Gladiator (More Music from)

Composer: Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerard
Lable (Release Year): Decca Records (2001)
Availability: ****
Rating: ***1/2

I saw Gladiator in theater after I have listened to the soundtrack many times. (Something that I don't usually have a chance to do). While enjoying the stunning visual, I was trying to 'see' how Zimmer's score is used. In the process, I noticed two crucial pieces were clearly missing in the soundtrack release: the vintage Zimmer music during the first escape of Maximus and the exotic music during the North African segment. While being mad about the absence, I was hoping there would be an isolated score on DVD (turns out to be NO). Months later, the news of this Vol. 2 came out and I was actually quite excited and happy about it. However, it turns out to be something probably not all music fans were expected. (Reminds me of Back to Titanic but that's another story…)

First of all, the title of the release should be "More Music from and INSPIRED BY" instead of simply "More Music from". It is because most of the tracks featured are not used in the final cut. They are either demo version, variations, or simply recorded but not used. Zimmer wrote a lengthy liner note about each track. The tracks that stand out the most are "Dudak of the North", "Home Coming", "Rome Is the Light", and the 2 versions of "Now We Are Free", music for the final scene. "Dudak of the North" has a sensational Spanish guitar motif (no heard in the first release). It reminds me of his another recent score Mission: Impossible II. "Home Coming" is the before mentioned missing music of the escape scene. "Rome Is the Light" is a fresh tune (not used in film) from Lisa Gerard. I like the original "Now We Are Free" so the 2 versions of it are real treats. The first one (rejected by Ridley Scoot) is very rhythmic and has strong African accent. It's definitely Zimmer's influence as it has the tone of Zimmer's The Power of One. It no doubt sounds very different from the final version. The second version is simply a techno version. It is surprisingly not annoying but rather enjoyable. Oh yeah, the exotic North African music is included. But it lasts only 44 seconds and barely worth mentioning. Second of all, there are many dialogues over music here. Something that has plagued soundtrack releases in recent years. From the liner notes, it seems the dialogue stuff is Zimmer's idea! They are not terribly annoying. They only appear briefly in low key moments. Some of them are actually well placed, for example, the speech Maximus gave in the first battle scene mixed very well in "The Gladiator Waltz", the demo version of track 3 "The Battle" of the 1st release.

Despite the complaints, I still enjoy the CD. If you solely want more score, it may disappoint you. If you are a fan of the movie or loving the first release, I think you should enjoy this one.



    Track Listing:
  1. Dudak of the North (5:33)
  2. Now We Are Free (Juba's Mix) (4:47)
  3. The Protector of Rome (1:25)
    (featuring Russell Crowe and Richard Harris)
  4. Homecoming (3:35)
    (featuring Joaquin Phoenix and Russell Crowe)
  5. The General Who Became a Slave (3:03)
  6. The Slave Who Became a Gladiator (6:11)
    (featuring Oliver Reed and Russell Crowe)
  7. Secrets (1:59)
  8. Rome Is the Light (2:43)
  9. All That Remains (0:54)
  10. Maximus (1:09)
    Guitar by Heitor Pereira
  11. Marrakesh Marketplace (0:42)
    Written by Jeff Rona
  12. The Gladiator Waltz (8:25)
    (featuring Russell Crowe/Original synth demo version)
  13. Figurines (1:01)
  14. The Mob (2:22)
  15. Busy Little Bee (3:47)
    (featuring Connie Nielsen and Russell Crowe)
  16. Death Smiles At Us All (2:29)
    (featuring Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix
  17. Not Yet (1:32)
    (featuring Djimon Hounsou)
  18. Now We Are Free (Maximus Mix) (3:51)
    Total Time: 55:28


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