MovieMusic.com Message Boards: Sahara

Message Boards

Movie Soundtracks

Sahara

Archive of old forum. No more postings.

Please visit our new forum, The MovieMusic Lobby, to post new topics.

Author	Topic: Sahara

sean Standard Userer	This is a so-so film. It's got four or more screenwriters attached to it, so see what can be salvaged from that. Aside from the strange inclusion of a deadly plague/virus plot, it's alright; much more entertaining and funny than National Treasure was. The two big action sequences in Sahara really stand out and apart from the rest of the filler: the exciting boat chase and the helicopter chase near the end through the desert ... both are well shot and executed. But, the score during the action is even better: I'd say it's like the James Bond-sound versus Jerry Goldsmith—the hero theme is obviously Goldsmith-inspired. Clint Mansell doesn't ring any bells, so this was a first for me. And it's his music in the two action scenes (mentioned above) that really shines in the picture, and also the opening cue summons great adventure to come. There's an unfortunate tendency in the movie to rely on rock songs from the 1970's to carry some scenes and it doesn't hold them up that well (as usual). The rest of the score dwells on that Hans Zimmer/Baaba Maal/Lebo M African-sound that's already been established in Black Hawk Down and Tears of the Sun. It doesn't detract, but's far from the exciting brass-heavy action material from the showcase chase sequences. Overall: bravo!
posted 04-08-2005 02:23 PM PT (US)

rkeaveney Standard Userer	Unfortunately the Rykodisc SAHARA soundtrack only includes 1 Clint Mansell track and too many old "favorites" that can be found in three seconds on Limewire. Ryan
posted 04-08-2005 08:50 PM PT (US)

Steve Hughes Standard Userer	Anyone know how long the score track is on the CD? And which piece of score it is? Ta.
posted 04-09-2005 03:40 AM PT (US)

Squiddybop Standard Userer	The track is Boat Montage, and it looks to run about two minutes twenty seconds. http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?userid=gu5HaoTAUc&EAN=14431080722&ITM=1
posted 04-09-2005 04:00 AM PT (US)

PeterK FishChip	It's a percussive piece with no hint of brooding orchestra, like a Brazilian/North African mix of bongos, middle eastern (or likely made up) wailing vocals and weird electric guitar. Nothing on this CD suggests there is any Bond- or Goldsmith-inspired music at all in the movie. There should be a score release if the movie does well enough!
posted 04-09-2005 11:28 AM PT (US)

sean Standard Userer	<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=1 face=arial>quote:</font><HR size=1>Originally posted by PeterK: It's a percussive piece with no hint of brooding orchestra, like a Brazilian/North African mix of bongos, middle eastern (or likely made up) wailing vocals and weird electric guitar. Nothing on this CD suggests there is any Bond- or Goldsmith-inspired music at all in the movie. There should be a score release if the movie does well enough!<HR size=1></BLOCKQUOTE> Yeah, it's strange how the score really has two different faces ... Like the piece Peter describes here and what I was thinking of, and most enjoyed, in the film: the heroic, percussive and brass-heavy orchestral action music. It's almost as if they stuck the least significant piece of score on this song-track release. (I really wish it listed "Boat Chase," instead of "Boat Montage" ... that woulda' been satisfying.) M: I 2 is like that also: Hans Zimmer or Mitchell Lieb should have picked something more significant and metal sounding for the song album, rather than the Latin-flavoured Nyah theme; good as it is, it isn't something terribly desired from Zimmer's music, considering the rest of the score, and it's an odd inclusion on that CD. NP: Lionheart (Jerry Goldsmith) ***/*** [Message edited by sean on 04-09-2005]
posted 04-09-2005 01:45 PM PT (US)

