The Mummy Returns

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

It has been several years since anyone asked Alan Silvestri to score an adventurous epic, and this is more then strange because his full orchestral capabilities reach further then the comedic and romantic scores he has done the last couple of years. But when Jerry Goldsmith refused to score the sequel there was hope and finally it became another old time classic, one that exhilarates with any punch of brass and one that amazes with the sheer volume of the orchestra and choir. So, I don't have to ask you if this album is worth it. Simply mix The Mummy with Judge Dredd and you have 70 minutes of amazing and stylistic adventure music. Further more, I would have to say that Silvestri beats Goldsmith's attempt just, there is this voice in my mind that simply loves it a bit more then the first one. Also because people were dying to hear another festivity that they have embraced anything that came Silvestri's way, luckily but not awkward is the fact the album is worth embracing in the first place. 70 minutes of Silvestri music, three minutes of commercial crap, that is what makes The Mummy Returns such a wanted score. First of all, people started to complain about the song at the end. I agree, it is nothing more then 30 seconds of so so pop music and 3 minutes that isn't even worth it when you compare the genre and style. Secondly, people wanted more music or other selections. Well, I feel that this is more then enough but I do quote that the astonishing choral music, played briefly over the End Credits was something to look forward at, and only this makes the song even more arguable. The missing End Credits music is heard during the score, but not in the way that it gets the same choral performance or awe inspiring grandeur.

Now we can not be disappointed by what Decca delivers us, the music fanatics and Silvestri fans will love this score from the first minute straight on. It has all the adventure music we were expecting in the first place and some acceptable scary music, next we have the soft and romantic music and even a couple of breathtaking dramatic pieces. Simply to summarize it, those 70 minutes will keep you awake and full of adrenaline. The score's main highlights are the riveting action pieces. The main adventure theme is an absolute delight to hear every time and gets its deserved performances during 'Evy Kidnapped', 'My First Bus Ride', 'We're in Trouble', 'Pygmy Attack' and 'The Mummy Returns'. This entertaining and widely used theme is one of the many parts that makes The Mummy Returns such a treat. The other theme and this especially through its choral presentation at the end credits is lesser used but maintains to bring such a awe inspiring feeling. The dramatic highlight is heard twice, especially 'Come Back Evy' is one of Silvestri's biggest achievements during the last couple of years, and is repeated in the last track. Here we can pick up the small hints towards Judge Dredd. For the rest we have short but nonetheless entertaining cues with 'Bracelet Awakens', 'Medjai Commanders' and 'Sandcastles', all are equally entertaining and worthy of you complete attention. The first track features both choral and orchestral power, this is the biggest action piece found on the score and offers another part of Silvestri's talents that we had to miss sadly the last couple of years.

The end of the score apart from its embarrassing song is the conclusion with all the themes of the movie, making it a delight from start to finish. Hopefully the millennium will bring a bit more adventure for Alan Silvestri, because his adoring yet overused comedy and romance scores don't show his versatile talent, and they don't put him in the spotlights in the first place. This is exactly what The Mummy Returns does, the blockbuster is one of the best sensations at the box office and both movie and score deliver their sheer part of excitement. Goldsmith did a fine job on his own way and Silvestri did the same, using his known big adventure style with his knack for writing enjoyable themes. The Mummy Returns is nothing short but amazing and delivers on each level the required punch. Silvestri delivers his season epic score with the orchestral power of The Sinfonia of London and its choral wonder to send you towards the desert itself, packed with nothing more then an electrifying adventurous mood. The Mummy Returns returns the way we like it, namely BIG, BAD and BOLD.

\도도1/2/

Tracks

Single Disc

1. The Legend Of The Scorpion King (4.55)

2. Scorpion Shoes (4.24)

3. Imhotep Unearthed (4.21)

4. Just An Oasis (1.25)

5. Bracelet Awakens (1.28)

6. Evy Kidnapped (5.55) Excellent Track

7. Rick's Tattoo (1.59)

8. Imhotep Reborn (2.40)

9. My First Bus Ride (7.44) Excellent Track

10. The Mushy Part (2.42)

11. A Gift And A Curse (5.32)

12. Medjai Commanders (2.03)

13. Evy Remembers (4.03)

14. Sandcastles (3.22) Excellent Track

15. We're In Trouble (2.18)

16. Pygmy Attack (3.31)

17. Come Back Evy (3.29) Excellent Track

18. The Mummy Returns (7.42) Excellent Track

19. Forever May Not Be Long Enough: Live (3.46)

Total Length: 73.36

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=== Link to Composer Site: Alan Silvestri ===