Comments on: Soundtrack Review: Horton Hears a Who by John Powell (2008) http://soundtrackgeek.com/2008/03/24/soundtrack-review-horton-hears-a-who-by-john-powell-2008/ Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:50:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Soundtrack Geek http://soundtrackgeek.com/2008/03/24/soundtrack-review-horton-hears-a-who-by-john-powell-2008/#comment-1749 Soundtrack Geek Sun, 07 Sep 2008 10:38:09 +0000 http://soundtrackgeek.com/2008/03/24/soundtrack-review-horton-hears-a-who-by-john-powell-2008/#comment-1749 Consistency does matter, especially if you are a fan of a composer. You want that composer to deliver every time. Sometimes John Powell doesn't deliver, but he is usually delivers high quality scores on a regular basis. Consistency can be a bad thing as well. For example Danny Elfman and Michael Giacchino has't changed much, but then again, most composers don't. They stick to one style and you'll either love it or hate it based on your listening preference. When it comes to style, John Powell is not as consistent as most, as he does a lot of animated movies and also action and drama, luckily he does most of it very well like Horton. Consistency does matter, especially if you are a fan of a composer. You want that composer to deliver every time. Sometimes John Powell doesn’t deliver, but he is usually delivers high quality scores on a regular basis. Consistency can be a bad thing as well. For example Danny Elfman and Michael Giacchino has’t changed much, but then again, most composers don’t. They stick to one style and you’ll either love it or hate it based on your listening preference.

When it comes to style, John Powell is not as consistent as most, as he does a lot of animated movies and also action and drama, luckily he does most of it very well like Horton.

]]> By: Jon http://soundtrackgeek.com/2008/03/24/soundtrack-review-horton-hears-a-who-by-john-powell-2008/#comment-1727 Jon Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:19:50 +0000 http://soundtrackgeek.com/2008/03/24/soundtrack-review-horton-hears-a-who-by-john-powell-2008/#comment-1727 Consistency...does it matter in a listening experience? On one hand, be too consistent and you're too repetitive. And yet, to avoid consistency makes the music come off as scattered and chaotic. And yet all that debate sort of goes out the window with Dreamworks animated movies, which, while inferior to all Pixar works, are fun and sporadic. And so any composer has a vast array of images and ideas being bombarded at him, so the end result may be perfect for the film but not so much for a clear, consistent listening experience. Again, all these worries go out the window when you're dealing with John Powell, who just puts an irresistible amount of fun into these scores that they're impossible to resist. From a jazzy sax being used for the kangaroo to kazoos for the apes, Powell utilizes a vast array of instruments to convey the wonder of the Jungle of Nool. And while it may bounce around a lot in style (hammering action of "Vlad Attack", balletic "Horton Dance!", big choir entrance in "cave of destiny"), the themes and enthusiasm make up for it. Horton's Theme is quite well-used, even if it's not apparent in the first few listens. It's playful in the opening but can also be somber in the cloverfield, even grand when it's used as the backdrop behind "We Are Here!" and awesomely powerful in the grand finale of the score. Regardless of consistency concerns, the last few cues are really where this score's power is (with Mountain Chase also included...what a thrilling piece, complete with bells, mariachi trumpet, a female soprano...oh boy!), as the score builds to fantastic heights and then sums itself up wonderfully in "Horton Suite". While I might rave about Desplat's orchestrations, I'll defend Powell is just as good. A joy of a score, and with an anime spoof to boot, you'll have fun with it. 4/5 Consistency…does it matter in a listening experience? On one hand, be too consistent and you’re too repetitive. And yet, to avoid consistency makes the music come off as scattered and chaotic. And yet all that debate sort of goes out the window with Dreamworks animated movies, which, while inferior to all Pixar works, are fun and sporadic. And so any composer has a vast array of images and ideas being bombarded at him, so the end result may be perfect for the film but not so much for a clear, consistent listening experience.
Again, all these worries go out the window when you’re dealing with John Powell, who just puts an irresistible amount of fun into these scores that they’re impossible to resist. From a jazzy sax being used for the kangaroo to kazoos for the apes, Powell utilizes a vast array of instruments to convey the wonder of the Jungle of Nool. And while it may bounce around a lot in style (hammering action of “Vlad Attack”, balletic “Horton Dance!”, big choir entrance in “cave of destiny”), the themes and enthusiasm make up for it. Horton’s Theme is quite well-used, even if it’s not apparent in the first few listens. It’s playful in the opening but can also be somber in the cloverfield, even grand when it’s used as the backdrop behind “We Are Here!” and awesomely powerful in the grand finale of the score.
Regardless of consistency concerns, the last few cues are really where this score’s power is (with Mountain Chase also included…what a thrilling piece, complete with bells, mariachi trumpet, a female soprano…oh boy!), as the score builds to fantastic heights and then sums itself up wonderfully in “Horton Suite”. While I might rave about Desplat’s orchestrations, I’ll defend Powell is just as good. A joy of a score, and with an anime spoof to boot, you’ll have fun with it. 4/5

