Original Soundtrack - Shanghai Knights / O.S.T. (CD)

All Music Guide

The original soundtrack to Shanghai Knights, the London-based sequel to Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson's sleeper hit kung-fu western, Shanghai Noon, features, appropriately enough, new and old versions of British Invasion hits as well as England-themed songs and excerpts of Randy Edelman's score. Though Jessica Harp's unimaginative teen pop cover of the Kinks' "All Day and All of the Night" starts the album off on a rather sour note, most of the selections reflect the goofy fun and swinging London feel of the film. The Who's "My Generation," the Zombies' "Time of the Season," and Harry Nilsson's "One" sound great, as usual, but it's Roger Miller's "England Swings," Georgie Fame the Blue Flames' "Yeh, Yeh," and the New Vaudeville Band's "Winchester Cathedral" that really capture the movie's affectionately cartoonish, slightly dopey vibe. Randy Edelman's score does a better-than-average job of mixing Asian and British musical elements into the film's western-inspired themes, particularly o...n "The Seal in Danger" and "The Buddies Visit Buckingham Palace." Kim Ferron's "Painkiller" and Matter's "Hot Pasta" feel like afterthoughts, but the majority of Shanghai Knights manages to reflect the movie and remain enjoyable outside of its context. - Heather Phares, All Music Guide Read more Less