G.I.Jane

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Ridley Scott as a director knows what he wants of music. Do it that way, create that sound and pick a theme that pushes everything else behind it. Of course for some reason not Hans Zimmer on the composer's seat but Trevor Jones. I don't mind because I like any good Jones' effort, but some have said that this sounds typically Media Ventures like. In a way yes but I never would have said it if I didn't read it somewhere first, because I was so focussed on Jones' style alone. So, you can call it 50% Jones' sound and 50% Zimmer and company's mood. So, I get the best out of both and the result is G.I.Jane, a short (21 minutes) 3 track score but one that pumps for roughly 15 minutes. I especially advice Jones' fans to seek this score, hopefully for your sake you discover the promo, which has much more of the score but I'm convinced you will find this release equally enthralling in sound and scope. For 3 tracks we get enough, 21 minutes is more then I thought I would get and those 21 minutes bring more power then I personally imagined. 'Conspiracy' gives us the first full blown moments of the score with some excellent thunders of the electronics and orchestra.

And while 'Time to Reflect' doesn't do much, it is 'Endurance' that remains my favorite of the pack, first of all there was a theme I liked so much in the trailer of Armageddon and look what we've got here, that exact same theme that explodes in full force in the third track. Definitely it was all I needed to get excited about G.I.Jane. Trevor Jones can as any good composer give the fan what they want, with the theme that stands in front of all the rest. Ridley Scott no doubt thought the same about that. It's sad for the album of G.I.Jane that it simply has three tracks. If I'm not mistaken, the track times weren't on the cover and some people might assume they will be short and not containing much worth the price of the score. I can assure you, it has the time I wanted and the material I begged for. The songs were thrown out and a personal CD' recorder gave me 21 minutes of thrilling music. It worked perfectly in the movie and the film itself is another enjoyable tale of Scott. Together they give the testosterone feel to make Demi Moore definitely kick ass on screen. And especially I was surprised this score wasn't really patriotic but more heroic. And for those interested in more of this, continue to read the review of the promo version of G.I.Jane, giving the people no doubt about it an extra punch of sound.

G.I.Jane "Promo"

When the original soundtrack of G.I.Jane was released, I was disappointed of finding only three tracks of score by Trevor Jones. Still, the time was very generous and over 20 minutes we got more then enough for just 3 cues. But people wanted more and upon hearing that fantastic main theme on the score and in numerous trailers, the promo was only a matter of time. The sound quality is extremely good and the amount of material, found in 23 tracks and running for 45 minutes is more then enough. Though I've seen different releases floating around, some of them even containing an extra track (a suite) and several songs of the movie, so it may be a different CD you eventually could have in your collection then mine. Even though I urge people to get this promo if they were excited about the result on the original score, this score gets almost the exact quotation. This doesn't mean that the score is worthless, and hearing shorter tracks combined with several where the main theme explodes is more fun then to hear it in one track of 10 minutes. The best tracks are 'Training Montage' where we hear the awesome theme of G.I.Jane, found on the original in the first minutes in 'Endurance', and 'Do not Give up O'Neil' (this is a track that I made up because several track times didn't match with the other promo version, and I believe this is the scene where O'Neil fights back when captured in the mission, you know Suck My ...).

The last track 'The Scorpions Mission' gives a wider range of score by Trevor Jones with a tension and raw building movement of score. This promo packs more power then say Cliffhanger and people who were fond of that score will like this one to. Both soundtracks offer good material, but this promo is extremely essential and good when found for a decent price. Because this score offers simply more stuff, the inclusion of some background cues are regrettable where nothing really happens but the moments that do offer powerful action or heroic moments are very enjoyable, and show what Trevor Jones can accomplish with any good project. The movie is quite good. I loved the concept and I was surprised by the acting of Demi Moore, and with Ridley Scott you have a very good director at the helm. And in the end the same can be said about Trevor Jones, his score is big, and simply a treat for the fans. G.I.Jane stands as a action score then also equally high as those other male action subjects.

G.I.Jane: ***
G.I.Jane "Promo": ***1/2

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Conspiracy (10.40)

2. Time To Reflect (1.38)

3. Endurance (8.29) Excellent Track

Total Length: 20.49

G.I.Jane "Promo"

1. Main Title (2.22)

2. Deeply Disturbed (2.32)

3. Naval Intelligence Center (2.32)

4. Jordan's Drove To DC (1.37)

5. Caralano Naval Base (0.50)

6. Jordan O'Neil Checks In (1.08)

7. Training Montage (3.52) Excellent Track

8. Cold Water (3.30)

9. Battlefield / Under Fire (1.33)

10. Cortez Betrays O'Neil (1.21)

11. Friction In Barracks (0.59)

12. Free Exercise (0.56)

13. G.I.Jane On TV News (0.42)

14. Water Sports (0.47)

15. A Close Call (1.33)

16. Untitled Track (1.22)

17. Hide And Seek (4.09)

18. Captured (1.00)

19. Do Not Give Up O'Neil (1.33) Excellent Track

20. Newsweek (0.51)

21. Home Again (1.07)

22. Jordan Versus Lillian (2.07)

23. Hostile Territory (0.26)

24. The Scorpions Mission (5.30) Excellent Track

Total Length: 44.34

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Trevor Jones ===