Soundtrack Review: The Dark Knight (2008)
This is a review of the motion picture score for The Dark Knight by Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard.
“The Joker will live forever through this score and The Dark Knight will remain the hero by everyone who loves movie scores”
What can you say, except: Yes it’s here! The most anticipated score of the year is here. The Dark Knight soundtrack has been shrouded with mystery and everybody has been waiting with baited breath on Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howards Collaboration. They did of course the score the score to Batman Begins which was a beautiful and great score. I just fell in love with the batwings. I was more of a Superman or Spider-Man dude myself, but I kept a close look at Gotham City. Batman or The Dark Knight as he is called has something going for him. The story about how Batman came to be is a great one and The Dark Knight has quite a big fan base. I really enjoy the movies and particularly the scores. First it was Danny Elfman who had the pleasure of composing for Batman, and then it was Elliot Goldenthal before it was handed over to Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard. There will be an impressive 4 editions of this soundtrack released. The regular editions, a limited digi-pack edition, a 2 LP vinyl set and a special collector’s edition with artwork. This is the track list of The Dark Knight:
Track List
- Why So Serious?
- I’m Not a Hero
- Harvey Two-Face
- Aggressive Expansion
- Always A Catch
- Blood on My Hands
- A Little Push
- Like a Dog Chasing Cars
- I Am The Batman
- And I Thought My Jokes Were Bad
- Agent of Chaos
- Introduce a Little Anarchy
- Watch the World Burn
- A Dark Knight
Getting Pumped Up
This is a review of the regular edition so there are 14 tracks in all. The play time is an impressive 1 hour and 13 minutes so the CD is filled up. It is unknown whether there will be any bonus tracks or materials, but Batman Begins exists in an expanded edition so we can only hope. I am so pumped up listening to this score. I could hardly wait getting home and get a good listen. I loved Batman Begins and when I got hold of the samples I wasn’t disappointed. However there’s only so much you can get out of 30 second samples and I hoped that when The Dark Knight score finally came out that it would live up to its massive reputation.
Not Batman Begins Part 2
Now for those who just want Batman Begins part 2 I have to disappoint you, but don’t cry just yet because what awaits you is something bigger. It has mutated and it can’t be stopped. The Joker has arrived and left his mark all over this score. The Dark Knight is certainly much darker than Batman Begins. While the first one was more atmospheric and more about Batman, this one has The Joker written all over it with sad songs and full out action cues. It starts off with an amazing song that lasts over 9 minutes. “Why So Serious?” is such a brilliant theme which happens to be very different from all other cues on this albums except for a small but important part.
Yet Another Masterpiece
The batwings from Batman Begins have almost been completely replaced by heavy and sad strings of The Joker’s destruction. The album also reveals that this will be an action packed movie. Some of the tracks are just absolutely some of the finest action music you will hear I kid you not. I think this score has it all; it will do for The Dark Knight what Howard Shore did for The Lord of the Rings. It’s epic, sad, mesmerizing and beautiful and the movie can only be a masterpiece like the score. I fully expect the score and the movie to be on top of everyone’s list. Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard has done it again, The Joker will live forever through this score and The Dark Knight will remain the hero by everyone who loves movie scores. If you thought Batman Begins was good, be prepared to love this even more. The Release Date? July 15th. Order it now, because I can’t guarantee the availability. It will be massive. Listen to The Dark Knight Soundtrack by Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard below:
