by Ken S on 7/29/2001
favorite track: 14
 
I have loved Alan Silvestri for his incredible versatility. That's why this eagerly anticipated score was somewhat a disappointment, although the blame could be placed on the movie itself. Compared with this sequel, the original Mummy (1999) was a thousand times better with its sophisticated screenplay and high-class atmosphere.

The Mummy Returns is, however, the "ultimate rollercoaster movie" filled with never-ending cliffhangers. The major problem on Silvestri's score is this: the orchestral turbulence during the action scenes is almost always the SAME - whether the action takes place in the streets of London, or in the open desert, the ancient court, the foreboding jungle, the mysterious temple... Whatever the scene is about, a battle, a chase, a kidnapping, the music never seems to change its overall sound. This is why I recommend listening closely to Silvestri's earlier action works (Predator, Eraser, Judge Dredd) which are good examples of more melodic approach and richer in variations and content.

Yet, again, the score features couple of truly outstanding highlights. The "Sandcastles" theme is a glorious example of Silvestri's talent in using throbbing percussive sounds within a soaring string ensemble, uplifted by the heavenly sounds of a massive chorus. "Evy Remembers" is a wonderful mix of Silvestri's melodic yet gripping writing - when fully unleashed the theme features the composer, the orchestrators, the orchestra and chorus at their best (and the composition even echoes of Silvestri's stirring violins from What Lies Beneath score). The love theme, especially the finale version of it ("The Mummy Returns"), is also splendid.

If only the rest of the score was as good as the above-mentioned ( - if only the movie had included some "brains" and a little less over-blown action - ) this soundtrack would definitely be worth five stars.