Comments on: Soundtrack Review: The Dark Knight (2008)

By: Ryan Williams

Ryan Williams — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 07:32:45 +0000

I love this soundtrack. LOVE IT. I give it a 10 stars as well. I think some people have a problem with Zimmer’s style, not because there’s anything wrong with it, but because it is almost in rebellion of composers such as John Williams. Yeah, he uses synthesizers/computers to augment classical orchestration. But its the freaking 21st century. Folks like John Williams would have almost been more at home being born in the 18th century… except that the “intellectuals”, film critics, and academy award members eat it up. I’m not saying I don’t like John Williams and many of the other “classical” composers, because i do, but man I love what Zimmer does with music. (I haven’t mentioned James Newton Howard here but not to sleight him, just because I can more easily recognize Zimmer’s influence) This soundtrack beats. It resonates. It’s epic which means I’m not searching for subtly because it’s always there and in my face. I would also like to say that this track stands outside of the film. I listen to it all the time and usually when I do batman is the farthest thing away from my thoughts.
Ryan Williams´s last blog ..What Is Planescape Torment?

By: nedved5000

nedved5000 — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:25:51 +0000

how do i begin this comment?

i shall explain it in 3 very simple words: Simply-the-Best.
i cannot agree with you more about giving this musical score a 10,as it deserves nothing less.from the very menacing cues of “And i Thought my Jokes were Bad” to the bombastic rythyms of “like a Dog Chasing Cars”.

Only Mr.Zimmer himself could pull-off the use of an orchestra with synthesizers with such aggresiveness.
the joker has arrived in the dark knight and has left his grubby name all over the score which gives it a villianous contrast to the superhero-like qualities of batman.

my personal favourite song is “Like a Dog Chasing Cars”.
i cannot stress how hauntingly good this song is!
it starts off with very low-key strings playing in a pattern familiar to the rest of the soundtrack,that keeps building until it suddenly explodes!and from here no other song in recent musical history can match the elegance and power that are so cunningly balanced throughout the 5 minutes of heaven.

back to the soundtrack as a whole.
the other thing that simply drives me crazy is the variety found here! from the dark tone of ” Why so Serious” to the elegant and pure tone in ” Harvey Two-Face” (Kudos to James-Newton-Howard).

i am just devasted at the fact that Hans and James didnt garner any more awards than they so rightfully deserved.
when will the world wake up?

By: Jorn Tillnes

Jorn Tillnes — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 21:04:25 +0000

Simply gorgeous movie and score. Couldn’t be happier.

By: Luke

Luke — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 02:57:15 +0000

Watched the movie earlier today. By far the best movie of 2008 and the soundtrack seems so too. Listening to I’m Not a Hero now – this is one of my favourite cues.

By: Jorn Tillnes

Jorn Tillnes — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 06:48:10 +0000

The background beat does sound similar, but I don’t think it’s taken from that. Besides when I hear “How Soon Is Now” I always think of Charmed anyway, which is joker-less.

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 07:02:33 +0000

Is it me, or are the Joker’s themes taken from bits of “How Soon Is Now”?

By: Jorn Tillnes

Jorn Tillnes — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 22:40:07 +0000

Thanks!

By: francis raud

francis raud — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 19:28:46 +0000

That part is a mix of track 14 ‘A dark knight’, track 4 ‘Aggressive Expansion’ and the Batman Begins Credits theme.

By: Soundtrack Geek

Soundtrack Geek — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 05:54:04 +0000

I agree that both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are excellent scores and I can’t see anyone but Zimmer and Howard composing it.

By: Rena

Rena — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 21:18:36 +0000

I personally think that the music to both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight is exceptional. I can’t see where people say that it is boring. Just listen to the melodies and the way that the instruments flow through each of the tracks. I can’t listen to these songs enough in a day. The more I listen to his work, the more I like his music. I love Hans Zimmer music and can’t imagine a movie without his score added to it. Whether Hans himself or with other composers, I think he is a step above some of the other music composers out there.