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Pft, the new [proper] Cylon Raiders would annihilate that piece of 70s nostalgic junk.

I was playing Star Trek last night and had somewhat of an almost complete turn around with this score. Initially, even though I still enjoyed it, I was quite disappointed. Expectations were far too high - or more accurately, expectations were far too specific.

I was expecting (or at the very least hoping) for a big 'spacey' sounding sci-fi score. Something that would conjure up the vast grandness of space; ala Goldsmith's The Motion Picture. But that's not what Abrams' popcorn-friendly film is about, and to expect that kind of score from Giacchino was probably unfair. Now that I've got over the fact that this isn't a Goldsmith, Horner or even an Eidelman score, I can finally focus on what it is: A typically well-crafted Giacchino score, and more proof of how savvy a composer he is.

There is one major drawback to this score, and it's the over-use of the main theme. It appears way too many times. On the plus side, Giacchino being the kind of composer he is plays around with it throughout the whole score and adds a different layer to it on almost every appearance on the album. The most clever use of the main theme is in the end credits where he incorporates it into Courage's theme, and vice versa. The end credits also includes the best rendition of Spock's theme in the entire score, which was a highly underused theme especially in comparison to the main theme. Another drawback is perhaps the main theme itself. It's good, very infectious even... but it does lack a certain power that it so often tries to achieve throughout the film. (On a side note, Nero's theme/motif is an appropriately low brassy and menacing piece of music, one that I enjoy quite a lot in fact.)

One thing I've always admired about Giacchino is his ability to find short little motifs that work brilliantly for what they're written for. 'Enterprising Young Men' is a particularly good example of this. The shot where the escape pods are fleeing from our first encounter with Nero's ship at the start of the film, Giacchino writes this infectious playful little tune that then turns into a rather powerful rendition of the main theme as the film's title comes on screen. Perhaps my favourite musical moment of the entire film, and the best use of the main theme.

For the final action scene, Giacchino employs the use of a large choir. The problem is, it doesn't sound like a large choir. It sounds good, but it would have sounded so much more powerful if the choir had sounded like, for instance, the choir on Goldsmith's The Final Conflict. That's how I like a choir to sound! Anyway, that's a minor quibble, the music itself is still very exciting and works very well in the film (and, of course, on album).

Conclusion? A very well structured and very exciting action/adventure score with clever uses of themes (even if one of them is overused). And I've yet to hear any nods to Goldsmith in this score, but I'm pretty sure I heard a little bit of Horner in there ('That New Cat Smell').

Kudos to Giacchino!

Well, at least you have a huge musical treasure to discover! The sooner you start, the better!

Mine point exactly, a couple of pages back in this topic! Welcome to the club!

Yes, that's exactly why I love him. And the one you mentioned in the perfect one from Star Trek!



You can now join the club with Erik.

Again, D, you can choose the lolcat.

NP: Cloverfield - Michael Giacchino

Giacchino rules!

Come again?

How small and how simple?

If it's a club where the only rule is having a good taste in music then you are indeed in that club Erik......unfortunately it does mean that some others here are ruled out

NP: Star Trek - Michael Giacchino

I'm loving Labor of Love. 2000th post!

Reasons enough to get self-banned i say

You really do clutch at straws sometimes just so you can post these pictures!

Bah! The old [proper] Cylon Raider had THREE [proper] Cylons on board.
The new Vulture Droid rip-offs...er... I mean revisioned Raiders have just one -slightly twisted and generally overwrought- mind. Whoever had the bright idea of building EMOTIONS into these things?

You're old.