Comments on: Soundtrack Review: Kung Fu Panda by Hans Zimmer and John Powell (2008) http://soundtrackgeek.com/2008/05/27/soundtrack-review-kung-fu-panda-by-hans-zimmer-and-john-powell-2008/ Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:56:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Soundtrack Geek http://soundtrackgeek.com/2008/05/27/soundtrack-review-kung-fu-panda-by-hans-zimmer-and-john-powell-2008/#comment-1773 Soundtrack Geek Tue, 09 Sep 2008 05:35:51 +0000 http://soundtrackgeek.com/?p=911#comment-1773 Why stop at Horton? Get some more of Powell's scores like Robots and Chicken Run. Why stop at Horton? Get some more of Powell’s scores like Robots and Chicken Run.

]]> By: Onioneater http://soundtrackgeek.com/2008/05/27/soundtrack-review-kung-fu-panda-by-hans-zimmer-and-john-powell-2008/#comment-1765 Onioneater Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:43:44 +0000 http://soundtrackgeek.com/?p=911#comment-1765 I picked this up this summer on vacation and my kids even love it! (They generally mock my soundtrack collectionitis). I especially love track 15 (if I remember correctly). Great score! It makes me want to go out and buy Horton because of your comments! I don't have any John Powell yet in my collection! I picked this up this summer on vacation and my kids even love it! (They generally mock my soundtrack collectionitis). I especially love track 15 (if I remember correctly). Great score! It makes me want to go out and buy Horton because of your comments! I don’t have any John Powell yet in my collection!

]]> By: Soundtrack Geek http://soundtrackgeek.com/2008/05/27/soundtrack-review-kung-fu-panda-by-hans-zimmer-and-john-powell-2008/#comment-1754 Soundtrack Geek Sun, 07 Sep 2008 11:20:28 +0000 http://soundtrackgeek.com/?p=911#comment-1754 This is a very fun score, but I was not surprised at all. John Powell always produces great animated movie scores and Zimmer usually delivers. It wasn't as good as Horton or Surf's Up, but Powell and Zimmer delivers. This is a very fun score, but I was not surprised at all. John Powell always produces great animated movie scores and Zimmer usually delivers. It wasn’t as good as Horton or Surf’s Up, but Powell and Zimmer delivers.

]]> By: Jon http://soundtrackgeek.com/2008/05/27/soundtrack-review-kung-fu-panda-by-hans-zimmer-and-john-powell-2008/#comment-1737 Jon Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:12:05 +0000 http://soundtrackgeek.com/?p=911#comment-1737 Co-composed scores rarely ever are. "Batman Begins" is a divided work. "Last of the Mohicans" is partial replacement score and Edelmen's cues are vastly different from Jones's, though not necessarily poor. And everyone knows the problems behind "Constantine". The only examples that stand out would be Mr. Magorium and animated scores by John Powell and Harry Gregson-Williams...of course, not owning the latter scores, that didn't factor into my mind when I blew off Powell and Zimmer co-composing as just another Zimmer effort. And yet, to me it's very hard to tell the two influences apart. Zimmer's action scoring and Powell's action scoring sound almost fused, ditto for the playful parts, the themes, the choral use. In fact, if I'd just heard it off the bat, I'd probably have thought it was strictly a Powell score, but the sparser orchestration shows that Zimmer still has an influence here. That aside, the score is probably the most surprising score of the year, with a real sense of fun and ethnic elements throughout. The two composers unleash a lot of themes, from the main theme, starting out the album on flute, which builds and weaves to fantastic heights to Po's theme, at once playful and towards the end a powerful action device. Tai Lung's themes are menacing and strong, and when mixed with the action material ("The Bridge", "Shifu Faces Tai Lung) creates a thrilling brassy atmosphere. The aforementioned action material, added with the rest, is for the most part stellar and addicting, with "Po Vs Tai Lung" unleashing superb orchestral heroism. The ethnic elements are well integrated and never overbearing; the erhu really drives "The Bridge" about halfway through, and the other elements create an elegant tapestry. Special kudos goes to Sacred Pool of Tears, a 9 minute+ track that encompasses most of the themes and features fantastic choral outbursts. Only downside is the occasional invasion of electronics...it might aid some of "The Battle", but it still feels unnecessary, and "Tai Lung Escapes", while good in some parts, feels out of place with the rest of the score. Still, it's surprisingly fun, continuing Zimmer's orchestral expansion that started in Pirates 3 and further cementing Powell as today's animation dominator, and I expect this score to stay high on the year's best. 4.5/5 Co-composed scores rarely ever are. “Batman Begins” is a divided work. “Last of the Mohicans” is partial replacement score and Edelmen’s cues are vastly different from Jones’s, though not necessarily poor. And everyone knows the problems behind “Constantine”. The only examples that stand out would be Mr. Magorium and animated scores by John Powell and Harry Gregson-Williams…of course, not owning the latter scores, that didn’t factor into my mind when I blew off Powell and Zimmer co-composing as just another Zimmer effort.
And yet, to me it’s very hard to tell the two influences apart. Zimmer’s action scoring and Powell’s action scoring sound almost fused, ditto for the playful parts, the themes, the choral use. In fact, if I’d just heard it off the bat, I’d probably have thought it was strictly a Powell score, but the sparser orchestration shows that Zimmer still has an influence here.
That aside, the score is probably the most surprising score of the year, with a real sense of fun and ethnic elements throughout. The two composers unleash a lot of themes, from the main theme, starting out the album on flute, which builds and weaves to fantastic heights to Po’s theme, at once playful and towards the end a powerful action device. Tai Lung’s themes are menacing and strong, and when mixed with the action material (”The Bridge”, “Shifu Faces Tai Lung) creates a thrilling brassy atmosphere. The aforementioned action material, added with the rest, is for the most part stellar and addicting, with “Po Vs Tai Lung” unleashing superb orchestral heroism. The ethnic elements are well integrated and never overbearing; the erhu really drives “The Bridge” about halfway through, and the other elements create an elegant tapestry. Special kudos goes to Sacred Pool of Tears, a 9 minute+ track that encompasses most of the themes and features fantastic choral outbursts.
Only downside is the occasional invasion of electronics…it might aid some of “The Battle”, but it still feels unnecessary, and “Tai Lung Escapes”, while good in some parts, feels out of place with the rest of the score. Still, it’s surprisingly fun, continuing Zimmer’s orchestral expansion that started in Pirates 3 and further cementing Powell as today’s animation dominator, and I expect this score to stay high on the year’s best. 4.5/5

