> Dunkirk (2017) - **

Ah, Dunkirk. One of several Zimmer & Co. scores that caused quite a stir around the Scoreboard after I officially joined in 2016. I enjoyed the darker, ambient cues of the album and the final two Wallfisch tracks of Vangelis-esque beauty but found the majority rather obnoxious. And then I saw the film.

Heard in-context the score at times actively detracts from the experience, which is truly frustrating. This is actually one of the times that I feel having *no music* would have been the best route as Nolan seems to be doing everything within his power to make the film "real"... so why bother with an original score?

That said, it wasn't the worst offender in 2017....

(oh, my review: https://soundtrack-universe.blogspot.com/2017/07/dunkirk-review.html )

> Blade Runner 2049 (2017) - *½

First, my review for context: https://soundtrack-universe.blogspot.com/2017/10/blade-runner-2049-speed-review.html

So my review was "album only" based, as usual for me, and I noticed that the cues where Wallfisch and Zimmer stray away from their Vangelis-y sound were the worst (which they are). Still thought a lot of the material could be culled down and enjoyed for fans of ambient textural works (which I personally enjoy on occasion). And then I finally the film.

Good grief does the music actively harm the film is several scenes. The approach to the police station is probably my go-to example as the highly distorted bass blasts completely overpower EVERYTHING and it's for... landing your flying car. Yes, the police are "'sus" here, but its like a child screaming in your ear "THOSE ARE THE BAD GUYS!!!!". There are others parts where the music felt intrusive but I can't recall right now as I only saw the film once... though I probably need to re-buy it along with A Cure for Wellness.

> Blue Planet II (2017) - ***½

Hmm, I'll definitely check this one out. I've probably seen it on the streaming serves along with Zimmer's other titles, but never investigated it.