X-Men: The Last Stand
John Powell
" John Powell must definitely be an X-Man! Because this guy can mutate from exhilarating to epic "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
X-Men and X-Men 2 were the 2 brainchild's of director Brian Singer, the visual creation of a director who understood what drove these mutants to do the things they do. For many, he was the one and only director who was meant to end the saga in style. Yet Brian Singer wanted to breath mutation into Superman Returns first and finish his finale after it. Sadly for many, Fox didn't want to wait.
Patience is a virtue but Fox knew that possible spin offs could deliver them more mutations (meaning more winnings) and so hired hit and miss director Brett Ratner as the man for the job (ironically he was meant to direct Superman Returns). The result is clear. X-Men 3: The Last Stand is a good film but lacks the sharp personal style of director Brian Singer and above all the development. For me, X-Men 3 is way too short, by that destroying possible character developments that could have aided the climax even more. But luckily it never looked better, never sounded better and never packed a bigger score than this.
Considering Michael Kamen and John Ottman both got a shot to musically portray these mutants, it was a question of who would be the composer for the final stand. And when it was clear that composer John Powell would be the final composer, people went totally nuts. Of course understandable considering Powell is a favorite of many, and secondly that he never got a more epic work until then. The inevitable result was then also highly anticipated.
The main theme, always a moment to look forward at is once again different from the previous 2. Even though different, all share a similarity with one another and so discovering its faintly version in "20 Years Ago" and its bombastic version in "Bathroom Titles" will not be difficult at all. The sad fact however is that the version is completely different from the version used in the film (and of course as luck would have it, the film version is better). What's also sadly lacking is the wonderful action music from the virtual fight room after that.
Yet why bitch over something like that, if you receive possibly the finest theme that John Powell ever wrote after that? Dark Phoenix' theme is easily put the most mature and most brilliant theme Powell has ever written, and you'll have plenty of time to fall in love with it. First faintly in "Meet Leech, Then Off to the Lake" and later growing into a lovely dark laden choral affair in "Whirlpool of Love" as Jean / Phoenix obliterates her lover Scott by one simple kiss.
There are still other themes to speak of, namely first the Angel theme. It sort of listens as a hopeful heroic theme representing an angel in human form (and mutation in general). It is heard at the end in "Angel's Cure" and in The Last Stand" (lacking is the version heard during the final battle scene).
The faint mysterious Phoenix theme tries to seduce Logan in "Jean and Logan", but after Logan turns her down, Phoenix's answer is plain and simple destruction, as heard in "Dark Phoenix Awakes" and "Rejection is Never Easy", sadly these versions also appear to be different than the ones used in the film (I wonder why). Yet all this raging hate turns to the real pride of the album, namely when Phoenix is truly pissed off. Her uncontrollable theme shines with emotion in "Dark Phoenix' Tragedy", all the while brass and drums tear the house down.
Her casualty is the Professor himself, and his goodbye soars in "The Funeral". And from then on it's all for the "Cure Wars". This track in particular unleashes variations of the main theme and Angel theme, only to discover better statements in "Fight in the Woods", including action statements of the main theme and a Dark Phoenix emotional statement.
After that the fun just continues. In "St Lupus Day" various themes are heard, including an emotional Angel theme, a rousing main theme and the funeral theme. And then there's a theme I haven't mentioned yet (even though it has been featured before in the album), namely Magneto's theme. As he tears down bridges, the theme unravels doom and vengeance in "Building Bridges" and in "Shock and no Oars" (this is the building bridges sequence with the awesome impeding choral doom).
Now, all the while Magneto sends his hordes as pawns to their demise, it is Magneto's theme that attacks the main theme in the rousing and epic "Attack on Alcatraz", and in the brief but awesome "Massacre" (giving a bit of that virtual fight room music). "The Battle for the Cure" just continues the show with an emotional Magneto theme at the end.
But it is the finale of the film and the album that truly delivers us the finale of the X-Men franchise. As Wolverine closes in on Dark Phoenix, her theme shines with awesome choral pride over the speakers as she tears down Alcatraz Island once and for all. For people who haven't experienced it yet, it is a necessity to hear this moment inside the film supported by loud speakers, as we receive real film music magic. It's Xgripping as hell!
