1 |
Letters
From Iwo Jima Theme (Radio Edit) (2:51) |
2 |
Main
Titles (4:13) |
3 |
Letters
Montage (3:14) |
4 |
Preparing
For The Battle (2:57) |
5 |
Suicide
(3:18) |
6 |
Enemy Fire (1:34) |
| 7 |
Shimizu's
Past (3:04) |
8 |
Dinner
Party (3:12) |
9 |
Mercedes
Lullaby |
10 |
The
Refuge |
11 |
Not
Human |
12 |
The
River |
13 |
A
Tale |
14 |
Deep
Forest |
15 |
Vals
of the Mandrake |
16 |
The
Funeral |
17 |
Mercedes |
18 |
Pan
and the Full Moon |
19 |
Ofelia |
20 |
A
Princess |
21 |
Pan's
Labyrinth Lullaby |
REVIEW
We
are sorry if we have offended any fans in the soundtrack review
of Clint Eastwood’s Flags
of Our Fathers. Over the months, we have realized that
the Oscar-nominated uncle has a style of his own, and not
respecting it will only result in bad karma.
When
we received this album, the first thing we did was to check
whether the veteran director-actor is back as the composer
for his film on the Iwo Jima war told from the perspective
of the Japanese soldiers.
We
saw Kyle Eastwood and Michael Stevens taking over the job.
Both are first-time feature film composers, with the former
being the director’s son.
You know what they say: Like father, like son.
The
entire album’s feel is still minimalist like Flags.
The one main theme repeats itself quite a bit over the 43-minute
soundtrack. No, it is not just a few times - but many times.
Before
you think that we are dissing this score album, we will be
quick to state that this theme is somewhat more affecting
compared to the one in Flags. And it helps that there are
no songs to pump up the running time of the disc. Instead,
we have a Western classic-sounding “Dinner Party”
and a traditional “Song For The Defense of Iwo Jima”
accompanied by cheerful singing voices and piano melodies.
Elsewhere,
“Preparing For Battle” and “Enemy Fire”
paints a threatening picture of danger with its fierce piano
tunes.
At
the end of the day, it is still the main central theme which
will stay in your mind, with its lonely piano and militaristic
trumpet solos. This 11-note tune is heard over and over again,
opening tracks like Letters From Iwo Jima Theme (Radio Edit),
Main Titles and Letters Montage, just to name a few.
In
a good way, we hope that it will haunt you with its tragic
imminence.
SOUNDTRACK
RATING:
Review
by John Li
|
