Soundtracks Reviews

Soundtrack Review: The Da Vinci Code

By Douglas Strassler May 17, 2006, 21:29 GMT

For his adaptation of Dan Brown\'s megaselling book, director Ron Howard didn\'t take any risks, he called one of Hollywood\'s most popular composers, Hans Zimmer. Zimmer is a skilled craftsman, which is good and bad since he adequately delivers in a variety of styles, but usually misses the extra unexpected zing that makes a score truly memorable. His work for The Da Vinci Code is almost entirely muted. This may ...more

The Da Vinci Code, Ron Howard’s heavily-hyped adaptation of the mildly controversial Dan Brown novel that has kept airplane passengers occupied for more than three years is finally about to hit theaters, and its accompanying soundtrack has already hit record stores.

Oscar-winner Hans Zimmer (The Lion King) scores labyrinthine tale of a treacherous journey to uncover religious secrets and origins, and his score is suitably baroque.  He uses many strings, such as in Richard Harvey “Kyrie for the Magdalene.”  Zimmer also maintains an ominous tone in both "Chevaliers de Sangreal" (which includes French horns and a beautiful choir) and "Dies Mercurii I Martius.”

Zimmer has no overarching theme on this soundtrack; much of the music remains incidental and is not repeated.  Additionally, Zimmer gets some help from musicians like cellist Martin Tillman and Hugh Marsh on electric violin in the opening cue and "Rose of Arimathea.”   I have not always been a fan of Zimmer’s work in bigger blockbusters.  Gladiator made little impression on me, while I remain haunted by his work in Rain Man. 

The Da Vinci Code requires more bombast simply due to its premise, but Zimmer has carved out an interesting, occasionally haunting soundtrack.