The Desolation of Smaug Score Review

The realm of Middle-Earth returns once again in musical form. And what a glorious visit it is. The incredibly talented Howard Shore has crafted yet another musical masterpiece. I was initially very hesitant to grab this soundtrack (don't mock me, guys) due to the little bit I had heard seeming rather bleak and dull. Several weeks ago, I finally decided to give it a try. Howard Shore, I'm sorry I ever doubted you.

If you are at all familiar with Shore's work, you know he consistently takes thematic approaches to whatever movies he scores. In the soundtrack for An Unexpected Journey (a review will be coming for that one soon, Lord willing), he established a vast number of new themes, but many of the ones we heard predominantly were from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Here, this is absolutely not the case. Nearly every single theme we hear is a new one. The best of the lot is Smaug's theme. I could rave on about it for hours, but to put it briefly: It's incredible. Others that stand out are the theme for Laketown, the Dwarf theme, and several other character themes.

This journey to Middle-Earth feels very much unlike any of the previous ones. The music here is much darker, far more intense, and very emotional. There are moments where hope breaks through the shroud of evil, but they are far fewer than we've come to expect. However, this makes those moments far more powerful than they would be otherwise. I See Fire is a very different credits song. At first listen, I honestly was not very impressed with it. But after listening to it a large number of times, I can say that it's an excellent song. It just may take a few listens to adjust to it.

Highlights include: Flies and Spiders, Feast of Starlight, The Forest River, Kingsfoil, The Hunters, Smaug, My Armor Is Iron, I See Fire, and Beyond the Forest.

Overall, this is another incredible soundtrack from Howard Shore. I'm so tempted to rate it above what I actually can, but I guess I'll have to settle for giving it five raging dragons out of five.

You can buy it here.

Comments

Wonder Woman

Ah, Wonder Woman: the anomaly of the DC Extended Universe is the movie that most of us expected to continue the trend of mediocre or even atrocious films. We were all shocked when it became one of the best-reviewed superhero films of all time. Spoiler alert: I’m about to discuss the ending in detail. The plot is a fairly standard, straightforward origin story. It’s given more depth than usual by the fact that the film is set during World War 1. The pacing of the film’s first act is absolutely impeccable, setting up everything to follow with great efficiency. We’re given time to get to know the characters, understand their motivations, and we’re told the backstory that will play into the film later early on in a completely organic way. After Steve and Diana leave Themyscira, the plot begins to move quickly. After a bit of discussion, they decide to join the war with a small band of men. This is the point at which Diana truly comes...

Avengers: Infinity War

Avengers: Infinity War is the cinematic event of a generation, an unparalleled and previously un-attempted 10-year gamble that paid off. The film is the first part of the culmination of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, masterfully and efficiently tying every previously established story thread into one movie. I’m sure you’re already familiar with the story, but I’ll hit some of the story’s high points just in case you’ve been living under a cultural rock for the last decade. Thanos, one of the universe’s most powerful beings, sets out to attain ultimate power by collecting all six Infinity Stones, each of which grants him a specific type of power. All that stands in his way are the Avengers. Infinity War was always destined to feel more like an event than a film, and those are expectations it easily lives up (or down) to. However, perhaps that’s more of a testament to the MCU’s excellent storytelling than to Infinity War’s preoccupation wi...

A Quiet Place

A Quiet Place is the story of a tight-knit family fighting for survival on an Earth that has been occupied by murderous aliens. A Quiet Place is the third film directed by John Krasinski, as well as the third he’s written. Despite his first two films receiving a lukewarm critical welcome, critics have lavished praise on A Quiet Place , considering it one of the best horror films in years. So, does it live up to the hype? It does. The film is ultimately a tour-de-force in the thriller genre, arriving on the scene and challenging any movie to create even half the tension it possesses. The film’s performances are all excellent. Most stunning, however, are the performances of Noah Jupe and Millicent Simmonds, who play the children in the family beautifully. They are able to capture a range of emotions rarely seen in even adult actors, and both seem to have bright futures ahead. John Krasinski and Emily Blunt have slightly more nuanced roles...

SkyWorld

Search This Blog