Superman Returns

Click to view larger image

John Williams's theme for 1978's Superman remains one of the most famous of the '70s, so it's both obvious and a little weird that it would feature so prominently in the score for Superman Returns: Why would director Bryan Singer and composer John Ottman so willfully compare themselves to the earlier movie? Not only does a turbocharged version of Williams's theme ("Main Titles") open the album, but the "Behind the Scenes: Superman Returns Score" featurette that's part of the CD's bonus enhanced section is all about the orchestra performing the 1978 theme. Ottman's own work thus has to unfold in the shadow projected by Williams, which is a bit unfair since, while the new score isn't revolutionary, it delivers all the pomp, triumph, and vaguely atmospheric choirs that are now de rigueur in Hollywood action films. Ottman, of course, is used to dealing with superheroes (he wrote the scores for X2: X-Men United and Fantastic Four ), but this time around he's had to reflect the essentially noble nature of his main character, and so he's come up with themes that reveal even more pomp, pathos, and atmospheric choirs than before. It's not what you'd call subtle, but it does the job. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Buy this Album

Album information

Release Date (USA): 2006-06-27
Release Date (UK):
Artist/s: John Ottman
Label: Rhino / Wea

Track Listing

1 Main Titles
2 Memories
3 Rough Flight
4 Little Secrets/Power Of The Sun
5 Bank Job
6 How Could YOU Leave Us?
7 Tell Me Everything
8 You’e Not One Of Them
9 Not Like The Train Set
10 So Long Superman
11 The People You Care For
12 I Wanted You To Know
13 Saving The World
14 IN THE HANDS OF MORTALS
15 Reprise / Fly Away

Related Items

Superman: Doomsday (Soundtracks)
Adventures of Superman - The Complete Fifth and Sixth Seasons (DVD)
Adventures of Superman - The Complete Third and Fourth Seasons (DVD)
Justice League - Season Two (DC Comics Classic Collection) (DVD)
Legion of Super Heroes Volume 1 (DVD)
Lois & Clark - The New Adventures of Superman - The Complete Third Season (DVD)
Look, Up in the Sky - The Amazing Story of Superman (DVD)
Max Fleischer's Superman: 1941-1942 (DVD)
Superman - Doomsday (DVD)
Superman Returns (Two-Disc Special Edition) (DVD)
Superman: The Motion Picture Anthology (1978-2006) [Blu-ray] (DVD)

Related Articles

Soundtrack Review: Superman Returns
Soundtrack Review: Superman Returns
Superman Returns soundtrack flies onto store shelves June 27th
Details on Superman's return
Superman's bulge too Super
Singer's Superman flies onto the internet

Follow Us

Follow M&C on Pinterest

Search

Custom Search

Additional Reviews

Soundtrack Review: Superman Returns
Superman Returns soars with music both new and ols.
Soundtrack Review: Superman Returns
That said, I very much enjoyed the Superman Returns soundtrack.

Don't Miss

Dancing with the Stars 200th Episode PartySuge Knight Pulled Over by LAPDMichelle Rodriguez Leaving MadaoJoe Manganiello Halloween at Hard Rock Hotel Andrew Bynum in Beverly HillsSylvester Stallone Shopping in Beverly HillsJulie Benz in Beverly HillsAngel McCord Out and About in Beverly HillsMarg Helgenberger attends Rocky Horror EventNikki Hilton out in Beverly HillsMia Hope Shopping in Sherman OaksEmma Zerner Shopping in HollywoodKeira Knightley and Eva Mendes Premiere in RomeTaylor Swift Starbucks PromoLindsay Lohan Leaving Beverly Hills CourthouseUS First Lady Michelle Obama in Spain