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Conducted by:
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Pete Anthony
Marc Mann
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Orchestrated by:
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Bruce Fowler
David Slonaker
Steve Bartek
Edgardo Simone
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Release Date:
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July 2nd, 2002
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Availability:
Regular U.S. release.
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Filmtracks Recommends:
Buy it... only if you are the Elfman completist or if you have a deep
desire to enjoy the performances of a singing pug.
Avoid it... if you are satisfied with the original film's score and
don't need to hear an identical copy of it.
Filmtracks Editorial Review:
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| | Elfman | |
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Men in Black II: (Danny Elfman) Following the mandatory
formula that has come to be expected in Hollywood's last twenty years,
Men in Black II hauls most of the same elements from the first film
in 1997 for this (somewhat tardy) sequel. The second adventures of K and J
didn't do as well as the first, perhaps due to the formula of the second
film being too close to that of the first. Part of that feeling of
continuation is perpetuated by the result of Danny Elfman's involvement with
the project. Elfman is familiar with sequel scoring; his best known such
project was Batman Returns a decade earlier, a score which fans of
the first Batman film criticized as being too dissimilar to the
original. In the case of Men in Black II, Elfman does exactly the
opposite, composing and recording a score that is remarkably identical to
that of the original Men in Black film. The popularity of the goofy
music for Men in Black II would hinge on the talents of the songs
written for Frank the Pug (the take-off of "I Will Survive") and the
lounging group of disgusting worm-like creatures. If not for these specialty
cues, which, along with the obligatory rap song, bookend the album, Elfman's
score would be an entirely uninteresting extension of his first score. The
Sony album provides a generous amount of this material, thus exaggerating
the problem.
In fact, so dependent on the first Academy Award-nominated
Men in Black score, this one uses its theme in nearly every track. If
you're a strong believer that sequel scores should recognize their
predecessors, then Men in Black II will be one big treat for you. A
moderately sized orchestra, rock band elements, and a light choir are once
again the call, and they perform a consistently campy, jazzy, and silly
score that is true to Elfman's heart. Like the first score, this one has a
few beautiful orchestral and choral moments of alien wonders, punctuated by
the "The Light" cue and those during K's return to the black suit. Also back
is the choppy string motif that exists under the swinging brass theme. As a
listening experience, the score is a high energy, functional, and cheesy
distraction from normality. The only originality is inspired by the worms,
for which Elfman adapts the title theme in glorious, loungy swing for the
first track on the album, and creates an entirely new jazz piece for them
late in his score. The song performed by Frank the Pug is funny for about
half a minute, at which point you want to terminate the animal altogether.
The rap song at the end is par for the course, and it's advisable for film
music or traditional Elfman fans to avoid it. To the producers' credit, all
of the songs are related to the events of the film. Overall, both Elfman
fans and everyone else in the universe have heard this exact score once
before, making it an unnecessary addition to the collection. **
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Viewer Ratings and Comments:
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• 1. Worm Lounge #1 (Worms in Black) (5:20)
• 2. Logo (0:22)
• 3. Titles (5:01)
• 4. Big Jeff (2:25)
• 5. Headquarters (1:52)
• 6. Chop-Chop (2:00)
• 7. Heart Thump (1:51)
• 8. Customs (0:51)
• 9. Hunting for K (1:40)
• 10. J Nabbed/K's Back (2:20)
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• 11. The Real Story (1:41)
• 12. Sleuthing (2:20)
• 13. The Defense Begins (2:47)
• 14. The Chase (3:22)
• 15. The Light (5:43)
• 16. The Finale (0:18)
• 17. Worm Lounge #2 (3:02)
• 18. Titles Revisited (2:56)
• 19. I Will Survive - Tim Blaney ("Frank the Pug") (3:20)
• 20. Black Suits Comin' (Nod Ya Head) - Will Smith/TrA-Knox (4:20)
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Insert includes extensive credits, but no extra information about the score or film.
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