Small Soldiers
Jerry Goldsmith
" Small Soldiers, Big Music "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Small Soldiers has a wonderful combination of innocent childhood-ness, gun ho macho behavior, playfulness, highly rhythmic action and beautiful drama. It's like all the elements of Joe Dante's forgotten treasure of 1998 are resurrected by Goldsmith's music. Then again, didn't he always bring out the best for Dante? Because weren't we all smiling once the Patton influences returned, just like in The 'Burbs? Weren't we all jumping of joy once you heard 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home' in the "Roll Call" cue? Is not the new track "No Prisoners" a welcome ode to King Solomon's Mines with its catchy 'Ride of the Valkyries' moment? Weren't we all counting the many themes Goldsmith had in story for us (main theme, Gorgon theme, Archer's theme, Chip's theme, the love theme, the war theme, etc ...) in the end? And weren't we all embracing the mighty Goldsmith touch once again the moment he started delivering those impressive action tracks? So full of rhythm and themes? It's times like these that you need to send material like this to all composers, producers and directors in the world. To show them this is the magic that makes movies better.
Hell, it sure did for Small Soldiers in my book. Jerry was a marvelous composer, because he could bring the most beautiful and serious music when needed, but he could also be silly and enjoyable too. For Joe Dante it was nothing but enjoyable and it made them an indestructible pair up until the time he died. Small Soldiers received now it's deluxe treatment when Varèse put some new power cells in the soundtrack, making it 20 years later a long overdue release. Sadly various 'glued together cues of the original album are now separated, making for more disjointed listening (surely they could have glued tracks 3 and 4 together? Hell, they did it on the original!). Again, a complete album is not putting every track on it, it's putting everything on it in a perfect experience. Varèse missed some small momentum with this one. Nittpicking? No, because a deluxe edition deserves a deluxe treatment. But aside from other smaller tracks, the rest is up to par. With various wonderful new additions. Like the attacking music of "Stand Down / Negative Target" and the cool "The Boxes / Off the Truck". Of course in the end it all comes down to the creative touch of Goldsmith, of how he alone could create action so exciting. And Small Soldiers is now even more exciting than ever. So mix various tracks together and I'm betting everyone can make their ultimate Small Soldiers CD, big enough for you to enjoy time and time again.
"Assembly Line" is truly wonderful, a combination between a militaristic gun ho attitude and the pleasantness of childhood.
Patton influences return, just like in The 'Burbs it delivers a smile on your face.
Goldsmith's action music is once again terrific, highly rhythmic and incredibly infectious.
Plenty of odes to other Dante / Goldsmith collaborations (like the fanfare in "Special Design" which was heard in Gremlins 2).
New tracks like "The Boxes", "Stand Down" and "No Prisoners" are essential newcomers.
"Off to Gorgon" still brings tears to my eyes, every time it ends this fantastic experience.
Various cues (3 and 4) and other shorter tracks could have easily been glued together, something the original short album did so easily.
Small Soldiers (1998 release) ****
Small Soldiers "Deluxe Edition (2018 release) ****1/2
Track Listing
1. Globotech (0.59)
2. He's Here / Chip Hazard / Just Toys (1.02)
3. The Assembly Line (2.43) Excellent track
4. Alan's Town (1.25)
5. The Boxes / Off the Truck (2.12) Excellent track
6. Gorgonite Scum / Almost Gold (1.35)
7. Roll Call (4.51) Excellent track
8. Alan and Archer (3.01) Excellent track
9. Destruction / Branded (3.00)
10. Prepare for Assault (3.48)
11. Special Design (Extended Version) (2.39)
12. Talk to Me / Not Found (3.07)
13. Team Gorgonite (1.10)
14. Phone Wires / Gorgon / Top of the Stairs (1.12)
15. Stand Down / Negative Target (1.53) Excellent track
16. The New Army / Brain Chip (1.13)
17. Bombshelley * (1.20)
18. The Wind (1.01)
19. The Gwendys / Terms of Surrender (1.50)
20. The Trojan Box / Rocket Entry (1.45)
21. Gwendys Attack (1.47)
22. This is Fun (1.26)
23. Toast / Down the River / Lost Battle (1.21)
24. I'm Scared (2.03)
25. Negotiations (1.10)
26. Fire in the Hole (3.45)
27. Trust Me (4.06) Excellent track
28. No Prisoners (4.38) Excellent track
29. Chip Dies / Cleaning Up (1.39)
30. Off to Gorgon (4.49) Excellent track
Additional Music
31. Globotech (Alternate) (0.54)
