Elliot Goldenthal's score perfectly captures the mood of the film, from the opening notes of "Libera Me" to the reprise of "Born to Darkness" at the end. He builds on a few basic themes, adding excitement to the mix with t... more »he high-intensity "Louis' Revenge" and "Claudia's Allegro Agitato." As some of the track titles suggest, Goldenthal uses classical themes and techniques to compose his music, which works nicely. So well, in fact, that the Guns n Roses' rendition of "Sympathy for the Devil," appropriate as it was in the film, sounds like an afterthought here. The soundtrack is a little too repetitive to hold up well to repeated listens, but it's a fine effort overall, and one that holds true both to the film and to the Anne Rice novel on which it was based. --Genevieve Williams« less
Elliot Goldenthal's score perfectly captures the mood of the film, from the opening notes of "Libera Me" to the reprise of "Born to Darkness" at the end. He builds on a few basic themes, adding excitement to the mix with the high-intensity "Louis' Revenge" and "Claudia's Allegro Agitato." As some of the track titles suggest, Goldenthal uses classical themes and techniques to compose his music, which works nicely. So well, in fact, that the Guns n Roses' rendition of "Sympathy for the Devil," appropriate as it was in the film, sounds like an afterthought here. The soundtrack is a little too repetitive to hold up well to repeated listens, but it's a fine effort overall, and one that holds true both to the film and to the Anne Rice novel on which it was based. --Genevieve Williams
"I found this CD very dark. Duh! But every time I listen to it, it takes me to a different world. The first song, Libera Me is soooo beautiful. You can actually feel the sadness and whole darkness of it. The reason I even wacthed the movie in the first place was because of the music. Although, the very last song kills the rest of it. When I'm listening to the whole CD and when I come to the end, the Guns N' Roses song, kills the whole atmosphere.That is my only complaint about this CD. Everything else is Perfect!!!"
Haunting Excellence
neocrow | Portland, Oregon USA | 12/08/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This score... inappropriately called a soundtrack is wonderful. It captures the ambiance and quiet evil of the film and the character of Lestat was well as Louis' struggle to undo what he has become. Haunting is a word I would choose to describe this work best, because that is exactly what it is. Try turning out the lights and listening to this CD, and you will know what I mean."
Something Missing
SeaVixen3@hotmail.com | Pennsylvania, U.S. | 02/28/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Goldenthal's music is superb and very fitting in capturing the mood of the movie, it also stands well by itself on this excellent soundtrack. The song 'Libera Me'is especially haunting. I was however, distressed to note that the many wonderful classical songs from the movie were not included; especially the Hadyn sonata that Lestat plays. Perhaps these songs would have not fit on this CD...but it is not complete without them."
Beautiful, romantic, dark, but....
magla | Dreamscape | 07/19/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This score perfectly captures dark atmosphere of the movie. Some tracks are haunting, some are more peaceful, but they somehow belong together. Elliot Goldenthal did a great job to create one of the best scores of the '90. Listen to in the dark and you will appreciate this masterpiece even more. Only reason I rated it 4 stars is because of forgettable Guns N' Roses' cover song. Do yourself a favor and stop playing after 18 track is finished."
Haunting, Beautiful Perfection
Juri Arisugawa | Brooklyn, NY | 05/30/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am a big fan of film scores, and I don't think I've ever heard a score that so perfectly captures the mood of a film as well as this one--before or since. Every single track is a brilliant interpretation of the deep range of emotions in this film, lovingly depicting the feelings of the characters: from Lestat's whimsy decadance, to Claudia's rage, Louis' despair at the monster he's become. The haunting baroque-influenced songs are simply beautiful, and do a wonderful job of setting the atmosphere of 18th century New Orleans, and then 19th century Paris. Elliot Goldenthal is a talented composer, and this is quite simply some of his best work.I think people who criticize the Guns and Roses cover of Sympathy For the Devil as being out of place are utterly missing the point of the song and why it was in the movie. It's the perfect cap to the soundtrack, for one simple reason: the lyrics are completely, utterly Lestat. Being a huge fan of the Vampire Chronicles I always hoped they'd use the song in a movie based on one of the books. Context is everything, and when viewed within the proper context it makes perfect sense. It's clearly meant to represent a transition to a new phase in Lestat's life, the evolution of the old world aristocrat into modern rock star, and Neil Jordan even says as much in his Director's Commentary on the DVD. The final scene of Lestat driving over the Golden Gate Bridge, having just bitten Daniel Malloy, is nowhere in the novel but Jordan included it in the movie to give a taste of where Lestat was heading in the future. It's fine enough not to like the song on its own merits (personally, I love the GnR version), but I think people need to understand *why* the song was included in the movie and thus the soundtrack before they jump all over it."