Soundtrack Review: The Dark Knight (2008)

Batman Begins extended soundtrack was not released, it was fan made.

Hey, can you tell me whats the difference between the regular, limited and special editions? I can’t seem to find any info on each one. So I’m not sure which one to get. Thanks.

Steve: True, but it exists and its definitely out there. Hope the same thing happens to The Dark Knight.

Scott: I believe the only difference is the packaging which is Digipak for the Limited Edition making it more exclusive. An example can be seen here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digipak

Wow…did you even listen to this score? It’s terrible. The music in it is almost exactly the same as in Begins, and then the other 90% of the album is noise. And you love the batwings noise? Yikes.

Victors last blog post..Review: The Dark Knight OST

Sorry, can’t call it a masterpiece, brassy-drummy action score - yes, but it doesn’t work apart of the film, at list what I’ve heard.

Victor: We agree to disagree. It’s a lot darker than Batman Begins. Even though it had a few cues which resembled the score, this is very much a highly different piece. It certainly beats hands down the Elfman and Goldenthal efforts.

Onotoley: It’s a shame it doesn’t work in the film, because it sure worked in my stereo. I think I am in love with this score, I really do. Sorry you didn’t feel the way I did when I listened to this score, because it’s something I truly wish every movie score fan could feel at all times.

I guess we do have to agree to disagree. Elfman’s score is a beautiful, dark, memorable score.

Fair enough, but that’s the beauty of music and taste. We can’t all like the same thing. I am just so happy that I liked this one because I would have been so disappointed if I didn’t

nevertheless, I think it’s the best score for the Batman films and I love J.N.Howard’s job here (the Happening was a complete disappoinment)

Wait until you read my review of The Happening and I bet you weren’t as disappointed as me ;). It’s coming up one of these days.

I’ve listened to the complete score (in fact I’m listening to it right now) and I love it. This score makes Elfman’s music sound like a jingle for a cereal commercial. “Like a Dog Chasing Cars” is my favorite piece, but all of the pieces have such an epic quality. “Harvey Two-Face” is also great. This score literally gave me goosebumps, just can’t wait for the movie.

It is really an amazing piece of work. The movie has something to live up to and if it’s as good as the score, I will be speechless.

I am SO stoked for this film….and the soundtrack is so awesome…I am literally shaking with anticipation!

Awesome review.

Nick Plowmans last blog post..Review: “Silent Light”

Victor - just finished the first three tracks on the album and after reading your review, I’m pretty sure I’m most likely going to disagree with the rest of it considering I think the first track is phenomenal. But it’s not phenomenal maybe in a classic film score sense - it’s much more modern and the industrial feel was even a little reminiscent of some Nine Inch Nails instrumentals (I’ve been listening to Ghosts I-IV a lot lately :p). Your comment about 90% of the album being noise makes me curious what your thoughts are on bands like Nine Inch Nails (that’s not a slight, I’m genuinely curious). I also wondered what you think of Jon Brion and Gustavo Santaolalla (not really related to the topic at hand but for some reason I wondered what you think of them)…

On my part, I must say I think the first track is a bold move by Zimmer and Howard and will make the Joker stand out. As well, I think people, when listening to film scores on their own often demand them to be very satisfying, big experiences on their own - and sometimes (John Williams scores, etc) this is the case. But John Williams’ big scores are not appropriate for every film. They’re actually too in-your-face for many movies I can think of but that outsized, outlandish epic feel is fitting for Spielberg’s films.

I think people tend to forget the music is made to serve the movie first and foremost and the best composers and the best scores aren’t necessarily those that sound great on their own but rather those that match the film’s intentions, atmosphere and each of the beats in a scene perfectly. Which means some scores are more atmospheric rather than melodic, etc…with the first cue, it’s in your face in terms of sounding pretty badass :p at times but if it got more melodic than that or varied too drastically, I wonder if it would overpower whatever visuals are going on at the same time onscreen…this is something that’ll be easier to judge of course once we see the movie, but these are the kinds of things I keep in mind when listening to film scores.

