Apollo 13

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Its not always the case that a composer strikes gold in the same year on multiple occasions but that is exactly what James Horner did in the year '95. He composed amazing fantasy scores for Casper and Balto, and wrote two supreme classics namely the Oscar nominated beauties Apollo 13 and Braveheart. Together it was a sign that Horner was producing big scores for big films. One of those, Apollo 13 stands today as one of his best and its easy to see why. Its a wonderful inspiring listen that handles the launch and rescue with the biggest emotional touch, and it underscores the tension with unseen effectiveness. Sadly, the original soundtrack lacked some of that power. It was presented with the most important tracks, and the inclusion of dialogue wasn't a burden whatsoever because it mixed the dialogue outside of the music. But simply the fact that more music could have been presented was a shot in the heart for many Horner fans. Of course a promo was the only answer and it was only time it did the music justice. For years, I've given this score the highest mark in impression but today, it stands a little less higher, because the promo is just better in every regard. What this soundtrack offers is nonetheless spectacular on its own, the main songs are approachable and often well chosen, the dialogue makes in fact a lot of effect during the listen and with the amazing explosive sound of track 12 is in fact a better part then first imagined. But perhaps it was simply the lack of something more that made the release angry with many fans. Don't take this wrong, this original release covers the best of all tracks and the promo doesn't offer 1 track as good as them, but it sure presents more of the great music that Horner wrote for Apollo 13.

This soundtrack starts with the sole lovely main theme, as lonesome on trumpet as ever in 'Main Title' but its the amazing build up in 'All Systems Go / The Launch' that makes it one of the best tracks ever composed. Horner keeps building with the launch and in between presents stunning horn solos of the main theme around a minute before the main theme explodes in full power. Its a true gift for film music and one of Horner's best creations. 'Master Alarm' has the rumbling piano crashes along with pumping adrenaline and makes the clock tick even better then before, until the solemn dark moody beauty of 'Darkside of the Moon' begins to unravel its pride. In here, Annie Lennox provides welcome but equally mesmerizing vocals and shows once more the true gift of Horner for understanding a scene. The last two tracks are sensational climax pieces, first with 'Re - Entry & Splashdown' showing of first amazing heroic fanfares (the ones heard in Clear and Present Danger but even better) before exploding after 4 minutes with heroic sings of the main theme, with choir all over it. 'End Titles' has even more, with Annie Lennox and a children's choir performing the main theme in all its glory (it was also used with stunning effect in the trailer of K-Pax) and is easily another highlight of Jimmy's career. This shows why Apollo 13 among with Braveheart deserved both an Oscar. It doesn't happen often that two scores bring so much emotion but these have done just that. Like Hook and Backdraft, these two classics deserved to get both an Oscar for best original soundtrack. Its an inspirational listen, a mesmerizing beauty and a soundtrack that proves that dialogue, songs and score can work together extremely well, if you present them all with the right amount of material.

Apollo 13 "Promo"

Who cares that James Horner is a hack when he sometimes comes up with the best film music available. And let me make it clear from the first minute, Apollo 13 is brilliant. This score was composed along with Braveheart the same year and both were nominated for an Oscar while A13 was neglected and forgotten during the annual Golden Globe awards. And if I make my choice clearly but don't get what I want then I'm pissed off. Sorry Academy but you have showed your inability again with ignoring the obvious winner and awarding one that barely can match its quality. But as many people know, if a soundtrack of any sort is nominated then mostly a promo is made, with more material to convince the board. And sometimes people can actually purchase it or in the best cases make it themselves. The DVD featured an isolated score track and we made it our business to get the project into motion. Apollo 13, the full release was born and just for the mere side of fun, we added four of the songs which didn't bother us, but mainly to get a full score onto the shelve. Now today you can go for the commercial promo and if you are wondering what the difference is with my own score and the normal promo, just the songs. But I don't care because the music of Horner is all what matters.

