Search - Michael Giacchino :: The Lost World: Jurassic Park (Video Game Soundtrack)

A Great CD

Andy | Rockland, MA United States | 07/06/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This soundtrack is one excellent CD. Michael Giacchino does a great job scoring this game. Usually when you think of "video game" music you think of the annoyingly synthesized tunes. But no, not here. This soundtrack is fully orchestrated by the Northwest Sinfonia. One thing that really struck me about this soundtrack is how Giacchino created different themes for each character in the game. From the playful wind and string instruments for the Compy to the rasping brass and pounding percussion for the dark primeval theme of the T-Rex. I noticed that at the end of the disc that there are unlisted tracks. The last listed track is number 19 which is one of the Compy's themes. If you let your CD player keep playing after the Compy's theme is over, you'll hear a a few jungle-like sounding bits. They are mostly horn melodies, string and percussion rythms. I have no idea why they aren't listed on the CD or why they weren't used in the game. To me this are some of the best music on the soundtrack. After the jungle-like themes there is another song (still listed under Track 19). This doesn't really sound anything like what else is on the CD. It almost sounds like something you would hear at a football game, but it is still good. So don't shut your discman or CD player off after the listed music for Track 19 is over. You may have to wait about a minute (if you have a digital counter on your CD player, it should be about 3:11 when the music comes on) until the music starts up, but it is worth it. Trust me. Michael Giacchino does an astounding job in following up to John Williams' score for the Jurassic Park films. None of the original film themes are displayed in this soundtrack, but it is still a good one. I suggest that if you are a fan of the music from the Jurassic Park films you get this CD. You won't be disappointed."

Hear the music without killing people (you Raptors)!

Andy | 02/24/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I own the game and one of my favorite elements thereof is the score. So, when I found out just now that it's on a CD!!!Having no true monetary sources of my own, I don't actually HAVE it yet. But I put it on my wish list. Besides, I know enough about the score to write a 95% accurate review. Each character has a theme which is played slightly different ways, depending on the levels. some of these selections are named after levels in the game, and the little preview they have helps tell me which character's music is which. The Compsognathus (Compy) theme is very playful, yet dark like the other dinosaur characters. Example: Benieth the surfice. The Human Hunter (Hunter) theme is very rustic (kind of reminds me of Russian folk music) with a military edge. Example: The canyon brigade The Velociraptor (Raptor) theme makes you get a sense of the animal's mind, and it's somewhat frightening (the mind of a six foot turkey with a mean streak and a scyth on each foot tends to be that way). Example: The forest explodes The Tyrannosaurus Rex (T-Rex) theme is very booming, seeming to say "I'm here, I'm amazing, I'm gonna eat ya! I'm bigger than you, I'm higher in the food chain!". Example: Base camp rampage The human prey (Sarah Harding) theme is very heroic, in a word. it makes you feel good to listen to. Example: Into the treesSo, if you want to hear great music without "HELP, oof, ROAAAR, crunch crunch slurp,"etc over it, than get this CD."

Rousing full-orchestra score in the John Williams tradition

Gerry Kroll | California | 01/18/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Here's an anomaly for a video game: not a synthesized score but one done with a live full orchestra. Rather than merely incorporating the themes John Williams created for the blockbuster motion picture, Michael Giacchino's lively music for "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" Playstation and Saturn games features original melodies in the Williams tradition: brassy, driving, and very catchy ("Into the Trees," for example, is infinitely hummable and will definitely stick with you after hearing it just once!). This generous soundtrack offers nearly an hour of music and is well worth exploring...an auspicious recording debut for one of the next century's most promising film composers."