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Men in Black II

Composed and Produced by:
Danny Elfman
Conducted by:
Pete Anthony
Marc Mann
Orchestrated by:
Bruce Fowler
David Slonaker
Steve Bartek
Edgardo Simone


Label:
Columbia/Sony
Release Date:
July 2nd, 2002


Also See:

Men in Black
Spider-Man
Flubber


Audio Clips:

1. Worm Lounge #1 (0:30), 151K men_black2_1.ra

5. Headquarters (0:31), 155K men_black2_5.ra

15. The Light (0:30), 150K men_black2_15.ra

18. Titles Revisited (0:32), 160K men_black2_18.ra



Availability:

  Regular U.S. release.


Awards:

  None.









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Men in Black II

Audio | Availability | Viewer Ratings | Tracks | Viewer Comments | Notes & Quotes
@Amazon.com:
  List Price: $11.98
  New Price: $3.95
  You Save: $8.03 (67%)

  Sales Rank: 135671

  Avg. Rating: 3.50

or read more reviews and hear more audio clips at Amazon.com.

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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:

Elfman
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. **

Purchasing Options: CD Universe (New), Amazon.com (New or Used), eBay/Half.com (Used)




   Viewer Ratings and Comments:



   Track Listings:
Total Time: 53:29

    • 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)
    • 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)




   Notes and Quotes:

    Insert includes extensive credits, but no extra information about the score or film.







All artwork and sound clips from Men in Black II are Copyright © 2002, Columbia/Sony. The reviews and notes contained on the filmtracks.com site may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of Filmtracks Publications. Audio clips can be heard using RealPlayer but cannot be redistributed without the label's expressed written consent. Page created 3/27/03, updated 3/28/03. Review Version 4.2 - PHP (Filmtracks Publications). Copyright © 2003-2008, Christian Clemmensen. All rights reserved.