Star Trek | ||
 | Composer: Michael Giacchino Label: Varese Sarabande Release Date: 2009-05-05 Buy this soundtrack:   | 2 Ratings   |
 Track Listing | ||||||||||
| 01 Star Trek (0:00) 02 Nailin'the Kelvin (0:00) 03 Labor of Love (0:00) 04 Hella Bar Talk (0:00) 05 Enterprising Young Men (0:00) 06 Nero Sighted (0:00) 07 Nice to Meld You (0:00) 08 Run and Shoot Offense (0:00) 09 Does it Still McFly? (0:00) 10 Nero Death Experience (0:00) 11 Nero Fiddles, Narada Burns (0:00) 12 Back from Black (0:00) 13 That New Car Smell (0:00) 14 To Boldly Go (0:00) 15 End Credits (0:00) Total Length: 00:00 | ||||||||||
More Soundtracks by Michael Giacchino Reviewed by James - Grade: B Not quite the masterpiece we hoped, but still a good jumpstart to the franchise.When it was announced that J.J. Abrams was taking over the Star Trek franchise, I got very excited. Not because of J.J. Abrams, but because I knew right away that he would bring Michael Giacchino onboard as the film's composer. I've admired his work since his early video game scores and I was excited to see what he had in store for Star Trek. My ultimate disappointment had less to do with Giacchino's work than with my own expectations. I had expected a classic, but Giacchino only gave me something very good. The biggest problem is with the main title, which is pretty uninspiring. It is a perfectly serviceable piece of music, and quite versatile (very versatile, in fact, considering how many creative ways Giacchino switches the theme up throughout the score), but I wanted something to slap me silly and excite me with way Goldsmith, Horner, and Eidelman had done. Giacchino's theme is certainly noble and brave, but it lacks the boldness and a sense of adventure, both qualities that are absolutely essential when telling the mad tales of Captain James T. Kirk. For me, that was a disappointment and a bit of a missed opportunity. Don't get me wrong. Overall, Star Trek is a solid score. There is some enjoyable action music, probably best represented in "Nailin the Kelvin" and "Nero Sighted." "Enterprising Young Men" is a terrific cue, starting with some fun string work and building into probably the best rendition of the main theme on the CD. And I can't let the review go by without mentioning "Labor of Love," a stunning piece of music unlike anything else in the film. Featured over the dramatic opening of the movie when Kirk's father is killed, this emotional cue is like a kidney punch to the heart. Even my wife, who hates film music, noticed the track in the movie and commented through her sobs how awesome it was. So you can't get an endorsement better than that. I do think there was a misstep with the finale, however. The end credits cue starts with the jazzy music from the original Star Trek TV show, and it is way out of place with the rest of the music. Oh, Giacchino tries his best to incorporate it with his newer compositions, but the result doesn't quite work. The original theme is much loved by fans and maybe that is why Giacchino and Abrams decided to use it. But I can't shake the feeling that the conversation was more like, "Hey, Michael, in the Casino Royale reboot, they only used the Bond music at the end. We should totally do the same thing." "Totally, J.J. Let's do it, dude. Totally." I don't know why I think of them using surfer voices, but either way, the decision was a mistake. Beyond the opening bars, which are nostalgic and stirring, the original Star Trek theme is just too rooted in the musical style of the 60s. I think there is a reason they didn't resurrect it for Star Trek: the Motion Picture. It's just dated. Maybe that's just me. I hope this isn't blasphemy. Please don't kill me, folks! I know we're already on thin ice after Scott's Avatar review! In the end, I do recommend Star Trek. It is a solid score overall, with some standout moments. But don't expect a classic. Giacchino came close, but didn't quite get it. Maybe in the sequel? More Movie Soundtracks
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