Jack the Bear

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Let's see, which James Horner score is yet to be released? Of course there are still examples and more then its fair share of great names but Jack the Bear isn't perhaps one that people wrote on their wish list. Nonetheless, they receive the score from Intrada Records with a healthy doses of liner notes and material. The question is now, is the score in its own basis worth it? Probably to Horner fans yes but equally no. Just because it is Horner they seem to release the score in the form of a special collection album. Horner is a name and the score has merit, but if this means it is the kind of score to listen to when you want to is perhaps something else. Jack the Bear is the kind of more intimate Horner score he sometimes craves to write and in that respect the score is a success. However it also contains the dark present feel of the movie which makes it harder, it contains no orchestral scope (not even the lighter) because it carries in fact synthesized tones, what we aren't used to hearing from Horner. It is by no means a bad score but things make me wanna state that this is a soundtrack I respect for its mood and overall material, but I truly wonder if it will ever visit my CD-player again. Probably due to its rather forgettable experience and effect after it, it seems to be an easy "no" than a harder "yes".

The score of Intrada introduces us directly to the main theme of Horner, as expected in the first appropriately named track 'Main Title' and as expected performed on piano. This is the basic element of the score and it is the tone of this instrument that sets the emotion apart from the rather lifeless synthesized strings. It is nonetheless a simple childlike theme, which is followed by not directly a theme per se but more a tone you can represent the father John Leary with, played in the movie brilliantly by Danny DeVito. The flute which is prominent in 'Exploring the Neighborhood' reminds me easily of Jumanji's more lighthearted theme and is acceptable but equally forgettable. 'Bogeyman Norman' and 'Dead Dog' are more dark of personality, even if the first has the John tone and the playful attitude while the second is really brooding and rather forgettable. 'Flashback' is really one of the few tracks that asks your attention for a moment, because on (4.34) it actually states a really nice piano theme. Unfortunately for it, it is a direct quote from Horner meaning the theme he simply plucked out of Project X. Whether it works or not isn't of the issue but if one of the few moments simply draws your attention and it was discovered before in another score isn't really what you wanted in the first place. This theme quite effectively returns in another good track, namely 'Crying in Hospital'.

From this the score takes the same approach, barely shifting a tone in volume (apart from the end of 10), never getting this strong emotional moment that Horner usually delivers and apart from the piano, flute or brief violin moments, the score broods its way with the synthesized tone of his keyboards. As expected the dark suspenseful moments are ever present in 'Dylan's Gone' and without question draw attention to themselves, only for their more powerful sound but in this situation it almost sounds Brad Fiedel like, which leads to Terminator 2. The longest track is 'Norman Attacks', an eleven minute cue that at times becomes moody, when the rumbling piano is used to typify the dark desperate act and rage of John himself. And even a regular strong point of Horner is nothing more then a low finisher (yet nice) because 'Resolution & End Title' is barely different from the rest, not even stating the best part of Jack the Bear which is unfortunately its theme from Project X. As said before in this review, in the score's moody effectiveness and feel, it will be accepted by a lot of people. Meaning I give this score an easy three because it doesn't make a statement during the film, it simply underflows the emotions on screen. But on disc, it becomes quite frankly boring because you listen to music that doesn't need to make the point, making also your listen harder to appreciate. It will have its fans but the rather synthesized tones and the absent key of any strong themes (not criticizing its non original theme) will easily make this a Horner fan score with even reservations. Dark, moody and containing at times only a moment to enjoy, Jack the Bear will be a pick that you consider to be good or bad.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Title (3.03)

2. Exploring The Neighborhood (1.54)

3. Bogeyman Norman (3.08)

4. Flashback (7.30)

5. Dead Dog (4.29)

6. Bridge Talk (5.10)

7. Dylan's Gone (2.03)

8. Dad Learns Dylan's Gone (1.02)

9. Crying In Hospital (2.08)

10. Norman Attacks (11.19)

11. Jack The Bear (1.35)

12. Resolution & End Title (4.22)

Total Length: 47.52

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

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