The Rocketeer

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Where are the days when you could pick out a score of James Horner and simply have fun with it, more not ask questions like: OK, where does this piece comes from?" True, there are efforts recently but scores like The Rocketeer is one I keep coming back at and simply need nothing but a good mood to give me a really good mood. Nothing makes me happier then this and James Horner is then truly one of the greats of the list of film composers. And what fun we have with this score, a rousing piece that contains the fun display of Horner giving it all he's got and more, making the movie such a fun ride to watch. First of all, the score is just everything I want of a soundtrack, the perfect and best themes suitable for the movie, the most profound listening experience, the highlights which spark a score into musical heaven, the appropriate time and the Horner we all love, basically we couldn't ask for much more on a soundtrack. That there are two period songs don't even disturb at all, making sure that a well written score and a well produced release can make you smile if you simply play what the movie has, and not containing a song that has nothing to do with movie. It is this kind of release that makes it fully worth it.

All right, lets start cooking, something Horner is doing equally from the start. The begin is slow and states the theme on piano but it still shows the theme a bit more heroic each time it continues. 'Main Title / Takeoff' is then also a wonderful opener. The second track is still all what people love of Horner, a rousing adventurous, heroic piece full of fanfares of the main theme and containing the awesome pace Horner is so well at delivering. The love theme is also extremely attractive, 'Jenny' is a wonderful almost concert arrangement of the theme for Jennifer Connelly. As perhaps misguiding, not everything is that memorable but I can accept more darker tracks like 5 if you've got more worth it following it. 'Neville Sinclair's House' uses bits of Jenny's theme. It are of course the final two tracks that give The Rocketeer an awesome climax and a brilliant feeling. 'The Zeppelin' has mainly one of the best opening minutes I have ever heard of Horner and is simply astonishing and 'Rocketeer to the Rescue / End Title' is a wonderful suite that contains especially brilliant statements of the main and love theme. At times, the score does take a hint of the adventure music of Star Trek II and III and Cocoon is heard sometimes during the love theme but to this day, it still remains a remarkable original listen.

In the end I still have one thing to mention about the release which are the two songs of Melore Hardin. Not that instant memorable but very fitting with the time and genre of the movie and not boring like some songs can truly be. So, I haven't got much negative things to say about The Rocketeer. Track 5 is indeed not very memorable but is instantly forgotten when tracks 1, 2, 6, 7, 9 or 10 start to kick in. James Horner at this level is still the composer we all love and I hope to see efforts like The Mask of Zorro (meaning original and fun) appearing once and a while in the present future. Because I'm afraid that Horner doesn't do much to keep that from happening once and a while, I usually need a boost of excellence and especially coming from Horner could make the impression about him more positive than it is today. Again, people with a knack for Horner in the adventure genre and love a thrilling score at times will make no wrong move if they purchase The Rocketeer because it has everything a score should have, the background and the highlights, together forming a most pleasing listening experience.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Title / Takeoff (4.43) Excellent Track

2. The Flying Circus (6.24) Excellent Track

3. Jenny (5.13)

4. Begin The Beguine: Melora Hardin (3.46)

5. Neville Sinclair's House (7.23)

6. Jenny's Rescue (3.24)

7. Rendezvous At Griffith Park Observatory (8.12)

8. When Your Lover Has Gone: Melora Hardin (3.29)

9. The Zeppelin (7.58) Excellent Track

10. Rocketeer To The Rescue / End Title (6.36) Excellent Track

Total Length: 57.21

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

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