32. Almost Gold (Alternate) (1.14)
33. The New Army / Brain Chip (Alternates) (1.51)
34. Toast / Lost Battle (Alternates) (1.02)
35. Ride of the Valkyries ** (0.39)
36. Also Sprach Zarathustra *** (1.29)
* Composed by Franz Waxman
** Composed by Richard Wagner
*** Composed by Richard Strauss
Total Length: 75.39
Original 1998 Release
1. Assembly Line (3.36) Excellent track
2. Alan and Archer (3.01)
3. Roll Call (4.52) Excellent track
4. Prepare for Assault (3.49) Excellent track
5. Branded (2.18)
6. Special Design (2.36)
7. I'm Scared (2.04)
8. Trust Me (4.07) Excellent track
9. Off to Gordon (4.44) Excellent track
Total Length: 31.07
Hell, it sure did for Small Soldiers in my book. Jerry was a marvelous composer, because he could bring the most beautiful and serious music when needed, but he could also be silly and enjoyable too. For Joe Dante it was nothing but enjoyable and it made them an indestructible pair up until the time he died. Small Soldiers received now it's deluxe treatment when Varèse put some new power cells in the soundtrack, making it 20 years later a long overdue release. Sadly various 'glued together cues of the original album are now separated, making for more disjointed listening (surely they could have glued tracks 3 and 4 together? Hell, they did it on the original!). Again, a complete album is not putting every track on it, it's putting everything on it in a perfect experience. Varèse missed some small momentum with this one. Nittpicking? No, because a deluxe edition deserves a deluxe treatment. But aside from other smaller tracks, the rest is up to par. With various wonderful new additions. Like the attacking music of "Stand Down / Negative Target" and the cool "The Boxes / Off the Truck". Of course in the end it all comes down to the creative touch of Goldsmith, of how he alone could create action so exciting. And Small Soldiers is now even more exciting than ever. So mix various tracks together and I'm betting everyone can make their ultimate Small Soldiers CD, big enough for you to enjoy time and time again.
"Assembly Line" is truly wonderful, a combination between a militaristic gun ho attitude and the pleasantness of childhood.
Patton influences return, just like in The 'Burbs it delivers a smile on your face.
Goldsmith's action music is once again terrific, highly rhythmic and incredibly infectious.
Plenty of odes to other Dante / Goldsmith collaborations (like the fanfare in "Special Design" which was heard in Gremlins 2).
New tracks like "The Boxes", "Stand Down" and "No Prisoners" are essential newcomers.
"Off to Gorgon" still brings tears to my eyes, every time it ends this fantastic experience.
Various cues (3 and 4) and other shorter tracks could have easily been glued together, something the original short album did so easily.
Small Soldiers (1998 release) ****
Small Soldiers "Deluxe Edition (2018 release) ****1/2
Track Listing
1. Globotech (0.59)
2. He's Here / Chip Hazard / Just Toys (1.02)
3. The Assembly Line (2.43) Excellent track
4. Alan's Town (1.25)
5. The Boxes / Off the Truck (2.12) Excellent track
6. Gorgonite Scum / Almost Gold (1.35)
7. Roll Call (4.51) Excellent track
8. Alan and Archer (3.01) Excellent track
9. Destruction / Branded (3.00)
10. Prepare for Assault (3.48)
11. Special Design (Extended Version) (2.39)
12. Talk to Me / Not Found (3.07)
13. Team Gorgonite (1.10)
14. Phone Wires / Gorgon / Top of the Stairs (1.12)
15. Stand Down / Negative Target (1.53) Excellent track
16. The New Army / Brain Chip (1.13)
17. Bombshelley * (1.20)
18. The Wind (1.01)
19. The Gwendys / Terms of Surrender (1.50)
20. The Trojan Box / Rocket Entry (1.45)
21. Gwendys Attack (1.47)
22. This is Fun (1.26)
23. Toast / Down the River / Lost Battle (1.21)
24. I'm Scared (2.03)
25. Negotiations (1.10)
26. Fire in the Hole (3.45)
27. Trust Me (4.06) Excellent track
28. No Prisoners (4.38) Excellent track
29. Chip Dies / Cleaning Up (1.39)
30. Off to Gorgon (4.49) Excellent track
Additional Music
31. Globotech (Alternate) (0.54)
32. Almost Gold (Alternate) (1.14)
33. The New Army / Brain Chip (Alternates) (1.51)
34. Toast / Lost Battle (Alternates) (1.02)
35. Ride of the Valkyries ** (0.39)
36. Also Sprach Zarathustra *** (1.29)
* Composed by Franz Waxman
** Composed by Richard Wagner
*** Composed by Richard Strauss
Total Length: 75.39
Original 1998 Release
1. Assembly Line (3.36) Excellent track
2. Alan and Archer (3.01)
3. Roll Call (4.52) Excellent track
4. Prepare for Assault (3.49) Excellent track
5. Branded (2.18)
6. Special Design (2.36)
7. I'm Scared (2.04)
8. Trust Me (4.07) Excellent track
9. Off to Gordon (4.44) Excellent track
Total Length: 31.07