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MUSIC
Some reviews on our favorite-and maybe least favorite-types of music.
The Hunger Games
Original motion picture score
Music by: James Newton Howard
Year of release: 2012
Genre: Soundtrack
Review by: J


If you liked the movie The Hunger Games, you're sure to like the soundtrack, containing most of the music featured in the film. I know I do, and this soundtrack sparked my interest of listening to film scores. The music captivates memorable scenes from the film, from the Reaping to the start of the Games. If you're more of a pop music fan, there's always the alternative score, with music by various popular artists.
1. The Hunger Games- this track is just barely audible in the beginning of the film. The theme is spine chilling, but also very beautiful. 2. Katniss Afoot- This piece of music wasn't in the film, but it really captures the moment where Katniss escapes off into the woods and goes off to hunt. 3. Reaping Day- this piece was featured when Katniss volunteered as tribute. It is a very dark piece, and for some reason, it reminds me of Gale. 4. The Train- this is featured when Katniss and Peeta step foot in the train. This is a very emotional piece, played by a strings ensemble. 5. Entering the Capitol- the beginning is really mysterious, and then the song jumps into a wacky tune that captures the weird and wild style of the Capitol. That dies out, and the mysteriousness returns for a short while, until there are a few lines that I feel sound sort of determined. 6. Preparing the Chariots- this piece perfectly captures the anticipation and excitement for the chariot parade, then it breaks into 7. Horn of Plenty- this is a grand, heroic piece complete with a choir and lyrics. 8. Penthouse/Training-the beginning is somewhat emotional because it is the part where Katniss sees the forest displayed on her wall. Near the end, the intensity of the tributes' training is implied in the song, as does 9- Learning the Skills. 10. The Countdown- this captivates the tension and anticipation for the Games, but is not featured in the film. 11. Booby Trap- this is a very sneaky, cunning piece of music, as heard in the part where Katniss tries blowing up the food. 12. Healing Katniss- This song is very relaxing, one of the best on the soundtrack. The melody is very soft and at ease. 13. Rue's Farewell- the beginning is really emotional and nearly brought tears to my eyes while listening to it. That goes for most of this track. 14. The same great melody as Track 1, but on a different instrument. 15. Searching for Peeta- sort of an adventurous and blood rushing song, but not intense. Probably one of my other favorites. 16. The Cave- like Track 12, this song is pretty relaxing and at ease, but it gets intense at the end. 17. Muttations- this song is VERY intense, and there's a lot of percussion. Not one of my favorites. 18. Tenuous Winners/Returning Home- the beginning has the Hunger Games melody, as played by a stringed instrument. The song has a lot of emotions in it, and it will leave you wondering about the 2nd film.

My Rating
Overall, this soundtrack was great and one of my favorites. There were a couple of intense pieces that I didn't care for, but this is one of James Newton Howard's greatest soundtracks. Ultimately, I think I'd rate this a 4 1/2 out of 5 stars
Divergent
Original motion picture score



Music by: Junkie XL
Year of release: 2014
Review by: P

Divergent is set in a dystopian future, and it is a lot different from The Hunger Games. The score really lives up to the setting with somewhat of an electric tone. If you aren't a fan of the instrumental version, there is always the pop version.
The soundtrack starts out with 1: Tris . This is a very calm piece in the beginning, and gets a bit louder during the middle, then quiet during the end, but in a melancholy mood. It think it sums up most of the movie. It features pretty vocals from singer Ellie Goulding. 2: The Test. This is a very weird piece, featuring mostly computerized noises. It's sort of calm and relaxing, and does get intense at one point. 3: Choosing Dauntless. The beginning is sort of sad (Tris leaving her parents for Dauntless) but soon jumps into a more upbeat and wild mood, featuring the iconic Dauntless beat. Featuring vocals from Ellie Goulding. 4: Capture the Flag. This features melodies from Choosing Dauntless and Tris, but different beats. 5: This Isn't Real another strange piece that doesn't have much of a tune to it. 6: Ferris Wheel. This starts out intense, but calms down close to the end of the piece. Has a lot of electric elements to it and features melodies from Tris. 7: Erudite Plan. This is a mysterious piece, featuring some folksy instruments with a repetitive tune in the backround, plus some more computerized meledy playing over it. 8: Fear. This is very intense with a repetitive beat to it. 9: I Am Divergent. A very calm piece with more computerized instruments and a guitar. A very relaxing piece. It breaks into 10: A Friend, which features more of the same instruments plus a stringed orchestra and calmness. A very beautiful piece. This piece breaks into 11: Conspiracy. This is a little bit like Erudite Plan, but with different sounds. 12: Watertank. This piece has one note playing in the backround (which does change over time) with a march like beat playing over it. 13: Faction Before Blood. This piece features a stringed orchestra only, which plays a bittersweet tune. 14: Human Nature. This is a lot like The Test, very mysterious as well. 15: Final Test. This is a sort of intense piece, featuring electric instruments and a stringed orchestra. A heart pumper. 16: The March. A very computerized, mysterious, creepy piece that gets a little intense. 17: Dauntless Attack, is a lot like The March, only a little more intense. 18: Sacrifice. This is a sort of sad, sorrowful song, featuring pretty vocals from Ellie Goulding. 19: You're Not Gonna Like This features electric instruments and gets pretty intense, but settles down a little at the end. It features parts of Tris on a more intense level and different beats. 20: Everywhere and Nowhere is similar to Faction Before Blood, featuring strings, a guitar, and piano. Features some parts from Tris. A pretty piece and one of my favorites.

