Van Helsing
Alan Silvestri
" Vantastic this hells ride is "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
There are a couple of directors that spell out fun. Stephen Sommers is one of them. And when he gave a dark hero a confrontation with notorious creatures, you received an over exaggerated but a fun spectacle. Naturally, we thank the lucky stars that Alan Silvestri was there to back up the visuals with another exciting and large score. Ohh, we at least thought that because we assumed to get something in the vein of The Mummy Returns, THE score for the last Sommers film. Well, we assumed and we received a large action score that has once more all the ingredients, except for perhaps subtlety.
Yes, the only thing this score misses are some relieves for the action at hand, but I don't mind much because I always love my scores loud and big. And Van Helsing doesn't disappoint! Music that's big and exciting with various themes, choir all over the place and a large threatening look surrounding it, basically sometimes you just hear stuff like Judge Dredd.
So, it resembles Judge Dredd? Good, because that was a fantastic score. But some adventure themes aren't out of place either and luckily we have them on the soundtrack as well. For those that are afraid to find underscore like Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life mustn't panic. Here underscore is replaced by overscore, and this from the very first second.
The opening "Transylvania 1887" has the growling threatening opening with satanic choir, stating the Dracula theme or basically the danger theme. It's loud and the satanic choir always sounds better when Silvestri does it. "Burn it Down!" continues the suspension threat with some amazing choral fanfares while the electronic bounces out of Tomb Raider 2 make the opening at least no subtlety ride.
Another theme is spotted in "Werewolf Trap" and this is the heroic theme. And then we hear another theme, namely the travelling theme with choir and sitar in "Journey to Transylvania". No rest for the wicked with "Attacking Brides". A brief return of the danger theme is followed by pompous action music (with loud drums) and a choral fanfare to add that exploding demonic colour.
"Dracula's Nursery" at least has some eerie moments with the danger theme. So he who complained received his moment of relief. But all that is gone when we hear "Useless Crucifix". We have the heroic theme showing off, just like we heard it before in scores like The Mummy Returns. This of course gets all the attention in "Transylvanian Horses", an excellent track with the heroic theme in full orchestral power.
There's a hypnotizing dance in "All Hallow's Eve Ball" that prepares us for the true finale. And that's "Final Battle", a 6 minute crowd pleaser with big statements of the danger theme and heroic theme. "Reunited" by then closes the album using a lovely solo vocal to state the emotional goodbye to Anna (oh my god spoiler).
So there you have it, Van Helsing is big and that's not a crime at all. For years we wanted Alan Silvestri to return to the big adventure scores and leave his romantic voice behind. And now suddenly people started complaining because this score lacks subtlety and moments of respite. Well, perhaps that's true but it doesn't take away that I enjoy myself endlessly listening to Van Helsing from start to finish. After all he is still the best of the business when it comes down to this, and to think Pirates of the Caribbean could have been in this vein! Anyway, for people that have seen the movie, you don't have to think twice if you want it or not. For people who haven't seen the film and know nothing of this score know this: 5 minutes of non action music and the rest is Van-Silvestri-tastic.
Tracklisting
1. Transylvania 1887 (1.25)
2. Burn it Down! (4.46)
3. Werewolf Trap (1.53)
4. Journey to Transylvania (1.33)
5. Attacking Brides (5.02) Excellent track
6. Dracula's Nursery (5.46)
7. Useless Crucifix (2.35) Excellent track
8. Transylvanian Horses (3.55) Excellent track
9. All Hallow's Eve Ball (3.01)
10. Who Are They to Judge? (2.00)
11. Final Battle (6.28) Excellent track
12. Reunited (4.23) Excellent track
Total Length: 42.55
Yes, the only thing this score misses are some relieves for the action at hand, but I don't mind much because I always love my scores loud and big. And Van Helsing doesn't disappoint! Music that's big and exciting with various themes, choir all over the place and a large threatening look surrounding it, basically sometimes you just hear stuff like Judge Dredd.
So, it resembles Judge Dredd? Good, because that was a fantastic score. But some adventure themes aren't out of place either and luckily we have them on the soundtrack as well. For those that are afraid to find underscore like Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life mustn't panic. Here underscore is replaced by overscore, and this from the very first second.
The opening "Transylvania 1887" has the growling threatening opening with satanic choir, stating the Dracula theme or basically the danger theme. It's loud and the satanic choir always sounds better when Silvestri does it. "Burn it Down!" continues the suspension threat with some amazing choral fanfares while the electronic bounces out of Tomb Raider 2 make the opening at least no subtlety ride.
Another theme is spotted in "Werewolf Trap" and this is the heroic theme. And then we hear another theme, namely the travelling theme with choir and sitar in "Journey to Transylvania". No rest for the wicked with "Attacking Brides". A brief return of the danger theme is followed by pompous action music (with loud drums) and a choral fanfare to add that exploding demonic colour.
"Dracula's Nursery" at least has some eerie moments with the danger theme. So he who complained received his moment of relief. But all that is gone when we hear "Useless Crucifix". We have the heroic theme showing off, just like we heard it before in scores like The Mummy Returns. This of course gets all the attention in "Transylvanian Horses", an excellent track with the heroic theme in full orchestral power.
There's a hypnotizing dance in "All Hallow's Eve Ball" that prepares us for the true finale. And that's "Final Battle", a 6 minute crowd pleaser with big statements of the danger theme and heroic theme. "Reunited" by then closes the album using a lovely solo vocal to state the emotional goodbye to Anna (oh my god spoiler).
So there you have it, Van Helsing is big and that's not a crime at all. For years we wanted Alan Silvestri to return to the big adventure scores and leave his romantic voice behind. And now suddenly people started complaining because this score lacks subtlety and moments of respite. Well, perhaps that's true but it doesn't take away that I enjoy myself endlessly listening to Van Helsing from start to finish. After all he is still the best of the business when it comes down to this, and to think Pirates of the Caribbean could have been in this vein! Anyway, for people that have seen the movie, you don't have to think twice if you want it or not. For people who haven't seen the film and know nothing of this score know this: 5 minutes of non action music and the rest is Van-Silvestri-tastic.
Tracklisting
1. Transylvania 1887 (1.25)
2. Burn it Down! (4.46)
3. Werewolf Trap (1.53)
4. Journey to Transylvania (1.33)
5. Attacking Brides (5.02) Excellent track
6. Dracula's Nursery (5.46)
7. Useless Crucifix (2.35) Excellent track
8. Transylvanian Horses (3.55) Excellent track
9. All Hallow's Eve Ball (3.01)
10. Who Are They to Judge? (2.00)
11. Final Battle (6.28) Excellent track
12. Reunited (4.23) Excellent track
Total Length: 42.55