Transformers (Score) by Steven Jablonsky

“Transformers” Rolls Out!
Review by Steve Townsley

I was thinking of titling this piece “Jablonsky Lights Our Darkest Hour”, but the heavy-handed esoteric reference combined with the implications on the state of film entertainment seemed a little too much (especially when it refers to a Michael Bay film.) But even that trumped my other title, “Film Score is the Right of All Sentient Beings”….even if it feels true, from time to time.

Well, as a giant-robot loving kid, growing up, you never thought it would happen, but here it is: “TRANSFORMERS” – the live-action movie. And was it everything you dreamed it would be? Hmm…well, maybe not *entirely*, but HOLY FREAKIN’ COW, it was pretty cool regardless. Ok, so our human hero is “Sam” and not “Spike”, his girlfriend is “Mikaela” and not “Carly”…and it’s now the “All-Spark”, and not “The Matrix” (lest we wonder why Laurence Fishburne doesn’t put in an appearance.)

The animated version killed Optimus Prime, and it’s a little hard to not get nostalgic when listening to Vince DiCola’s “Death of Optimus Prime” on the 1985 soundtrack album. The 2007 version brought him back to life, though, and that’s evident from the first knock-out track. The goosebumps will rise when you hear the power anthem for “Autobots” building. Chilling, also, is the almost anti-demonic choir of “Decepticons”, which is appropriate in its relentless ominous pulse!

READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE