Thoughts on Michael Giacchino's Fallen Kingdom score!

Mr. Robustus wrote:

In the first Jurassic World, I was constantly annoyed by how much the Velociraptor/Owen and Indominus rex leitmotifs were practically identical. It makes sense considering the little twist, but it's used for such different contexts for the two, that it ends up sounding really weird (and, again, he uses that theme in Fallen Kingdom for when they are taking off. Why???). In Fallen Kingdom, for some reason, he uses the Indoraptor's theme in "Neo-Jurassic Age" over  

spoiler:

Wait, the Owen/Raptors and Indominus theme identical? They are completely different themes... Also, the Owen/Raptors theme is used when the plane takes off because it starts playing as soon as we see Owen (who's there to find Blue), so it kinda makes sense.

Also, the "Indoraptor theme" is actually the Fallen Kingdom main theme. It's used firstly as a recurring theme for dinosaurs scene (like when the Brachiosaurus appears) and then also for the Indoraptor, in a scarier and more dramatic way. So the fact it's used in the final scene it makes sense, since it's not the Indoraptor theme, but the new main dinosaurs theme.

Good news: Got the soundtrack in the mail today!
Bad news: Currently have nothing to play it on...

Sony really made a questionable choice by not adding the ability to listen to your CDs on the PS4. We’ve been able to since, what, the PS1 days? I don’t care about Spotify.

Tyrant Lizard wrote:

I think you might be overthinking it a tad. I imagine he's pretty flexible/loose in terms of the placement of certain themes, preferring to form his soundtracks based on what he feels sounds best and what has the most impact, rather than what makes the most sense.

Different strokes for different folks I suppose.

I will admit though that I am annoyed by the lack of Journey to the Island in these films (although that's partially made up for by the fact that it does have a significant return in it's unaltered form in the Fallen Kingdom Suite).

FK follows TLW and JP3

Spoiler:

It was a pleasant surprise at the end of the movie and it also brings it in line with the rest of the sequels other than JW.

owenpratt wrote:

Mr. Robustus wrote:

In the first Jurassic World, I was constantly annoyed by how much the Velociraptor/Owen and Indominus rex leitmotifs were practically identical. It makes sense considering the little twist, but it's used for such different contexts for the two, that it ends up sounding really weird (and, again, he uses that theme in Fallen Kingdom for when they are taking off. Why???). In Fallen Kingdom, for some reason, he uses the Indoraptor's theme in "Neo-Jurassic Age" over  

spoiler:

Wait, the Owen/Raptors and Indominus theme identical? They are completely different themes... Also, the Owen/Raptors theme is used when the plane takes off because it starts playing as soon as we see Owen (who's there to find Blue), so it kinda makes sense.

Also, the "Indoraptor theme" is actually the Fallen Kingdom main theme. It's used firstly as a recurring theme for dinosaurs scene (like when the Brachiosaurus appears) and then also for the Indoraptor, in a scarier and more dramatic way. So the fact it's used in the final scene it makes sense, since it's not the Indoraptor theme, but the new main dinosaurs theme.

Listen to "Clearly his First Rodeo" at around 0:52 and 1:52, or to the music when we first see Owen training the raptors (I don't think it was ever released on the soundtrack), and then listen to Bury the Hatchling at 1:00, or Indominus Wrecks at 0:56, 3:06 or 3:20. The leitmotifs are very, very similar, just with a different arrangement. Also, listen closely to Chasing the Dragons. It almost sounds like a sped up and heroic version of the Indominus rex's theme.

About FK's theme, yeah, I rewatched the movie today and noticed that there really are other times where that leitmotif was used, like you said. Still, that's was kind of my point: Giacchino likes to use the same theme/leitmotif in very different contexts just because it goes with the scene, and that annoys the heck out of me. The Indoraptor is a very different entity from the rest of the dinosaurs, they really shouldn't share the same theme.

Mr. Robustus wrote:

owenpratt wrote:

Mr. Robustus wrote:

In the first Jurassic World, I was constantly annoyed by how much the Velociraptor/Owen and Indominus rex leitmotifs were practically identical. It makes sense considering the little twist, but it's used for such different contexts for the two, that it ends up sounding really weird (and, again, he uses that theme in Fallen Kingdom for when they are taking off. Why???). In Fallen Kingdom, for some reason, he uses the Indoraptor's theme in "Neo-Jurassic Age" over  

spoiler:

Wait, the Owen/Raptors and Indominus theme identical? They are completely different themes... Also, the Owen/Raptors theme is used when the plane takes off because it starts playing as soon as we see Owen (who's there to find Blue), so it kinda makes sense.

Also, the "Indoraptor theme" is actually the Fallen Kingdom main theme. It's used firstly as a recurring theme for dinosaurs scene (like when the Brachiosaurus appears) and then also for the Indoraptor, in a scarier and more dramatic way. So the fact it's used in the final scene it makes sense, since it's not the Indoraptor theme, but the new main dinosaurs theme.

