Quick Review: Jurassic World

Jurassic World
Music composed by Michael Giacchino
Jurassic Park Theme by John Williams
Music conducted by Tim Simonec
Music orchestrated by Tim Simonec, Marshall Bowen, Peter Boyer, Brad Dechter, Mark Gasbarro, Jeff Kryka, Norman Ludwin, Cameron Patrick, Chad Seiter, Chris Tilton
Music performed by The Hollywood Studio Symphony
Music recorded at Streisand Scoring Stage - Sony
Album running time: 76 minutes
Available on Back Lot Music

Michael Giacchino is now coming full circle - one of his first composing gigs was the score to the video game The Lost World: Jurassic Park in 1997.  So here we have the newest follow-up in the Jurassic franchise, last seen in Jurassic Park III (2001) with a solid score by Don Davis.

In this film, we see the park finally open years later and of course it doesn’t go as planned with the breakout of its newest “attraction”. 

For the score, we get a main World theme for Jurassic World, a family theme, action motif for Owen & raptors, InGen theme, Indominus Rex motif and several recalls to John Williams’ main Jurassic Park theme. 

Here’s the rundown!:

Bury the Hatchling echoes the John Williams style horn call and an ominous buildup with choir.  We also get our first glimpse of the Indominus Rex motif.  The sweeter side of the score is represented in The Family That Strays Together, giving us the family theme.  Welcome to Jurassic Park is the Williams original, with a slightly different orchestration.  Still a great theme and blends nicely with the new material when used throughout the score.

As the Jurassic World Turns starts off with the Indominus Rex motif on horn.  We get a brass fanfare and a large statement of the new main theme.  The orchestration really shows off the orchestra and makes this the stand out Giacchino track on the album.  After a calm section, it returns to the playful woodwinds and another statement of the Jurassic Park theme to finish off the cue.  Clearly His First Rodeo starts off with some action material and suspense involving the InGen theme before switching tone to the main World theme in a light variation.  Woodwinds and pizzicato strings dominate the short track Owen You Nothing featuring a flirty motif for Owen and Claire.  Indominus Wrecks starts out with the flirty motif, matching the previous track.  Things get more mysterious, with hints of the Indominus motif over gentle flutes and celeste.  The action picks up with charging and swirling strings and jungle drums.    

Gyrosphere of Influence returns us to the World theme, and as the kids explore in the Gyrosphere, the music gets darker and mysterious.  Pavane for a Dead Apatosaurus gives the film (and score) a break for a tender moment led by piano.  We get a reprise of the family theme and a horn solo over a long-held low string part.  Giacchino has had simple piano moments since Lost, and they are effective each time.  The World theme works with different harmonies as a piano solo, before the motif for the militaristic InGen enters with a little suspense added. 

Fits and Jumpstarts has the family theme returning with a piano solo as the cue gets more lively.  The woodwinds start to take off in The Dimorphodon Shuffle, matching the flying dinos of the same name.  There is a cheerful rendition of World theme snuck in near the end.  Love in the Time of Pterosauria starts with the string glissandos that Giacchino often uses, with trilling strings and brass stabs taking over.  The action music in this cue is great, and expands the orchestra in range and style.  A variation of the family theme appears at the end of the cue.

Chasing the Dragons is a great action cue with a strong brass moment and strong statements of Owen's raptors theme - making this another album highlight.  Raptor Your Heart Out keeps the action charging along with a reference to the World theme among the raptor material.  Among the quick action, we are treated to a lovely callback (cameo?) of one of his themes from his Lost World video game.  Costa Rican Standoff combines more past themes into the action – recalling the Indominus Rex and Owen’s raptors themes.  The brass has some strong hits among the pounding tribal percussion.  The choir enters with a statement of the original Island theme (by Williams) that makes the moment really shine. 

Our Rex Is Bigger Than Yours pits dino vs. dino with a glorious World theme reprise with choir.  This leads to the rough chanting and choir, which really stand out in this track.  At a climactic moment, Williams’ theme from The Lost World: Jurassic Park shows up as film score fans all cheer. 

Growl and Make Up deals with the aftermath of the island’s incidents by utilizing a solemn version of the World theme.  Nine to Survival Job returns us to the family theme, slowly transforming into the World theme which crescendos to the end of the Jurassic Park theme.  The JP theme returns on piano in The Park Is Closed and is mixed with the World theme, creatively written to almost become one theme. 

Jurassic World Suite gives us all the themes in more expanded forms starting with the Indominus Rex theme, theme for InGen, the family theme, and Owen and the raptors music rounding out the track. 

The last four short tracks are all source music from the park, the proud march for It's a Small Jurassic World, the lively Hammond Lab Overture and The Brockway Monorail (a Simpsons reference, I hope!)  Sunrise O’er Jurassic World was composed by Mick Giacchino, Michael’s son.  You may remember another of his sons composing music for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014).  While these short cues seem odd to tack on at the end of the album (and hardly heard in the film), they don’t stop the album flow by being in chronological order.     

Giacchino proudly displays his fondness and inspiration of John Williams on his sleeve.  Giacchino’s music interpolates Williams well (and even more than on the album) without unnecessary comparisons between the two.  In fact, it’s impressive that some of the most memorable musical moments are by Giacchino.  In an action film with a trained raptor gang and big dinosaur versus a bigger dinosaur versus a bigger dinosaur, Giacchino keeps it extremely straight.  In an insanely busy year for Giacchino, he has come up with strong themes that work alongside each other and fresh action cues that expand his musical and orchestral techniques.  You can’t top Williams’ original themes and scores, but Giacchino has added a worthy addition to the Jurassic franchise.    

Post a Comment

0 Comments