My Review

At first I was skeptical of the Divergent score after listening to samples online as it sounded mostly computerized, but since I loved the movie and had both of the Hunger Games scores, I decided to try this one, and I'm glad I did. While most of the tracks were entirely done on a computer, some of them included strings and guitars (as stated above). I did some research, and Junkie XL is a DJ or something (hence the name) so that makes since. The score can be loud at times, but is mostly calm and very relaxing. I was disappointed that most of the music on this CD didn't make it into the movie, and that some of the pieces in the movie didn't make it onto the CD. Other than that, I would recommend this to anyone who needs some relaxation, and I would not recommend this to people who don't like electro type film scores or music.
Final rating: 4/5 stars
Ender's Game
Original motion picture score



Music by: Steve Jablonsky
Year of release: 2013
Review by: P

Ender's Game is a great movie, and the soundtrack is just as good, really captivating moments from the movie in each track and more original than other action movie soundtracks. Most of the instruments in this soundtrack are violins, cellos, and anything from the string instrument family.
1. Ender's War- This is a very dramatic piece, with the reoccurring cello melody that is heard in many of the tracks. This piece can get intense, but it's great. 2.Stay Down- This is a soft, eerie piece, played when Ender's monitor is taken out. It gets just a bit intense near the end, but not much. 3. Battle School- This starts out the same as Stay Down, with a violin playing. It breaks into a melody that captures the scene at the Battle School. 4. Move It Launchies- This starts out with a drum melody, then breaks into the cello melody that is heard throughout. 5. The Battle Room- This piece starts out softly, then has the same melody you hear in Battle School, only a little different, with a violin playing another tune. 6. Mind Game, Pt.1- This is a really cool piece that reminds me a little of the ocean. It gets sort of intense near the end. 7. Salamander Army- This is a really dramatic, intense piece that you hear when Ender joins Salamander Army in battle. It reminds me sort of like one of those songs you hear in a movie commercial. 8. Dragon Army- This is a bit like Ender's War, (only much slower) and ends like the end in Salamander Army, only a little different. 9. Dragons Win- This piece is intense, and reminds me a little of "Final Test" from the Divergent score. 11. Bonzo- This is slightly intense and a little tuneless in parts, same as 12. Ender Quits- Which starts out nearly the same, and a quiet piece. 13. Mazer Rackham- Somewhat like Ender Quits, very quiet, then ends with the cello solo you hear in most of the tracks. It might just remind you of Mazer Rackham himself. 14. Enemy Planet- A sort of tuneless piece near the beginning, but tuneful at the middle/end. Same with 16. Command School, which also starts out tuneless but gets really intense near the end. 17. Final Test- This isn't exactly intense, just very fast. 18. Game Over- This piece has a slow, sad meledy. Near the end, it gets somewhat oblivious. It carries over into 19. The Way We Win Matters. This carries on into most of the song, but it gets dramatic towards the end. 20. Ender's Promise- This is the same beginning as The Way We Win Matters, then breaks into the same meledy you hear in Ender's War, slower, then not slow. 21. Commander- This starts out softly, but you hear the same cello solo as you hear in Ender's War, and it ends in similarity with Salamander Army.

My Review
I personally think this soundtrack is great. I really like the dramatic stringed instrument parts, and I like that it's a lot different than the other action/sci-fi movies. I like this a lot better than the Divergent soundtrack. The Ender's Game soundtrack really captures scenes from the movie. Ender's Game is a soundtrack I enjoy listening to daily.

Final Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars



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