The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Hans Zimmer
" Hans Zimmer revives his comic voice "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the deluxe edition
The money making machine of Marvel is on fire, and everybody has to be on board one way or another. When James Horner rather surprisingly scored The Amazing Spider-Man well ... so amazingly, he made it sure it was a one time deal. It wasn't his cup of tea and he only did it for his friend Marc Webb. That opened possibilities for someone else to make it equally memorable. But somehow Hans Zimmer wasn't the man most people wanted to see for that vacancy, considering his latest attempt at comics was still lingering behind in a bad way. No matter the work that went in it, Man of Steel was simply not the right way to publically present an icon of superheroes.
So, the moment Hans Zimmer was called on board, it was pretty clear that he had to change his act. The level of criticism attacked Hans really vividly and somehow even Marc Webb must have made it quite clear that he was very happy with the sound (more specifically the theme) that James Horner established for the franchise. So, we were quite positively caught off guard the moment we heard the main theme for the very first time. This was not Man of Steel, this was every bit James Horner and it was most specifically a HEROIC THEME you could do business with. The only question was now, could they (Hans Zimmer and The Magnificent Six) revive the rest as well?
Well they did, and rather catchy I might add. Though this album doesn't present it a lot, we have a silly little tune for Max, the sad little worker that transforms to the villain Electro the moment he gets in contact with some deadly eels. The moment Electro is born, a new sound is born with him. And it's specifically this sound that creates the biggest impact of all. In the film it's amazing considering it does give the scene and the character a rather humongous ominous feeling. Plus the fact it's catchy, innovating and daring. Just the kind of qualities we like to hear in today's filmmusic. The only complaint is that it doesn't present several cues as we heard them in the film.
With that I'm specifically looking at the big Electro fight sequence (which lacks Spiderman's heroic moments at the end). A sad little reminder is that this album also doesn't present the opening plane sequence, the opening Spider-man truck scene (only as bonus cue) and parts of the final battle music. This pretty much means that the heroic theme isn't used very much, something that was quite clearly the opposite in the film. A theme doesn't need to fill in each specific cue on the album, but there are moments where heroism has to be on board.
What we do have is the creation of sounds for each villain. Both Electro and The Goblin have walls of sound raging forward. Creating in a way entertaining sound design, in another way effective & dangerous villainous music. To heighten the conspiracy even more, Zimmer & consorts created a conspiracy motif as well, elevating the secrets that Peter's father was trying to hide from his son in "There He Is" and "Special Project", while it's even supported by the use of several wondrous fanfares in "I Need to Know".
But in the end, the cues I remember the most are the ones that created the biggest impact in the film. As said "My Enemy" is the cream of the crop if it ever came down to innovation and inspiration. The brief Max theme is only a tiny wire in the humongous web, full of raging electronic music and daring use of whispering chanting like 'he lied to me', 'he's afraid of me', 'he's dead to me'. In the film it's even better due to the fact it's underscoring expressive facial acting by Jamie Foxx, which makes it actually scarier than perhaps intended. Anyway, the cue is a triumph. Because let's face it, this is an idea, a daring idea that somehow works. This could have failed, but it doesn't (at least not for me). The effect returns in "Still Crazy", only this time more counteracted by the heroic Spidey theme.
After that, the Electro rage does return (though without the vocals), morphing more or less into the Goblin sound that is sadly less entertaining. Effective yes, but less refined. "I'm Goblin" and "Sum Total" (which is fueled by Electro's raging sound design as well) are parts of the Goblin puzzle.
The main theme is believe it or not much more used as emotional theme, presented by piano, guitar and even woodwind versions when Peter, Gwen and Harry fill up the room. Stuff like "Ground Rules", "You Need Me" and "You're my Boy" transform into the new love or friendship's theme after a while ("Moving to England", "The Rest of my Life" and the wonderful "We're Best Friends" which holds that charming woodwinds version).
But what I like the most about the album's presentation is that despite we heard the heroic spidey theme before ("I'm Spider-Man, "My Enemy", "So Much Anger" and "Still Crazy"), it comes as no surprise it's finest performance is held for last. I can't describe it, but there's an additional level of coolness to "You're That Spider Guy", linking itself for the first time to Horner's original theme (especially through the trumpets signing off at 4.30). So, you could bitch about the fact there aren't that many main theme versions on board, but you can't deny the brilliance of them each time they grow larger and stronger.
The second CD, only available once you go for the deluxe edition has several additional tracks. Including the awesome "Cold War" cue which is the Spidey truck sequence of the opening, holding that awesome heroic main theme I was seriously looking forward to once I heard it in the film. Basically it's the heroic version of the final track but now on the tempo of the chase, interrupted briefly by Max' silly theme as Spider-Man rescues him (and his blueprints) for the first time. In a way it's sad you have to hear a significant track as bonus material, but at least it's available if you go deluxe. The 2 extra bonuses are long suites of each villain. "Harry's Suite" is a mix between the ambient sound he's been given throughout the first CD, but with the additional lonely emotion that haunts him (highlighted by violin), preceded by "The Electro Suite", which is a 12 minute exercise of Electro's 2 note charge motif and the constant chanting which is less ominous here. Though they are a nice addition, these are typical bonus cues while "Cold War" is the real deal, a bonafied necessary film cue which didn't deserve its place on the bench (meaning the bonus disc).
