X2: X-Men United

Composed by John Ottman

09 - Magneto's Old Tricks (4:59)

10 - I'm In (4:11)

11 - If You Really Knew (3:21)
12 - Playing with Fire (2:45)
13 - Death Strikes Deathstryke (4:52)
14 - Getting Out Alive (3:59)
15 - Goodbye (5:28)
16 - We're Here to Stay (1:48)

Orchestrated by John Ottman and Damon Intrabartolo

Conducted by Damon Intrabartolo

Produced by Casey Stone

Released by Superb Records on May 6th, 2003

Total Running Time: 60:16

     A sequel that has been too long in the making, X2 proved that all the time that has lapsed between the first film was well spent. Everything about the sequel is better, making it the Empire Strikes Back of the comic book films and keeping the X-Men franchise alive and well. While pretty much everyone from the first film was back for the sequel, the scoring duties were handed to John Ottman on the condition that he edit the film as well. Already having won an BAFTA Film Award for his editing duties on The Usual Suspects, Ottman was given the difficult task of editing a special effects-laden film such as this one. Stepping up to the task, his editing on the film was top-notch and should be enough to gain him even more notoriety. But also being the composer for the film, how does his score fare amidst the challenge of editing such a difficult film? In some ways better than Kamen's work for the first film, but it also stands as a disappointment for a franchise that just can't seem to get completely off the ground score-wise.

     To label the biggest problem with X2, it's that it all boils down to the fact that it is simply boring. The music works as underscore to the visuals, but aside from a few standouts, it basically passed by quietly in the film. Even Danny Elfman's Spider-Man had more of a presence to it. The score makes use of brass-heavy orchestration, choral moments, and has a rousing main theme (which bares a resemblance to Henry Mancini's theme to Lifeforce), but none of this is used to much of an effect once the sixty minute runtime of the album is over. Ottman's usage of his main title theme is very limited though it's constructed in a way that isn't as easily incorporated on the spur of the moment. Additionally, there are several moments throughout which are consist of cues that are reminiscent of other composers such as David Arnold and Jerry Goldsmith, and even including a blatant rip-off of Elliot Goldenthal's score to Batman Forever (Magneto's Old Tricks).

     The better moments throughout the score do help to make this a perfectly decent album though. The main theme certainly fits along the lines of what most people think a heroic theme should be and its use in the opening and closing of Suite from X2 track works nicely. The breathy female voice and string accompaniment for Mystique in track four is also much more interesting than Kamen's musical representation of the character. At the same time however, even what should be standout cues, such as Mansion Attack, generally fall off the mark, making these good moments few and far between.

     While John Ottman's editing of the film was top-notch, his scoring falls short of such greatness, even though it is completely serviceable for the film. If you enjoyed X2 or noted what you heard in the film, then this is by no means a waste of money. At the same time, unless you have more than a passing interest, it's best to pass on this one.

See Also