> Welp...this took a while to finish. I should've started splitting these
> into two parters per year cause damn, there was a lot of action movies
> every year back then! And so much good music, couldn't skip any! Also, my
> apologies for never replying to all of you guys' responses on my last one
> - I sure wanted to, but life kept on getting in the way.

As a fellow "journeyman", so to speak, I sympathize with "real life" getting in the way.

> Anyhoo, here we go, focusing on action scores from the gloriously fucked
> up year of 2001 (movies arranged in order of release date):

Alright, I'm just going to respond to the ones I've heard and hopefully won't repeat the "I haven't heard this in a while" onslaught I gave you last time....

> Enemy at the Gates - ***1/2

For a while I was more or less on your page about Enemy... until I rewatched the film in 2021. Man, Horner's score not only perfectly matches the film but also elevates in nearly every instance. The self-referencing can get a bit tedious at times (like with the Danger motif), but it's still Horner working at the top of his game and vastly superior to some of the surrounding work he was doing in the early 2000's (looking at you, Windtalkers). Also the heavy, morose tone of the work is pitch perfect for the heavy, morose film.

My review if you want more of my thoughts:
https://soundtrack-universe.blogspot.com/2021/09/enemy-at-gates-speed-review.html

> Mummy Returns - ***1/2

So, confession: I've never listened to this score from start to finish.

Tried watching the movie a few years ago and gave up after 20 minutes or so. That said, I LOVE Goldsmith's score from the '99 flick and also really enjoy that movie, arguably Sommers' last good flick. Should probably try the Silvestri at some point...

> Pearl Harbor - ****1/2

Oof. Getting flashbacks from my Zimmer Journey and how I got torn apart for thinking this was just OK.

> Evolution - ***

I remember liking the movie well enough many years ago, though I'm not sure how I'd feel about it now. Comedies seems to either fall in or out with me as I get older moreso than other genres.

... also I don't think I realized Powell did the music for this. So make of that what you will.

> Swordfish - ***

> Boobs. Let’s just…let’s just say it, the only reason anyone remembers this
> movie (or saw it/talked about it when it came out) was cause Halle Berry
> went topless in it. If you doubt the importance of said boobular’s, know
> that 5 of the 50 trivia’s on IMDb are all about it. It was truly a great
> time to be 13 and horny.

As someone who has never seen the film but knows about it... yeah. The Berry Boobs are the prime thing I'm aware of... oh, and John Travolta's weird hair-do. Never heard the full Young score, but remember it being included on a compilation YouTube video of the man's work... ah ha! It's still around!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fszF-CA1ekk

> Atlantis: The Lost Empire - ****

We are the same mind! I too also preferred Dinosaur of Howard's trio of Disney animated action flicks! Which reminds me I need to pick up the Intrada expansion...

As for Atlantis, I also really enjoy this one and probably agree with the 4/5 rating. Really wish Disney had continued (or would return to) these animated action pictures... they might have been a bit messy, but they were a ton of fun... and still are!

> Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - **

> when even the composer himself apologizes over a score, you know it’s not a gooder.

Oh man... that's bad! O.o

> Final Fantasy - ****

This is one of those titles I really need to buckle down and review sooner rather than later. Like with some of Goldenthal's other works, I for some reason immediately latched onto this one when I first heard it in high school (later in the 2000's) and enjoyed the whole thing... even the highly avant garde action-horror material.

> Jurassic Park III - ***1/2

> Especially since, in my opinion, Lost World is
> almost as good as the first (it lacks the majesty of the brand new themes,
> but the action music is far superior).

Again, we agree! I also love Williams work onLost World and consider it the second best Park/World score. Was so happy when LLL re-released the first two scores as individual albums after missing out on the combo set they initial put out.

As for JPIII, yeah, it's really solid. I still find it amusing hearing bits of The Matrix pop up in the action-suspense material, but overall it's a very solid continuation of the JP sound without simply aping Williams work. Not sure if I'll pick up the LLL albums for this one or not, though.

> Planet of the Apes - ****1/2

Ignoring your slander against Goldsmith's OG score for this one...

My personal feelings towards Elfman's effort has bounced back and forth over the years. I think I'm at the point where I like it now... but need to give it another spin to be sure.

> The Musketeer - ****

I like this one, both film and score. Need to revisit both.

> The Last Castle – ****1/2

So I have the Intrada expansion but I've barely listened to it. For whatever reason it didn't "catch" me when I first gave it a spin after ordering it so I haven't really tried it since. Should probably remedy that soon.

> The One - ****1/2

Remember this being fun. But that's about it.

> Spy Game - ***

I'd probably agree with this rating. Works well within the (rather good) film but I also remember very little about it.

> Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - *****

> It sucks. PASS!

Overrated hack job of other, vastly superior scores. Heck, it's not even Howard Shore's best work of the 2000's!!

> Black Hawk Down - ****

Another score I rarely return to. Remember it working perfectly within the film but haven't tried listening to the album since my Zimmer Journey several years back... despite owning the CD. Guess this is another one I need to listen to soon....

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Really enjoying this series, Riley!