> The Little Prince / Le Petit Prince (2015) - ***½

I thought the film got a strongly mixed reception, but maybe I'm misremembering; in any case, I haven't seen it but probably should! The score is excellent, even if the two halves don't always gel. I remember a repeating vocal figure that was especially lovely. Need a re-listen!

> Monkey Kingdom (2015) - ****

I don't think I've heard this, and need to, based on your comments!

> The Martian (2015) - ****

Truly an exquisite score for a wonderful film. It's one of those where despite its myriad influences (to its favor) it's not quite like anything else. I have nothing much else to add, I just love it!

> 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016) - **½

I remember this film being subject to sparks of discourse, with people wondering if it would tie into the ongoing HILLARY BENGHAZI bugbear, when it actually ended up being pretty apolitical, kinda like United 93 (albeit less fact-focused and made by a director I detest, so maybe it's not like United 93 after all). Balfe's score is action fun, good for listening to while reading something suspenseful. Also, one of the tracks features an amusingly blatant lift of Zimmer's "Burning Bush" theme from The Prince of Egypt lol

> Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) - ****

I quite liked the score and film myself, though I haven't revisited the latter since I saw it in theaters. The music was fine without Powell, though his sense of aplomb, style and playfulness were definitely missed. A solid step behind its predecessors, but a solid and enjoyable romp.

> Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) - *½

Yes indeed, what a mess. Not much new and interesting, and yet I did enjoy listening to this, in the guiltiest of guilty pleasure listens. There was a decided dearth of new ideas, and yet Zimmer & co. ejected the best parts of both characters' past scores by him. Only that Wonder Woman battle cry was any good, and I still think it's overrated (though quite fun) by virtue of everything around it being so meh.

Oh yeah, and the film was so, so bad. And not even entertainingly so, just so downbeat and boring. Like a pizza cutter: all edge and no point.