Mighty Joe Young

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Whenever James Horner composes a score, he is interrogated almost to the insanity whether new or old music has been used. To a big degree, the population is correct because a new soundtrack doesn't need to bring music already heard in another score. But James Horner has quite frankly made a living that way and I don't think he will change. Sometimes these scores can become tiresome and then others can become the better one, because he inserts or something remotely interesting in it or just something that makes it beautiful and lively on its own. Mighty Joe Young can be categorized as one that is lively due to the many rips and the new material on its own. I know a lot of people will simply be offended and shocked that I accept these kind of rehashes and the truth is, the first time I heard it, I wanted nothing to do with it. Result, it lied there for all this time (5 years minimum) and now I simply took the courage to give it this try it so desperately paid back in actually a rather interesting listen on its own. Sure, the length is nothing good and easily was the begin of the overlong soundtracks of Horner still churning out these times. So, I'm guessing but a 50 minute score could have actually made it even better, because the dead moments lie around the rather furious action pieces and soft little themes versions too much for their own good.

I know there has to be some kind of dissonant track but also the problem is, many tracks on itself last long and these can even carry a sense of bore through them. The score starts with choir and a very lovely calm version of the main theme in 'Sacred Guardian of the Mountain'. Of course little samples of other scores to quite inspired rips start to come out of the shadow. 'Poachers' covers the same building tension as Legends of the Fall but the wind song is rather intriguing, especially works well in the movie. 'Attempted Capture' has a lot more frenetic pace and covers some of The Perfect Storm, including among others the shakuhachi at the end. But the others that follow are more linked to other scores, take 'Our last Chance / A New World' for example, a part of the Windtalkers theme show up, Legends of the Fall on shakuhachi, Jumanji bits and a rather serious action theme that has just everything of The Mask of Zorro's glorious action motif on it. 'Leaving by Night' is the same, starting with a direct quote of the Jumanji theme of Alan before shifting to Sneakers suspense mode. The action tracks cover the same lifts but are simply much more entertaining because of their frenetic pace and quite often glorious melodic structure, even if it it reused to a big degree. 'Hollywood Boulevard' covers the flashback tones of track 2, starting the action rather good, piano rumblings are then heard and check out for the choir and the hidden four note danger motif (around the 4.50 mixed in the music itself). It perhaps isn't all new or brilliant but its good on its own.

But it continues, the action mix keeps up the pace and the sometimes stunning orchestral display of theme and power keeps appearing, whether with percussion or through the entire orchestra. 'Freeway Crossing' covers a great variation of the main theme at the end and the last minute is actually great on the whole. That last minute gets an expanded show off in 'The Carnival', for me the best track of the score and in here he adds the stunning action themes of Legends of the Fall into the mix (just think about 'Samuel's Death'). Same for 'The Burning Ferris Wheel', but the most striking rip off is only heard during the movie and not on score, probably to save Horner from the worst insults ever thrown at him. The last track is an overlong but quite enjoyable compilation of everything from the score, I especially liked the music playing when at the end Joe runs through the open lands, it was one of those moments I think where music adds a special magic to the screen, even if its corny or nothing new. I know there is reason to hate Mighty Joe Young for what it is, a rip off laden or heavy influenced and overlong album. But sometimes I can accept these influences for what they are and enjoy the music like that. And the time is always a concern to me, but when a score just has dead moment and occasionally a great moment through it (like heard in any track) and a more mesmerizing ending then, ... Of course 50 minutes and it could have been more then good. But as usual, Horner is Horner and Mighty Joe Young is mighty for a Joe that young yet so tall in every sense. Kinda like the length but with long good moments running through them.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Sacred Guardian Of The Mountain (3.57)

2. Poachers (7.52)

3. Attempted Capture (6.00)

4. The Trees (6.04)

5. Our Last Chance / A New World (3.47)

6. A Broken Promise (4.30)

7. Leaving By Night (5.14)

8. Hollywood Boulevard (7.45)

9. Freeway Crossing (4.08)

10. The Carnival (6.22) Excellent Track

11. The Burning Ferris Wheel (7.36)

12. Dedication And Windsong * (9.44) Excellent Track

* Music by James Horner, lyrics by Will Jennings

Total Length: 73.06

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