Toys

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

When Toys was made in '92, there seemed to be something about it that people would love. Unfortunately for Barry Levinson as his superb production design, it didn't seem to be enough and the movie flopped immensely. And this resulted in a low rating, low income and ultimately a non released soundtrack. And to tell you what I liked the most of the movie, the score of all circumstances. I know it isn't much but this score deserves to be heard and to be released. Hans Zimmer really made his best with the result and the score received a theme, a body and a fantastical feel, making it a perfect fit and by resulting, it made the film better to enjoy. Hans Zimmer until today didn't receive any attention and if Toys is a way to represent his work, then the hell with it. Toys as an album is as enjoyable and discriminating as they come. The fortunate aspect is that it very well brings the environment of the world as seen during the movie, but also this can work discouraging because not one second goes by without me saying that I wanted so much to have a soundtrack of Hans Zimmer alone.

So, those that kinda felt a thing when watching the movie will no doubt enjoy Toys as they come, because everything is here as seen in the film (without of course the actual score). Its all here, the main theme which is true if you see it in the context of the songs in 'The Closing of the Year' (written by Horn and Zimmer), but also the many songs of Enya, or the Toy community like in 4 and 6 that are both enjoyable as irritatingly stupid. When it comes down to the actual score, you find 3 sole portions of Zimmer's music. First a lullaby in 'Alsatia's Lullaby' which is accompanied with soprano vocals of Julia Migenes, next a great military march for the appropriately named 'The General' which unfortunately has dialogue during the middle of Zimmer's score, same for 'Battle Introduction' but luckily this dialogue is heard only in the beginning and doesn't interrupt the flow of Zimmer's score. This piece is especially brilliant because here Zimmer brings out the best of the Scottish sound with a touching and heroic bagpipe fanfare. But do not forget, many of the pieces such as 2, 7, 12 and 13 were also co written by Zimmer and deep down you know that they also sound very good. Especially the music during 'Let Joy and Innocence Prevail' is brilliant but the instrumental version is not as enticing as the one heard behind Grace Jones' extremely boring voice in the last version, especially this version is again Scottish influenced and offers you more of the brilliant bagpipe music.

Also, people will ask; "where is the main theme of Zimmer then?" Luck with unluck, it is present here, molded down in the version of Frankie goes to Hollywood, namely 'Welcome to the Pleasuredome'. When you want to know precisely, between 3.42 and 4.00. This is a great main theme and I always loved the several versions during the movie, but no way is this found in the true original form. This is of course in a way a disgrace and keeps me on the lookout. Toys as an album is true to the movie's heart, which in a way makes it enjoyable for the time being. But on the other hand is it the utter irritating presentation of Zimmer's music that leaves me frustrated to hell. First of all, 3 tracks solely alone, two (one of which during the music) contain dialogue and the sole main theme is nowhere to be be found, expect in a Disco version. I understand that there is a song album but you don't think that regular buyers will purchase this album. I know deep down that Toys as a score album, covering the right amount of material will sell just as good as any other soundtrack and I know that it would receive minimum a three stars rating. I hope just as all the other scores that Toys will see daylight as a release, because this is an utter and discriminating way to represent one of today's leading composers.

Score: **1/2
Songs: **1/2

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Winter Reveries (2.03)

2. The Closing Of The Year: The Musical Cast of Toys (3.27)

3. Ebudae: Enya (1.48)

4. The Happy Worker: Tori Amos (4.19)

5. Alsatia's Lullaby * (4.16)

6. Workers: The Musical Cast of Toys (1.10)

7. Let Joy And Innocence Prevail: Pat Metheny (4.59)

8. The General *+ (2.21)

9. The Mirror Song: Thomas Dolby (4.35)

10. Battle Introduction *+ (2.45) Excellent Track

11. Welcome To The Pleasuredome: Frankie Goes To Hollywood (4.59)

12. Let Joy And Innocence Prevail: Grace Jones (5.01)

13. The Closing Of The Year / Happy Workers (Reprise) (5.28)

* Score composed by Hans Zimmer

+ Containing fragments of dialogue

Total Length: 47.23

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

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