Listen to "Clearly his First Rodeo" at around 0:52 and 1:52, or to the music when we first see Owen training the raptors (I don't think it was ever released on the soundtrack), and then listen to Bury the Hatchling at 1:00, or Indominus Wrecks at 0:56, 3:06 or 3:20. The leitmotifs are very, very similar, just with a different arrangement. Also, listen closely to Chasing the Dragons. It almost sounds like a sped up and heroic version of the Indominus rex's theme.

About FK's theme, yeah, I rewatched the movie today and noticed that there really are other times where that leitmotif was used, like you said. Still, that's was kind of my point: Giacchino likes to use the same theme/leitmotif in very different contexts just because it goes with the scene, and that annoys the heck out of me. The Indoraptor is a very different entity from the rest of the dinosaurs, they really shouldn't share the same theme.

Oh, you mean the other Indominus theme (because she has two themes in JW, which I found interesting). Yes, they are similar but really they feel different from each other, at least to me. But I can see your point.

I actually called the FK main theme the "Inevitability" theme... It gives me an idea of an unstoppable force, like the inevitable change Malcolm talks about, and both dinosaurs and Indoraptor are part of the equation.

Like i said earlier, the Indoraptor theme was really awesome and i like these two tunes i linked to Before.

However theres a track in the Movie that made me cry at the Cinema and this is the one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNVJ9nh4xDU


Just listening to it bring a tear in my Eye.

Fredriksam wrote:

Like i said earlier, the Indoraptor theme was really awesome and i like these two tunes i linked to Before.

However theres a track in the Movie that made me cry at the Cinema and this is the one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNVJ9nh4xDU


Just listening to it bring a tear in my Eye.

One of the most emotional tracks of all the 5 scores... Did you notice the classic JP theme from 00:28?

I don't remember Indominus having two themes.

Six-Foot Turkey wrote:

I don't remember Indominus having two themes.

First theme: 00:06 - 00:11

Second theme: 01:00 - 01:45

owenpratt wrote:

Six-Foot Turkey wrote:

I don't remember Indominus having two themes.

First theme: 00:06 - 00:11

Second theme: 01:00 - 01:45

I thought that was just the park's theme. It plays at the beginning of As the Jurassic World Turns too

Six-Foot Turkey wrote:

owenpratt wrote:

Six-Foot Turkey wrote:

I don't remember Indominus having two themes.

First theme: 00:06 - 00:11

Second theme: 01:00 - 01:45

I thought that was just the park's theme. It plays at the beginning of As the Jurassic World Turns too

That beginning portion of "As the Jurassic World Turns" comes from the scene where Claire and Wu are presenting the Indominus rex to the investors, hence why the theme plays.

Vinyl of the score:

https://twitter.com/Sickle_Claw/status/1008760930295955456

Spoiler:

Jesus Christ that is the best soundtrack IMO.

It sends chills down my spine EACH time I watch the scene and listen to it. It's just so epic and beautiful. When they arrive at Main Street in 1:10 and that beautiful choir picks up...OMG.

I remember a lot of Masrani and Claire in the chopper flying around Nublar.

Like a true Fallen Kingdom and dreams...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkDA6NQEbJQ

"Some memories are good."

Yeah, absolutely wonderful track. The way the Jurassic World theme is reprised on a minor key is so emotional.

Although I personally prefer the following track, "Nostalgia-Saurus". It really reminds me of "The Stegosaurus" track from The Lost World, bringing a feeling of awe, wonder and at the same time solemnity and fear towards these giant creatures. Wonderful. I think this is one of the best uses of the new Fallen Kingdom theme.

Giacchino's score for FK is miles better than his score for JW I think. The JW soundtrack was very forgettable besides the classic JP theme parts. FK's soundtrack does much better in setting itself apart. The Indoraptor's theme especially is really well done.

I really didn't like the soundtrack, it gave me no feels anywhere in the movie, the original score was never really used only teased. The rest of the music didn't really do any justice to the images that were shown. I don't think the Jurassic World score was great but I liked it better than the one from FK. The music of fallen kingdom was one of the reasons I didn't like the movie to much.

Physalisfresser wrote:

I really didn't like the soundtrack, it gave me no feels anywhere in the movie, the original score was never really used only teased. The rest of the music didn't really do any justice to the images that were shown. I don't think the Jurassic World score was great but I liked it better than the one from FK. The music of fallen kingdom was one of the reasons I didn't like the movie to much.

Give it another chance if you can though! Both to the film and the score.

owenpratt wrote:

Physalisfresser wrote:

I really didn't like the soundtrack, it gave me no feels anywhere in the movie, the original score was never really used only teased. The rest of the music didn't really do any justice to the images that were shown. I don't think the Jurassic World score was great but I liked it better than the one from FK. The music of fallen kingdom was one of the reasons I didn't like the movie to much.

Give it another chance if you can though! Both to the film and the score.

I liked the movie actually, I just didn't like the music, but I might give the score a second go.

