I wasn't expecting much from the previews, but I found the movie to be very well done, especially in the casting department. I haven't read the book, so I don't know how alike the two are, but the movie is very good.

The music by Richard Harvey (who I have never heard of) was excellent! It was done by a large orchestra, and it was spectacularly written. It featured a sweeping, sometimes heroic main theme, some great dramatic and action moments, and even a choir!

The soundtrack will apparently be released in a few days by Varese. There was also a good deal of source music. But Varese's web site mentions nothing of it, so I'll have to scour the Internet for some track listings to see what's included...

Did anyone else catch this one?

James
NP - Music from the Galaxies (****)

By the end, I was left mouth agape by such a waste of talent both in front and behind the scenes. The movie was brilliant right to its totally idiotic conclusion, which corrupts the authors message completely by inserting a silly happy ending. My advice is to read the book, which isn't much over a hundred pages and is an absoloute masterpiece.

ANIMAL FARM
Music Composed and Conducted by Richard Harvey
Produced by Richard Harvey
Executive Producer: Robert Townson

Varese Sarabande 302 066 082 2

1. “Storm of Judgment” / Main Title (1:44)
2. “Dumb Animals...” (2:29)
3. Meeting in the Barn (2:05)
4. Old Major’s Last Words / “Beasts of the World” (2:51)
5. “We Can Help Ourselves” (3:33)
6. The Battle of the Barn (2:08)
7. “At Last We Were Free” (2:43)
8. In the House / Commandments (3:20)
9. The Harvest and the Flag (2:59)
10. The Pigs Take Control (2:34)
11. The Big Battle (5:45)
12. Snowball Banished (1:22)
13. “Long Live Animal Farm” / The Windmill (4:15)
14. “Let Me Explain” (1:07)
15. Jones Destroys the Windmill (2:03)
16. “Glorious Leader Napoleon!” - Squealer’s Song (2:30)
17. “All Hens are Criminals!” / The Pigs Get Drunk (2:14)
18. “Guilty!” (1:54)
19. Boxer’s Fate (4:51)
20. “More Equal Than Others” (4:17)
21. The Song of the Grateful Duck (2:25)
22. “We Were Never Free” (2:41)
23. End Titles (3:42)

Total Time: About 61:32

Hope this anwsers your questions about track listings

--Crono/Kyp
Writer/Director/Producer

NP: Meet Joe Black: Thomas Newman (RATING PENDING)

James
NP - Dangerous Beauty (*****)

quote:

---

Originally posted by Al:
There is a theme in it that seems to be taken directly from Armageddon.

---

I, too, despised the animated "Animal Farm" and loved the book. But I really enjoyed this new movie version, which I felt effectively captured the spirit of the original work.

Ted: addressing your specific concern about the ending ...

The novel, as you know, was a blatant metaphor for the rise and condition of communism. Orwell did not know how it would turn out. Predicting the future was not the point of the book.

The filmmakers, on the other hand, had the benefit of hindsight. We KNOW what happened to communism in Russia. It crumbled. Hence, I had no real problem with the epilogue. (It was a tad optimistic for Orwell, but it didn't completely negate the book.)

Also, I APPLAUD the filmmakers addition of propaganda film to the mix! That was an injection of dread satire that I found eminently worthy of Orwell, and it provided the best musical cue of the score, along with the film's most chilling moments.

I also applaud the songs, which, being heard, enhanced the story in a way the book could not. They were all great additions, especially "The Song of the Grateful Duck."

Kudos also go to Henson's creature shop, and the voice actors, especially Grammar and Stewart. Bravo! The music was absolutely fantastic (I own the soundtrack) and Peter Posthlewaith (I have no idea how to spell or pronounce his name) was terrific. Overall, I found this movie to be a worthy companion to the book, but not a substitute. You could even argue that it is indispensible, because it contains quality elements which the book lacks.