The finale delivers us various theme statements in "The Last Stand", such as the funeral theme shining lovely, the Angel theme, a brief Magneto theme, the rousing main theme and the cool as hell Dark Phoenix theme, making it an Xstounding track to close the album with.
I'm pretty sure you can say a couple of things of John Powell's X-Men: The Last Stand and I'm sure Xhilerating is the best way to summarize it with. Because even though John Powell has written some thunderous stuff before, nothing comes close to the epic scale of X-Men 3. Powerful, epic, emotional, Xgaging, Powell delivers all his voices in this one, giving you one thunderous theme as well that will surely stand the test of time. The only remark could come from the fact that some (for me) vital moments are missing, not to mention the fact the whole main titles are different in the film. But if remarks like this can't even begin to crack such a strong impression, it means you've just listened to an Xxtraordinary album, one that will go down in the history as the first epic John Powell score.
Tracklisting
1. 20 Years Ago (1.10)
2. Bathroom Titles (1.08) Excellent track
3. The Church of Magneto, Raven Is my Slave Name (2.40)
4. Meet Leech, Then Off to the Lake (2.38)
5. Whirlpool of Love (2.02) Excellent track
6. Examining Jean (1.11)
7. Dark Phoenix (1.28)
8. Angel's Cure (2.32)
9. Jean and Logan (1.39)
10. Dark Phoenix Awakes (1.44)
11. Rejection is Never Easy (1.08)
12. Magneto Plots (2.05)
13. Entering the House (1.18)
14. Dark Phoenix's Tragedy (3.15) Excellent track
15. Farewell to X (0.30)
16. The Funeral (2.52)
17. Skating on the Pond (1.12)
18. Cure Wars (2.59)
19. Fight in the Woods (3.04) Excellent track
20. St Lupus Day (3.03)
21. Building Bridges (1.16)
22. Shock and no Oars (1.16) Excellent track
23. Attack on Alcatraz (4.37) Excellent track
24. Massacre (0.31)
25. The Battle of the Cure (4.21)
26. Phoenix Rises (4.21) Excellent track
27. The Last Stand (5.29) Excellent track
Total Length: 61.38
Patience is a virtue but Fox knew that possible spin offs could deliver them more mutations (meaning more winnings) and so hired hit and miss director Brett Ratner as the man for the job (ironically he was meant to direct Superman Returns). The result is clear. X-Men 3: The Last Stand is a good film but lacks the sharp personal style of director Brian Singer and above all the development. For me, X-Men 3 is way too short, by that destroying possible character developments that could have aided the climax even more. But luckily it never looked better, never sounded better and never packed a bigger score than this.
Considering Michael Kamen and John Ottman both got a shot to musically portray these mutants, it was a question of who would be the composer for the final stand. And when it was clear that composer John Powell would be the final composer, people went totally nuts. Of course understandable considering Powell is a favorite of many, and secondly that he never got a more epic work until then. The inevitable result was then also highly anticipated.
The main theme, always a moment to look forward at is once again different from the previous 2. Even though different, all share a similarity with one another and so discovering its faintly version in "20 Years Ago" and its bombastic version in "Bathroom Titles" will not be difficult at all. The sad fact however is that the version is completely different from the version used in the film (and of course as luck would have it, the film version is better). What's also sadly lacking is the wonderful action music from the virtual fight room after that.
Yet why bitch over something like that, if you receive possibly the finest theme that John Powell ever wrote after that? Dark Phoenix' theme is easily put the most mature and most brilliant theme Powell has ever written, and you'll have plenty of time to fall in love with it. First faintly in "Meet Leech, Then Off to the Lake" and later growing into a lovely dark laden choral affair in "Whirlpool of Love" as Jean / Phoenix obliterates her lover Scott by one simple kiss.
There are still other themes to speak of, namely first the Angel theme. It sort of listens as a hopeful heroic theme representing an angel in human form (and mutation in general). It is heard at the end in "Angel's Cure" and in The Last Stand" (lacking is the version heard during the final battle scene).
