A Christmas Carol
Alan Silvestri
" Santa, I would like for Christmas ...the good old Alan Silvestri "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Has Robert Zemeckis' quest to create animated perfection finally found its end? Whether A Christmas Carol is the final film in the trio of animated motion capture movies or not, the movie does look at least like perfection. As what I've read, A Christmas Carol also appears to be one of Charles Dickens most faithful remakes in a long time, capturing word for word dialogue of the book to aid that faithfulness. Starring Jim Carrey as Ebenezer Scrooge, the movie surely looks to become another winner in the long exciting list of Robert Zemeckis movies, and for whatever reason Alan Silvestri is co responsible for that.
The truth is, Alan Silvestri didn't exactly have the best year in musical composition. While Night at the Museum 2 and GI.Joe: The Rise of Cobra promised to become two fun rides, the first turned out to be an exact replica of the first Night at the Museum, while the second was just plain autopilot Silvestri. It really needed to come down to this, and usually for Zemeckis, Silvestri is anything but on autopilot.
Of course A Christmas Carol screams out Silvestri's trademark humbug style. It is dead on Silvestri in tone and composition, and perhaps this is a quality today's personnel lacks too often (namely a recognizable style). Silvestri does not abandon that style and while totally recognizable, A Christmas Carol still dances its sprightly nature straight to your hearts, with a score that mimics The Polar Express' flair and imagination.
And like The Polar Express, A Christmas Carol does this through the help of those good old known jingle bells melodies. Alone number 1 on our lists is "A Christmas Carol Main Title", or the absolutely astonishing cheerful opening of a download only release. In it the charming main theme is duly accounted for.
Question, what does spell out Silvestri's style? Answer Mouse Hunt in "Scrooge Counts Money" and overall the trademark underscore in "Marley's Ghost Visits Scrooge". But this track has the advantage of going a little further, namely through the violin playing in the middle of the track (you will be happily reminded of Drag me to Hell when this happens).
But while this is a tale of some dark moments, we have enough cheerful encores to enlighten us time and time again. "The Ghost of Christmas Past" is one such example, the cheerful main theme moment in "Flight to Fezziwigs" another. The rousing choral carol (say that five times in a row) in "Touch my Robe" alongside the enchanting main theme will surely put you in the holiday mood for sure.
And while "Another Idol Has Replaced Me" and "The Clock Tower" infuse the tale back with its dark intentions, the "Carriage Chase" makes these intentions at least downright riveting. This is the trademark Silvestri style alright, but more inspired than both the stuff of Night at the Museum 2 and GI humbug Joe combined. Because the carols are now a part of the rhythmic action that is pursuing old Scrooge. And those that wanted a good old Silvestri under their Christmas tree, will not be deceived whatsoever.
The tinkling and (at the end) manic "Old Joe and Mrs. Dilber", the mysterious "This Dark Chamber" and the dramatic "None of Us Will Ever Forget" bring us to the dramatic highlight of the score, namely "Who Was That Lying Dead". Choral, dramatic and powerfully inspiring, this is Silvestri at his best. Sadly, I feel the true punch is missing after that, because the score would have soared with an opening track like that for sure. The main theme statements and the carol surely please, but they lack the egg-not I was hoping for. Luckily the magic is surely present when Andrea Bocelli leads us to the main theme song "God Bless Us (Everyone)", and yes Tiny Tim: God Bless Silvestri, everyone!
Because what Alan Silvestri did wrong for Night at the Museum 2 and GI. Joe, he has surely corrected with A Christmas Carol. It has a cheerful main theme, inspiring underscore and a couple of standout moments that make me even forget I was ever mad at the composer in question. But we must be mad, because Alan Silvestri remains of the true last musketeers of filmmusic, and we must expect the best of him each time. Unfair I know, but at least Scrooge unraveled once again the good old Silvestri to put under that Christmas tree. Not as dazzling as The Polar Express, but darn humbug close nonetheless.
