Even the greatest names in film scoring have occasionally face a dilemma not so different from making a good Thanksgiving dinner: how to stuff a turkey. And not even noted scenery carnivore Robin Williams (playing a househ... more »old robot who gradually becomes human) could mug his way out of this syrupy Chris Columbus-directed reworking of Pinocchio. Modern maestro James Horner dishes up a serviceable, twinkly score full of swelling strings and quietly "magical" passages; Spielberg-Williams Lite--not to mention a decade or so late. The James Horner-Will Jennings-Celine Dion team responsible for Titanic's "My Heart Will Go On" (and on and on and on) returns here with the decidedly tacked-on "Then You Look at Me." Dion retired immediately thereafter--'nuff said. --Jerry McCulley« less
Even the greatest names in film scoring have occasionally face a dilemma not so different from making a good Thanksgiving dinner: how to stuff a turkey. And not even noted scenery carnivore Robin Williams (playing a household robot who gradually becomes human) could mug his way out of this syrupy Chris Columbus-directed reworking of Pinocchio. Modern maestro James Horner dishes up a serviceable, twinkly score full of swelling strings and quietly "magical" passages; Spielberg-Williams Lite--not to mention a decade or so late. The James Horner-Will Jennings-Celine Dion team responsible for Titanic's "My Heart Will Go On" (and on and on and on) returns here with the decidedly tacked-on "Then You Look at Me." Dion retired immediately thereafter--'nuff said. --Jerry McCulley
"I freely admit that I am an unabashed James Horner fan. I am probably one of only ten people who owns the score to "The Page Master", "The Name of The Rose" or "Thunderheart." While I do not worship at an alter to "Titanic", I firmly believe that when Mr. Horner is on his game there are few who can match him for hitting the "heart and soul" of what a movie is all about. If in doubt, please listen to "Apollo 13" or "Braveheart." His score for "Bicentennial Man" is a wonderful sleeper. I saw the film before purchasing the score as the score was not available earlier. The piece "The Machine Age" which he uses over the opening credits is a seductive blend of rhythms that says "futuristic" without being trite or obvious. It may be the least "James Horner" piece on the CD. But it's just the first example of the subtle gems hidden in this composition.While there are plenty of "Hornerisms" to be found in this score ( The piece "The Wedding" bears more than a passing family resemblance to "The Wedding" on the "Deep Impact" score) and one can pick out hints of "Titanic" and "Braveheart" in a few of the passages, this score is one of the most understated of Mr. Horner's compositions. Is it a touch "soft and gooey" at the center? Yes. But so is the film for which the score was composed. And if the purpose of a film score is to enhance the message of a film and to sell that message on an emotional level, then "Bicentennial Man" is a home run.The theme for the song "Then you look at me" (sung by Celine Dion on the soundtrack) is truly haunting. The only thing that could keep the score for "Bicentennial Man" from being nominated for an Oscar is the fact that the movie isn't doing well with the public.Which is a shame for this is James Horner at his most evocative."
The Cinematic Symphony at Its Finest!
Zachary S. Houp | Fleetwood, PA USA | 02/19/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The film score to Bicentennial Man holds a host of distinguishing titles in my book. In my opinion, it is Horner's best dramatic score; it is the most unceasingly beautiful music compiled into one score; it is the most consistently entertaining score that I own. It is about as perfect a cinematic symphony as a composer can hope to accomplish. There is only one criticism that can be applied to the work--or rather to Horner himself, who epitomizes such criticisms with this score in particular. Bicentennial Man, like nearly all of his other projects HEAVILY references some of his previous--and from this vantage point--future works. Bicentennial Man is a companion to Horner's score for Deep Impact--so abundantly obvious that he uses IDENTICAL music--as well as a companion to this year's critical favorite A Beautiful Mind--again, with identical music, a note-perfect translation. But, in the case of the latter referenced score, Bicentennial Man set the standard that Horner would pull from. Bicentennial Man, if only in the first track, created a new style, a new sound, that would no doubt wow even the most modest film score fan--unfortunately, he repeated the same material in A Beautiful Mind. One fact remains abundantly apparent, however, the fact that negates any self-plagiarism he might be responsible for: Bicentennial Man is the best score of those that he referenced, without a doubt, indisputably.A lot of critics chastised the film of Bicentennial Man for concluding in a sappy style. I won't argue with this assessment; I'll heartily agree, though I won't say how much this detracted from my viewing pleasure. It would seem to me, however, that sappy films make for enhanced scores, as is most certainly the case with this score. Everything about Bicentennial Man's music is a beautiful fairy-tale--melodramatic perhaps, but so involving that it becomes the pinnacle achievement in translating the onscreen story into the audience's heart. I love Horner's sappy score for Bicentennial Man the way I love Hanz Zimmer's eccentrically sentimental score for Pearl Harbor, and I'm not ashamed of that. And that is the score I would most closely liken Bicentennial Man to, though it admittedly surpasses Zimmer's work completely.Thematically, one can hear whispers of previous and future Horner scores, but that is not to say that they aren't all beautiful to the ear. Yes, there's not much diversity in the way of sounds on this album, but if it is the mood you are looking for, there is no other place to go. The multiple themes all cater to the same experience, with little variation, but that is the movie nonetheless, the common denominator of Horner's symphony. You will either hear heart-wrenchingly dramatic underscore that is positively breathtaking, or you'll hear unique, new-age, playful underscore that could only have been composed by Horner. Truly, his early work on animated films benefits him now. And most interesting, one aspect that pleases me most of Horner and his attention to musical cohesion, is his synthesis of not just several themes, but also of a common concluding passage that unifies and completes the score, forming it into the symphony that I hold so dear. As far as I can tell, this device is unique to him, and it is a sheer stroke of genius when listening.And so, in conclusion, I can't help but make the argument that though Bicentennial man may prelude and reiterate what is a standard in other Horner scores, the fact that it is the best of the lot means that it deserves your attention. Never before--from any composer, from any genre, from any film--have I heard such a unified score with such moving passages that capture the imagination and the heart along with it. Horner's score for Bicentennial Man is the definition of beauty, the personification of film composing that utilizes every available emotion that humans are capable of. This s score is one that you can always come back to, always listen to from front to back, and always enjoy for its rich themes, incessant beauty, and consistent storytelling."
Beautiful Music
N. Stillman | 12/28/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Listening to this CD is one of the most profoundly relaxing experiences you could ask for. The orchestration is wonderful, the melodies haunting--you can see and feel what the music is trying to convey with no effort at all. Pure enjoyment!"
One of Horner's best!
R. A. Kayer | PA, USA | 09/05/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"James Horner has made some great soundtracks in his day. Braveheart, Deep Impact, Willow, Cocoon, and Titanic are just a few. But Bicentennial Man may just be better than all of them
For me, this soundtrack carries a lot of personal emotions with me. I am a 19 year old college freshman that has just had to say goodbye to his friends. After all was said and done, and I drove off to my new life, I popped this soundtrack in, and listened to "The Gift of Mortality" and then "Then You Look at Me". By the time those songs were done, I was in tears. I don't know if there ever has been such a beautiful album ever produced, one which carries so much "human" emotion. For some reason though, many critics (including the one here on Amazon) haven't had kind words for this soundtrack, like those for the movie. I think they are all crazy! Not only should the movie have been a best picture nominee, this also belonged as a nominee for best score. If there was only one complaint I have, and it is a VERY small one, it is t hat the music is sometimes to soft. Other than that, BUY THIS SOUNDTRACK.. Perhaps you'll remember something important in your life"
Track Listings (17) - Disc #1