I may not be the biggest fan of Horner but this simply remains some of the best music ever composed by the Brit. It is especially appropriate for someone waiting for a jump start into the career of him. But of course the advantage is the extra set of music and the absence of the dialogue and if people want to, also the songs. So lets go for a ride into outer space. The score features besides the already released music a combination of tension music as the textural atmospheric tone. The atmosphere most definitely sounds Field of Dreams' alike in 'Lunar Dreams'. Besides the immense highlight '"All Systems go" / The Launch' there are still several moments of supreme intensity. 'Docking' features a light build up, 'Into the L.E.M.' is Aliens' like cold darkness before all hell breaks loose in 'Manual Burn', the scene when they have to redirect their course. Rest we have 'Carbon Dioxide' which is no different in creating the light tension style and 'For more Amps' follows that path too. In all the commotion, the extra bonus tracks aren't highlights but they create a wider sense of panic and mood, they create the feel of the movie simply as good as possible. The promo finishes nonetheless with the highest order of firework.

The duo 'Re - Entry / Splashdown' and 'End Credits', while the first has a most inspiring minute during the begin of the first track, the second is mostly known for its choral magic. Both Annie Lennox (also through track 7) and the children's choir astound you with awe. At times the Americana sound reminds you of Glory or the Aliens "space feel" but Apollo 13 isn't an unoriginal score at all. In fact it the intriguing strength and the inspiring music that makes Apollo 13 the classic of his generation. Of course Horner sticks with his style and isn't all that new but the power of the themes are sensational. In the case of casual film music buyers, the original album might be interesting since it features the main highlight as the classic entries of The Who and The Mavericks but real time favorites are destined to have the one and only full score of Apollo 13. Not only does it create the biggest side of musical magic but it also shows you the full range of Horner's masterpiece.

Apollo 13: ****1/2 Score: ***** Songs: ***
Apollo 13 "Promo": ***** Score: ***** Songs: ***

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Title (2.29)

2. One Small Step * (0.42)

3. Night Train: James Brown (3.27)

4. Groovin': The Young Rascals (2.26)

5. Somebody To Love: Jefferson Airplane (2.54)

6. I Can See For Miles: The Who (4.09)

7. Purple Haze: Jimi Hendrix (2.45)

8. Launch Control * (0.31)

9. All Systems Go / The Launch (10.03) Excellent Track

10. Welcome To Apollo 13 * (0.26)

11. Spirit In The Sky: Norman Greenbaum (3.50)

12. House Cleaning / Houston, We Have A Problem * (0.54)

13. Master Alarm (3.35)

14. What's Going On ? * (0.50)

15. Into The Lem (4.18)

16. Out Of Time / Shut Her Down * (0.33)

17. Darkside Of The Moon (4.49) Excellent Track

18. Failure Is Not A Option * (0.22)

19. Honky Tonkin': Hank Williams (2.42)

20. Blue Moon: The Mavericks (4.01)

21. Waiting For Disaster / A Privilege * (0.29)

22. Re - Entry & Splashdown (8.52) Excellent Track

23. End Titles (6.59) Excellent Track

* Dialogues from the film

Total Length: 72.21

Apollo 13 "Promo"

1. Main Title (2.34)

2. Lunar Dreams (2.38)

3. "All Systems Go" / The Launch (10.19) Excellent Track

4. Docking (2.21)

5. Master Alarm (3.03)

6. Into The L.E.M. (5.08)

7. The Darkside Of The Moon * (5.16) Excellent Track

8. Carbon Dioxide (5.41)

9. Manuel Burn (1.52)

10. "Four More Amps" (3.19)

11. Re - Entry / Splashdown (9.06) Excellent Track

12. End Credits * (6.59) Excellent Track

13. Blue Moon: The Mavericks (4.03)

14. Spirit In The Sky: Norman Greenbaum (3.52)

15. Somebody To Love: Jefferson Airplane (2.54)

16. I Can See For Miles: The Who (4.11)

* Vocal Performances by Annie Lennox

Total Length: 73.30

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

=== Link to Composer Site: James Horner ===