We're Back: A Dinosaur's Story

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

The last animation of James Horner still stands upon Balto, before that we have had legendary examples like The Land Before Time, enjoyable performances coming from An American Tail (both the first and second) and some that didn't score that well, being one We're Back: a Dinosaur's Story. Why is that? First of all, not any James Horner animation score can score big and secondly the same counts for the material that presents itself. To tell you the truth, We're Back is simply not that entertaining as the others. It holds little song material which is nice but the actual score is simply not that interesting (even completely fades besides me on occasions), which of course makes it harder to enjoy. And of all the things it tries to do, it seems to make the link between Casper and The Land Before Time pretty good, because these are the ones the score is trying to focus on the most. Not bad but it misses the intelligence and magic of a score like The Land Before Time and the smooth listen and fun of Casper, making it still a runner up in the genre. Yet, many will love the main theme and by that I mean its magical soft version during track 2.

Track 2 'Flying Forward in Time' being the highlight of the score. It captures a beautiful performance and supports it with elegance and most of all with a female choir, that makes it elegant and mesmerizing. This is also the best performance of the theme and besides the upbeat and playful main theme during tracks 1 'Main Title / Primeval Times', 2 and many others, it is the sole theme that holds this score together. But the thing that makes this score weaker (in my opinion) is the lack of interest I hold when listening upon We're Back, more it actually has to do with the material and style, (many bold fanfares and wacky tunes to represent both the danger and circus acts) supporting the tone of the score. This runs through several tracks and examples like '"Circus"' and the long '"Grand Demon Parade"', basically these leave me cold, because these moments flow straight through me. When it comes to liking this particular score, it are the more relaxing parts of the music. I actually aren't quite fond of the bigger music, which is a bit more bouncy and more animated layered, something I always treasured about Horner's animated scores, sounding so non animated at all. We're Back is different in this and for some this will be good, for others it might be bad.

Tracks such as 'The Kids Wake Up / A New Day', 'The Transformation' (which gets all Cocoon like in a phase) and 'Special Visitors to the Museum of Natural History' are more my cup of tea than the tracks that precede it. Still, Horner does his best to make the good great because the soaring theme of tracks 2 and 15 make an impression on you whatsoever and is the sole reason that keeps the score outstanding in its highlights. And one word about the one song (the two performances) that are thrown between the score. Both Goodman and Little Richard give it the boost it needs and it is an adequate song to begin with, even though it has got spice and power, good for the Dinosaurs it represents in the first place. But if I mean that We're Back: A Dinosaur's Story is a favorite of mine, then forget it. It is actually a score I hardly listen to, too long for one (especially for someone losing the most of the score anyway) and at the other end not containing the boost it needs for me. James Horner fans will one way or another find what they will like but those expecting another The Land Before Time or god knows which animation should check out the movie first if they feel up to buying it. It has Casper's rhythm more than once but hell isn't that interesting to start with. It remains in my eyes an average 3 stars and that's that.

\ЕЕЕ/

Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Title / Primeval Times (4.14)

2. Flying Forward In Time (5.46) Excellent Track

3. Welcome To New York (2.24)

4. First Wish, First Flight (3.45)

5. A Hint Of Trouble / The Contract' (1.48)

6. Roll Back The Rock (To The Dawn Of Time): John Goodman * (2.56)

7. Grand Slam Demons (2.06)

8. Hot Pursuit (3.16)

9. Central Park (1.21)

10. Screweyes' Circus / Opening Act (1.09)

11. "Circus" (2.27)

12. Fright Radio / Rex's Sacrifice (6.36)

13. "Grand Demon Parade" (7.39)

14. The Kids Wake Up / A New Day (2.54)

15. The Transformation (5.27)

16. Special Visitors To The Museum Of Natural History (2.10)

17. Roll Back The Rock (To The Dawn Of Time): Little Richard * (2.55)

* Produced by Thomas Dolby

Total Length: 59.03

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

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