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Can this really be the only thread for James Newton Howard's TREASURE PLANET?
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Posted: |
May 18, 2019 - 5:35 PM
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By: |
igger6
(Member)
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Stunning score for the most underappreciated Disney film of all time. This movie and score have been my sentimental favorites for almost two decades, presenting both a fulfillment of and departure from the Disney formula as well as an unmatched melding of the strengths of 2D and 3D animation.
Howard's theme isn't quite as beautiful as DINOSAUR, but I'd put it a shade above his submarine theme for ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE. Let's catalogue the major themes, shall we?
Main Theme: an adventurous corker of a melody, deployed with so much honking brass that you don't immediately notice that it's basically a jig or a sea shanty turned up to 11. It manages to combine the undulations of It's heard every time something triumphant happens—including a shameless repeat of the exact same technique ([suspenseful music]...[about five seconds of dead silence]...[eruption of main theme]) for two sequences involving a sudden escape of the good ship Legacy. It's also twisted into a minor mode brilliantly for scenes of action and danger. Heard in "12 Years Later," "To the Spaceport," "The Launch," "Jim Saves the Crew," "Silver Leaves," and in minor variants in basically any action scene.
Jim's Theme: the emotional core of the score. A keening, lyrical piece for Irish winds and strings, it manages simultaneously to sum up Jim's longing for a father, bottled-up sadness, and dreams of manhood and meaningful success. For my money, this one would be right up there on the medals podium of the Celtic Score Olympics alongside Rose from TITANIC and the Pensive Shire from FELLOWSHIP. Heard in "12 Years Later," "Silver Comforts Jim," "Silver Bargains" (where it gets a quietly heroic horn rendering as Jim stands up to Silver), and triumphantly in "Silver Leaves."
Jim's Action Theme: associated with Jim's penchant for solar surfing, it mixes bold and brash brass with just enough electric guitar accents to render it '00s-cool and foreshadow the alt-rock flavor of John Rzeznik's songs. Trumpet triplets abound and perfectly underscore Jim's aerial acrobatics. In both scenes where it's used, it leads into triumphant statements of the main theme. Heard in "12 Years Later" and "Jim Saves the Crew."
The Map Motif: Misterioso piece for choir and strings heard whenever Jim fires up the holographic steampunk-orb map to the loot of a thousand worlds, or whenever Flint's mysterious treasure and his methods of hiding it are discussed or revealed. If we're being honest, it sounds a lot like Howard's wonder-and-awe material from ATLANTIS, but that's not a criticism; it's just another fantastic rendering of mysterious orchestral majesty. Heard in "The Map" and "The Portal."
Silver's Theme: a two-parter, comprising a sprightly jig for Silver's introduction as an affable, free-spirited, smart-mouthed ship's cook, and a slower, more heartfelt shanty for squeezebox and pipes that reveals his softer side. The slow section advances into a sincere string melody that expresses his bond with Jim and is often paired with Jim's theme in their moments of emotional connection. Heard in "Silver" (jig), "Silver Bargains" (slow section), and "Silver Leaves" (both parts).
Morph's Theme: Giving the flutist nightmares since well before PRISONER OF AZKABAN, it's flighty, it's cute, it's quick, and it sums up a ball of metamorphic alien ectoplasm. Heard in "Silver" and "Jim Chases Morph."
B.E.N.'s Theme: a comic sci-fi tune for Martin Short's marooned robot navigator. A mournful theremin cartoonishly illustrates B.E.N.'s longing for companionship with a mixture of charm and irksomeness perfectly suited to B.E.N.'s endearing but annoying character. Heard in "B.E.N." and "Jim Saves the Crew."
The Love Theme: a long-lined, longing melody straight out of Newton Howard Central Casting. Primarily associated with Jim and his mother, it also seems to apply to the romance between Doppler and Amelia at times. Heard in "To the Spaceport" (OST) and "Doppler and Amelia" (recording sessions).
Flint's Theme: a stomping, menacing pair of linked ideas for Captain Flint, his crew, and his piratical exploits. The first section rolls rhythmically like a tank, while the second dances a bit like scalawags enjoying their plunder. Heard in "Flint's Legend" and in "Beware the Cyborg" on the recording sessions.
This doesn't even touch on great one-off moments like "Silver Saves Jim" or "Captain Amelia," the latter of which is a bouncy British naval anthem for Emma Thompson's captain that I really wish we got to hear again.
This score is a 10/10, and even if I weren't hopelessly smitten with the movie, I'd probably say it's the best of Howard's Disney trilogy. Neither ATLANTIS nor DINOSAUR has the thematic breadth of this one, which I couldn't even have guessed at until I wrote them out. If you haven't given it a spin, enlighten yourself!
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I love Atlantis, but I've found myself listening to this one far more over the years.
Sure The Launch and To the Spaceport are the rousing fanfares you expect (and get). But man, Silver Comforts Jim is the beating heart of this score.
To this day I find myself shouting "She's LOST HER MIND!" without even remembering what movie I'm quoting. Love this film.
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