Gladiator

Most modern Hollywood films have musical "temp tracks" laid in as they're edited, usually classical standards or music from other soundtracks that helps shape the dramatic and emotional intentions of works in progress. Sometimes these temp tracks become the score (as in "2001"), but more often they serve as a template for the film's eventual scorer. That said, we'll boldly climb out on a limb and opine that director Ridley Scott was listening to a whole lot of Holst's The Planets as he was cobbling together his modern gladiator epic. Credit Hans Zimmer for taking "Mars, the Bringer of War" and hammering its familiar harmonic and rhythmic Sturm und Drang into something serviceably fresh; cohort Lisa Gerrard generally handles the more ethereal, atmospheric passages. As epic in scope as its thematic inspiration (and with enough occasional nods to "authenticity" to make it work), this is nonetheless a work of often surprising nuances, and one that recasts the traditional heroic orchestral score in deliciously dark and ominous tones. Warning: repeated listening may inspire the invasion of neighboring countries. --Jerry McCulley Amazon.com

Left me utterly unmoved

Well played, well thought out and in posession of a number of moods this companion soundtrack to the blockbuster sand and sandal epic should be a good buy. Coming out early enough in the piece to avoid most of the audio compression problems so inherent with much mid 00's product it sees Hollywood film music legend Hans Zimmer collaborate with Lisa Gerrard (who was unfamiliar to me prior to this) and this first disc - there is another of further music - runs the gamut of the film's stages from beginning to end. And it must of sold some copies for them to have bothered to cobble together another `from or inspired by' disc at a later date.

The drama for me here is the lack of drama. For a film that had a number of moods but predominantly action and resigned pride and sadness, there is startlingly little bollocks to the music. The Battle (track 3) is at least lively but it fails to elicit any emotional response in the listener. There are passages that have some fire but even then it seems to be muted as if the composers were strangely gunshy. It certainly didn't inspire me to hit my play button too many times nor did it inspire me to throw the movie on.

I suppose the situation could best be summed up by the fact that when this movie came out and they needed some stirring music for the trailer they chose `Anvil of Crom' written by Basil Poledouris and used in the old film Conan The Barbarian. Not a good sign! There is some value here and I have a great deal of respect for Hans Zimmer but this is a fumble, without the movie to prop it up these sounds don't translate well. October 21, 2008

Gladiator soundtrack

I like this soundtrack, loved the movie and the music in the background. My favorite is track 5 which features Lisa Gerrard's voice. August 28, 2008

SCORE IS FINE - BARGAIN BASEMENT RELEASE!

This is not a memorable score - But it does invoke this suberb films memories ( Rozsa - Diomkin - North - NOT! ~ What happened to melody?).
This DECCA CD is the bottom of the barrel - NO INFORMATION WHATSOEVER! No timings - No bios. - Zimmer (we know) - But who is Lisa Gerrard? Does she not diserve a bio? - A CD DISGRACE!
If you liked the film, get it, it is not something that you will listen to often, but it does envoke the film. - This idiotic release is strictly to cash in on its popularity - DITO for "MORE MUSIC FROM GLADIATOR". Yahoos like this company are destroying the market for serious film score enthusiasts by such a shoddy release. July 26, 2008

An Epic Score

An amazing collaboration between Hanz Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard bring both the film and the soundtrack to life. From great battle sequences to strong emotional themes, this music has everything to take you back to the great gladiatorial arena. May 2, 2008

Absolutely phenomenal!

It was all I expected and more. A great collection and mixture of intense, up beat, high action musical sequences, and soft, sad, slow portions that are truly beautiful. January 12, 2008

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