James Horner - Apollo 13 (CD)

Apollo 13 soundtrack

By Steve Sciotto  Jul 25, 2001

No ifs, ands or buts; this soundtrack cranks.The only flaw I find is the music for the pre-launch sequence in the film is 'remixed' with and somewhat 'sullied' by Ed Harris' calling the shots on the soundtrack. For my money this kind of wrecks the ce...rebral, almost scholarly tone which the music successfully sets in the film. The juxtaposition of events taking place; wifey fretting over a lost wedding band in the shower while hubby dons his pressure suit for a trip into space, is clearly magnified in this sequence. The serious tone implies this mission represents the high point in not just one man's career, but of a people's. Appropriate overture for history in the making.The sheer size of the Saturn V, still the largest space-launch vehicle ever, is also clearly expressed as another high point of the film's soundtrack; the very apex of technological achievment for it's day.It's lumbering liftoff, applauded with tears of both joy and pride, is one of the most uplifting themes I have ever heard. I still get chills just playing it back in my mind. Breaking through the barriers that separate ordinary humans from the cosmos might have been seen by our forefathers as an event to rock the very foundations of heaven, and this idea is well articulated in the 'angelic' refrain heard as the mighty Saturn accelerates through the atmosphere and into space.Out of this sequence emerges another dichotomy; this almost spiritual liberation from the confines of earth is punctuated every step of the way with the steady drone of the voices of those who remain earth-bound. Voices which represent the very best minds in science and engineering for that time and place in history. Voices that are prepared for and deliver on every contingency, every deviation from the plan, everthing that could possibly go wrong. The end result; a successful launch and a journey through space for 3 men to another world.It's a classic showdown; the very best of mankind against the harshest, most forbidding environment in nature.Some people find the movie and it's themes a bit cheesey. There's even an 'urban legend' suggesting we never went to the moon; that it was all a 'Cold War' hoax.I tend to ignore people like this. They can't appreciate the greatest works of mankind because they're too involved in their music and hair and fashions and selves. 'Pedestrian' is a term that comes to mind. They can't understand it.What a pity; it wasn't "a dozen white men" that went to the moon in the late '60's and early '70's.It was a nation. Anyone who was a part of that nation at that time can take a special pride in its accomplishments.When you play this soundtrack, play it loud and proud. Read more Less