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"It's About Time" |
The Time
Machine
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Remaking classic films of yesteryear is ever the rage in Hollywood. Be a flat-out lack of original ideas or what have you, taking films, especially sci-fi/fantasy films and reproducing them into a 20th or 21st century version is happening with increasing frequency, but with decreasing success. What director George Pal did in 1960 was take H.G. Wells' classic, 19th Century novel, which warned against over industrialization, and add his own social commentary regarding the horrific and inevitable outcome of nuclear war. At the same time, George Pal produced a highly enjoyable, and now classic, sci-fi flick. Some forty years later the great grandson of H.G. Wells, Simon Wells, takes up the mantle of storyteller to produce 2001's version of The Time Machine. Despite having an apparent wealth of talent at nearly every production position of the film, this 80-mllion-dollar-movie was railed by critics and snubbed by moviegoers. The art of storytelling once again is lost to the oooh-wow-predator of computer graphic effects. As failed as one might call The Time Machine, it can't realistically be called "all bad." Why? Along with the actually eye-pleasing effects, Klaus Badelt's musical score stands out as a truly well-crafted and enjoyable facet of the film. Certainly one of the best things about film music proves true with The Time Machine. No matter how disappointing a film, as a whole, may end up, the musical score can prove to be a high quality, highly entertaining listening experience. Badelt's The Time Machine may be the best example of this in our young millennium. The Time Machine delivers all that the "traditional" film-music fan delights in: memorable themes, big, bold orchestra performances, epic feel, romantic contrasts, and variety without sacrificing cohesion.
The backbone of Klaus
Badelt's score is its
main theme, which is
found, like any
well-utilized, great
title theme, throughout
the entire score in
various forms. Badelt is able to use
the theme to communicate
the wonder of scientific
discovery as in track 1,
Professor Alexander
Hartdegen
Badelt also provides a
wonderful contrast to
the adventure element
with a solid love theme
first heard in track 3,
Emma
The final third of the soundtrack takes a most dramatic and dark turn. Adding another facet to this already rich score, Klaus Badelt projects the fear caused by the subterranean Morlocks and their Master through ominous choral accents, deep and methodical percussions juxtaposed against otherworldly, almost angelic vocals and strings. This suspenseful trip in the final portion of the soundtrack helps round out a solid listening experience before leaving the listener with a wonderful concluding track, Godspeed (15) which restates the best moments of the score. Varese Sarabande releases the most important pieces of music totaling over 57 minutes of music. The liner notes are filled with several pages of color photos from the film. The notes do lack any composer, director or producer notes regarding the music itself. With such a diverse and entertaining score at hand, there would have to be some interesting thoughts from the composer or director that would have been enjoyable to read. Nonetheless, its really about the music, and that is what is satisfactorily delivered. Despite the unfortunately empty film Badelt's music was composed for, the score proves to be quite fulfilling as presented on this CD. With a memorable title theme, equally enjoyable sub-themes, and a good measure of diversity, The Time Machine is one of early 2002's most enjoyable releases. With a number of commercial efforts and collaborative works such as The Pledge under his belt, Klaus Badelt, another Zimmer prodigy, comes to the forefront with The Time Machine. Klaus Badelt's work here is entertaining in its own way, yet doesn't completely divorce itself from a number of Media Venture's trademark sounds. If The Time Machine be any indication of what lay ahead from composer Klaus Badelt, then film music fans should unite in hopeful celebration. Track Listing and Ratings
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*The Experience-O-Meter displays the track to track listening experience of this soundtrack based on the 5-Star rating given to each track. It provides a visual depiction of the ebbs and flows of the CD's presentation of the soundtrack.
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Referenced
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All artwork from
The Time Machine is exclusive property of
Varese Sarabande Records (c)
2002.
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