Soundtrack Review: The Eagle (2011)

The Eagle Soundtrack Review: This is a review of the motion picture score The Eagle by Atli Örvarsson.

"Atli has done well to keep the score reminiscent of the Roman era while not sacrificing the listening experience."

Set in 140 AD, this movie is based on a story where an entire legion of Rome disappeared in the mountains of Scotland. A young centurion is given the task to find out what happened and bring back the lost legion's golden emblem, an eagle. Director Kevin Macdonald has previously used Alex Heffes for his musical needs, but this time he has chosen Atli Örvarsson to create the score. Atli has created music for historical dramas before, but it's been a while so it is interesting to hear what he has come up with.

Track List

1. Testudo	****
2. Highlands	****
3. The Return of the Eagle	*****
4. The Ninth Legion	*****
5. North of the Wall	****
6. Honourable Discharge	****
7. Out Swords!	***
8. May Your Souls Take Flight	*****
9. The Seal People	***
10. Searching	***
11. Barbarians	***
12. I Will Return	*****
13. Better Angry Than Dead	***
14. Eagle Lost, Honour Lost	****
15. Fleeing the Village	****
16. Edge of the World	****
17. Esca's Freedom	****
18. Beyond the Territories	****

Feels Right

Been a while since we've heard from Atli Örvarsson, but he's returned in kind with The Eagle, a story of treachery, glory and Rome. Atli has definitely got stuck in there and not just created a standard mish-mash of modern scoring. Most of the tracks on the soundtrack feels right for the subject in question while he hasn't abandoned his Remote Control Productions roots completely.

The use of a male voice is very welcome like in the track 'Highlands' that further establish the score as fitting with the times. There are also some interesting cues like 'The Return of the Eagle' that sounds more like Irish folklore, but even that has it's place.

'The Ninth Legion' has an epic feel to it with a strong male choir in the beginning. The sequence from 1:30 and onwards sounds very familiar to me, but it sounds great. shame I can't place it exactly, but I'm sure some of you reading this review can!

The best tracks are the non-action cues like 'May Your Souls Take Flight'. The strong underscoring works well while slow broad strings are played on top. The theme doesn't quite develop, but it's over 4 minutes of great listening none the same. Bagpipes are included as well!

Conclusion

It is not a score I will pick up and listen to often, but some cues here might stand on it's own in a compilation. Atli has done well to keep the score reminiscent of the Roman era while not sacrificing the listening experience. It is a fine score that will probably be forgotten about, but puts no shame to Atli Örvarsson track record.