THE PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you despise the music Hans Zimmer provided for the Madagascar franchise, and desire the opportunity to find a score from the same cinematic universe which is energetic, entertaining and nostalgic 

Skip it... if you're not a fan of Lorne Balfe, or do not appreciate his lack of originality, even if the context calls for such, as is the case with The Penguins of Madagascar

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

2014 SCORE AWARD NOMINATIONS

UNBROKEN Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you have enjoyed Alexandre Desplat's output this year, and seek and emotionally resonant, oft-times powerful installment into his impressive discography for the 2014 calender year

Skip it... if you are not one for restrained and minimalist compositions, for Unbroken is a slow moving score centred around suffering and hardship at heart

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you're an avid fan of this franchise, and desire a satisfying and powerful conclusion to this awe-inspiring and epic series of scores, as The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies concludes Howard Shore's Middle-Earth scores with grandeur and emotional poignancy

Skip it... if you have and will admonish any scores that have come out of this series, despite their obvious thematic ingenuity, emotional complexity and racial variety (in terms of the different sounds for different races and factions within the films)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

DRONE Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you desire a synthetic score which possesses enough thematic composition, melodic writing and interesting concepts to provide a relatively challenging and difficult listen

Skip it... if you maintain a distaste for electronic instrumentation and the writing that it entails, or possess sensitive hearing which would not be so well suited to a score which embraces high pitches which prove immensely irritating at certain instances

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

THE LEFTOVERS Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you desire an emotive and highly evocative score, more interested in sentimental and emotional value than compositional prowess, of which it achieves with flying colours

Skip it... if you can not stand recycling of entire cues within a single album, despite the effectiveness of such a re-hash

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

CALL OF DUTY: ADVANCED WARFARE Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you're a fan of the derivative, highly unoriginal and uncreative synthetics and percussion that plague the most generic and distasteful of modern action scores, for a good majority of Advanced Warfare's running time is dedicated to producing such 'music'

Skip it... if you were at all anticipating the collaboration between industry giant Harry Gregson-Williams and the two men behind the trailer music company Audiomachine, for your anticipation will only render your disappointment greater

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you desire heartfelt, well-developed and passionate music which manages to delve into emotional depths that have never been seen by this composer prior

Skip it... if you demand or seek complex or intricate instrumentation and composition, as The Theory of Everything seeks to harness emotional range instead

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

WHIPLASH (2014) Film Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you're a fan of fast-paced cinematography and editing, effective and harrowing performances or jazz, for Whiplash encompasses all of such and more

Skip it... if you have little taste for stories involving musical triumph or hardship, or desire something conventional or full of generic-isms, something of which Whiplash boasts none of

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 1 Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you're a fan of the prior scores in the series and their thematic intentions, for Mockingjay Part 1 seems to take everything exceptional about the previous two albums and combine them for a satisfying, highly entertaining and emotionally resonant third inclusion into the series

Skip it... if you weren't a fan of either of the previous efforts for The Hunger Games series, didn't enjoy the flourishing and colourful instrumentation and writing for Maleficent; a score which boasts of many of the same positives that Mockingjay Part 1 possesses 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

INTERSTELLAR Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you desire a Zimmer score which genuinely seeks to explore unmarked territory for the composer, and places a far more evident and effective emphasis on emotion and sentiment than has been seen in his prior, more recent work

Skip it... if you refuse to accept the simplistic constructs of the score and desire something something that is far more diverse in relation to general melodies and phrases, for Interstellar is driven by thematic ideas and concepts, and insists upon a slow moving pace, something that will undoubtedly not be for everyone

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

INTERSTELLAR (2014) Film Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you're a fan of Christopher Nolan's, appreciate immensely dense and ambitious sci-fi films, or wish to embark upon a film that feels far more original than much of the drivel that encompasses cinema today

Skip it... if you're a logic purist, unwilling to accept some portions of a sci-fi film as just that; science fiction; or if you're unaccepting of either Christopher Nolan's direction or Jonathon Nolan's writing