]]> By: Soundtrack Geek http://soundtrackgeek.com/2008/05/27/soundtrack-review-kung-fu-panda-by-hans-zimmer-and-john-powell-2008/#comment-1305 Soundtrack Geek Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:03:07 +0000 http://soundtrackgeek.com/?p=911#comment-1305 yes, it's a very good soundtrack and gives a very good view of what the movie is like. It stands out from the generic crowd and I'm sure people who watched the movie after listening to the soundtrack wasn't disappointed. yes, it’s a very good soundtrack and gives a very good view of what the movie is like. It stands out from the generic crowd and I’m sure people who watched the movie after listening to the soundtrack wasn’t disappointed.

]]> By: Charlie http://soundtrackgeek.com/2008/05/27/soundtrack-review-kung-fu-panda-by-hans-zimmer-and-john-powell-2008/#comment-1302 Charlie Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:12:25 +0000 http://soundtrackgeek.com/?p=911#comment-1302 Definitely worth getting this refreshing and excellent soundtrack album. Inspiring big sound coming from the superb blending of classical Chinese instruments and Western orchestra seldom heard nowadays on the airwaves or TV. And the movie is certainly great to say the least. Can't wait to get the special edition DVD once it's out. Definitely worth getting this refreshing and excellent soundtrack album. Inspiring big sound coming from the superb blending of classical Chinese instruments and Western orchestra seldom heard nowadays on the airwaves or TV. And the movie is certainly great to say the least. Can’t wait to get the special edition DVD once it’s out.

]]> By: Soundtrack Geek http://soundtrackgeek.com/2008/05/27/soundtrack-review-kung-fu-panda-by-hans-zimmer-and-john-powell-2008/#comment-1258 Soundtrack Geek Mon, 16 Jun 2008 03:36:17 +0000 http://soundtrackgeek.com/?p=911#comment-1258 Can't wait to see the film. Looks very funny. Can’t wait to see the film. Looks very funny.

]]> By: Nick Plowman http://soundtrackgeek.com/2008/05/27/soundtrack-review-kung-fu-panda-by-hans-zimmer-and-john-powell-2008/#comment-1247 Nick Plowman Sun, 15 Jun 2008 15:27:14 +0000 http://soundtrackgeek.com/?p=911#comment-1247 I loved the score too, I did not expect it too be as good. Great film too. Nick Plowmans last blog post..<a href="http://fataculture.wordpress.com/2008/06/14/review-the-happening/" rel="nofollow">Review: “The Happening”</a> I loved the score too, I did not expect it too be as good. Great film too.

Nick Plowmans last blog post..Review: “The Happening”

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