The Rock

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

What many consider to be the sign of Media Ventures scores, The Rock is ample proof of that. Composed, produced by three composers for another hot box office action film of Bruckheimer (and the late Don Simpson who passed away during the making of the film), the score is Crimson Tide meets The Peacemaker in a neat melodic package. What this score does for the movie is unbelievable, this score proves that few can score an action movie and give it pace, power and a cool look. Zimmer himself stated that normally another composer was on the job, but couldn't even score a quarter of music in fifteen days. So Bruckheimer turned to the reliable sources of Media Ventures, Hans Zimmer composed the theme and the first track, and set fellow composers Nick Glennie - Smith and Harry Gregson - Williams on the right path, Harry was responsible for additional music though I think he composed a track or two on this soundtrack and consider overall the score to be composed by Nick Glennie - Smith. The reason that after that time The Rock didn't do much for me like it did in the begin is simple variety. Where this score amuses in the begin, it starts to show the same things no matter what follows, except for two short moments.

So, the first track seems to be composed by Zimmer, 'Hummell gets the Rockets' has the main theme in a patriotic / heroic way and states clearly that this is Media Ventures music. Frankly it also was the last sign of the true Media Ventures staple because Broken Arrow and The Peacemaker received different styles to mess with. For the rest this score offers a lot of pace, a lot of the main theme (varied sometimes really good like in 'Rock House Jail') and the occasional choir which does miracles either way you look at it. The two different pieces of music is the touching and beautiful flute theme in 'Jade' and the quirky Mexican based theme in 'Fort Walton / Kansas' which would just end this score perfectly different. Unfortunately 'The Chase' which I still consider to be a good track is ending the score the same it started. It also uses a lot of ideas that were mixed during the entire score, and is out of order because it appears in the begin of the movie. Harry Gregson - Williams (which seemed responsible for additional music and ideas) seemed to score a lot of 'In the Tunnels' because it states a lot of the recent Medal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, similarities in ideas that is. And Nick Glennie - Smith is obviously responsible for 'Mason's Walk / First Launch' because this one hints The Man in the Iron Mask more than once.

And last but not least 'Rocket Away' offers for once real diversity with pace, rhythm and action finesse in the first ten minutes with great use of the main theme and the more delicate flute based theme of track 3 returning for the last three minutes, signaling Mason' departure. Overall, The Rock is one of the finest examples in the movie industry as it comes down to melodic action music. Zimmer, Glennie - Smith and Gregson - Williams are responsible for this, and if someone has any problems with it, then they are ignoring the basic rule of movie music, because it makes the film a roller coaster of stunts, explosions and action. But since after all those years, I consider that The Rock doesn't bring enough diversity and that it overall hints the same style a bit too much. This is also because you listen to a lot of scores and after that time you request simple diversity in tone. The score is missing this thing but be warned, when in the right mood, it rocks any way you can. Overall, The Rock is one of the last true Media Ventures products and offers just what any score needs, a rollicking good time.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Hummell Gets The Rockets (6.25)

2. Rock House Jail (10.13) Excellent Track

3. Jade (1.59)

4. In The Tunnels (8.40)

5. Mason's Walk / First Launch (9.33)

6. Rocket Away (14.12) Excellent Track

7. Fort Walton / Kansas (1.37)

8. The Chase (7.37)

Total Length: 60.21

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

=== Link to Composer Sites: Nick G. - Smith, Hans Zimmer & Harry G. - Williams ===