Steel Is Back, And Refreshingly Strong
Reigning Super Bowl champs the Pittsburgh Steelers? Yes, you guys have returned, but sit down. The real Man of Steel is back, and so is his inseparable theme music. So great a theme is Superman's, even ghetto heroes pimpin' to boom box beats in the 70s stopped in their struts to say what. Fast forward almost thirty years and here we are, old fashioned moviegoers thinking how cool it is to see an ancient friend: a triumphant main title sequence roused with soaring music. Original themes by John Williams from the 1978 picture are reverently regarded by composer/editor John Ottman, and rightfully so. "Egos were set aside," Ottman says, noting his intent to right a musical wrong introduced by the three sequel movies made in the 80s (specifically that they featured virtually no new music, instead tragically opting to re-use music from the first film). Humbly scoring a new Superman is no easy feat, although preserving big orchestral horns and strings goes a long way in keeping the faith. The Superman Returns soundtrack (Rhino) offers a thrill of a ride, bowing to its father as expected with impossibly human bombast; yet the reason we rewind and listen all over again is found in restrained emotional passages throughout the album. Call it Superman's music for discovering the soul... there's an intricate subculture of solo harp, piano and wind instruments, all comforted by soft trembling strings that certainly warm the cockles, but (of course) with minor tones, as we all know trying for an intimate love life while saving the world is simply not gonna happen. But such lofty goals are worth the try, right? John Ottman must think so, otherwise there's no explanation for his big (and we mean big) choir to support such goings on. Overall, this one's a thumbs up for fans, new and old. It's been a long time, and maybe we like it that way.
PK (6/28/2006)see all reviews, or add a review
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