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

MOONRISE KINGDOM (2012) Film Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you're a fan of Wes Anderson's delightfully energetic and sporadic style, or you simply desire something with both heart and flair that is as unconventional as it is entertaining

Skip it... if you cannot stand the self-aware and comedic nature of Anderson's films, and do not wish to put yourself through another one of his pictures 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

MIDDLE-EARTH: SHADOW OF MORDOR Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you're a fan of prior work from composers Garry Schyman and Nathan Grigg, and have desired the opportunity to see a darker and more horror-centric side to the Shore or Thomas contributions to the Middle-Earth musical canon

Skip it... if you're intolerant of repetitive and derivative action music featuring little more than brass and percussion fanfares, shrill and unnecessary violin and synthetic implementations, as well as a continual lack of energy or variety 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

BIG HERO 6 Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you're willing to forgive Jackman's initial overuse of synthetics within this here score, as Big Hero 6 boasts of some of the most invigorating and high-flying composition of the composer's career to date

Skip it... if you're not prepared to pardon Jackman for his efforts within Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and demand a solely organic and entirely original superhero/animated effort, both of which Jackman can't wholly achieve

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

THE BOOK OF LIFE Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you're interested in a vibrant and entertaining Spanish-themed score, filled with music of all paces, tones and moods; a step up in quality from composer Gustavo Santaolalla if ever there was one

Skip it... if you'd rather not indulge in a score filled with often slow guitar, simplistic themes and a great lack in darker material

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Fury Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you enjoyed Gravity, and seek a score which runs in (somewhat) the same vein as that masterpiece, whilst also incorporating a number of innovative instrumental and compositional techniques along the way

Skip it... if you refuse to acknowledge Price's expertise in the area of synthetic composition, and rebuke any attempted hybrids between electronic and orchestral writing, no matter how dazzling, beautiful and stunning they may be 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Gone Girl (2014) Film Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you seek a film which wishes to dig deeper into the modern marriage, and examine the personality clash involved; though if you're much less into thematic interpretation, you should still be satisfied with outstanding performances, cinematography and writing

Skip it... if you flinch easily at the sight of blood or genitalia, or seek a crime thriller which doesn't dig deeper than the surface relationships and events occurring on screen 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Destiny Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you're a fan of Salvatori and O'Donnell's previous work with Bungie, and appreciate their efforts to expand their horizons in regards to synthetic instrumentation and ambiant composition

Skip it... if you were never a fan of Bungie's Halo scores, and do not enjoy scores with a heavy mixture of both synthetic components and organic, orchestral instrumentation, both with their individual ups-and-downs

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Gone Girl Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you're a fan of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross' previous theatrical scoring endeavors, or enjoy the style and tone that Reznor employs within his band, Nine Inch Nails

Skip it... if you're uninterested in synthetic-based, derivative, repetitive, simplistic and uninspired 'music', that contains no emotion, story or character within the entirety of its excessive 1 hour and 26 minute long running time

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

The Liberator Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you desire a well constructed and thematically varied piece of composition by a first time composer in this area of music

Skip it... if a consistent tone, fit with woodwinds and dark strings all throughout doesn't appeal to your tastes

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

No Good Deed Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you're a fan of Paul Haslinger and his love of synthetic instrumentation, for his fans may be the only people capable of treasuring such a score as this

Skip it... if you're tired of cliched and unoriginal crime-thriller scoring, a genre riddled with consistently generic music, with No Good Deed proving to fit comfortably into this description

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

The Maze Runner Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you're interested in a score which doesn't necessarily conform to the scoring conventions of it's own genre, whilst denoting the mood and tone of itself with the use of varied and intelligent compositional and instrumental techniques

Skip it... if you're not a fan of scores which sport anti-climatic tendencies, and a direction that never seems focused on a single ideal, such as romance, action, adventure or horror

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

The Giver (2014) Film Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you're tired of young-adult dystopian novel adaptations skimping only the surface on thoughtful and intuitive commentary on our own modern world, and desire something that is relatively intelligent and faithful to it's 1993 source material 

Skip it... if you are a faithful and guarded fan of the novel of which this is adapted from, and detest any and all changes made for the better of the translation to live action, which proves to be not particularly poor, but more so enjoyable

