Search - John Ottman, Damon Intrabartolo, The Hollywood Symphony Orchestra :: Superman Returns [Music from the Motion Picture]

Both the Superman Returns Score & Ottoman Unfairly Reviewed

07/03/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have looked at some of these reviews with great sadness. How can someone truly evaluate a score when they haven't even heard it?



Ottoman's work is a wonderful expansion of William's original score. Fans of the original Superman score will find all their original favorites there -- including the Superman Theme in all its glory. The other main themes from the original Superman theme, including "The Planet Krypton" as well as "Leaving Home" and "Can You Read My Mind?" are all to be found as motifs and new creations on the Superman Returns soundtrack.



I especially consider Ottoman's reweaving of "How Could You Have Left Us" as a wonderful expansion and reworking of "Can You Read My Mind?"... possibly as an improvement on the original theme given the expanded choral preformances and subtle changes in instrumentation.



If I had one theme that I wished Ottoman had included more in the film it would be the Smallville/Kent Farm theme of "Leaving Home" which can be found in the film, but it is sprinkled throughout here and there.



All in all, I highly recommend this score to fans of the original who can appreciate it as an EXPANSION but NOT a REPLACEMENT for the original soundtrack.



To those purists who have been so hard on John Ottoman (and Bryan Singer in general) I would offer this piece of advice -- lighten up. Is Ottoman John Williams? No. But he has made a wonderful start to improving the wonderful world of music which John Williams has created.



And to the reviewer who has slighted "younger" composers of today including Ottoman, Hans Zimmer, and Howard Shore... I don't think you are listening to the same instrumental soundtracks as the rest of us are. Great composers that will one day follow in Williams footsteps are around -- I specifically site Trevor Jones, Randy Endelman, Rachel Portman, Michael Nyman, and George Fenton among others. They just need to be given a chance to be appreciated in THEIR OWN RIGHT instead of being slammed for "not being INSERT COMPOSERS NAME."~"

John Williams Would be Proud

Marc Klein | Brooklyn, NY | 06/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When Bryan Singer announced that his editor, John Ottman, would be scoring Superman Returns, two questions came to mind. Would the Superman Theme we all know and love be used? And, why not invite John Williams back to revisit an old friend?



To answer the first question, Singer stated that he always intended to use the Superman Theme because you can't make a Superman movie and not have it. That's like making a Star Trek movie and not using the Star Trek Theme. Not only did he use the main theme, but others as well. In fact, the whole album is based on Williams score and Ottman just builds from it. Everything is here in one form or another.



There are snippets from "Death of Jonathan Kent" as well as "The Fortress of Solitude." Also, we get "The Love Theme" in an abbrviated version. March of the Villians is here to but you need to pay close attention to catch it.



So your probably rhinking that the Superman Returns score is just a rehash of Williams score right? Actually, no. While Ottman uses bits and pieces from Williams, he builds from that with newly written meatrial. And it's just as exciting and memorable as Williams's. One new thing that is really nice is that Superman now has a Personal Theme and one that's played throughout the film. It's touching, emotional and beautiful.



You can tell that Williams was an influence on Ottman because like Williams score for Superman, Ottman here also uses a lot of precussion, string, wind instruments. For added effect, a choir's been added which somehow uses the Love Theme instead of the "Can You Read My Mind" and on Superman's Personal Theme.



The Cd also comes with enhanced stuff. Not much when you look it but still a treat. What's the enhanced stuff? It's:

1) 2 Trailers

2) A session of recording the Superman Theme

3) Trailer for Suoperman Documentry.



The score's not bad. In fact, it's great and Ottman did a wonderful job. There are different types of music here that relate to specific scenes in the film and he has done a superb job with it.



As for Williams, I have a hunch he was asked but had to decline because of prior commitments which is a shame because it wou;d have been nice seeing the guy who wrote one of the most popular scores(Oscar Nominated)come back to do it all again.



Well Mr. Williams, here's your chance to visit with your old friend for the sequal."

Superman Returns!

Jordan Utz | Salem, Massachusetts | 06/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A smooth and action packed soundtrack, simular to the Incredibles. This soundtrack is fun to listen to and has that "Superhero" score in it. This soundtrack has some tracks that are easy to listen to and some are very loud and hard to listen to, but still are quite enjoyable, John Ottman doing it again and composing yet another wonderful soundtrack! This is highly recommended, and so is the exciting movie!



1. Main Titles 5/5

2. Memories 5/5

3. Rough Flight 4/5

4. Little Secrets/Power Of The Sun 5/5

5. Bank Job 4/5

6. How Could YOU Leave Us? 5/5

7. Tell Me Everything 4/5

8. You'e Not One Of Them 5/5

9. Not Like The Train Set 4/5

10. So Long Superman 5/5

11. The People You Care For 5/5

12. I Wanted You To Know 4/5

13. Saving The World 5/5 (Exciting)

14. IN THE HANDS OF MORTALS 4/5

15. Reprise / Fly Away 5/5



A Beautiful and Energetic film soundtrack! Hope you enjoy!



Jordan

Overall grade* A-

"