Broken Arrow

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

We have heard it all before. Goldsmith invented the action music of which the music is now based and the boys at Media Ventures write the action music which is all the same. Yet there was always a man that invented action music with every score he composed for the genre. He did it with Black Rain, Backdraft, Drop Zone, Crimson Tide, The Peacemaker and recently Black Hawk Down. Yet there is always one score that gets lost in the middle and that is Zimmer's Broken Arrow. This is basically unacceptable since the score is the standard of any non action score heard today. I don't think many people, say all people can ape what Zimmer did with this score. It is so not action like in tone that it rocks with rhythms, melodies and pace you basically call it action music, which Zimmer invented every step of the way. Sure, call me a big Zimmer fan but this is what he does best of all. Action scores composed by him are so different from what the likes at MV keep churning out, effective and enjoyable though they are. This score is simply a mix of every Zimmer score and its not like he borrowed things from other scores to cut and paste the job into a nice whole. No, from Backdraft to Pacific Heights, this score will surprise you with melody from start to finish and an overall non bombastic score full of rhythm and energy. Broken Arrow is just typically Zimmer, meaning different but stylish and daring in every respect.

This score actually (like many scores of Zimmer) doesn't possess just one, two or three themes. And even if they are just subthemes, they keep appearing from the word go, the first track appears with ideas and they follow until the last track stops. More Zimmer made such a daring combination of cool guitar moves for Travolta's character, weird noises (actually it is listed like this in the booklet and the man responsible for that is Ryeland Allison, all in a fantasitc presented booklet full of informantion) to hence the effect of the synthesizer even more and a children's choir that once and then appears with surprising reactions. This all and simply so much more is why Broken Arrow deserves louder praise, Goldsmith became known as the man who invented action music when he did things differently then the logical approach (Planet of the Apes), Zimmer is the same but he just uses his voice, his tools and his ideas. And whether a trumpet, synthesizer or children's choir, the effect is stunning in every way imaginable. 'Brothers' states the two most important themes, the main theme on trumpet and later Travolta's theme appears, a rather cool guitar theme that makes stunning effect on screen. Also here some Pacific Heights is found in it, but its more effective then that score could ever get. The choir gives some menace for the treachery that Travolta does in the movie and it works splendidly with the action sub theme appearing in 'Secure'. So does the action music which move further in 'Stealth', with choir and a hell of a pace in the score that doesn't sound loud but fast in a very melodic way.

'Mine' throws in the main and Travolta's theme but another killer is when Zimmer throws in his big cool action themes. Backdraft, Drop Zone and Bird on a Wire had them all, Broken Arrow unleashes its wings in 'Nuke', after 3.10 this theme makes the grandest effect on CD but not in the movie since you don't hear a second of it, it is mixed over all the shooting and explosions. Sad, because this made such an impression on me the first time I heard it, this track ends with a building movement and the action / suspension rhythm is excellent. Yet, don't be sad since that excellent action theme of track 5 appears equally in 'Greed' (another 10 minute roller coaster ride) and 'Hammerhead'. 'Greed' especially doesn't stop in giving the rhythm from the first to the last second, every time you think that Zimmer would stop there, guess again! Another perfect example of what Zimmer has in store for you, yes with choir also. Broken Arrow stops with 'Broken Arrow', a lovely recapitulation of the main theme. I simply respond to this all, that Broken Arrow should receive immediate attention to the general public. So far, almost not one grand review site has stated the action brilliance of this score. It is not action music like but stylistic energy and melody all in once. It kinda reminds me of Crimson Tide (its everlasting melodic transformation from styles) with the brilliant action moments of Backdraft and The Peacemaker (without those harder to appreciate moments for some). In fact, this is typically an example of an action score that doesn't sound like action music in the first place. Doesn't make sense what I'm saying? Proof me wrong, and get Broken Arrow to fly those loftily wings I'm presenting it with, be on the rollercoaster that this score is from start to finish.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Brothers (7.05)

2. Secure (4.47) Excellent Track

3. Stealth (7.34) Excellent Track

4. Mine (5.43)

5. Nuke (10.47) Excellent Track

6. Greed (10.56) Excellent Track

7. Hammerhead (4.44)

8. Broken Arrow (7.32)

Total Length 59.15

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Hans Zimmer ===