Ok, so I know that there arent that many reviews out there of film scores but I believe it is a genre that has been sorely underrated.  Sure, film scores dont sell a millions of copies in days, but they do have their little place in our world and in our hearts.  Im sure virtually everyone reading this owns at least one good score (probably Titanic). Recently, Varese Records released the score to Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines composed by Scream alum, Marco Beltrami.

            Now, what makes this score so important that I have chosen to review it?  Well, back in 1984, Brad Fiedel, a good friend of Director James Cameron, was asked to do the score for the original Terminator film.  The score he produced, because of a tight budget, was very electronic.  It was mainly done on a keyboard, had a very unusual tone, and was quite frankly, a moody, dark and creepy score.  It felt like an intoxicated homage to the electronic world of John Carpenter score.  It was tougher and meaner, containing themes even someone who hasnt seen Terminator can recognize.

            I was excited when Brad Fiedel was rehired in 1991 to score Terminator 2: Judgment Day.  I thought, in my 10 year old wisdom, that this will be awesome.  Finally Brad Fiedel would be able to have the budget and sound that Im sure he always wanted.  Sadly, after two minutes of that score it was apparent that the only thing his budget got him was a brand new synthesizer.  The film lacked an orchestra. There was no magnificent choral arrangement or even a new theme. It had virtually no spark to it, fueled only by the old themes, leaving no one all that impressed.   

            Then, in 2003, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines is released.  This time the score was composed by Marco Beltrami (Scream, Blade II, Halloween H20) leaving the amateur composer, Brad Fiedel on the streets.  I like some of Beltramis work though I feel that most of his music sounds like the old Scream score, though he really added a lot of much needed flare to the Blade II score a little while back.  Needless to say, I wasnt expecting much from him since the first two scores were not all that great and I figured he would play off the old score at any chance he could get.  Not true! 

            Beltramis score is wonderful.  His opening theme rushes towards you like a flood.  Finally, after all these years of waiting, a full orchestra and chorus appear to ring in Judgment Day the way it should have sounded back in 1984.  As the score continues, it draws back on the original electronic feel of the first.  It is creepy and enchanting all at the same time.  I also liked how Beltramis score offers homage to great composers from years past.  His integration of their themes is both clever, and fun.  Track 18, T3, feels like an old 60s Bond theme, composed by the clever craftsman, John Barry.  The John Connor theme, cleverly titled JC Theme, seems to wink at amateur composer John Ottman, whose ultra low budget score for Usual Suspects shows us that Brad Fiedels score could have sounded great, even on a low budget.  Finally, we hear Beltramis ever so subtle references to the master composer, Jerry Goldsmith.  All throughout the score, Beltrami inserts minor references to the original Planet of the Apes score by Goldsmith, perhaps to remind us that the apocalyptic world has been done before or simply because he liked it.  Either way, well done. 

            My only complaint is that every so often Beltrami feels that he must resort to his old ways and use music reminiscent of his Scream era, but its not present enough that its distracting.  For all those who desire to hear Fiedels old theme, track 19 on the CD contains a two minute version of his original Terminator theme.  Even that was redone with an added Beltrami touch and it now sounds better than ever.  I actually wish it was in the film itself since it sounds so wonderful.  The score also contains two bonus tracks, Open To Me by Dillon Dixon and I Told You by Mia Julia.  They are not bad songs by any stretch of the imagination, but given that Guns and Roses did a song for T2, this is a bit of a letdown.

            Well, Im pretty proud to say that I really enjoyed this work.  It was exactly what this film needed to punch itself out in front of all the summer blockbusters released this year.  I have a feeling that T3 was just the tip of the iceberg both in the film world and for Beltrami.  Bring on T4!  Rating: B+. 

The pros: The sound is both unique and exciting.  Beltrami tasteful homages are fun and his style is dead on, enhancing the viewing experience.

The cons: The soundtrack falls back on Beltamis old Scream style every so often and the Fiedel Terminator theme should have been implanted at least a little throughout the score.