Dante's Peak (2 Cd Bootleg)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

There was a time earthquake movies were successful, then disaster films involving boats, then airplanes, then the inevitable flood movies or basically lava flows from erupting mountain peaks. Volcano and Dante's Peak were in that time closely at par with each other, still battling out which one was most enjoyable and important. I liked them both and basically I liked Volcano as a score much more. Now, I still do but don't think that Dante's Peak is limping sorely behind. No, these 2 CD's are testament that John Frizzell and James Newton Howard did a great job in making Dante's Peak even memorable on 2 CD's. John Frizzell the head composer of the film had assistance of seasoned composer James Newton Howard, to write specific themes even though I know which ones came from which end. James Newton Howard wrote the main theme and is used the most in the film, but Frizzell is behind the love theme for instance and its a catchy tune also. Together these two themes are woven behind very big sounding orchestral music and even though most revolves around action tension music, you must get a kick out of the score because Frizzell is making so many variations on the score's themes, its unbelievable that 85 minutes can't even bore comparing the recent Ghost Ship which could ample with even 70 minutes. This makes the original presentation released in the public a joke with its 30 minutes. Not to criticize Varčse's presentation but I truly believe 50 minutes could have made a bestseller out for Frizzell's career, as your mountain peak craving for orchestral music.

The first CD captures some of the shortest tracks but they don't harm the listening experience, its also the CD which builds slowly to the orchestral bangs of the second CD. To remember are the countless theme presentations of the main theme, most fully enjoyed in 'Main Title / Columbia', the same but with extra good variations in 'End Credits', 'The Lake' which covers it menacingly terrific and in 'Brown Water', along with a wonderful assortment of various instruments creating tension, orchestral tension such as piano, ethnic flutes and percussion. The love theme also notices itself in the first part, best in 'The Kiss' and its a lovely combination of flutes and piano. 'Edge of the Crater' captures a short but powerful fanfare for the mountain and 'Earthquake Rescue' is a 6 minute cracker which especially explodes with powerful orchestral rushes in the second part, its the highlight of the CD. The second disc naturally contains all the mayhem and orchestral carnage that exhibits it. But not to worry, the variations and various ways Frizzell underscores it are countless to report. 'Panic at Dante's Peak / Crossing the River' shows this ample along with 'Helicopter Crash' and while at it, make sure you note the dark fanfare in 'Ruth Jumps into Water / Troops Arrive' along with a percussion laden army march of the main theme. 'Pyroplastic Cloud / Crash Into the Mine' is purely dissonant with its flutes and brass (even with the main theme in it) but the ending is worth it, with a full overblown version of the love theme in 'The Rescue Operation' closing off the main theme once more. To tell you, Dante's Peak could easily get more quotation if they simply inserted the right kind of tracks in the right kind of time. Then Frizzell's composition would truly shine, then people would easily see that Dante's Peak is one of his brightest orchestral rushes of his career. As it stands however, even 2 CD's can pack the punch of the mountain, with Howard as theme writer and Frizzell as the lava pounder, together in orchestral floods of power.

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Tracks

Double Disc

Disk One: 41.09

1. Main Title / Columbia (5.22)

2. End Credits (5.23)

3. Vancouver Headquarters (1.05)

4. Rachel Is Late (0.52)

5. Incident At Twonset Hot Spring (0.49)

6. The Lake (0.36)

7. Harry Checks The Mountain (1.49)

8. Dead Squarrels & Macabre Discovery (1.48)

9. City Council Meeting (2.58)

10. Underwater Sings (0.29)

11. Invitation From Rachel (0.45)

12. The Helicopter Flies Over The Crater (1.49)

13. Night Talk (2.36)

14. Edge Of The Crater (0.31)

15. Earthquake Rescue (5.53) Excellent Track

16. Harry's Recipee For Disaster (1.15)

17. The Kiss (2.41)

18. Brown Water (4.17)

Disk Two: 43.53

1. Panic At Dante's Peak / Crossing The River (4.16)

2. Helicopter Crash (2.38)

3. The Drive To Grandma's (1.53)

4. Harry Contacts Paul / Lava Flow! (2.38)

5. Escaping The Burning House (3.20)

6. Ruth Jumps Into Water / Troops Arrive (3.20)

7. Ruth's Death (1.51)

8. The Flood (2.51)

9. The Team Leaves Dante's Peak (2.25)

10. Stuck In The Lava (2.29)

11. Deserted Town (1.55)

12. Imminent Explosion (1.30)

13. Pyroplastic Cloud / Crash Into The Mine (1.44)

14. So Long Harry (0.35)

15. The Mine (1.20)

16. Harry's In Trouble (3.57)

17. The Rescue Operation (4.58) Excellent Track

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

=== Link to Composer Site: John Frizzell ===