by diachenko on 8/2/2008
 
While Randy Edelman isn't an Alan Silvestri or a Jerry Goldsmith, he has written some very nice scores in the past, and I've been hoping he would return to the action/adventure genre. Though he's had some big budgets (XXX, Anaconda), big ideas (The Ten Commandments), and action comedies (Black Knight, Shanghai Noon) to work with, this is his first real action/adventure epic since Dragonheart. Mummy 3 is most akin to that score, in all the best ways. Again, if all 3 Mummy scores are compared, this would be last (following Silvestri's Mummy Returns, then Goldsmith's The Mummy), but taken on its own merits, it's quite an enjoyable thrill ride.

The CD starts with a bang, presenting the main theme in all its glory, a wonderfully big, epic tune played by the brass against strings and percussion. From there the album never lets up. Edelman clearly is relishing this assignment, as he mixes thrilling action music, quiet and contemplative passages, and just enough Chinese instrumentation to give the flavor of the region. Through it all, that main theme recurs in many disguises, holding it all together. This is one of the most fun things I've listened to in a while. It's music that revels in its fun, over-the-top, almost-serious-but- not-quite subject matter. Good to have this composer back in the game.