Zimmer and Newton Howard, at least with the Batman Begins score, really did their jobs well in terms of creating a score that complemented the visuals in every way. And I have no doubt they will do the same here.

I should also add that Nolan’s films in the past have utilized more atmospheric style scores over very strong, large themes considering Memento and The Prestige both used David Julyan and his scores tend to be a little more shadowy and ambient so it wouldn’t surprise me if Nolan pushed Newton Howard and Zimmer for something not too overpowering…

Nick: I know! After reading about Heath Ledger’s performance and watching the trailers, listening to the soundtrack I am absolutely certain it has to be excellent.

Jon: What can I say? You know your stuff. I do sense another Soundtrack Geek in the force ;). You are right in that not every movie needs a big orchestra or John Williamsesque overtures. Look at In Bruges with minimalist master Carter Burwell. No Country For Old Men had an excellent background score as well. I believe The Dark Knight is just as atmospheric as it should be. It is not all brassy and forceful like say Iron Man, but it has it’s moments. The Joker in the Tim Burton version was kind of a comical character. Evil, certainly, but compared to Nolan’s Joker, he is a joke (pun intended). The Elfman score was right for that movie. After what I have read and seen of The Dark Knight, Nolan’s Joker is sinister, dark, evil, badass, a character not to be made fun of and the score reflects that.

That was a very good read Jon, and great points on the Memento and Prestige movies.

Meet THE DARK KNIGHT soundtrack composers!!
HANS ZIMMER and JAMES NEWTON HOWARD
Where: Times Square Virgin Megastore
1540 Broadway
NYC
When: Tuesday July 15 @ 7PM

I just received the Dark Night Limited Edition and i was so impressed with Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard’s work. It is a perfect blend of the Begins soundtrack and the Dark night. Hans Zimmer is like the Mozart of today.

Honestly, I’m a big fan of bombastic or really lush romantic scores. I’m not a fan of “industrial” scores. To me, they’re simply noise. Sometimes they can be done well (Zimmer has done some pretty creative, memorable things, for instance), but I do favor a traditional orchestral score. I usually dislike minimalist scores, though there are always exceptions. I understand that this Batman series is supposed to be different, but I simply see it as an excuse to write lazy music. There ARE some beautiful themes in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, or should I say HINTS, if you catch my meaning. They never fully develop and the pulsing noise gets old. The first track is offsetting, but 9 minutes? Come on.

Victors last blog post..WALL-E Soundrack Review

Just for the record…that isn’t my blog post at the end of my comment. Not sure how it ended up there…

Victors last blog post..WALL-E Soundrack Review

Mike: That’s awesome! Would love to be there and meet the masters.

Frank: Ooh, the limited edition. Excellent choice! Hope they release an expanded version or complete recording at some point. I am hungry for more.

Victor: Thanks for explaining your viewpoints. I can understand why you didn’t like this score or Batman Begins, at least outside of the movie. There are genres I don’t generally like, but if they are right for the movie, I just enjoy the heck out of it, even if I can’t listen to it without the movie attached to it. I feel Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard has created the perfect music for The Dark Knight. I saw the leaked first 6 minutes of the movie and the score just integrated perfectly with the action, strengthening my own viewpoint and beliefs. I love the pulses, that the songs just play us like the Joker would. I can imagine the scenes and it gets my heart racing. “Noise” or not, I love it.

As for the “last blog post”, don’t worry about it. It’s just a plugin that takes the last blog post of your blog regardless of author.

I appreciate your views Victor. I think your just one of those people who over analyze things. In my experience in music and sound design I have learned that it doesn’t have to be such a complicated thing. When you complicate music it becomes stale. No feeling whats so ever. The simplest “noise”, from what you call it, Can create different concepts. But that’s why Hans Zimmer does what he does, for his passion of music and to please people like me. And FYI, Every “noise” in this sound track is all brilliant ear candy.
And I will see you……Victor………At the movies.

