Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

The challenge of any fan is when they give a new composer a try. I don't necessarily mean that Robert Folk is new to me but it is nonetheless the first score I have in my collection of him. I always, (without knowing) loved his Police Academy scores and what he exactly scored of Tremors isn't really clear but I also thought it was good overall. And the two examples that seem to please the fans are Intrada's releases of Toy Soldiers (excellent score in the movie) and Beastmaster 2. I always considered them unavailable but through luck and coincidence I had the pleasure of getting the second mentioned score finally in my hands. It isn't exactly the score I thought it would be but then again is without doubt everything I wished it would be. Strange but the review will make sense at the end (I hope). First of all, Beastmaster 2 is the old adventure score for the new b-movie, the one that hardly will set foot in a theatre. But as stupid or unattractive it may seem on video, it still requires bombast from left to right and Robert Folk delivers this with my approval. The problem is, the score doesn't stay as good as it begun and perhaps this is that thing I didn't thought it would be. But on the other hand it offers without doubt tracks that blow me each and every time away.

With each and every adventure score, we fans demand orchestral magnitude from the begin to the end. I don't think that the Berlin Radio Concert Orchestra isn't directly the best orchestra available, but they do seem capable of delivering the energy and the fees of course make sense for hiring them instead of an American orchestra. Their performance is solid but in truth I sometimes wished for a different orchestra. Still, I ain't complaining when they rock the house with bombast. The first real adventure track is directly bingo, 'Dar the Hero' is 9 minutes of complete exhilarating fun. The track starts to rock from the third minute and explodes the last two minutes with the excellent adventure theme, that I kept humming for weeks to come. This doesn't stop when it reappears briefly but perfect in another good track 'Through the Portal' and also when it receives more orchestral beauty in the three minute lasting fanfare 'Travel Montage'. Also the more emotional theme (which doesn't see the light of day enough) is pleasant in for instance 'Creature's Story'. But from track 8 does it begin to unravel into orchestral mayhem without the thematic themes that blessed the first half. After a while its easy to get lost into the fury and it doesn't really help that's its usually repeated. But time after time, listen after listen they somewhat improve, but not enough. So, the adventure theme doesn't see the performance until the end and that is really sad.

Also where it was perfect to set the volume high, now it is beginning to irritate a bit, so please pull down the volume to the normal decibel and then it is bearable. The music itself is somewhat western based (desert and all) and inserts from track 11 'I.D. Badges' an array of electronics (just like Hot Shots! Part Deux) and even the goblin sound from Legend (all in track 11). Its easy to get lost into the mayhem of the score, so luckily we have the adventurous theme right at the end to close the score, 'Key to the Heart' then also closes the score with a happy face. Robert Folk didn't disappoint me because therefore his adventure music is way too strong for that, but the middle part is too much to handle. So at that point, the orchestral volume (which was welcome at any point) started to irritate and that is sad. Beastmaster 2 however is not the score I keep disappointed at after the listen. Usually an anticipated score like that would have disappointed me so much that I would be negatively based instead of positive. This doesn't happen because the good parts are too good to simply ignore. So, adventure freaks who like their sound hard and complex will explore and adore the effort, even when it concerns just the highlights of the score. The sound is just like the orchestra's performance, it is solid but always could have been better and Robert Folk made me happy with a 20 to 25 minute display of excellent adventure music.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Title (1.52)

2. Dar The Hero (9.50) Excellent Track

3. Creature's Story (2.22)

4. Through The Portal (5.09)

5. Jackie Alone on Desert (1.29)

6. Swamp Creature Attacks (2.35)

7. Travel Montage (3.08)

8. Mind Suck (2.05)

9. Police Escape (1.06)

10. Jackie Gets Some Sleep (0.52)

11. I.D. Badges (4.25)

12. Get Arklon (1.48)

13. The Great Escape (4.26)

14. Sharawk Leads The Way (3.33)

15. Neutron Detonator (5.41)

16. Key To The Heart (5.32) Excellent Track

Total Length: 56.20

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Robert Folk ===