|
It's funny how
certain soundtracks take a few listens for me to warm up to.
This is the case with Harry Gregson-Williams', Prince
of Persia: The Sands of Time.
Initially, it played out as a traditional Hollywood
blockbuster score with traditional middle-eastern influences
associated with it. After having a few more listens (and
seeing the movie), I now have a greater appreciation for the
music than I did with my first listen. This is indeed an
above average score.
The
soundtrack starts off with high energy. It can be argued
that the first two cues are the best of the disc. There is
more than that to the Sands of Time,
however. In my subsequent listens, I grew fond of the main
theme that Gregson-Williams composed for the Prince of
Persia. It's a theme that doesn't really impress itself
until one has had repeat occasions in which to digest the
entire score, and, more importantly, hear it within the
context of the film. Summer blockbuster or not, intelligent
music like this sometimes needs the root context in which it
was constructed for to really be appreciated and seeing the
film helped me make that association. In turn, it also
enabled me to enjoy the score even more. Perhaps that's how
it should be.
The
middle-eastern flair, while not fully exotic, offers enough
of a respectable presence to give the score some
authenticity. When this cultural touch is executed with a
sense of humor ("The Ostrich Race"), it is even more
impressive. With Kingdom of Heaven,
and now Prince of Persia,
Harry has distinguished himself as a composer who is
comfortable working within the middle-eastern spheres of
filmmaking and has done so in a commanding way. Certainly,
this type of output from the composer is a lot more
enriching than a Taking of Pelham 1, 2, 3
autopilot score.
Ultimately,
I don't expect each of you to listen to this score countless
of times to enjoy it at the level I do. Time is precious and
in this fast paced world, it is difficult to devote blocks
of time to just one product. I do, however, encourage you to
return to it every once in a while to see if you gain a bit
more enjoyment from it than your first encounter with the
material. I think you'll find that it will methodically
climb up the ladder of your depth chart.
Prince of Persia
is a listening experience
that requires a bit of leg work to get the full potential
out of it, but in the end, it succeeds in delivering an
intelligent and eventful journey across the Sands of
Time.
|
