Waterworld

Waterworld was the most expensive film ever until James Cameron's Titanic sailed up (sorry, but I couldn't resist...), and kicked Kevin Costner's wet epic down from it's pedestal. While Titanic was a great picture, all Waterworld managed to be was a mediocre action flick. But there was one memorable thing with this film - James Newton Howard's music. Howard has written a true epic action/adventure score, much better than the film deserved. Performed by a huge orchestra, choir and a big percussion section, the chances are this score will blow you away.

The album opens with the "Main Title" music, a very percussive piece of music, with all kinds of exotic flutes, and it's not until the second track, "Escaping the Smokers", that the superb main theme is heard for the first time. This is a terrific, exciting fanfare like theme - it really gets you going, especially when it's performed by the whole orchestra, with the brass taking the lead. This theme is also sometimes getting a more romantic, or perhaps I should say epic, treatment - especially in the last track "Main Credits" with lush strings and choir. There is also a wonderful sweeping theme for Dry Land, getting it's best rendition in "Dry Land", performed by the whole orchestra and the choir, plus a couple of other, all splendid, themes.

As this is a action/adventure score the most of the music will get your adrenaline pumping. Newton's music manage to do just that with bold orchestrations, with heavy percussion, racing strings and magnificient brass chords. A splendid example is the track "Helen Frees the Mariner". This is action music at its best. All in all, James Newton Howard has written a superb score for a rather lousy film.