Good music, Awful CD
Spark | United States | 03/22/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
"After composing one of the best scores of his career, John Williams continued with the franchise to score it's prequel and sequel. In "Temple of Doom," he introduces new themes that are just as wonderful as any other Indiana Jones themes.
Included in these themes is a childish theme played on some kind of percussion for Short Round. It's comparable to the Ewok theme from "Return of the Jedi," but because it never makes an appearance for more than a few seconds, it won't easily get on your nerves. In addition, when this theme is played by the full orchestra, it even sounds heroic.
Willie Scott seems to have two themes. One is played slowly on the violins, and is comparable to other romatic themes (including Marion's from "Raiders"). Her other theme reflects how out of place a night club singer is in the jungles and caves of India.
The Slave Children's Crusade is my favorite part of this album. This brass-heavy theme shows more determination than any other musical piece I know, and it works just as well on album as it does in the film.
The last major recurring theme in the film is "The Temple of Doom." I find that I have to turn up the volume every time this song comes around. Not because I like the music, though; it is so much quieter than the rest of the CD and I have trouble hearing it otherwise. Up to a point, this is the same cult music sung when one of the Thuggees is lowered into a pit of lava. It works better in the film than it does on the album, but it's still sure to send chills down your back. The earsplitting cry at the end could either make this peice your favorite, or it could ruin it for you.
Though "The Mine Car Chase" is often compared to the "Desert Chase" from "Raiders" or "Belly of the Steel Beast" from "Crusade," I find that it fails to do anything but support the speed of the chase. There is very little theme besides that. I much prefer the "Slalm on Mt. Humol" (which is only too short). "Bug Tunnel and Death Trap" is comparable to "The Trash Compactor" from "Star Wars," but while in "Star Wars" the music sounded really desparate, in "Temple of Doom" it is a little humorous. Most of the rest is typical John Williams underscore for an Indiana Jones movie.
That being said; the music is terribly out of order on this album. They should be arranged 1, 2, 6, 4, 3, 8, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11. There is only 37:20 of score on the album. Many great themes were left out that could have been included (including what I think of as the Indian Temple theme which you briefly hear around 2:20 in "The Mine Car Chase"). There is absolutley no score included from the end of the mine cars until the end of the movie. I would have loved to hear the simple drums he used to score the bridge confrontation, but it's missing. This is one of the most pathetic releases of a soundtrack I've ever heard, and that is why I only give the CD 3 stars.
At the price people are selling the CD, it's not worth it. I wouldn't pay more than $30 for this CD. There are pirated copies of the complete score of two discs which I would reccomend over this version. Other than that, just hope that this soundtrack gets the re-release treatment it deserves."
The EXPANDED SCORE by John Williams
Maelstrom | Florida | 01/19/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Hello everyone. I am an avid collector of rare and out-of-print promotional film scores. With over 200 in my collection, I know the subject well! I just want you to know that there is a special version of John Williams' classic score to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom containing 21 tracks (I own a copy). If you are interested here is the track listing for the item:
1. Anthing Goes (2:49)
2. Fast Streets of Shanghai (3:38)
3. Nocturnal Activities (5:53)
4. Short Round's Theme (2:28)
5. Children in Chains (2:41)
6. Slalom on Mount Humol (2:22)
7. The Temple of Doom (2:57)
8. Bug Tunnel and Death Trap (3:28)
9. Slave Children's Crusade (3:21)
10. The Mine Car Chase (3:38)
11. Finale & End Credits (6:16)
BONUS TRACKS:
12. Anything Goes (2:58)
13. Parade of the Slave Children (4:50)
14. Nocturnal Activities (2:02)
15. Short Round's Theme (2:25)
16. Suite (5:25)
17. Parade of the Slave Children (2:17)
18. The Mine Car Chase (3:32)
19. Finale & End Credits (6:28)
20. Anything Goes (2:59)
21. Suite (5:51)
I've also seen an alternate version on eBay that probably has the same music but a different track listing:
CD1:
1. Anything Goes
2. Anything Goes (Instrumental)
3. Anything Goes Fanfare
4. Diamond Deal & Fast Streets of Shanghai
5. Slalom on Mount Humol & the Village
6. Fortune and Glory
7. The Trek
8. Welcome to Pankot Palace
9. Mara Raja & The Dinner
10. Nocturnal Activities
11. Bug Tunnel and Death Trap
12. The Thuk Ceremony
CD2:
13. Stealing the Stones
14. The Blood of Khali
15. Short Round's Escape
16. Underground Chaos
17. The Mine Car Chase
18. The Bridge, Finale, & End Credits
19. Parade of the Slave Children (Concert Version)
20. Finale and End Credits (Album Version)"
Where is the REAL score?
T. Brown | Stevenson Ranch, CA United States | 07/31/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
"One of the best "Finale and End Credits" scores is Temple of Doom. Using the main "Raiders" theme, John Williams integrates secondary themes of the movie masterfully. They are woven into the familiar trumpet melody. The only time in the trilogy he did this. I bought this CD for the closing track. However, it is NOT the original music. If you have the DVD, compare the end of the movie (starting from the return to the village)to the CD and the best parts are cut out. When will a true soundtrack for this movie be released?"
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1
