The Da Vinci Code

For his adaptation of Dan Brown's megaselling book, director Ron Howard didn't take any risks, he called one of Hollywood's most popular composers, Hans Zimmer. Zimmer is a skilled craftsman, which is good and bad since he adequately delivers in a variety of styles, but usually misses the extra unexpected zing that makes a score truly memorable. His work for The Da Vinci Code is almost entirely muted. This may well be one of the quietest soundtracks to a blockbuster you've ever heard; only bursts of threatening-sounding strings occasionally break the quasi-ambient mood. The strategy is particularly efficient on "L'Esprit des Gabriel," which swells in a pleasantly ominous way. It's the kind of track that benefits greatly from blasting through a movie theater's multiple speakers. As a whole the score is as serious-minded as the movie's plot is preposterous. The most compelling aspect is Zimmer's use of a choir, especially on "Malleus Maleficarum," "Salvete Virgines" (paired with clanging metallic percussion), and "Poisoned Chalice," in which soprano Hila Plitmann takes eerie center stage. Yet overall it's often difficult to tell the cues aside, awash as they are in a sea of somber strings. Once upon a time, Hollywood took artistic risks on some of its bigger offerings. Is that time gone for good? --Elisabeth Vincentelli Amazon.com

A mysterious and subtle score

By no means is this my favorite score by Hans Zimmer, but it is very satisfying. The choral pieces are marvelous and the main theme is stunning. March 25, 2008

One of my favorites of Hans Zimmer

I collect movie soundtracks.Some of my favorite composers are Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner, John Barry, James Newton Howard to name a few off the top of my head. I love the movie music of Hans Zimmer. On occasion I will get one that has only one or two tracks that I listen to repeatedly. However,on "The DaVinci Code", I have enjoyed almost all of it. There is only one track that I forward past. It's kind of creepy.
I have been listening to this CD while working on my computer; I especially like the choral music that seems to be in much of the background. I wish the crescendo on the 1st and third track had been muted somewhat; I worry about what it's doing to my little speakers.
This has become one of my favorite Zimmer recordings. I have to force myself to change the disc so that I dont get tired of it. That almost happened with "The Gladiator", both the first CD and "More Music from the Gladiator" with bits of dialogue.
March 15, 2008

Magical journey

Especially tracks 1 and 13 are outstanding. Musical composition is linear yet rich and surprising. Should be heard with full treble and bass for enhanced quality.


September 4, 2007

Poorly produced disc

While I love the music, I found the disc to be badly recorded. The music was extremely "boomy" in bass and often had clicks, as if it had been recorded at too high a level, resulting in cutoff.

I processed my favorite pieces through Bias PEAK software to reduce the boominess and normalize the music to eliminate the clicks; it was more enjoyable, but way too much to expect a customer to do. July 12, 2007

Good but a bit too long and poorly produced

If there is one good thing that I can actually say about the film adaptation of Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code", it is by far Hans Zimmer's lush, orchestral film score for the film. I wasn't all that impressed with the film (much less the book itself). The only negative thing I can honestly say about the score is that the music is almost too subtle and quiet which makes it a bit difficult to listen to on one's ipod. A lot of Zimmer's scores tends to be loud and bombastic but surprisingly enough this is not the case with "The Da Vinci Code". There are still occasional bombastic moment but they are few and far between. Regardless of the minor flaws, the soundtrack is laced with a lush tapestry of orchestral melodies and operatic vocals reminiscent of Mediaeval Baebes like on "Salvete Virgines". My personal favorite song on the album is the epic "CheValiers De Sangreal". I just love how dramatic the melody is. I think I would have enjoyed this soundtrack even more so if it was edited slightly to just under an hour. A little over an hour was a bit too long for me but overall great soundtrack. June 26, 2007

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