Meaning, just like the Man of Steel album, there are 2 versions available of The Amazing Spider-Man 2. The significant difference is, this time there's something right and something wrong with the album. On a positive note, I love the way the album's presented. It has a perfect balance between calm track, big track, naughty track, heroic track, housing the incredible feeling this selection has been thrown together to create the perfect listening experience. On the negative note, one track ought to be there as well, and it's sad one of the best heroic action pieces is available as bonus material. You can't ignore the fact Spider-Man is also a heroic character, and the lack of several exciting action moments could have elevated the presentation even more. So, against my own judgment, the deluxe edition is the best way to go, if solely for the heroic action version that is seriously missing on the 1 disc release. But in general, though The Amazing Spider-Man 2 lacks a bit of additional heroism, it's a big improvement on Man of Steel, having the perfect HEROIC sound that was completely lacking in MOS. Meaning Spidey has the fun that Superman couldn't have. Way to use that criticism in a positive way Mr. Zimmer.
Favorite Moment - You're That Spider-Guy (3.45 - 4.41)
Though I enjoy the whole "Cold War" cue more, there is something totally amazing about that incredible main theme version
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (1 disc release) ***
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2 CD Deluxe Edition) ***1/2
Track Listing
CD 1: 54.20
1. I'm Electro (0.46)
2. There He Is (2.54)
3. I'm Spider-Man (1.04)
4. My Enemy (8.17) Excellent track
5. Ground Rules (1.11)
6. Look at Me (3.10)
7. Special Project (3.14)
8. You Need Me (3.17)
9. So Much Anger (2.12)
10. I'm Moving to England (1.03)
11. I'm Goblin (3.42)
12. Let Her Go (0.33)
13. You're My Boy (2.57)
14. I Need to Know (5.00)
15. Sum Total (2.51)
16. I Chose You (1.34)
17. We're Best Friends (2.17)
18. Still Crazy (2.42)
19. The Rest of My Life (2.28)
20. You're That Spider Guy (5.29) Excellent track
CD 2: 58.30
1. The Electro Suite (12.36)
2. Harry's Suite (10.07)
3. Cold War (3.28) Excellent track
4. No Place Like Home (1.53)
5. It's On Again: Alicia Keys featuring Kendrick Lamar (3.50)
6. Song for Zula: Phosphorescent (6.09)
7. That's My Man: Liz (3.47)
8. Here: Pharrell Williams (4.38)
9. Honest: The Neighbourhood (3.57)
10. Within the Web: Czarina Russell, Hans Zimmer and The Magnificent Six (4.30)
11. Electro Remix: Alvin Risk and Hans Zimmer (3.27)
So, the moment Hans Zimmer was called on board, it was pretty clear that he had to change his act. The level of criticism attacked Hans really vividly and somehow even Marc Webb must have made it quite clear that he was very happy with the sound (more specifically the theme) that James Horner established for the franchise. So, we were quite positively caught off guard the moment we heard the main theme for the very first time. This was not Man of Steel, this was every bit James Horner and it was most specifically a HEROIC THEME you could do business with. The only question was now, could they (Hans Zimmer and The Magnificent Six) revive the rest as well?
Well they did, and rather catchy I might add. Though this album doesn't present it a lot, we have a silly little tune for Max, the sad little worker that transforms to the villain Electro the moment he gets in contact with some deadly eels. The moment Electro is born, a new sound is born with him. And it's specifically this sound that creates the biggest impact of all. In the film it's amazing considering it does give the scene and the character a rather humongous ominous feeling. Plus the fact it's catchy, innovating and daring. Just the kind of qualities we like to hear in today's filmmusic. The only complaint is that it doesn't present several cues as we heard them in the film.
With that I'm specifically looking at the big Electro fight sequence (which lacks Spiderman's heroic moments at the end). A sad little reminder is that this album also doesn't present the opening plane sequence, the opening Spider-man truck scene (only as bonus cue) and parts of the final battle music. This pretty much means that the heroic theme isn't used very much, something that was quite clearly the opposite in the film. A theme doesn't need to fill in each specific cue on the album, but there are moments where heroism has to be on board.
What we do have is the creation of sounds for each villain. Both Electro and The Goblin have walls of sound raging forward. Creating in a way entertaining sound design, in another way effective & dangerous villainous music. To heighten the conspiracy even more, Zimmer & consorts created a conspiracy motif as well, elevating the secrets that Peter's father was trying to hide from his son in "There He Is" and "Special Project", while it's even supported by the use of several wondrous fanfares in "I Need to Know".
