(The following donated review by Sean O'Neill was moved by Filmtracks to this comment section in July, 2007)

Mulan: (Jerry Goldsmith/Matthew Wilder) I saw the trailer in the theater and the film looked like Goldsmith could break through with a truly epic score, with an oriental side to the score. The music from Dragonheart worked unbelievably well in the trailer, and so did that wicked battle music at the beginning of the trailer when the Mongol warriors storm down the hill. Goldsmith has composed one of the best scores I've ever heard from him; the main theme is grand with the brass and string sections giving its tribute. The orchestrations are grand like the score: who better to do it than Alexander Courage, who also did an excellent job with The Ghost and the Darkness.

The first score track is incredible, beginning with the main theme and then moving into transitions with a secondary theme with a low percussion beat. Suddenly, the brass and percussion then are joined to create an awesome theme. Hints of the Disney side of the film are given later in the track, with an oriental flavour which goes into a romantic epic scale like that of Star Trek First Contact and The Edge before moving to a climax.

Another excellent cue, and my second favorite from "Suite from Mulan" and "Mulan's Decision," is "The Huns Attack". Both "Mulan's Decision" and "The Huns Attack" have a heroic feel to them, with Mulan's theme played by brass and percussion. The heroics aren't spoiled by and loud blasts from the brass and no screeching strings --in fact, none of the score ever is annoying. The true evil side to this CD is the inclusion of those crappy songs; I'll probably get it for that. The good thing is that Goldsmith didn't write any of the songs.

Mr. Clemmensen was right about Goldsmith. He wrote a pretty bland score for Deep Rising and then followed with U.S. Marshals, which didn't carry as an action score (but was a little better then Deep Rising). Mulan is ten times better then either of his two other contributions this year. All I can say is that it's just going to get better for Goldsmith in 1998, with Small Soldiers and Star Trek IX. *****