Search - Danny Elfman :: Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985 Film) / Back To School (1986 Film): Original Motion Picture Scores [2 on 1]

BACK TO SCHOOL! (oh, yeah and some other 'peewee' nonsense)

Derek Ring | Worchestre, MA | 11/21/1999

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Peewee's big adventure is easily one of the most popular and beloved movie scores out there. It's dynamite! Who can argue with that? The 3 stars that I do give the CD are solid. Unfortunately, there is only 20:43 of Big Adventure here. No incidental music. And apparently the only available version of the score. I have no problem with Back to School's soundtrack, but Peewee's is pure magic. Of all of Elfman's work, Peewee's most deserves to be heard, complete. Very disappointing."

Not enough Elfman!

Varese Fan | Sunny FL | 05/25/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The score to Tim Burton's PEE-WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE is one Danny Elfman greatest achievements. And for those who are upset about the lack of the film's music on this album [not that I blame you], I have some info. The original masters used to score the film were recorded w/an L.A. union orchestra, an orchestra that would have to be paid an enormous amount of money [and I am talking hundreds of thousands of dollar$] for the masters' release. Given this, 20+ mins of the score was re-recorded w/The National Philharmonic Orchestra [a Lodon orchestra]. Why only 20+ mins? You'll have to ask Danny Elfman or the record label, Varese Sarabande, about that. I do not have this album, but I do have Danny Elfman's Music For A Darkened Theater Vol 1. which contains excerpts of this score. Since it is re-recorded, one might think that it doesn't sound as good as the original master tapes. Actually, some of the tracks sound identical those in the film, and some are somewhat similar. Anyway, unless you really REALLY want this score, I suggest you wait for an expanded album, which I have no doubt [given its popularity] will eventually pop up. However this CD is not a total loss. After all, it has some of the best cues: "Main Title", "Breakfast", and "Clown Dream"."

The DVD does have the original score

Larry E. Mcphillips | Rockville, MD, United States | 07/19/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

""Thank you" to all the previous reviewers who pointed out the limitations of this re-scored music. I thought I'd chime in with a discovery. The DVD of the movie has the isolated original score! Yeah!

If you buy or rent the DVD, just go into the menu options and there's a way to play the movie with only the music score isolated. (There's commentary by Danny Elfman too, but he doesn't talk over the music.)"