ver since composer John Williams' soundtrack to Star Wars: Episode 1--The Phantom Menace was issued in 1999, movie music fans have been clamoring for a follow-up featuring additional themes from the exhilarating adventure. Sony Classical recently acquiesced to those demands, releasing a deluxe "Ultimate Edition" two-CD set showcasing practically every note heard in the film.
Opening with the famous "Fox Fanfare," the first platter presents 35 cues roughly divided into 11 suites. The famous "Star Wars Main Title" launches "Treachery Within the Federation--The Invasion of Naboo," an energetic six-tune sequence that spotlights numbers like "Boarding the Federation Battleship," "Queen Amidala Warns the Federation" and "The Droid Invasion." The atmospheric "Underwater Adventure" includes such cuts as "Swimming to Otoh Gunga" and "Attack of the Giant Fish," while "Anakin Closes In on His Destiny" encompasses vigorous compositions like "The Racer Roars to Life/Anakin's Midi-Chlorian Count," "Mos Espa Arena Band" and "The Flag Parade."
The 33 selections on the second disc are loosely arranged in a dozen sections. "To Coruscant and to Palpatine and the Senate" contains the tense "Qui-Gon and Darth Maul Meet" and the rousing "Anakin and Group to Coruscant," just as "The Great Battle Begins" and its sister suite, "The Battle Continues," embrace lively melodies like "The Republic Pilots Take Off into Space," "Activate the Droids," "The Gungans Fight Back" and "The Duel Begins."
Following the "End Credits," a rendition of the popular "Duel of the Fates" cue sprinkled with dialogue and sound effects is offered as a bonus track. Additionally, "Desert Winds," a tune from the first disc that was not used in the completed picture, is inserted into the "Destination
Tatooine, Home of Anakin Skywalker" suite.
Fine yet fragmented melodies
From the impeccable sound quality to the sleek packaging--which includes a glossy foldout cardboard case and colorful 60-page booklet--almost every element of The Ultimate Edition Star Wars: Episode 1--The Phantom Menace signals elegance and prestige. Unfortunately, those impressive attributes belie a fundamental problem: Unlike the original soundtrack CD, this recording places each of the film's cues in the proper dramatic order. Such continuity is a boon for diehard soundtrack connoisseurs, but the average fan will find the music fragmented and erratic.
"Darth Sidious and Darth Maul"--a stand-alone work presented under a subsection titled "The Dark Forces Plot"--marvelously intermingles the themes for both villains, using deep strings, forceful horns and a quiet chorus to effectively indicate their ominous powers. On the other hand, the Middle Eastern-tinged percussion and flutes of "Desert Winds" seem somewhat out of place sandwiched between the sugary "Padme Meets Anakin" and the jocular "Jar Jar's Run-In with Sebulba."
The second CD opens with "Anakin is Free, " which uses bucolic woodwinds and violins to ingeniously mimic the inspirational ambiance of the famed "Binary Sunset" cue from Star Wars while simultaneously adding a fateful indication of the young boy's dark future. Williams also creates an effective emotional tumult on "The Gungans Retreat and the Queen Surrenders," incorporating blaring brass and agitated drums to generate genuine excitement and unrest.
Nonetheless, although almost every melody is intrinsically impressive, the collection as a whole doesn't provide a coherent musical representation of the movie. Soundtrack completists and Star Wars audiophiles will likely enjoy The Ultimate Edition Star Wars: Episode 1--The Phantom Menace, but for the ordinary SF fan, this recording is overpriced overkill.
