This is a review of the motion picture score for Kung Fu Panda by Hans Zimmer and John Powell.

“The score feels kung fu, and it’s Chinese influence seeps through while retaining the famous Zimmer & Powell Hollywood sound”

Hi yaaaaaaaah! Kung Fu Panda is here (sort of). Anyone seeing the trailers should be exciting about this movie. It’s an animated movie about kung fu fighting and a panda. Don’t you just love the irony here? I am so lucky to get an early copy of this score. The official release is not until Jun 3^rd, but you get an exclusive sneak peak here at Soundtrack Geek. Two of the “big boys” of Hollywood scoring has collaborated for this soundtrack. Hans Zimmer and John Powell have made some very memorable animated movie scores over the years: The Lion King, The Prince of Egypt, Chicken Run and Shrek just to name a few. This is John Powell’s 4^th score this year and Hans Zimmer’s 1^st. This is the track list of Kung Fu Panda:

Track List

1. Hero
2. Let The Tournament Begin
3. Dragon Warrior Is Among Us
4. Tai Lung Escapes
5. Peach Tree Of Wisdom
6. Accu-Flashback
7. Impersonating Shifu
8. Sacred Pool Of Tears
9. Training Po
10. The Bridge
11. Shifu Faces Tai Long
12. The Dragon Scroll
13. Po vs Tai Long
14. Dragon Warrior Rises
15. Panda Po
16. Oogway Ascends
17. Kung Fu Fighting (Feat. Cee-Lo Green And Jack Black)

Who Did What?

It has 17 tracks and a total play time of exactly 1 hour. Now before I begin, I haven’t got the information on which composer composed which tracks, so that has to be educational guesswork. I can hear some Zimmeresque sounds in there and some Powellesque sounds as well. My guess is that it is mostly Hans Zimmer stuff. I can remember that John Powell’s name didn’t appear at first, just Hans Zimmer so I guess that’s a big clue. Saying that, I have no problems with it at all as I like both of these composer’s many animated scores. There is one song here as well, the classic Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas, here in yet another version by Cee-Lo Green and Jack Black. It wasn’t a big surprise that they included this song, I still prefer the original though.

Chinese Vs. Hollywood

The score start of with a highly Chinese sounding intro and then it goes on to be more action oriented. I like the way this score is produced, it mixes well with the serious and the funny. It sounds more like The Prince of Egypt than say, Horton Hears a Who. I think this is also a good sign for the movie as it is definitely grown up material unlike Horton which was aimed for the kids. The score feels kung fu, and it’s Chinese influence seeps through while retaining the famous Zimmer & Powell Hollywood sound. As Hans Zimmer’s first effort this year and John Powell’s fourth, I am happy with what I am hearing. I think this will kick ass in the movie itself. It really isn’t a very subtle score as it kicks and punches its way into my eardrums. Overall it is a good score that certainly won’t do this movie any harm. Listen to Kung Fu Panda by Hans Zimmer and John Powell below:

Negatives:

• Not to original, as expected

Positives:

• A kick ass sounding kung fu score
• Mixes well with the serious and the funny

STOP! Make sure you check out the Movie Scores and Soundtrack Reviews section for more movie soundtracks and movie scores before you go!