Sorry Mike i meant the Special Edition.

Or i meant Soundtrack geek.

Frank: That’s true and something that keeps creeping up on me when I do reviews. It’s hard to strike a balance between analyzing it and making it too personal. i still just listen to the music and like you said, it can be a simple thing. i know if I like it or not and most of the times it’s not about the link to the movie etc. For example I did a review on Surf’s Up and Step Up 2 and I was so surprised that I liked the music that much. I am steel a feeling person when it comes to music and I am glad I allow myself to enjoy it without over complicating it.

And I do think you still mean the Limited Edition

I got the score, and got Hans Zimmer to sign it (among many other soundtracks I have of his).

I agree, although I can see some people not getting into it. It is not that thematic, not with many motif’s, but it plays perfect to what the movie looks like. It is very dark and atmospheric, and you can definitely tell which parts are Zimmer and which parts are Howard but blended beautifully.

It was a great score, and a little on the different side.

Hans was a pleasure to meet and was very genuine when speaking to me briefly at the signing. He is my favorite composer bar-none, and this release is a fresh new idea from him. Beautiful in its own morbid way.

I went to the LA instore yesterday, it was amazing. This score is incredible. The album artwork is really great as well. I got my copy off darkknightscore.com, its so worth it!

So I just got the soundtrack.. it’s pretty epic.. honestly not too big on soundtracks but when you hear Hans Zimmer plus the Dark Knight how could you not wanna listen.. i’m sooo amped to see this movie.. the score is seriously dark with a lot of eeriness to it.. fans of the first movie/soundtrack will be happy to know that Zimmer has retained a lot of the moods from Batman Begins.. the names of the tracks pretty much indicate what moods and scenes they accompany so i’m sure i’ll enjoy it a lot more after i see the movie (thursday midnight!!!) i do recommend the special edition.. the extra artwork is amazing.. seriously don’t miss out

This score seemed like a rehash of Batman Begins score with nothing new added. Look at the Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers. A whole new piece of music was added to the latter that was not present in Fellowship. This does not happen in The Dark Knight.

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That’s right Film-book, its not “Lord of the Knight”. Now go watch your LOTR extended edition for the mute.

Jesus Christ.

I watch The Dark Night last night for the first time and was impressed. One question though. There is a scene in a nightclub in the movie where there is a techno track going. I want to know who it is?

Hey all.
I’ve listened over and over and can’t seem to find the cue that occurs at the end of the movie when gordon says ” we’ll chase him. because he can take it — a silent protector.. a watchful guardian.. a dark knight” etc and the theme blares etc

is that cue in the score? if so, which track is it?

Dylan: Wow, I envy you. Next time you see him, say hello from me

Erin: Couldn’t agree with you more

Roland: I liked that they kept it moody like Batman Begins, yet it feels truly fresh and different.

Reginald: So you can’t hear the difference? Seriously? It’s a shame, because it truly makes this score stand out in a big way. Now go and listen to it a few times more. I love that they kept the mood from Batman Begins, but made it a lot darker and different. I’m glad they didn’t make it a completely different score, otherwise it wouldn’t be Batman. Imagine if John Ottman had made a totally different score to Superman Returns. Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard has made THE score for the Batman franchise with Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. It’s actually pretty close to perfection.

Paul: Not sure. Haven’t seen it yet. Waiting until after my honeymoon. Anyone able to help Paul out?

Derek: I wouldn’t think all the cues in the movie made it to the score. Hopefully someone can make an extended version with all the cues in the movie.

Wow! Awe-inspireing, emotional, psycotic, deep, thrilling. A Dark Knight Indeed.

The first soundtrack is almost like a interlude to this score. Batman Begins the music. The Dark Knight then pounds you with thrills to the end.

Then the score ends with the deeply emotional and heroic track A Dark Knight. I could listen to this score over and over.