]]> By: Soundtrack Geek http://soundtrackgeek.com/2008/03/24/soundtrack-review-horton-hears-a-who-by-john-powell-2008/#comment-632 Soundtrack Geek Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:19:25 +0000 http://soundtrackgeek.com/2008/03/24/soundtrack-review-horton-hears-a-who-by-john-powell-2008/#comment-632 Christy: Every kid has to love this. I hope they make movies like this when I have kids, so I can watch it with them. Loved it! Patrick: Well... the famous "line" is there... you know what I mean ;). Unfortunately I haven't read the book so I wouldn't know. They probably added and removed a few things to make it more entertaining I bet. Christy: Every kid has to love this. I hope they make movies like this when I have kids, so I can watch it with them. Loved it!

Patrick: Well… the famous “line” is there… you know what I mean ;). Unfortunately I haven’t read the book so I wouldn’t know. They probably added and removed a few things to make it more entertaining I bet.

]]> By: patrick http://soundtrackgeek.com/2008/03/24/soundtrack-review-horton-hears-a-who-by-john-powell-2008/#comment-631 patrick Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:28:48 +0000 http://soundtrackgeek.com/2008/03/24/soundtrack-review-horton-hears-a-who-by-john-powell-2008/#comment-631 i wonder if it follows the original Dr. Seuss book for the most part... i wonder if it follows the original Dr. Seuss book for the most part…

]]> By: Christy http://soundtrackgeek.com/2008/03/24/soundtrack-review-horton-hears-a-who-by-john-powell-2008/#comment-629 Christy Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:20:07 +0000 http://soundtrackgeek.com/2008/03/24/soundtrack-review-horton-hears-a-who-by-john-powell-2008/#comment-629 I'm excited about this movie, I think it looks fantastic from a parent's point of view and my son loves it. <em>Christy's last blog post..<a href='http://scrink.com/blog/tvmov/2008/03/when-celebrities-talk.html' rel="nofollow">When celebrities talk</a></em> I’m excited about this movie, I think it looks fantastic from a parent’s point of view and my son loves it.

Christy’s last blog post..When celebrities talk

]]> By: Soundtrack Geek http://soundtrackgeek.com/2008/03/24/soundtrack-review-horton-hears-a-who-by-john-powell-2008/#comment-628 Soundtrack Geek Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:40:20 +0000 http://soundtrackgeek.com/2008/03/24/soundtrack-review-horton-hears-a-who-by-john-powell-2008/#comment-628 Yes, he really knows how to blend in the movie in the soundtrack and vice versa. It's a perfect match. I'm sure you'll enjoy Horton. A great movie. Yes, he really knows how to blend in the movie in the soundtrack and vice versa. It’s a perfect match. I’m sure you’ll enjoy Horton. A great movie.

]]> By: Jess http://soundtrackgeek.com/2008/03/24/soundtrack-review-horton-hears-a-who-by-john-powell-2008/#comment-627 Jess Tue, 25 Mar 2008 02:09:17 +0000 http://soundtrackgeek.com/2008/03/24/soundtrack-review-horton-hears-a-who-by-john-powell-2008/#comment-627 Wow - I didn't know this guy did so many of the scores I like. Robots is not a terrific animated movie, it's good, but not particularly eternal. However, the music throughout - the motion and cogs and springs and machinations throughout are well orchestrated into the score. I'm sure some are sound effects, but he created a constant source of sound that you'd expect from a metallic world. Very cool guy. I can't wait to see Horton! <em>Jess's last blog post..<a href='http://insightintoentertainment.blogspot.com/2008/03/easter-parade.html' rel="nofollow">Easter Parade</a></em> Wow - I didn’t know this guy did so many of the scores I like. Robots is not a terrific animated movie, it’s good, but not particularly eternal. However, the music throughout - the motion and cogs and springs and machinations throughout are well orchestrated into the score. I’m sure some are sound effects, but he created a constant source of sound that you’d expect from a metallic world. Very cool guy. I can’t wait to see Horton!

Jess’s last blog post..Easter Parade

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