adaptation of the classic novel. So Arnold's version is excellent and I do mean that, but it didn't make the impact I hoped for. "Main Title" nonetheless remains the biggest and best possible action version that you will find of the main theme in The Musketeer.
From begin to end the attention is mostly drawn to the action music. So the romantic aspect of the story remains secondary to that ruckus. Not sad when it concerns Arnold fans, yet this isn't another Godzilla or let's dream Independence Day. This is a mix between the old and the new Arnold, creating ruckus and creating thematic enjoyable ruckus. The better action moments I encountered were in the short but stunning "Fight Inn" (which has a good alternate version of the main theme). And while "The Riot Begins" is a nice one, nothing can compare to the absolutely riveting "Coach Chase". This is a showcase of endless energy, riveting capacity and mindboggling intensity. Or something we missed too much from him these days.
The lighter moments of the soundtrack, mostly reflecting the growing love between D'Artagnan and Francesca are good but nothing special. It is always the same thing with these love themes, I need a spark and I missed that with this charming but unsatisfying theme.
Near the end Arnold sends his main theme through a stirring string moment in "All For One ..." while "The Charge" brings again the better of the Brit. "Scalling the Ladder" is sadly a bit too much for me I'm afraid (bringing his more recent James Bond music to the mix). It even felt like Arnold was losing his interest towards the ending of the movie. That is also why I find the first part of the score (the first 8 to 9 tracks) the best. This shows why "Ladder Fight" begins exciting enough before losing focus near the end. And "Ceremony" is lovely enough (despite the obvious final Superman notes).
Altogether this all feels like the Arnold of the recent James Bond movies, with the exception that it breaks the mold from time to time with an astounding boost of potential. You can more or less see The Musketeer as the definitive step from the ID4 to the James Bond Arnold of today. Meaning it became a score for all, but not the one of Arnold's career.
Tracklisting
1. Main Title (2.14)
2. I Will Find Him (4.45)
3. Fight Inn (1.50) Excellent track
4. D'Artagnan and Francesca (2.17)
5. Jailhouse Ruck (3.03)
6. Mansion Impossible (2.34)
7. The Riot Begins (4.39)
8. Coach Chase (4.58) Excellent track
9. Down by the River (2.28)
10. Prepare Duschamp for Hell (1.18)
11. Ride to Paris (1.50)
12. Febre (1.36)
13. All For One ... (3.41)
14. The Charge (2.36)
15. Scaling the Tower (2.32)
16. Ladder Fight (2.55)
17. Ceremony (4.11)
Total Length: 49.39