ue to their unusual visual effects and occasionally outlandish
story lines, animated movies are especially dependent on quality musical
soundtracks. The new feature-length cartoon The Iron Giant is no
exception. Its soundtrack uses both vintage songs and original orchestral compositions to help viewers fully immerse themselves in its tantalizing tale, set in the late 1950s, about a boy and his gigantic robotic buddy.
Each of the 14 tunes on the film's soundtrack augments the on-screen action. Relatively rare,
40-year-old numbers, such as "Rockin' in the Orbit" by Jimmie Haskell and
"Blast Off" from The Tyrones, echo the optimistic--and at times somewhat
fearful--attitude of the nascent Space Age. Other cuts, including The Nutty
Squirrels' high-pitched rendition of "Salt Peanuts" and the beatnik beats of
Edd Byrnes' "Kookie's Mad Pad," hint at some of the humorous elements present
in the flick. Meanwhile, though they lack specific SF themes, swingin'
standards like Jimmie Rodgers' "Honeycomb" and "Searchin'" by The Coasters
add a classic air of authenticity to the project.
Along with the early rock 'n' roll tracks, the recording also offers a
couple of brand-new score selections from composer Michael Kamen, who's best
known among science fiction fans for his work on such projects as Event
Horizon and What Dreams May Come. These instrumental cues, titled
"You Can Be..." and "...Who You Choose to Be," appear at the end of the
collection and are performed by The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.
A sense of wonder...and sweetness
In some respects, contemporary soundtracks often seem to focus
more on marketing than music. One of the nice things about the Iron Giant Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is that, rather than spotlighting numbers that have
nothing to do with the film, the cuts featured here all either play a vital
role in the picture or strongly evoke the emotional tone of both the story
and the era in which the narrative takes place. As a result, they truly
complement the theatrical experience.
Melodies like Jimmy Lloyd's fast-paced, piano-driven "I Got a Rocket in My
Pocket," which in the film enlivens a diner scene, possess a buoyant and
boyish excitement that is perfectly suited to the animated adventure. And more
demonstrative ditties, such as Mel Torme's torch song "Comin' Home Baby"
(played when the protagonist's mother telephones her young son to say she'll
be "comin' home" late) or the hopeful harmonies of "Destination Moon" by The
Ames Brothers, accentuate the emotional elements of the tale.
Kamen's compositions also provide heartfelt themes for the boy and his
mechanical playmate. Punctuated by poignant strings and stirring percussion,
the works showcase meaningful passages that add depth to the cinematic
scenes and also serve as a satisfying conclusion to this aural
collection. Ultimately, each selection successfully evokes both the sense of
wonder and sweetness evident in The Iron Giant, making this recording
a superb souvenir of a genuinely delightful SF motion picture.
