The Phantom

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

What makes The Phantom such a unique score when compared to the others is simply a question of taste. Favoring big bold brass and powerful hero scores, then things will look brightly in the case you find it somewhere, because the score has become a rarity in film music circles. The Phantom isn't the best action hero score but some moments are simply worth mentioning, and this includes even those that don't warren success linked with David Newman scores. There is a big chance that you have heard portions of The Phantom before but you simply didn't know it. The dark brooding choir is found in the teaser of The Mummy, this heard in the first track 'For Those who Came in Late', the begin of the trailer of Starship Troopers is the begin of 'The Phantom' and its proceeding is heard in the teaser of The Mask of Zorro, with amazing effect by the way. Especially that last piece will be a pleasant memory in many cases.

There are several items that make this score simply worth having, the main theme being performed in pure heroism in 'The Phantom' and in the stunning track 'The Escape'. The last track features another classic David Newman theme and ends the score quite nicely. The rest has good action hero music and several lighter cues like the good performance of the main theme in 'Must be the Humidity' but overall, its a question of taste. In my book things became a bit too hectic in certain moments and sometimes its a bit too much to handle. But still, what this score delivers is still awesome in general. For David Newman fans especially, scores like these are pure necessities to have.

Adventure scores with a heroic main character are always somewhat bigger and bolder. We have witnessed it in The Shadow or The Mummy or Batman, and in certain ways does The Shadow and The Phantom rely on their pure artistic form and style. Still, both scores offer punch from the word go and this is what makes them so enjoyable. The Phantom misses some extra highlights to grade it more eventually but it remains a essential item if hero scores really sooths you. David Newman may score crappy films, (well the movie is not that bad, just another pop corn movie on a Saturday afternoon) but if he does it with this kind of enthusiasm, he has my approval to keep doing it in the future.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. For Those Who Came In Late (1.20)

2. The Tomb (2.56)

3. The Phantom (5.38) Excellent Track

4. Anything's Possible (1.33)

5. The Rescue (4.32)

6. The Escape (5.44) Excellent Track

7. Must Be The Humidity (2.07)

8. Diana Must Leave / New York (1.00)

9. Ray Gets The Point (1.21)

10. The Museum (2.41)

11. Flying To The Island (6.08)

12. Quill Is Destroyed (2.27)

13. Escaping The Island (8.47) Excellent Track

Total Length: 46.35

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

=== Link to Composer Site: David Newman ===