Treasure Planet (Original Animated Score)
Music by: James Newton Howard
I felt that I needed to go back in time a little bit. Treasure Planet as a movie is SO underrated and so, naturally, the music is also. James Newton Howard has been the composer for some great films like; The Bourne Legacy, The Dark Knight, and I Am Legend. His music for Treasure Planet is just as good. Even though it is an animated film, the soundtrack carries the emotion and depth as a life action film. The movie is set some time in the future with cool gadgets and gizmos, so you would think the music would have a futuristic sound, right? Nope. Howard had a different idea for this movie. The music is almost a mesh of several types of music blended together to get that pirate-in-space feeling but also keeping it in terms of character and mood. There is a song on the soundtrack that I feel showcases all the best parts and aspects of those types of music. "Silver leaves" starts out with a sailor type of sound in music; a little tune that makes you feel you're aboard a ship. Then is slowly moves into a Celtic feel with the violins and a flute to give the melody. This melody is the theme that is played throughout the movie and is so beautifully put into this piece. After a clarinet takes over and the whole orchestra comes in building the melody to its full measure. The emotion that goes with the particular song is very clear, even if you haven't seen the movie. It makes you feel EXACTLY the way you are supposed to feel. You get a sense of calm, and resolution, like everything in the movie was leading up to this moment and this song. Soon after with a very smooth transition, the song goes to a joyous, and exciting party song. This, of course, being the end of the film you have to have your happy ending song. Howard did his job in that the ending the "Silver Leaves" leaves the audience satisfied and with no regret. It is so beautifully composed and so fitting to the movie, that there really isn't any room for disappointment and this is just the last song in the soundtrack. The rest of it is just as fulfilling and amazing. I would say my rating for this is buy ALL THE SONGS, and listen to them ALL THE TIME. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDv2CzEI1N8
This is a good review, Andrea (this is Aaron the opera singer, btw). I feel that James Newton Howard as a composer is underrated. As you may know, he collaborated for Batman Begins and The Dark Knight with Hans Zimmer, yet Zimmmer (who I'm not bashing) seems to get a lot of the glory for those two. Howard's music is not to be taken lightly. Going to go listen now. ^_^
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