Search - James Newton Howard :: Waterworld: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

An excellent score for a mediocre film

Christopher M Davis | Winchester, VA | 10/23/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"No one can deny that Waterworld, despite its massive budget and star-studded cast, is one of the worst movies to come out of Hollywood in years. It's score, however, is another matter entirely. I certainly hope James Newton Howard received some sort of an award for the incredible music he composed for this movie. Close your eyes while listening to the Main Title, The Atoll, and Escaping the Smokers, and in your mind you will see the film the way it should have been. From ethereal and haunting, to pounding and exhilerating, the tracks on this CD effectively convey the atmosphere of Waterworld - a desolate, post-nuclear ocean wasteland on which the last remnants of humanity struggle to survive against the elements and marauding bands of jetskiing pirates known as "Smokers." Even if you never see the movie (no one will hold it against you), the original soundtrack by James Newton Howard is an absolute must-have."

Exotic and swashbuckling theme music for a new nautical age!

Brent A. Anthonisen | Alpharetta, GA, USA | 08/14/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First, I refuse to buy into the notion that this was a bad movie; it wasn't (for further testimony from myself on this movie's behalf, I have written a review for the DVD release as well), and I still challenge anyone to at least rent it in order to form an opinion of their own rather than just listen to what the critics (and the sheep who went along with the critics) had to say six years ago.Having gotten that off my chest, you could see the movie blindfolded and still enjoy James Newton Howard's score. He's proven himself to be considered on the same plateau as John Williams and Ennio Morricone with this production. The unconventional use of various flutes and pipes give the score an exotic feeling (and do a fine job of conveying the notion of an isolated soul, Costner's character, surrounded by endless sea breezes), and the African/Indian percussion used to augment many of the tracks bring forth the idea that the world has devolved to a primordial (if not primitive) era requiring a honed (if not brutal) survival instinct if anyone is to make it in the world as it has become.When conventional orchestration is used, the result is a theme worthy of Errol Flynn, Douglas Fairbanks, (Harrison Ford?), any cinematic adventurer you care to name...it's big, wide-open, and exhilarating...what you'd expect God to play for you as you slice through the ocean, wind in your sails and salty brine in your face. I'm not giving this review 5 stars because the tracks don't appear on the CD in the order that they're played in the movie (though this certainly doesn't detract from the music itself) and because the theme from Enola's music box (which she kept humming throughout the entire movie, providing a sense of foreshadowing for those who cared to look for it) WASN'T included. I thought that, for its significance, it would warrant inclusion on the soundtrack, if in a reduced orchestral form rather than music box chimes. Morricone would've included it, had he composed and conducted this work.To sum up, this is a great soundtrack to (what I'm not alone in believing is) a great movie...you'd do well to experience them both."

Awesome score that ranks right up there with 'The Rock'

anthemic | 07/05/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Any fan of great epic motion picture scores ('Dune,' 'The Rock,' etc) has got to get their hands on this CD. It includes everything from fast-paced tracks to soothing Enya-esque watery tunes. Wonderfully orchestrated and very enjoyable."