Tracklisting
1. A Christmas Carol Main Title (4.21) Excellent track
2. Scrooge Counts Money (0.48)
3. Marley's Ghost Visits Scrooge (6.12)
4. The Ghost of Christmas Past (5.00)
5. Let Us See Another Christmas (1.18)
6. Flight to Fezziwigs (1.28)
7. First Waltz (1.00)
8. Another Idol Has Replaced Me (1.40)
9. Touch my Robe (3.41) Excellent track
10. The Clock Tower (1.50)
11. Carriage Chase (3.24) Excellent track
12. Old Joe and Mrs. Dilber (2.28)
13. This Dark Chamber (1.56)
14. None of Us Will Ever Forget (1.33)
15. Who Was That Lying Dead (3.09) Excellent track
16. I'm Still Here (1.27)
17. Ride on my Good Man (1.04)
18. God Bless Us (Everyone): Andrea Bocelli (3.15) Excellent track
Total Length: 45.28
The truth is, Alan Silvestri didn't exactly have the best year in musical composition. While Night at the Museum 2 and GI.Joe: The Rise of Cobra promised to become two fun rides, the first turned out to be an exact replica of the first Night at the Museum, while the second was just plain autopilot Silvestri. It really needed to come down to this, and usually for Zemeckis, Silvestri is anything but on autopilot.
Of course A Christmas Carol screams out Silvestri's trademark humbug style. It is dead on Silvestri in tone and composition, and perhaps this is a quality today's personnel lacks too often (namely a recognizable style). Silvestri does not abandon that style and while totally recognizable, A Christmas Carol still dances its sprightly nature straight to your hearts, with a score that mimics The Polar Express' flair and imagination.
And like The Polar Express, A Christmas Carol does this through the help of those good old known jingle bells melodies. Alone number 1 on our lists is "A Christmas Carol Main Title", or the absolutely astonishing cheerful opening of a download only release. In it the charming main theme is duly accounted for.
Question, what does spell out Silvestri's style? Answer Mouse Hunt in "Scrooge Counts Money" and overall the trademark underscore in "Marley's Ghost Visits Scrooge". But this track has the advantage of going a little further, namely through the violin playing in the middle of the track (you will be happily reminded of Drag me to Hell when this happens).
But while this is a tale of some dark moments, we have enough cheerful encores to enlighten us time and time again. "The Ghost of Christmas Past" is one such example, the cheerful main theme moment in "Flight to Fezziwigs" another. The rousing choral carol (say that five times in a row) in "Touch my Robe" alongside the enchanting main theme will surely put you in the holiday mood for sure.
And while "Another Idol Has Replaced Me" and "The Clock Tower" infuse the tale back with its dark intentions, the "Carriage Chase" makes these intentions at least downright riveting. This is the trademark Silvestri style alright, but more inspired than both the stuff of Night at the Museum 2 and GI humbug Joe combined. Because the carols are now a part of the rhythmic action that is pursuing old Scrooge. And those that wanted a good old Silvestri under their Christmas tree, will not be deceived whatsoever.
The tinkling and (at the end) manic "Old Joe and Mrs. Dilber", the mysterious "This Dark Chamber" and the dramatic "None of Us Will Ever Forget" bring us to the dramatic highlight of the score, namely "Who Was That Lying Dead". Choral, dramatic and powerfully inspiring, this is Silvestri at his best. Sadly, I feel the true punch is missing after that, because the score would have soared with an opening track like that for sure. The main theme statements and the carol surely please, but they lack the egg-not I was hoping for. Luckily the magic is surely present when Andrea Bocelli leads us to the main theme song "God Bless Us (Everyone)", and yes Tiny Tim: God Bless Silvestri, everyone!
Because what Alan Silvestri did wrong for Night at the Museum 2 and GI. Joe, he has surely corrected with A Christmas Carol. It has a cheerful main theme, inspiring underscore and a couple of standout moments that make me even forget I was ever mad at the composer in question. But we must be mad, because Alan Silvestri remains of the true last musketeers of filmmusic, and we must expect the best of him each time. Unfair I know, but at least Scrooge unraveled once again the good old Silvestri to put under that Christmas tree. Not as dazzling as The Polar Express, but darn humbug close nonetheless.
Tracklisting
1. A Christmas Carol Main Title (4.21) Excellent track
2. Scrooge Counts Money (0.48)
3. Marley's Ghost Visits Scrooge (6.12)
4. The Ghost of Christmas Past (5.00)
5. Let Us See Another Christmas (1.18)
6. Flight to Fezziwigs (1.28)
7. First Waltz (1.00)
8. Another Idol Has Replaced Me (1.40)
9. Touch my Robe (3.41) Excellent track
10. The Clock Tower (1.50)
11. Carriage Chase (3.24) Excellent track
12. Old Joe and Mrs. Dilber (2.28)
13. This Dark Chamber (1.56)
14. None of Us Will Ever Forget (1.33)
15. Who Was That Lying Dead (3.09) Excellent track
16. I'm Still Here (1.27)
17. Ride on my Good Man (1.04)
18. God Bless Us (Everyone): Andrea Bocelli (3.15) Excellent track
Total Length: 45.28