An excerpt from my blog:
To this day I still enjoy the score from the first Transformers movie (2007). It was an entirely orchestral score - which are always timeless, an opinion shared by many. The composer for that film, Steve Jablonsky, created a very unique score that used Western and Superhero themes, with some added Gregorian chants to compliment the mix. It was looking like the franchise had inherited the best scoring since the Matrix. Here is 'Bumblebee', a stirring piece that starts with a slow burn:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8foTMjFqIk[/youtube]
And then the sequel (Revenge of the Fallen) happened. At first Hans Zimmer was brought in to help score, which was a great addition - you should really check out Zimmer's 'Like A Dog Chasing Cars' from the Dark Knight (below), probably the best March since Vader's 'Imperial March' theme. Making music like that, clearly Zimmer wasn't at all to blame for the Transformers 2 score...
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0ynjjk2c7Y[/youtube]
It was the next addition after Zimmer, in which the band
Linkin Park was brought in to help score as well. They are a decent band, but scoring a film? Not their strength. Clearly adding this band is where the sound derailed. The end result...a butchered hybrid of orchestral music, wailing guitar, and
record scratching. Ugh. It has that 'Army Recruiting' sound better left to commercial spots. After enjoying the score from the first Transformers film, it sounded irritating, jarring, and just noisy by comparison. Listen at the 0:15 mark of this clip:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9nAhtX1eFE[/youtube]
Ack! Turn it off! Turn it off!
Transformers 3 is now in production, so I as one fan ask they return to what wasn't broken to begin with: Jablonsky's score. I don't see why the 3rd film can't return to those themes, and perhaps build on that sound. You had it right the first time. I'm not asking as a Transformers fan, but as a music fan. Thanks!
[ Click to attempt signal recovery... ]
