Fantasy Themes and Suites (Compilation)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

There have been many Media Ventures mixes going around, all one way or another presenting promotional material for eventual directors and producers to pick up. The most known composers of that group, Klaus Badelt, Harry Gregson - Williams or John Powell and those starting to make it, like Geoff Zanelli and Steve Jablonsky. This is not one of those where actual new material is presented but this Fantasy Suites and Themes works as a bonus mix of those unforgettable Media Venture scores, unforgettable in the sense of good or basically loud as hell bad. And this short promo offers at least several of the known composers a mix of their work. All one way or another short, Justin Caine Burnett starts with his so far solely released score, namely Dungeons and Dragons. Now, this was a fun non sounding Media Ventures work if a bit too long to listen to it again and this short 5 minute mix presents the main theme and especially the cool string work of the track 'The Maze', all mixed professionally through each other. And that is one of the blessings of this promo, the mixing is perfectly chosen to sign off and start another track. The best example is POTC but Shrek doesn't fall behind. Simply presenting 'Escape from the Dragon', 'Dragon! / Fiona Awakens' and 'Ride the Dragon' is enough to make you remember those 2 themes of the film. Now, that they present some of the best moments of this score is perhaps not fair, but this sample goes about presenting those fantasy themes and some good material all the same. Harry Gregson - Williams can present that too, in his biggest solo outing for the moment, speaking of heroic standards naturally.

The 4 minutes of Sinbad: Legend of the 7 Seas is fun all the same, presenting again various tracks ala 'Heroics' and 'Tartarus' to include the 2 grandest influences of it, presenting a wild ride of the main theme, as some choral work as some fanfares simply. Again in a most pleasing mix. Naturally, Pirates of the Caribbean tips the volume with a 9 minute bombardment of music. Many of course will not agree on this, but simply on excitement and fun, this score is big time entertainment. Stating such loud tracks as 'Barbossa is Hungry', 'Skull and Crossbones' and 'Moonlight Serenade' to name the most, this score presents everything of adventure, exhilaration and themes on their most loud form. Its a great track and the mixing here especially professional. Perhaps the only new track is John Powell's Ivan the Clown but don't let this fool you. At first you expect an original fun new theme, then you hear crickets ala The Lion King, some dark choir and brief attacks before out of nowhere the theme of the Clowns is heard. To tell you what it is is unfair because everybody knows this, simply think of clowns performing their acts. So eventually new material is nothing of that kind. So, no new material and basic mixed versions of already released music, Fantasy Suites and Themes is a trick to give listeners nothing new. But don't forget, this is for directors and producers who perhaps simply want those Media Ventures themes. Perhaps Jerry Bruckheimer knows them all by heart, but others don't. Anyway, its a fun mix and just on that fun its rated a little higher then it should be. Because it basically is fun to hear.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Dungeons & Dragons (Justin Caine Burnett) (4.59)

2. Shrek (Harry Gregson-Williams & John Powell) (4.04) Excellent Track

3. Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Days (Harry Gregson-Williams) (4.27)

4. Pirates Of The Caribbean (K. Badelt & N G.-Smith) (9.12) Excellent Track

5. Ivan The Clown Theme (John Powell) (1.49)

Total Length: 24.44

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=== Link to Composer Sites: Justin Caine Burnett, Harry Gregson-Williams, John Powell, Klaus Badelt & Nick Glennie-Smith ===