Bram Stoker's original literary Van Helsing dispatched his nemeses-of-the-night with but a crucifix, a few simple wooden stakes, and a dash of garlic. But this CGI-driven, 21st century Hollywood take on the vampire hunter ... more »is bigger, bolder, and, judging from veteran Alan Silvestri's thunderous, goth-on-steroids orchestral score, definitely more bombastic. Courtesy of director/big-budget monster revivalist Stephen Sommers (The Mummy, Mummy Returns, The Scoropin King), Hugh Jackman's title character now faces off against Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, a giant werewolf, and Mr. Hyde. With an appropriate lack of subtlety, Silvestri seasons the action set pieces with some gloomy, Herrmann-esque brass, jolting doses of massed percussion, the occasional shrieking choral homage to Carmina Burana--and (for some ears) precious too little of Franz Waxman's haunting, neo-Romantic horror-film lyricism. But then, overwrought popcorn epics call for overwrought popcorn scores, and the bold, epic scale of Silvestri's music can't be denied; it has as much alternately jolting/nervous energy as a double-dose of caffeine. Enhanced CD features include an interactive game trailer, game playing clues, a photo gallery, and preview of a comic book merchandising tie-in. --Jerry McCulley« less
Bram Stoker's original literary Van Helsing dispatched his nemeses-of-the-night with but a crucifix, a few simple wooden stakes, and a dash of garlic. But this CGI-driven, 21st century Hollywood take on the vampire hunter is bigger, bolder, and, judging from veteran Alan Silvestri's thunderous, goth-on-steroids orchestral score, definitely more bombastic. Courtesy of director/big-budget monster revivalist Stephen Sommers (The Mummy, Mummy Returns, The Scoropin King), Hugh Jackman's title character now faces off against Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, a giant werewolf, and Mr. Hyde. With an appropriate lack of subtlety, Silvestri seasons the action set pieces with some gloomy, Herrmann-esque brass, jolting doses of massed percussion, the occasional shrieking choral homage to Carmina Burana--and (for some ears) precious too little of Franz Waxman's haunting, neo-Romantic horror-film lyricism. But then, overwrought popcorn epics call for overwrought popcorn scores, and the bold, epic scale of Silvestri's music can't be denied; it has as much alternately jolting/nervous energy as a double-dose of caffeine. Enhanced CD features include an interactive game trailer, game playing clues, a photo gallery, and preview of a comic book merchandising tie-in. --Jerry McCulley
Powerful and stirring. Alan Silvestri is terrific!
Marcy Gomez | Kansas City, USA | 06/02/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Fans of the film "Van Helsing" or those who enjoy rousing, spectacular soundtracks will no doubt enjoy this amazing score from acclaimed composer Alan Silvestri.Even from the opening scenes of "Van Helsing," I knew I had to buy this soundtrack. The terrific vocals and powerful score bring in mind Holst's "Mars" (also a strong influence in the film GLADIATOR'S opening battle sequence), Orff's "O Fortuna" from Carmina Burana, THE LORD OF THE RINGS' battle sequences music, Mussorsky's "Night of the Bald Mountain" from FANTASIA and the OMEN'S choruses. I am a huge fan of this type of powerful operatic classical music and this soundtrack has quickly become one of my favorite soundtracks.Oh, if only Alan Silvestri had composed the score for the movie "Troy" then it would've become an even more powerful and stirring film! I like all of the tracks but the highlights for me would be "Transylvania 1887," "Journey to Transylvania," "The Attacking Brides," "Transylvanian Horses" and "All Hallows Eve Ball."If you enjoyed this soundtrack then I would also recommend "Simply the Best Classical Anthems" - a masterful compilation of amazing classical works to include Orff, Mussorgsky, Verdi, Holst and others. "Van Helsing" is an amazing score that is stirring and heart-pounding. Highly recommended!"
Gothic bombast!
Tom Knapp | Lancaster, PA USA | 07/14/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Hunting and slaying monsters is boisterous work, and when you're on the job, you want a suitably bombastic soundtrack to reflect your every peril-fraught move. Alan Silvestri's Van Helsing score fits the bill. Unlike the elegant fugues for organ, screeching violins and crashing discords of some classic horror films, Silvestri acknowledges that Van Helsing is less about fear and dramatic tension, more about action and grand effects. So don't listen for musical nuances here; prepare for smashing percussion, blaring brass, chanting choirs and volume, volume, volume."
A Summer Score to Sink Your Fangs Into
G M. Stathis | cedar city, utah USA | 05/06/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The last time Alan Silvestri worked with director Stephen Sommers he produced one of the best adventure scores in his career with "The Mummy Returns" (which is still one of the best features of that film). They have reunited with the new epic, thriller/adventure, tribute to Universal's classic monster films, "Van Helsing." From the first cut "Transylvania 1887," it is clear that this will be a thunderous, pounding ride. Oddly enough, with the exception of Franz Waxman's score for "The Bride of Frankenstein" (a classic film score), music for the Universal monster films was not particularly memorable. Silvestri's excellent score for "Van Helsing" may change that. His dramatic orchestrations and choral arrangements (this writer's favorite bit here) seem perfect for this entry into the horror genre. If there is a down side to the soundtrack recording, however, it is somewhat brief at just under forty-five minutes. Nicely produced and packaged by Decca (with some moderate enhanced features), this is a summer soundtrack to sink your fangs into and enjoy!"
A Separate Piece
William Smith | Djacarta | 05/09/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is another score that is as much fun listening to cold, without having seen the movie, as it is an accompaniment to what I thought was a decent flick. Alan Silvestri is one of those composers that, even though he evolves his themes from one film to the next, is still reliably excellent.It may not be complex, and it may not be a groundbreaking effort at film-scoring, but the music to what is simply a monster-fest is well made and well suited to the characters and action on-screen One peculiar thing I noticed about the score was the fact that despite the two or three distinct themes for different aspects of the film, the score on a whole is a fluid romp of action sequences and suspense. Most scores -feel- broken apart, starting and stopping in places, like a moving vehicle that brakes too much. The Van Helsing score is non-stop and a thrill to listen to."