| The Time Machine |
| Composed by Klaus Badelt |
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Additional Music by Geoff Zanelli Conducted by Gavin Greenaway and Rick Wentworth Produced by Robert Townson Release Date: 2002 |
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I really had no desire to see this film, having enjoyed the original film from the 60s and experiencing the utter horror that was 70s television remake. Unless the reviews came out to be highly positive, I had planned to sit this one out. Well, they weren't, so I didn't. Though admittedly, I did get enjoyment out of The Count of Monte Cristo which opened similarly. Only after I finally catch this remake will I be able to compare the two. While I decided not to visit this film in the theaters, I will undoubtedly give it my attention when it comes out on DVD. For this latest incarnation, former Zimmerite Klaus Badelt provided the score. Given the track record that most Media Ventures composers enjoy after leaving the fold, I was actually looking forward to this score. Surprisingly, it is not so much in the Media Ventures vein as one might think, and actually comes across as a hybrid of Hans Zimmer and James Horner, with very little electronics in sight. Badelt's composition for the string section is quite good and gives the music a lush feeling that is especially helpful in the quieter, more romantic cues. But a big-time adventure score is only as strong as its heroic main theme, and on this note, the score falls noticeably flat. While the music is no loss to rousing orchestrations, there isn't one "knock-you-back" whammy of a main title. There is a main theme, but it is rather lackluster, though Badelt does perform some interesting variations on it in the second half of the score. While such a loss is keenly felt, at least it doesn't completely ruin the score. Badelt keeps this interesting with ethnic moments representing the exotic Eloi race, and his chorus work runs a gamut of styles from conventional to the kind one would expect out of The Lion King. The intensity of the chorus gives some much-needed power to the score, and works in a way that's similar to The Mummy Returns. Only occasionally does Badelt dip into the typical Media Ventures scoring, but even then it is only for a short time, and the sound is actually quite muted compared to its use by other Zimmerites. Despite it's problems, The Time Machine is actually a fairly enjoyable score, though if you're looking for something really grand and rising, there are plenty of other adventure scores that deliver more so than this one. If you enjoyed the music in the film, or just derive pleasure from the horde of Media Ventures composers, and would enjoy listening to something more conventional, give this disc a spin. *** |
| Track Listing - Total Running Time: 57:35 | |
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