In no way is this music high art. It doesn't reinvent the wheel. It will beg no comparisons to Bernard Herrmann's commonly praised score from the 1959 version. It will never be nominated for an Oscar. But it is damn entertaining, and for a project as ridiculous as Journey to the Center of the Earth, could you really ask for anything more? The formula for the recording is predictable. A crisp symphonic ensemble in London is complimented by slight synthetic rhythms, mixed choir, and an array of Taiko drums. The style of the composition owes much to the depth of Alan Silvestri's action romps, the occasional burst of John Williams complexity, and the mixture of tones common to John Debney's fantasy scores. The almost unyielding harmonic optimism in the heroic stature of Lockington's title theme and supplemental ideas is almost dizzying in its gleaming character. Not only does this score resurrect the high adventure of film music's Bronze Age, but it does so without any reservations. By diving head first into this unashamedly ballsy bombast, Lockington doesn't allow you enough time to overanalyze his choices. In these regards, it is much like Silvestri's The Mummy Returns and James Newton Howard's Atlantis: The Lost Empire; you have heard most of the key elements in classic scores of the past, but sometimes a repackaging of the concept into a shiny new incarnation can be so refreshing that it transcends the confines of a "guilty pleasure" listening experience and actually becomes a worthy art form itself. The "Journey Theme" that guides this score receives its necessary brass introduction of robust stature, though more impressive is Lockington's ability to manipulate the idea down to the level of a contemplative solo piano. Also impressive is the limited role of synthetic rhythmic devices, which proves that you can indeed employ them without detracting from the organic feel of the overall composition. Moments of choral majesty accompany some of the grand sights in the middle of the score. From "The Center of the Earth" to "Storm," this score is at its best. The first cue's awe-inspiring fantasy play is followed by two cues of sensitive thematic development that are a welcome interlude to the action. Then, the duo of "Building the Raft" and "Storm" is a dynamic powerhouse of propulsive orchestral ruckus rarely heard in such coherent form these days.

The lighter moments heard at the start and finish of the score take advantage of precise piano, woodwind, and tapped percussion rhythms that embody a sense of optimistic anticipation. Lockington makes sure to keep even his softer material engaging with a style of movement that will, in "Morning Routine," remind some listeners of Thomas Newman's trademark rhythms. A subtle tribute to James Horner's Star Trek scores at about the thirty second mark into "The Return" is a neat touch. In its whole, Journey to the Center of the Earth impresses because of its very balanced organization. Slight dissonance brings enough basic suspense to a handful of cues to suffice. The strong balance between orchestral sections allows each element to flourish in clarity, and the choir isn't as overused as it is in many similar productions. Some of the credit undoubtedly goes to orchestrator and conductor Nicholas Dodd, whose talents have contributed greatly to Arnold's career. The quality of the recording's mix is engaging, with just enough reverb to give the brass performances a swinging personality without swallowing up the softer instruments. The Taiko drums can be heard in a few places, but they don't play a particularly prominent role. If this score has a weakness beyond its obvious lack of originality, it exists in its exhausting length. Most of the best portions of the score are indeed heard by "Storm," and the action that follows can become overwhelming after 45 minutes of bravado. The album release does present more than an hour of the score in a chronologically true order that tells a narrative outside of the picture. That product was somewhat difficult to find at retail outlets, available only in digital download format in America (through New Line Records) though pressed onto a CD by Silva Screen for European buyers. While intellectual listeners will likely find Journey to the Center of the Earth to be a tedious exercise in predictable genre formulas, this is one of those scores that requires you to turn off your brain. Every soundtrack genre has its exceptional entries, and in the area of shamelessly bold adventure, Lockington has repackaged history's best swashbuckling techniques and asks for no forgiveness. In a stagnant year for film music, this score is an obvious respite from the routine. If only more film music could be so charmingly fun...  ****   @Amazon.com: CD or Download