Bad Boys (DVD Isolated Score)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

What we know is simple, Media Ventures composers probably are the only ones in delivering a proud action score for the recent market of action movies. Meaning the movie has pace and the action just doesn't call it quits until the bad guys are punched silly by the good guys. In any way, see is what you hear and Bad Boys of Mark Mancina is everything what you read here, only in musical terms. The reason why the score is so effective and fun is simple to explain, Mark Mancina simply wrote a fantastic action score, with varying themes and delivered on an extremely fast pace. That the release however disturbs the listening pleasure even briefly is the real problem of this person's concern. You see, Bad Boys never received a proper score release, but you can get it nonetheless in two ways. First, we have the bootleg, covering all the parts, meaning a 13 second track to the annoyance of it and an alternate version of one of the tracks. Sadly, this bootleg is also extremely poorly mixed, because almost each track quits before the piece is actually finished. Knowing I will not miss much, it still annoys your simple listening experience. Secondly however, you have got the DVD with isolated score and with a lot of hard work, you can make your own piece with the best quality and mixing. At first I reviewed the bootleg but now, here we have the DVD rip, a proud piece of work that does the piece of art from Mancina justice.

The score opens and closes with the best action music available. The first three tracks are great, wonderful. 'Theme from "Bad Boys"' is the playful, rhythmic opening scene with the insane babbling of both Smith and Lawrence. As stated a brilliant action piece is heard in 'Main Title / Heist', a ferocious looking piece which combines two thematic creations, one the main theme and secondly the other action theme for the break in, getting much more notice in the second part. The begin at least is good and the rest follows as any score would usually do, with brief enjoyable pieces which don't do nothing wrong, except being brief all the time. Well, on the bootleg but not on the DVD rip since several were mixed together. Still, you get good short moments like the playful Caribbean rendition of the main theme in 'Jojo / One Dead Body' and the friendship theme on guitar in many cues, including 'Max is Dead'. The middle portion has the same aggressive and fast action music we are hearing the entire time, though simply a bit shorter. However, 'Highway Chase' lasts strangely 2 minutes longer then the bootleg version, and the trill is behind the electric guitars and action themes pumping the one up more and more. Or what about the funny 'Feeling Funny' with finger snapping and funky tones presenting Marcus' awkward situation. Its basically to hear these tracks in the best sound quality and best mixing presentation that makes Bad Boys a worthy action score to hear for the thrills and the chills. However, its the action music that counts and 'Lobby Shooutout and Street Chase' doesn't disappoint with the appropriate action licks of the themes.

The 9 minute 'Airport' doesn't disappoint either and restates the ideas we heard before but it all works and in such a long track, the themes can do the punch and the sound the lasting power. And by then you will not forget the ultimate speed test of 'Car Chase', used with great effect in the trailer of The Rock. Its another insane action track and doesn't let you forget who the speed rocketeer is. Of course the appropriate calm music closes the score very wonderfully with a piano version of the friendship theme in 'Finale'. Basically, present Bad Boys in the best presentation and the action score is a wonderful one, with so much thrills to satisfy the action hero inside you, and with appropriate in between music to make the effect not just action led. Then the sound is important and the mixing, and you come to the conclusion that the DVD isolated score doesn't disappoint. Sadly, people will also hear the bootleg and that one isn't really up to par with what we hear here. However, forget that, forget the 13 second track or the alternate piece and enjoy Bad Boys for what it is, a piece of action quality for the new generation kind of film. Its not Con Air and its basically a little less powerful to be kind for that score, but I appreciate both and if you appreciate Con Air, you will surely appreciate the bad ass quality of two boys destroying everything from freeways to mountain houses (no sorry, that was Bad Boys 2) and hearing the non melodic growls of several composers in it (sorry, again Bad Boys 2). Trust me, Bad Boys 1 is so much more then that.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Theme From "Bad Boys" (4.34) Excellent Track

2. Main Titles / Heist (6.09) Excellent Track

3. Arriving At Work (0.34)

4. All That Heroin Gone / Brilliant Design (1.09)

5. Jojo / One Dead Body (6.01)

6. The Biltmore (0.55)

7. A Killing / Julie Jumps (4.17)

8. Max Is Dead (1.13)

9. Mike Gets A Concussion (1.09)

10. Shootout At Julie's (1.47)

11. Julie At Mike's Place (0.51)

12. The Wedding Ring (1.04)

13. Attempted Revenge (2.13)

14. Highway Chase (4.32) Excellent Track

15. Talk On The Road (0.39)

16. Feeling Funny (1.59)

17. Chemist Stakeout (1.37)

18. Lobby Shooutout And Street Chase (4.20) Excellent Track

19. Airport (9.12) Excellent Track

20. Car Chase (1.46) Excellent Track

21. Finale (3.03)

Total Length: 59.16

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Mark Mancina ===