Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon
Steve Jablonsky
" Transformers end the fight on MP3 "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the download only release
All Hail Megatron! All hail Michal Bay. Yes, Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon (aka the final movie in the utterly popular Transformers franchise) has finally arrived in the theaters. Finally Michael Bay will end his robotic war in the biggest momentum possible. And you'll better believe it, because Transformers 3 continues on the road of the second movie, by delivering a non existent character development, mixed in a sensational and totally explosive entertainment package. It's even too much to fully appreciate it, but at least you'll get entertainment of the highest value. So movie wise Transformers 3 was enjoyable but hardly memorable.
And then we have the music of Transformers, which has seen all kinds of surprising twists. The first one wasn't even released until a massive army of fans demanded it, the second one was immediately released despite delivering us the poorest selection of all, and now Transformers 3 dares to let the fans know it will be a download (for the moment) only release. If even a massive blockbuster movie can't deliver its music on a CD anymore, then we have to realize that the Internet has truly changed movie music purchases for good. Perhaps they didn't believe in Jablonsky's music, after the second one received more negative than positive critic.
Which brings me to the point that Transformers 3 had a lot to live up to. The first score is still considered by many to be one of the saving graces of a roller coaster movie, the second one turned out to deliver a much weaker presentation. So music wise Transformers 3 had to do it right. But when hearing the score in the film for the first time I knew it was going to be the case, because new themes meet old themes and new variations in a listening experience I quite like for several reasons. Sadly I noticed that Jablonsky borrowed a couple of memorable moments from other composers to make it right.
First of all, the opening tracks aren't always top notch. Sure "Dark Side of the Moon" gives us one of the new themes and a The Thin Red Line influence (much easier to notice in the latter tracks), but it turns pretty atmospheric after that. "Lost Signal" continues by stating The Thin Red Line theme even more noticeable while "In Time You'll See" dares to paint it slightly darker and less interesting. A track that works perfectly in the scene but fails completely on MP3 is "Impress Me", which is a comedic piece for Shia's job hunting performance that doesn't fit the score at all.
Luckily we have "Sentinel Prime" in between all that. And what you get is a typical anthem that rises in a concert like manner to its noblest version possible. Nothing new, but once again a catchy theme for a Prime. And luckily after about 7 tracks, we're thrown in a highway battle that simply blows you away. Possibly the best scene of the entire film (for me at least), the high way slow motion battle is a pure visual marvel from Michael Bay, and luckily it gets marvelous Transformers music to match that. Because hearing epic music with an evil choir and a new battle theme (briefly heard in the first track) over this slow motion festivity is nothing short of spectacular. Combination wise, Transformers has never matched so wonderfully together.
A restrained and defeated Autobots theme finally shows up in "There is no Plan", followed by another Thin Red Line statement and even an Optimus theme moment, showing that Jablonsky still returns to the themes that made his trilogy so entertaining. More emotional music comes forward in "The Fight Will be your Own" while pounding Inception like suspense takes the fight over to "Shockwave's Revenge". And of course then The Thin Red Line theme can't be far behind in "No Prisoners, Only Trophies".
Considering the final hour delivers us one Michael Bay orgasm-extravaganza that never ends, expect the music to do the same. First in "The World Needs you Now" we receive a true old school Zimmer moment when Jablonsky puts his Autobots theme through a couple of heroic moments. And "It's our Fight" dares to throw in another borrowed theme (namely Zack Hemsy´s trailermusic Heist for the trailer of Inception). But at least you can say this track dares to compensate the Bay explosions with a true harty Transformers experience (especially once Sentinel Prime's theme is thrown into the mix for ultimate pleasure). With a return of the theme of track 7 and Sentinel's theme in "I'm Just the Messenger" and another heroic anthem in "Our Final Hope", the score ends at least more enjoyable as it began.
Taking everything into consideration, Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon is a pretty enjoyable TRANSFORMERS score. Putting everything into perspective, Transformers 3 continues the trend of infusing blockbuster movies with Zimmer influenced power anthems that will not make them legendary (but definitely enjoyable). Therefore it is vital you have to see where Transformers comes from, and where it tries to reinvent itself. Reinventing music is hardly the issue here, but at least the themes return for a couple of noticeable performances, while several new (and obviously borrowed ones) try to put it all together. Much better than the second one but not reaching the first one, Transformers 3 doesn't change anything, but at least it's fun to listen to, for the obvious reasons I've explained above. And now it's over. I'm sorry, but it's over!
