The Musketeer

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

The wait is over for Arnold fans. After The World is not Enough, it seemed that David Arnold was hardly getting the attention when it concerned commercial publicity. But finally it happened, after the non release of Shaft (only in several commercial outlets including bootlegs), the arrival of a bold heroic super score could change everything really quick. The people seemed more then desperate to embrace anything that came their way and The Musketeer is worth embracing, but not the score I wished it could have become. Because Arnold's score, in the entire thematic action style needed to pack the punch more then the pleasure. I mean Independence Day and Godzilla were fun listens and offered the person listening a hell of a blast. The same goes with The Musketeer but the fun is absent, or at least not fully present. But do not panic. There is still enough to warrant a good listen, to keep you going for its 50 minutes running time. What any movie needs is a main theme. We all know that but heroic scores and movies need that more then ever, and mainly it needs to create this impact unfelt before. And with all his skills director Peter Hyams chose one of the all time greatest in the list 'best suited to ape if you want a success movie'. Superman becomes the living prove that the theme even can work on the ground but still one thing has to be there, the cape. However, in the end it is Arnold's own version of John Williams' main theme that makes the impression when the CD starts to play.

Sadly, I was disappointed that Arnold couldn't develop his own themes and ideas. A man as talented as him can for goodness sake come up with some supreme themes. Anyone forgot the impact of Wing Commander? But Hyams simply wanted the movie to sell. Basically he thought a modernized Williams' theme could do the trick for his gun ho adaptation of the classic novel. So Arnold's version is excellent and I do mean that but it didn't make the impact I hoped for, probably because it is simply not totally original. However 'Main Title' remains the biggest and best possible action version that you will find of the main theme in The Musketeer. From begin to end the most attention is drawn to the action music. Meaning the romantic aspect of the story remains secondary material. Not sad when it concerns Arnold fans and I would have to agree with that part but Arnold didn't compose another Godzilla or lets dream even further Independence Day. Still, it remains the better listen when Arnold returns back to some trademarks he used in those scores. Especially noticeable in 'Jailhouse Ruck'. The better action moments I encountered were in 'Fight Inn' which has a good alternate version of the main theme but sadly a bit short, and the double duo pack 'The Riot Begins' and 'Coach Chase'. At least they bring pace to the whole listening experience, even if they don't contain the mesmerizing magic.

Especially worth noting is the fully action ride track 'Coach Chase', offering probably the best thematic thrill of the score. The lighter moments of the soundtrack, mostly reflecting the love romance between D'Artagnan and Francesca are good but not special. Its always the same thing with these love themes, I need a spark and I kinda missed that with this charming but unsatisfying theme. Near the end I felt that even Arnold was losing his interest towards the movie. The attention kinda faded away. The action tracks remain decent but there seems to be a serious lack of magic. That is also why I find the first part of the score (the first 8 to 9 tracks) the best. The second part offers more of the same. And I even thought that the final track 'Ceremony' missed a lot of flair. The main theme returns for several occasions but the momentous aspect of depth is severely lacking. I mean I'm talking about a kind of stimulating aspect like Star Wars' final track. No doubt on my mind that Hyams neglected to use Arnold's fullest capacity of talents and in the end The Musketeer is running on 60 to 70% of the British composer's capabilities. It will definitely satisfy the fans of Arnold at the end. But the true flair of classics like Independence Day and Godzilla are absent for most of the time. So The Musketeer became a score for all, but not the one of Arnold's career.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Title (2.14)

2. I Will Find Him (4.45)

3. Fight Inn (1.50)

4. D'Artagnan And Francesca (2.17)

5. Jailhouse Ruck (3.03)

6. Mansion Impossible (2.34)

7. The Riot Begins (4.39)

8. Coach Chase (4.58) Excellent Track

9. Down By The River (2.28)

10. Prepare Duschamp For Hell (1.18)

11. Ride To Paris (1.50)

12. Febre (1.36)

13. All For One ... (3.41)

14. The Charge (2.36)

15. Scaling The Tower (2.32)

16. Ladder Fight (2.55)

17. Ceremony (4.11)

Total Length: 49.41

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

=== Link to Composer Site: David Arnold ===