But in the end, the cues I remember the most are the ones that created the biggest impact in the film. As said "My Enemy" is the cream of the crop if it ever came down to innovation and inspiration. The brief Max theme is only a tiny wire in the humongous web, full of raging electronic music and daring use of whispering chanting like 'he lied to me', 'he's afraid of me', 'he's dead to me'. In the film it's even better due to the fact it's underscoring expressive facial acting by Jamie Foxx, which makes it actually scarier than perhaps intended. Anyway, the cue is a triumph. Because let's face it, this is an idea, a daring idea that somehow works. This could have failed, but it doesn't (at least not for me). The effect returns in "Still Crazy", only this time more counteracted by the heroic Spidey theme.
After that, the Electro rage does return (though without the vocals), morphing more or less into the Goblin sound that is sadly less entertaining. Effective yes, but less refined. "I'm Goblin" and "Sum Total" (which is fueled by Electro's raging sound design as well) are parts of the Goblin puzzle.
The main theme is believe it or not much more used as emotional theme, presented by piano, guitar and even woodwind versions when Peter, Gwen and Harry fill up the room. Stuff like "Ground Rules", "You Need Me" and "You're my Boy" transform into the new love or friendship's theme after a while ("Moving to England", "The Rest of my Life" and the wonderful "We're Best Friends" which holds that charming woodwinds version).
But what I like the most about the album's presentation is that despite we heard the heroic spidey theme before ("I'm Spider-Man, "My Enemy", "So Much Anger" and "Still Crazy"), it comes as no surprise it's finest performance is held for last. I can't describe it, but there's an additional level of coolness to "You're That Spider Guy", linking itself for the first time to Horner's original theme (especially through the trumpets signing off at 4.30). So, you could bitch about the fact there aren't that many main theme versions on board, but you can't deny the brilliance of them each time they grow larger and stronger.
The second CD, only available once you go for the deluxe edition has several additional tracks. Including the awesome "Cold War" cue which is the Spidey truck sequence of the opening, holding that awesome heroic main theme I was seriously looking forward to once I heard it in the film. Basically it's the heroic version of the final track but now on the tempo of the chase, interrupted briefly by Max' silly theme as Spider-Man rescues him (and his blueprints) for the first time. In a way it's sad you have to hear a significant track as bonus material, but at least it's available if you go deluxe. The 2 extra bonuses are long suites of each villain. "Harry's Suite" is a mix between the ambient sound he's been given throughout the first CD, but with the additional lonely emotion that haunts him (highlighted by violin), preceded by "The Electro Suite", which is a 12 minute exercise of Electro's 2 note charge motif and the constant chanting which is less ominous here. Though they are a nice addition, these are typical bonus cues while "Cold War" is the real deal, a bonafied necessary film cue which didn't deserve its place on the bench (meaning the bonus disc).
Meaning, just like the Man of Steel album, there are 2 versions available of The Amazing Spider-Man 2. The significant difference is, this time there's something right and something wrong with the album. On a positive note, I love the way the album's presented. It has a perfect balance between calm track, big track, naughty track, heroic track, housing the incredible feeling this selection has been thrown together to create the perfect listening experience. On the negative note, one track ought to be there as well, and it's sad one of the best heroic action pieces is available as bonus material. You can't ignore the fact Spider-Man is also a heroic character, and the lack of several exciting action moments could have elevated the presentation even more. So, against my own judgment, the deluxe edition is the best way to go, if solely for the heroic action version that is seriously missing on the 1 disc release. But in general, though The Amazing Spider-Man 2 lacks a bit of additional heroism, it's a big improvement on Man of Steel, having the perfect HEROIC sound that was completely lacking in MOS. Meaning Spidey has the fun that Superman couldn't have. Way to use that criticism in a positive way Mr. Zimmer.
Favorite Moment - You're That Spider-Guy (3.45 - 4.41)
Though I enjoy the whole "Cold War" cue more, there is something totally amazing about that incredible main theme version
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (1 disc release) ***
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2 CD Deluxe Edition) ***1/2
Track Listing
CD 1: 54.20
1. I'm Electro (0.46)
2. There He Is (2.54)
3. I'm Spider-Man (1.04)
4. My Enemy (8.17) Excellent track
5. Ground Rules (1.11)
6. Look at Me (3.10)
7. Special Project (3.14)
8. You Need Me (3.17)
9. So Much Anger (2.12)
10. I'm Moving to England (1.03)
11. I'm Goblin (3.42)
12. Let Her Go (0.33)
13. You're My Boy (2.57)
14. I Need to Know (5.00)
15. Sum Total (2.51)
16. I Chose You (1.34)
17. We're Best Friends (2.17)
18. Still Crazy (2.42)
19. The Rest of My Life (2.28)
20. You're That Spider Guy (5.29) Excellent track
CD 2: 58.30
1. The Electro Suite (12.36)
2. Harry's Suite (10.07)
3. Cold War (3.28) Excellent track
4. No Place Like Home (1.53)
5. It's On Again: Alicia Keys featuring Kendrick Lamar (3.50)
6. Song for Zula: Phosphorescent (6.09)
7. That's My Man: Liz (3.47)
8. Here: Pharrell Williams (4.38)
9. Honest: The Neighbourhood (3.57)
10. Within the Web: Czarina Russell, Hans Zimmer and The Magnificent Six (4.30)
11. Electro Remix: Alvin Risk and Hans Zimmer (3.27)