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

The Knick Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you're a fan of Cliff Martinez and his electronically-based scores for Drive and Only God Forgives, and crave another score of his which lie within this vein of musical style 

Skip it... if you're not one for questionable use of synthetic pulsing in or outside of visual context, and desire a well rounded listening experience which at least sounds as if the composer has gone into detail and effort

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Avatar Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you sport a love of technically astounding, orchestrally-based grandeur, filled with questionable but undoubtedly beautiful uses of thematic concepts, all of which James Horner's Avatar possesses

Skip it... if you're tired of hearing Horner repeat himself time and time again in regards to thematic material, for he does so again here, though all the aforementioned thematic ideas are far more fleshed out and wider in scope than ever before 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Houdini: Volume 2 Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you have an unreasonable desire to be assaulted by some of the most obnoxious and disgustingly arranged television compositions of the past year 

Skip it... if the promise of more grueling electronics, uninspired instrumentation and composition, as well as a lack of any memorable material isn't a great pitch for an improvement over the prior score in the series 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Houdini: Volume 1 Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if an aggressive electronic approach, filled with ear-piercing bass pulses is the kind of score which you're interested and excited for

Skip it... if a lack of thematic construct and genuinely enjoyable music leaves you desiring more than John Debney and co-composer Sebastian Arocha can provide

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Hidden Kingdoms Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you wish to delve into a thoroughly enjoyable, well composed, perfectly orchestrated album, full of rich material that holds a great deal of classic old orchestral grandeur about it

Skip it... if you'd much rather an album of brooding, subtle music, as Hidden Kingdoms is rather upfront in regards to it's boldness and energy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Boyhood (2014) Film Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you're one who's interested in creative and unique film-making, and want a thoroughly satisfying coming-of-age film that isn't dictated by cliches or over-dramatization

Skip it... if enduring a 2 hour and 45 minute film about a boy growing up, and his experiences throughout adolescence doesn't sound overly engaging for your tastes

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Penny Dreadful Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you're a fan of Abel Korzeniowski's work, and love to indulge in his carefully constructed, intellectual scores, Penny Dreadful being no less impressive than any of his prior scores in regards to those factors

Skip it... if you desire a varied and inspired piece of work, that equals the grandeur and emotional resonance that has been showcased within other Korzeniowski works, such as Romeo and Juliet or Escape From Tomorrow, for Penny Dreadful can fall flat in some instances in terms of exuberance or enthusiasm. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Under the Skin (2014) Film Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if a willingness to take bold risks from both lead actress and director, in regards to themes, nudity, images and music is something that appeals to you.

Skip it... if confronting themes and images, including showings of a lack of empathetic behavior, nudity, and brutal and systematic murders of individuals doesn't sound like your piece of cake; as it undoubtedly won't be for many a viewer

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

The Giver Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you're willing to indulge in one of the more intellectually advanced scores of recent memory, that proves to the doubters that Marco Beltrami has the capabilities to compose thoroughly emotional and varied dramatic music

Skip it... if the prospect of traversing an often subtle and downright complex score from Beltrami doesn't appeal to your tastes

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you're willing to indulge in a 72 minute album of action onslaught, which never holds up until the final note.

Skip it... if you're not interested in listening to a far less glorious attempt at recreating the magic that was Thor: The Dark World, for Tyler just falls short of predictable but brilliant fun in this installment into his discography.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Guardians of the Galaxy Score Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you're willing to receive a score which takes a great quantity of inspiration and lead from Brian Tyler's Marvel scores, and whilst providing a great deal of fun, does little to establish Bates as a truly capable composer

Skip it... if the customary Bates composition and electronics are far too harsh or unnerving to make for good listening experience in your mind or ears

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Hercules (2014) Film Review

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Check it out... if you're interested in watching a (somewhat) action-centric Hercules film, which does a portion of justice for the Greek mythology character.

Skip it... if Dwayne Johnson as Hercules is your primary reason for even considering to see this film, as his screen time and importance seems diminished in-and-amongst the sometimes convuluted plot and over abundance of unnecessary and uninteresting characters