Wing Commander

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Not long ago, comic or computer games were hardly adapted to the big screen but several high profile games received their time at the big Hollywood screen, such as Tomb Raider and Final Fantasy. Wing Commander however beat them in '99 and after a series of games, it was time to adapt itself to the screen. Nothing of a problem because during 3, 4 and 5, the game used real actors in a story telling mode with Mark Hamill (Luke in the Star Wars trilogy) and Thomas F. Wilson (Biff of Back to the Future) in the leading roles. I know though one thing, if they used the script of the 4th game (The Price of Freedom), they really had a blockbuster on their hands because it was a fantastic combination of sci fi battles in space and a hell of an intriguing and captivating story (with an excellent Malcolm McDowell in the roles). However it didn't and the thing to remember of it was the music that succeeded its part really well. David Arnold was named but the whole show can be called one way only, the show of newcomer Kevin Kiner (hell newcomer isn't the word because he was in the air for about 13 years already).

The start of Wing Commander is nothing but major, with a brilliant over the top but dazzling fanfare. 'Overture' has the main theme in big proportions and repeats itself plenty until you have memorized it well enough. Liner notes by director Chris Roberts state that you will whistle it when you will leave the theatre. And he could be right, but I have no idea how many people saw it in the theatre. Anyway this is the best part and already sets high standards for what to come. That rest is nothing of that standard but it sure isn't bad, more it is a fun time afterwards. It isn't all bombast and track 2 'Pod Scene' or 4 'Pilgrims' shows this ample. Still, the key to this score is the action / adventure music and nothing beats a hell of brass a la David Arnold. While Arnold is no longer onboard, we sure get the same feel because Arnold's famous orchestrator Nicholas Dodd makes you think Arnold is doing something to the score. At times, this score feels Stargate like and the brass surely doesn't trick you otherwise. 'Torpedo Kilrathi' is a good track that has this menacing work of Stargate but also the bombast with high volume. 'Into the Quasar' is also good because it uses the main theme in a heroic way and the same rollicking brass of Arnold's style is noticed in 'The Fleet'.

Near the end action is the word, more you receive techno in 'Hot Dogs' (Tomorrow never Dies) and the trio 'The Gift / Skipper Missile', 'Kilrathi Battle' and 'The Big Battle' offer their side of the excitement. Especially 'Kilrathi Battle' is really good because it uses in my personal opinion the best action statement of the main theme. Anyway what this score does is plain and simple, it is a bombastic and at times very good listen, simply because it uses Arnold's trademarks and employs them such in a bombastic way. It was then also fairly obvious that Kiner would use that style in the Television series of Stargate SG-1. The begin has light stuff, the end rocks sometimes a bit too loud but this score is made for one thing only, to show what Kiner can do with sci-fi action music. Wing Commander as a score is nothing of sheer excellence but the theme and several tracks still make it a worthy option when you are searching for that big, bold and powerful stuff coming of someone like David Arnold. In that case, you get the half out of the goof stuff.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Overture * (3.33) Excellent Track

2. Pod Scene (1.53)

3. Torpedo Kilrathi (3.31)

4. Pilgrims (1.49)

5. Rescued (0.56)

6. Into The Quasar (2.46)

7. Bad Decision / Blair (1.27)

8. Angel's Story (1.47)

9. The Fleet (1.08)

10. Briefing / Tricked (2.15)

11. Hot Dogs (1.21)

12. Diligent Arrives (2.34)

13. The Gift / Skipper Missile (3.27)

14. Kilrathi Battle (1.40)

15. The Big Battle (2.27)

16. Kilrathi Into Scylla (2.28)

17. Big Damn Ending (2.09)

* Wing Commander Theme by David Arnold

Total Length: 37.41

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