To me it reminds me of the personnal struggles every person has to deal with in every day life wheather they are small or big. This music tells us to keep moveing forward. It reminds me to keep my hope, love, joy and long-suffering.

Also this score fills that thrilling blank that was lacking in the first soundtrack. The most exhiliating track in the origianal was track 10. But this track is more balanced. The Joker may have made his mark but in the last track we can listen and feel who is the real Legend…

… The Dark Knight

Kaleb, well put! It’s true, this is a score you can listen to again and again. Every time I listen to it, I get new impulses and I also think of the struggle between good and evil and oneself.

I am also looking for the name of the song in the nighclub scene, but cant seem to find anyone that knows what it is.

can anyone help?

Hope you can find it Frankie. Let me know if you do.

My comment on the film’s soundtrack was from seeing the film the first time, not from actually sitting down and listening to the sound track.
Now I have the soundtrack.
There is nothing to track 1. If you’re not watching the Bank robbery scene, the score for it is ineffective. The two need each other. I skipped the other tracks (for now)and went right to my favorite, Track 13-Watch the World Burn. The track is dark, moody and a great listen.

I didn’t think much of 16 minute long Track 14-A Dark Knight but I let it play anyway. I had no idea that it contained some of the key musical moments in the film.

I will have to change my initial thoughts on this soundtrack. It is far better than Batman Begins’ soundtrack.

“Love is blind…”
This is apparently the cause of the oversight from the resident Hans groupies.

The last track…plagiarism…come to think of it…most of this score is borrowed! It’s a bore to listen to. With it’s heavy borrowing from NIN themes, to give it that “hip, updated feel” (”Why so serious?”) and from Zimmer’s past work (The DaVinci Code score minus the choir), you have to wonder if he has any good ideas left. But to the meat…we are forced to suffer through yet another theft of John Murphy’s “In the house, in a heartbeat” on the final track. The theft begins @ 3:05 into the song “A Dark Knight” and it’s note for note, screamingly blatant. Simply shameful and ghetto. The first theft was from Tyler Bates on the score for “Doomsday” on the track “Sinclair Slips Free”. It would seem originality’s shelf life is getting even shorter in Hollywood, if that’s possible. And you guys call yourselves soundtrack geeks. “It’s time for a better class of listener”! Maybe that phrase rings a bat in a few belfries? muahahaha…the Joker did not die.

The soundtrack is great. It is full of ambiance and atmosphere, as well as great orchestral scores. If you’re looking for the huge, sweeping soundtracks that take over your entire stereo (and movie) then go elsewhere. If you’re looking for some taut, tense tracks that accompany the movie and keep you on the edge of your seat then this is the soundtrack for you. It’s beautiful from beginning to end.

Reginald: Glad you are coming around. I saw the movie a couple of weeks ago and the score wasn’t too present, but it was there and it was definitely right for this movie. I agree that it’s better than Batman Begins, but not far better

†he ?oker: Has Hans ever done anything that isn’t stolen from someone else? Does it really matter? Have you listened to the score for 10000 BC? Talk about stealing, but it’s a good entertaining mix. I think some people are too stuck up in details when they watch movies or listen to music. Why not enjoy it for the great music it is (or was stolen from)? You can argue that everything today and 10 years ago, 50 years ago are stolen from the classical masters and it’s true. For me, it doesn’t matter as I love music, I have a certain taste and when music hits me like TDK did, it’s a feast for my ears. I love NIN by the way.

J: In total agreement here.

The geek is back!

The soundtrack is a big step better than Batman Begins.

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You betcha! Back and better than ever!

Just as formless and boring as Batman Begins’ soundtrack was; Hans Zimmer produces yet another “Formula Bruckheimer” score. He can write these in his sleep and that’s how I end up listening to them.

It certainly has the people divided which is all the more fun! By the way, I love Bruckenheimer, but with Rabin as composer, not Zimmer

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