Rating

Vantage Point Best Movie Scores

Before you go on, here’s a warning: If you hate Media Ventures (Remote Control Productions), Hans Zimmer or Steve Jablonsky, look away now. If you however think that they produce great action scores, and are not ashamed to admit that, read on. Atli Orvarsson might not be a name most people are not familiar with. I won’t hold it against you as I could not even find a Wikipedia page about this guy. What I do know is that he is from Iceland, and that in itself is quite a feat. Hans Zimmer said in an interview not long ago that if you are not from USA, you can forget scoring for the Best Movie Scores, but that’s a positive side to Zimmer’s production company, it gives people like Atli Orvarsson a chance. He has previously scored for TV series such as NYPD Blue, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Dragnet and has worked closely with TV composing legend Mike Post. He has also collaborated with Hans Zimmer on The Holiday and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. Just to make it clear, he is working with Hans Zimmer’s Remote Control Productions.

Total Movie Scores

The total playtime on this Best Movie Scores is 41:20, which is pretty much the norm, a little on the short side perhaps. This is my first Atli Orvarsson score, and I have to say I am impressed. I can understand the criticism of Media Ventures, because a lot of the music who went to that “school” has a tendency to sound the same. It’s a fair criticism, but they do produce great action scores and this is no exception. From the moment you listen to it you get the feeling that this is a really well produced score from start to finish.
The main theme of Vantage is a nice one, and you immediately know what kind of score this is. You can hear a little Zimmer and Jablonsky in it, but also quite a bit of originality from Atli Orvarsson. The theme for this score has a nice action feel to it and the use of guitar is a great touch in between the electronic percussion and the strings. It then ventures a little bit into middle east, but keeps the score rooted in the action genre.
Like I said, it is a very well produced action Best Movie Scores. The negative about this personal best movie score is that you might have heard this a few times before. There is enough originality in there to keep you interested though, and I would argue that if you really know your music, you can hear originality in all Remote Control Productions scores. Vantage Point is certainly is a big step up from John Powell’s score to Jumper which I reviewed on Monday. Bottom line: I like it! Can’t wait for Atli Orvarsson next project which is Babylon A.D.…