Terminator Salvation Soundtrack Review
Terminator Salvation CD Cover
We’ve been worried about the Terminator Salvation soundtrack since we heard Danny Elfman had been handed the job. We thought his style as a music composer wasn’t the right ‘fit’ for a Terminator movie. Now that we’ve had a chance to listen to the score can we say our worries were unfounded? Sadly, no.
That’s not to say that the score isn’t a decent one – it is full of great music – but we’re sorry to say it’s full of the kind of music one would not expect in a Terminator movie and devoid of the kind you would.
Back in January we reported the rumor that the signature Terminator theme wouldn’t feature in the new movie. McG squashed the rumor by stating that he loved Brad Fiedel’s original music and that the signature theme would definitely be incorporated. Well apparently not. That’s right, gone is the iconic Terminator beat made famous by Brad Fiedel and beautifully built upon by Bear McCreary in his score for the now cancelled Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. You know the one we’re talking about – the ‘da da da da da’ (or however you represent it).
If the signature theme isn’t on the CD, can it possibly be in the film? We have our doubts. If it is in the movie, why has it been left off the soundtrack? One way or the other there’s been some bad decision making when it comes to the Terminator Salvation score.
Imagine buying a Star Wars soundtrack that doesn’t feature the iconic John Williams main theme. How crazy would that be? Well that’s the experience you get when you first play the Salvation soundtrack. Yes, it’s disappointing to say the least.
The score is heavily orchestral and devoid of the metallic nature of all previous Terminator themes. There are some metallic sounding instruments present but nowhere near to the degree that is necessary for the music to evoke the feeling of man vs machine. Some of the orchestral music is pretty heavy and there’s quite a few brilliant action oriented tracks that are really great to listen to. But once again it is distinctly Danny Elfman style and distinctly not Terminator.
Numerous tracks, including the opening (which we assume is the opening credits music) reminded us more of Planet of the Apes than it did Terminator. Yes, listening to the score had us talking about Apes and not Terminator’s. As the score progresses you hear distinct snippets (or music so similar as to be classified as a snippet) to many of Elfman’s previous credits including Batman.
Listen to a few track excerpts for yourself:
