Alien 3

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Alien 3 was the first movie where now celebrated composer Elliot Goldenthal worked on which received attention from a wide range of musical lovers. And at that specific point they hated the score no matter what. It is now of course a different situation when you compare this score nearly 10 years later on the facts at hand. Goldenthal is no stranger to us anymore and the style we have come to expect is set from the very first track we listen to. Its then of course easy to say that Alien 3 offered a challenge from the word go. Now, you see the score differently, you pick out different ideas and you spot other tricks which Goldenthal already then possessed. In other words Alien 3 is no longer the score when you first heard it. Of course, still no walk in the park, it offers even after 5 listens something new like a bigger set of themes. I never interpreted it as I did now but there is indeed an theme for the Alien itself and it appears with frequent attention. The first time I heard it appear in the score I always imagined it to be a very effective and interesting move but it was in fact the theme for the Alien which was playing over the speakers. Appearing in 'Bait and Chase' after 2.20, appearing after the wonderful main theme at the end of 'Lento' and appearing with the dissonant surroundings (and most stunningly effective in the scene itself) in 'The First Attack' which doesn't end with the running chase music when Ripley runs to the meeting, but in fact with a hideous dissonant noise, it is the trumpet figures which presents the theme with most stunning effect. To really see the brilliance of the score Alien 3, there is more required then just listening to it, you have to remember back to the movie and then you witness what Goldenthal was up with.

There is indeed more, we have the operatic vocal opening with the occasional darker surroundings which work effective on screen in 'Agnus Dei' before the fanfare for the planet itself shows its powerful side. This is another theme appearing frequently in the score such as in 'Wreckage and Rape' followed by the electric harsh guitar and shouting. A third theme is the one for impending doom and its a building structure which receives the right kind of detail in 'The Beast Within' and 'Visit to the Wreckage'. And the last theme is the brilliant string figure for Ripley appearing in 'Lento' and 'Adagio', the latter being one of the best tracks Goldenthal composed in his career ending with the fanfare for the planet itself. Yet there are other moments which are noticed whether through good or bad portions, the total dissonant outings in tracks 2 and 9, the wonderful string writing in 'The Entrapment' and the brilliant and gothic fanfare at the end of 'Candles in the Wind' which replaces the fierce and dissonant trumpet writing in the begin. And finally now, I have come to accept Alien 3 of Elliot Goldenthal for what it is, a total dark but ferocious listen which mixes total dissonance with the most beautiful mesmerizing and effective theme he ever wrote, mixed in a listen which brings more surprises with it then you'd think. I have no problem to say I don't listen to this score a lot and that not everything is to my liking but the brilliance far outdoes the crazy nature in scores such as Titus and for moments, it surpasses the bleak surroundings in Alien for sure. And especially after years of hearing Goldenthal developing his style in many other scores, Alien 3 is quite the knockout score with moments that do tick more now then they ever did before.

\ЕЕЕ/

Tracks

Single Disc

1. Agnus Dei (4.28)

2. Bait And Chase (4.40)

3. The Beast Within (3.07)

4. Lento (5.47)

5. Candles In The Wind (3.20)

6. Wreckage And Rape (2.41)

7. The First Attack (4.18)

8. Lullaby Elegy (3.39)

9. Death Dance (2.15)

10. Visit To The Wreckage (2.01)

11. Explosion And Aftermath (2.19)

12. The Dragon (3.05)

13. The Entrapment (3.39)

14. Adagio (4.14) Excellent Track

Total Length: 50.06

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Elliot Goldenthal ===