Tracklisting
1. Dark Side of the Moon (3.49)
2. Sentinel Prime (3.16)
3. Lost Signal (4.08)
4. In Time You'll See (3.16)
5. Impress Me (3.00)
6. We Were Gods Once (4.22)
7. Battle (3.40) Excellent track
8. There is no Plan (3.36)
9. We All Work for the Decepticons (1.51)
10. The Fight Will be your Own (4.41)
11. Shockwave's Revenge (2.00)
12. No Prisoners, Only Trophies (3.32)
13. The World Needs you Now (1.59) Excellent track
14. It's our Fight (6.32) Excellent track
15. I'm Just the Messenger (4.25)
16. I Promise (1.58)
17. Our Final Hope (3.42)
Total Length: 59.47
And then we have the music of Transformers, which has seen all kinds of surprising twists. The first one wasn't even released until a massive army of fans demanded it, the second one was immediately released despite delivering us the poorest selection of all, and now Transformers 3 dares to let the fans know it will be a download (for the moment) only release. If even a massive blockbuster movie can't deliver its music on a CD anymore, then we have to realize that the Internet has truly changed movie music purchases for good. Perhaps they didn't believe in Jablonsky's music, after the second one received more negative than positive critic.
Which brings me to the point that Transformers 3 had a lot to live up to. The first score is still considered by many to be one of the saving graces of a roller coaster movie, the second one turned out to deliver a much weaker presentation. So music wise Transformers 3 had to do it right. But when hearing the score in the film for the first time I knew it was going to be the case, because new themes meet old themes and new variations in a listening experience I quite like for several reasons. Sadly I noticed that Jablonsky borrowed a couple of memorable moments from other composers to make it right.
First of all, the opening tracks aren't always top notch. Sure "Dark Side of the Moon" gives us one of the new themes and a The Thin Red Line influence (much easier to notice in the latter tracks), but it turns pretty atmospheric after that. "Lost Signal" continues by stating The Thin Red Line theme even more noticeable while "In Time You'll See" dares to paint it slightly darker and less interesting. A track that works perfectly in the scene but fails completely on MP3 is "Impress Me", which is a comedic piece for Shia's job hunting performance that doesn't fit the score at all.
Luckily we have "Sentinel Prime" in between all that. And what you get is a typical anthem that rises in a concert like manner to its noblest version possible. Nothing new, but once again a catchy theme for a Prime. And luckily after about 7 tracks, we're thrown in a highway battle that simply blows you away. Possibly the best scene of the entire film (for me at least), the high way slow motion battle is a pure visual marvel from Michael Bay, and luckily it gets marvelous Transformers music to match that. Because hearing epic music with an evil choir and a new battle theme (briefly heard in the first track) over this slow motion festivity is nothing short of spectacular. Combination wise, Transformers has never matched so wonderfully together.
A restrained and defeated Autobots theme finally shows up in "There is no Plan", followed by another Thin Red Line statement and even an Optimus theme moment, showing that Jablonsky still returns to the themes that made his trilogy so entertaining. More emotional music comes forward in "The Fight Will be your Own" while pounding Inception like suspense takes the fight over to "Shockwave's Revenge". And of course then The Thin Red Line theme can't be far behind in "No Prisoners, Only Trophies".
Considering the final hour delivers us one Michael Bay orgasm-extravaganza that never ends, expect the music to do the same. First in "The World Needs you Now" we receive a true old school Zimmer moment when Jablonsky puts his Autobots theme through a couple of heroic moments. And "It's our Fight" dares to throw in another borrowed theme (namely Zack Hemsy´s trailermusic Heist for the trailer of Inception). But at least you can say this track dares to compensate the Bay explosions with a true harty Transformers experience (especially once Sentinel Prime's theme is thrown into the mix for ultimate pleasure). With a return of the theme of track 7 and Sentinel's theme in "I'm Just the Messenger" and another heroic anthem in "Our Final Hope", the score ends at least more enjoyable as it began.
Taking everything into consideration, Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon is a pretty enjoyable TRANSFORMERS score. Putting everything into perspective, Transformers 3 continues the trend of infusing blockbuster movies with Zimmer influenced power anthems that will not make them legendary (but definitely enjoyable). Therefore it is vital you have to see where Transformers comes from, and where it tries to reinvent itself. Reinventing music is hardly the issue here, but at least the themes return for a couple of noticeable performances, while several new (and obviously borrowed ones) try to put it all together. Much better than the second one but not reaching the first one, Transformers 3 doesn't change anything, but at least it's fun to listen to, for the obvious reasons I've explained above. And now it's over. I'm sorry, but it's over!
Tracklisting
1. Dark Side of the Moon (3.49)
2. Sentinel Prime (3.16)
3. Lost Signal (4.08)
4. In Time You'll See (3.16)
5. Impress Me (3.00)
6. We Were Gods Once (4.22)
7. Battle (3.40) Excellent track
8. There is no Plan (3.36)
9. We All Work for the Decepticons (1.51)
10. The Fight Will be your Own (4.41)
11. Shockwave's Revenge (2.00)
12. No Prisoners, Only Trophies (3.32)
13. The World Needs you Now (1.59) Excellent track
14. It's our Fight (6.32) Excellent track
15. I'm Just the Messenger (4.25)
16. I Promise (1.58)
17. Our Final Hope (3.42)
Total Length: 59.47