The faint mysterious Phoenix theme tries to seduce Logan in "Jean and Logan", but after Logan turns her down, Phoenix's answer is plain and simple destruction, as heard in "Dark Phoenix Awakes" and "Rejection is Never Easy", sadly these versions also appear to be different than the ones used in the film (I wonder why). Yet all this raging hate turns to the real pride of the album, namely when Phoenix is truly pissed off. Her uncontrollable theme shines with emotion in "Dark Phoenix' Tragedy", all the while brass and drums tear the house down.
Her casualty is the Professor himself, and his goodbye soars in "The Funeral". And from then on it's all for the "Cure Wars". This track in particular unleashes variations of the main theme and Angel theme, only to discover better statements in "Fight in the Woods", including action statements of the main theme and a Dark Phoenix emotional statement.
After that the fun just continues. In "St Lupus Day" various themes are heard, including an emotional Angel theme, a rousing main theme and the funeral theme. And then there's a theme I haven't mentioned yet (even though it has been featured before in the album), namely Magneto's theme. As he tears down bridges, the theme unravels doom and vengeance in "Building Bridges" and in "Shock and no Oars" (this is the building bridges sequence with the awesome impeding choral doom).
Now, all the while Magneto sends his hordes as pawns to their demise, it is Magneto's theme that attacks the main theme in the rousing and epic "Attack on Alcatraz", and in the brief but awesome "Massacre" (giving a bit of that virtual fight room music). "The Battle for the Cure" just continues the show with an emotional Magneto theme at the end.
But it is the finale of the film and the album that truly delivers us the finale of the X-Men franchise. As Wolverine closes in on Dark Phoenix, her theme shines with awesome choral pride over the speakers as she tears down Alcatraz Island once and for all. For people who haven't experienced it yet, it is a necessity to hear this moment inside the film supported by loud speakers, as we receive real film music magic. It's Xgripping as hell!
The finale delivers us various theme statements in "The Last Stand", such as the funeral theme shining lovely, the Angel theme, a brief Magneto theme, the rousing main theme and the cool as hell Dark Phoenix theme, making it an Xstounding track to close the album with.
I'm pretty sure you can say a couple of things of John Powell's X-Men: The Last Stand and I'm sure Xhilerating is the best way to summarize it with. Because even though John Powell has written some thunderous stuff before, nothing comes close to the epic scale of X-Men 3. Powerful, epic, emotional, Xgaging, Powell delivers all his voices in this one, giving you one thunderous theme as well that will surely stand the test of time. The only remark could come from the fact that some (for me) vital moments are missing, not to mention the fact the whole main titles are different in the film. But if remarks like this can't even begin to crack such a strong impression, it means you've just listened to an Xxtraordinary album, one that will go down in the history as the first epic John Powell score.
Tracklisting
1. 20 Years Ago (1.10)
2. Bathroom Titles (1.08) Excellent track
3. The Church of Magneto, Raven Is my Slave Name (2.40)
4. Meet Leech, Then Off to the Lake (2.38)
5. Whirlpool of Love (2.02) Excellent track
6. Examining Jean (1.11)
7. Dark Phoenix (1.28)
8. Angel's Cure (2.32)
9. Jean and Logan (1.39)
10. Dark Phoenix Awakes (1.44)
11. Rejection is Never Easy (1.08)
12. Magneto Plots (2.05)
13. Entering the House (1.18)
14. Dark Phoenix's Tragedy (3.15) Excellent track
15. Farewell to X (0.30)
16. The Funeral (2.52)
17. Skating on the Pond (1.12)
18. Cure Wars (2.59)
19. Fight in the Woods (3.04) Excellent track
20. St Lupus Day (3.03)
21. Building Bridges (1.16)
22. Shock and no Oars (1.16) Excellent track
23. Attack on Alcatraz (4.37) Excellent track
24. Massacre (0.31)
25. The Battle of the Cure (4.21)
26. Phoenix Rises (4.21) Excellent track
27. The Last Stand (5.29) Excellent track
Total Length: 61.38