Tomb Raider 2: The Cradle of Life

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

We all know the story, but let's tell it one more time. Alan Silvestri, one of Hollywood's most respected composers was thrown out by the producers of Pirates of the Caribbean because his score probably lacked oomph and synthetic tones. His score was rejected and replaced by Badelt's totally unoriginal yet fun Media Ventures score and the movie faired extremely well. However, recording to my knowledge, the producers were idiots anyway and the chance to hear Silvestri swashbuckle us with adventures was sadly history! Yet it wasn't, as soon Silvestri was fired, there went either Mancina or Armstrong, all dealing with Jan De Bont's favor for working with Alan Silvestri. And alas, we got Silvestri on an adventurous ride that would deliver us the score that fans love. But again, things aren't as planned as this reviewer might write it. You have to realize, Silvestri without doubt put a lot of energy in the score of POTC and in all fairness, writing a totally new score in weeks isn't fair when you immediately compare it with The Mummy Returns, Silvestri's biggest and baddest adventure score. A composer needs minimum months to get back on power, on the original tone and with new fresh ideas. While Tomb Raider 2 captures great moments, the score lacks a general tone of excitement and the underscore isn't helping either. Even The Mummy Returns had boring underscore but all that was forgotten when the magic thrill themes started to poke around. Tomb Raider 2 has those moments but slim and found in too much underscore.

A main theme, something Revell seemed to find unnecessary for the first (easily quick scored) picture is found immediately and its a good theme, not a spectacular one but a good theme that can work as an exciting action theme altogether. 'Opening' states it early and good with electric guitar and orchestra. The track that follows is already a mixed bag, 'The Luna Temple' presents the electronic drum rhythm that will appear in the entire soundtrack with dark underscore, a typical mystery fanfare ala Silvestri after 2 minutes and a spectacular use of choir after 6.00. And that is what will set the tone, the score has great moments but they are all scattered around, and just like the tracks, the moments make it worth it, not the tracks. 'Shark Attack' with its electronic rhythm and the main theme with choir, 'Captured by the Shay Ling' which is basically Chinese instruments clashing until the orchestra takes over, ending with the action theme of tracks 2 and 3. The Chinese underscore in 5 and 6 aren't terribly exciting even though in 5, the track 'Swimming' comes to mind of Waterworld since its basically somewhat the same bouncy ethnicity. If it comes to using the main theme as action material, then 'Flower Pagoda Battle' is the one and only example of where it is used great. In fact, the first two minutes are the pride of the score because the theme appears under constant rhythm that it flows majestically over the action scenes and the CD. Unfortunately, that track doesn't keep repeating this excellence but those 2 minutes are still the best this score has to offer.

The track 'Skydive Getaway' is an electronic wash of the drum rhythm and the Chinese flutes and is like tracks 10 and 12 not terribly exciting. 10 is dark until short (Abyys) choir lights the mood while the so called climax of the movie and score in 'The Cradle of Life' is nothing more then 30 seconds of powerful choir at the end, again mixed in rather boring material before it. 'Journey to the Cradle of Life' has the main theme appearing more then twice and is more enjoyable, as for 'Pandora's Box' which uses strings and choir colliding to make more thematic pleasure then the orchestra or choir did 60% of the time. And finally, the main theme ends the score as it begun. What to expect of Tomb Raider 2, when you know the first had the same rocky start (on score level) and that Silvestri himself had to compose a completely new score from scratch in a minimum amount of time. Well, the effort is enjoyable if too long but you will always return to The Mummy Returns, and then you know why it failed more then first imagined. Tomb Raider 2 is an enjoyable score but captures too many dead moments who could have been erased if the score was shortened to 50 minutes max and the wonderful moments in the tracks make the effort more then Revell's pieces. But again, from Silvestri we expected more, even in the circumstances at hand. Still, I don't blame Silvestri since the producers of POTC are as intelligently sharp as the spider who is squashed dead outside my window, since they don't know Silvestri would have delivered an amazing roller coaster ride, thus leading way for Mancina to deliver Jan De Bont another enjoyable score. And then I'm not even talking about the beautiful pictures of Angelina Jolie helping us through the boring underscore.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Opening (1.39)

2. The Luna Temple (7.43)

3. Shark Attack (3.18)

4. "I Need Terry Sheridan" (5.40)

5. Arrival In China (1.46)

6. Captured By The Shay Ling (5.59)

7. Escape From Chen (4.19)

8. Flower Pagoda Battle (5.41) Excellent Track

9. Skydive Getaway (2.11)

10. Orb Transmission (1.42)

11. Journey To The Cradle Of Life (6.22)

12. The Cradle Of Life (6.33)

13. Pandora's Box (5.24) Excellent Track

14. "Not Meant To Be Found" (0.44)

15. Lara Croft - Tomb Raider (0.51)

Total Length: 60.02

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

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