My absoulute favorite ost in the franchise, alongside JP and TLW. The new main theme is fantastic and instantly memorable, and the choir is a nice touch.
The indoraptor's theme fits perfectly, really horror-like and gothic. I also loved how giacchino integrated some of the themes from the previous movies in this one (especially during *that* scene, the classic JP theme is used in a way that makes the scene even sadder).
If there is one moment that did feel kind of iffy to me, was when they reprised the "open paddock 9" theme during elli's death scene..it just didn't fit lmao.

owenpratt wrote:

Physalisfresser wrote:

I really didn't like the soundtrack, it gave me no feels anywhere in the movie, the original score was never really used only teased. The rest of the music didn't really do any justice to the images that were shown. I don't think the Jurassic World score was great but I liked it better than the one from FK. The music of fallen kingdom was one of the reasons I didn't like the movie to much.

Give it another chance if you can though! Both to the film and the score.

I gave both the movie and the soundtrack a second go, and now I like them both, the more epic feel of the Fallen Kingdom score feels fresh and sets the movie in a different tone than the others, which is good! I somehow still liked the JW score, but I think I like this one better now. I just wish they would have used the JP Theme a bit more obvious, but it would have probably been criticised by other people if they did.

Physalisfresser wrote:

owenpratt wrote:

Physalisfresser wrote:

I really didn't like the soundtrack, it gave me no feels anywhere in the movie, the original score was never really used only teased. The rest of the music didn't really do any justice to the images that were shown. I don't think the Jurassic World score was great but I liked it better than the one from FK. The music of fallen kingdom was one of the reasons I didn't like the movie to much.

Give it another chance if you can though! Both to the film and the score.

I gave both the movie and the soundtrack a second go, and now I like them both, the more epic feel of the Fallen Kingdom  score feels fresh and sets the movie in a different tone than the others, which is good! I somehow still liked the JW score, but I think I like this one better now. I just wish they would have used the JP Theme a bit more obvious, but it would have probably been criticised by other people if they did.

Don't know if you noticed, but in "Volcano to Death" you can hear the cello playing the JP theme, at the same time the Maisie's theme (or, anyway, one of those new themes) plays.

Glad you liked it this time around, it sure is a wonderful score
Can't even choose a favorite one... but I know that the new main theme is fantastic, especially when used for the Indoraptor. A big use of choir.

After rewatching, I have to say that my favorite rendition of the main theme (which is epic and awesome by itself) is "the neo-jurassic age". I just love how it starts in a calm way during Malcolm's speech,and then slowly escalates as it starts showing the dinosaurs interacting with the modern world-it felt like a perfect theme for a new beginning/"oh s*it what whe have done"

Dv-218 wrote:

After rewatching, I have to say that my favorite rendition of the main theme (which is epic and awesome by itself) is "the neo-jurassic age". I just love how it starts in a calm way during Malcolm's speech,and then slowly escalates as it starts showing the dinosaurs interacting with the modern world-it felt like a perfect theme for a new beginning/"oh s*it what whe have done"

Yes! Such a feeling of inevitability to it, both mysterious, dark and majestic. Masterful crescendo by Giacchino.

^I agree 100% mysterious and dark was definitely the vibe I got there lol.

I will say, the only bits I did not really like were when somw he reused the JW score (except the ruins and maisie freeing the dinosaurs). The raptor theme during the plane scene was ok, but that open paddock 9 reprise during Mills death scene (which was brutal as heck) felt way too funny lol

But besides that, the rest of the score is absoulutely fantastic and a huge step up from JW (it's like night and day imo).

I like the Fallen Kingdom score more than the Jurassic World score, and I listened to the JW score about a hundred times in my life.

Just realized one thing about the Fallen Kingdom score...

The theme that we associated (maybe incorrectly) to Maisie always plays when dinos are about to die:

- When TV announces the dinosaurs will be left to die
- Dock scene aka Brachiosaurus death scene
- Blue's surgery
- Gas chamber scene

It's like a "Death theme" while the JW theme might be a "Life theme" (it plays when Claire rides to Lockwood, who could save the dinosaurs, and when Maisie saves them by pushing the button).

I re-watched the movie and payed attention to the scenes with music NOT present in the Fallen Kingdom album score version.
Here they are:

Spoiler:

Hopefully they will release these tracks soon.

After 3 views, I’d say the new stuff was really good, including the remixes old themes. What I wasn’t a fan of was where previous JW music was used, like Mills death flat out reusing the queues for Claire opening Paddock 9 in the previous film. It didn’t quite fit there.

TheDreamMaster wrote:

After 3 views, I’d say the new stuff was really good, including the remixes old themes. What I wasn’t a fan of was where previous JW music was used, like Mills death flat out reusing the queues for Claire opening Paddock 9 in the previous film. It didn’t quite fit there.

Yeah, that was a weird musical cue. I really think that particular piece should have been exclusive to the Paddock 9 scene from JW. Reusing it just sort of waters it down a bit imho.

TheDreamMaster wrote:

After 3 views, I’d say the new stuff was really good, including the remixes old themes. What I wasn’t a fan of was where previous JW music was used, like Mills death flat out reusing the queues for Claire opening Paddock 9 in the previous film. It didn’t quite fit there.

It's the same cue, but there's an added Organ