Ape Soundscape

In my recent review of Rise of the Planet of the Apes, I neglected to mention the musical score composed by Patrick Doyle. Let me correct that oversight now by saying that it was another wonderful element in an enjoyable movie. In fact, I recently picked up the soundtrack album myself, and it's in heavy rotation on my iPod.

Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes re-make was a big disappointment, but the one truly great element of it was Danny Elfman's amazing score. The work Patrick Doyle has done on this new film feels stylistically connected with Elfman's work -- and even in occasional moments, with the original film's score by Jerry Goldsmith.

It's a loud, in-your-face score. Noisy brass. Frenetic strings. And of course, the percussion. The more action oriented the cue gets, the more the percussion pours it on. It starts right from the beginning of the album -- literally in "The Beginning," the first track, and continues over the first several cues.

The soundtrack does slow down a bit through some of the early tracks, representing the more quiet and emotional chunk of the movie. On film, this music supported the sentiment wonderfully; on the album, it's not quite as strong without the visual support. Listening to it straight through can lull you into a bit too sedate a mood; but if you play the album on shuffle, it's easier to appreciate any one of these slower songs mixed in with the more driving action cues.

And the deeper you get into the album, the more that material comes. It begins with a slow burn in a number of great, suspenseful pieces that slowly builds the tension. One track is an especially great example of this, despite its goofy name, "Cookies." (If you've seen the film, you'll recall the scene.)

As the story barrels on into act three, the music goes pedal to the metal. An ominous choir with eerie synthesized processing arrives in "Caesar's Stand," and then the percussion drives up to maximum for two pivotal (and lengthy) action cues, "Zoo Breakout" and "Golden Gate Bridge."

If you're a fan of movie soundtracks, this is one to make sure to add to your collection. It's one of my favorites to come around in a while; I'd rate it an A-.