Jeron Standard Userer	Just got back from seeing the film. Great stuff - I had a blast. I really enjoyed the score, it was something I wasn't expecting from Clint Mansell. It's by no means a masterpiece, but it's wonderful fun, and the big brass orchestral portions are totally energized. Nicholas Dodd's imprint is also all over the orchestration -- you can really tell nowadays when he's worked on a score. Some of the action music really leans in the direction of Arnoldesqueness, similar to how one or two of Joel Goldsmith's cues from Kull the Conqueror do as well. Certainly not a complaint, though -- it's a sound I always look forward to hearing. The audience seemed to have a good time, so hopefully that's an indication of the overall success of the film. I sure would love to get my hands on a score album. [Message edited by Jeron on 04-11-2005]
posted 04-11-2005 01:19 AM PT (US)

gsmed Non-Standard Userer	While I enjoyed Boat Montage, my wife and I are trying to source some of the softer vocal "africansk" music in the film. Anyone have any ideas?
posted 04-11-2005 08:00 PM PT (US)

PeterK FishChip	Score release finally set for 6/28
posted 06-11-2005 01:45 PM PT (US)

JackChase007 Non-Standard Userer	In terms of the movie, if you even moderately enjoyed it, I highly recommend reading the novel by Clive Cussler - I'm a huge fan of his, and have been more or less waiting for the film for awhile. No, the film didn't totally live up to expectations, as is usually the case, but it's certainly a far cry better than the last time they tried to adapt one of Cussler's novels, Raise The Titanic. Can't wait to get my hands on that score album!
posted 06-12-2005 02:59 PM PT (US)

TimT Standard Userer	Anyone pick this score up today? What do you think?
posted 06-28-2005 03:17 PM PT (US)

Demetris Christodoulides Standard Userer	Here comes the first SCORE review off Mansell's Sahara: http://www.soundtrack.net/soundtracks/database/?id=4013 "I would also love to hear Mansell develop his theme further as Pitt moves to a different location. But whether or not that happens, this album is a journey you should take." "...must say that Mansell produced an excellent score for Sahara that nicely establishes the character of Dirk Pitt." 4/5
posted 07-01-2005 07:27 PM PT (US)

zimmerito Standard Userer	its a very rich score. With very ethnic moments and with great powerfull action tracks. But its a too long release.sometimes is boring. And this Barry/arnold touch make me think Mansell don't have an own style.
posted 07-01-2005 09:07 PM PT (US)

Kris Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by Jeron: Nicholas Dodd's imprint is also all over the orchestration -- you can really tell nowadays when he's worked on a score. Some of the action music really leans in the direction of Arnoldesqueness, similar to how one or two of Joel Goldsmith's cues from Kull the Conqueror do as well. Certainly not a complaint, though -- it's a sound I always look forward to hearing. I was listening to this score for the very first time while drving to work this morning. I was also thinking this sounded like Dodd was involved. I wonder if they used Arnold's James Bond scores as a temp track.
posted 07-14-2005 01:28 AM PT (US)

JackChase007 Non-Standard Userer	Just got this recently - haven't gotten the time to give it a good sit-through, but I've been able to check out most of it, and from what I've heard, I'm very happy. The action cues are top-notch.
posted 07-14-2005 06:10 AM PT (US)

BMikeJ Standard Userer	Totally agreed. This album is a lot of fun. Sure, it's a bit like a Bond score but I think there's a nice mix of styles on there.
posted 07-14-2005 07:50 AM PT (US)

JackChase007 Non-Standard Userer	Absolutely - most of the ethnic stuff is quite beautiful. Actually, I'm listening to the CD as I type, and "Death In The Desert" is very nice, emotional track. Ever since I found out that they were making a "Sahara" movie, I was very excited and looked forward to the score - so we're talking about four, five years right there. And thankfully, Mansell's score has lived up to my expectations. Part of me wants to see them make another Dirk Pitt movie just so Mansell can give us another wonderful score...
posted 07-14-2005 07:38 PM PT (US)

JackChase007 Non-Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by zimmerito: And this Barry/arnold touch make me think Mansell don't have an own style. You came to this conclusion from hearing only one of his scores?
posted 07-14-2005 07:41 PM PT (US)

Old Infopop Software by UBB