RY COODER....a national treasure to be heard again and again, 17 Nov 2008
Ry Cooder is one of the most wonderful guitarists on the planet.Anyone looking to play guitar should listen to him,because when it comes to tone,to texture and beautiful playing he's among the very best there is.The rave over Stevie Ray's,Hendrix,et all as great as they are no question of that RC is a master of his art.This anthology has a wonderful range of varying styles from a whole range of his albums right upto his 2008 release I Flathead,and it's all fabulous stuff,no fillers here at all.listen to the texture in his film scores like Paris Texas,or his take on Johnny Cash's Get Rhythm to the wonderful unreleased track Let's Get Together.You get 34 tracks for your money,all put together by his son Joachim,plus notes by the man himself.This is surely among the best releases of the year,certainly the best anthology.You've no Ry Cooder ? then this is one truly great place to begin.TOTALLY FABULOUS SET.

The Ry Cooder Anthology, 30 Oct 2008
For someone who has been making music for over 40 years it's very hard to encapsulate their career into even two CDs as we have here. This compilation was put together by Ry and his son Joachim and contains a good selection of Ry's solo records from his 1970 eponymous debut to 2008's "I, Flathead" and also his film soundtracks. It also contains one unreleased track the old Wilbert Harrison number "Let's work together" featuring Ry playing with accordionist Buckwheat Zydeco.

The two CDs present a good variety across his work from the acoustic worksong "Tamp 'Em Up Solid" to the electric R&B of "The Very Thing That Makes You Rich (Makes Me Poor)" to the evocative soundtrack instrumental "Paris, Texas". Inevitably with a record like this there are some missing tracks which you wish had been included (although my all time favourite Cooder track "Teardrops Will Fall" made the cut) but overall this is a very good overview of his entire career and will allow people to sample and then buy the individual albums if they like particular sounds/styles.

So why haven't I given it five stars? Well I would have preferred less of the soundtrack themes - which did get their own compilation in 'Music by Ry Cooder' - and 12 of these tracks appeared on the 90s compilation 'River Rescue'. I would also have liked a few more obscure tracks, Ry's session work and collaborations with other artists, but perhaps I'm being a bit picky. Overall this is an excellent sampler of a wonderful artist who has produced marvellous music throughout his career.

Ry Cooder's name has helped bring attention to this session, but it's the veteran Cuban son musicians who make this album really special. Reminiscent of Ellington in its scope and sense of hushed romanticism, Buena Vista Social Club is that rare meld of quietude and intensity; while the players sound laid-back, they're putting forth very alive music, a reminder that aging doesn't mean taking to bed. Barbarito Torres's laoud solo on "El Cuarto de Tula" is both more blinding and more tasteful than any guitar showcase on any recent rock album; a quote from "Stormy Weather" and some very distinct parallels to Hawaiian styles remind us of why it's called "world music." --Rickey Wright

RY COODER....a national treasure to be heard again and again, 17 Nov 2008
Ry Cooder is one of the most wonderful guitarists on the planet.Anyone looking to play guitar should listen to him,because when it comes to tone,to texture and beautiful playing he's among the very best there is.The rave over Stevie Ray's,Hendrix,et all as great as they are no question of that RC is a master of his art.This anthology has a wonderful range of varying styles from a whole range of his albums right upto his 2008 release I Flathead,and it's all fabulous stuff,no fillers here at all.listen to the texture in his film scores like Paris Texas,or his take on Johnny Cash's Get Rhythm to the wonderful unreleased track Let's Get Together.You get 34 tracks for your money,all put together by his son Joachim,plus notes by the man himself.This is surely among the best releases of the year,certainly the best anthology.You've no Ry Cooder ? then this is one truly great place to begin.TOTALLY FABULOUS SET.

The Ry Cooder Anthology, 30 Oct 2008
For someone who has been making music for over 40 years it's very hard to encapsulate their career into even two CDs as we have here. This compilation was put together by Ry and his son Joachim and contains a good selection of Ry's solo records from his 1970 eponymous debut to 2008's "I, Flathead" and also his film soundtracks. It also contains one unreleased track the old Wilbert Harrison number "Let's work together" featuring Ry playing with accordionist Buckwheat Zydeco.

The two CDs present a good variety across his work from the acoustic worksong "Tamp 'Em Up Solid" to the electric R&B of "The Very Thing That Makes You Rich (Makes Me Poor)" to the evocative soundtrack instrumental "Paris, Texas". Inevitably with a record like this there are some missing tracks which you wish had been included (although my all time favourite Cooder track "Teardrops Will Fall" made the cut) but overall this is a very good overview of his entire career and will allow people to sample and then buy the individual albums if they like particular sounds/styles.

So why haven't I given it five stars? Well I would have preferred less of the soundtrack themes - which did get their own compilation in 'Music by Ry Cooder' - and 12 of these tracks appeared on the 90s compilation 'River Rescue'. I would also have liked a few more obscure tracks, Ry's session work and collaborations with other artists, but perhaps I'm being a bit picky. Overall this is an excellent sampler of a wonderful artist who has produced marvellous music throughout his career.



Buy This and Weep!!, 08 Oct 2008
When the lights came up in the cinema where we saw Wim Wenders' movie of the same name, we saw grown adults weeping. This is more than a band, it is a musical phenomenon. Such a synergy is rare in this day and age, and the vibe on this album is just fantastic.

Buy it and weep, because you have missed your chance to ever see or hear Ruben Gonzales, Compay Segundo or Ibrahim Ferrer playing live with the band again, but the remaining members still tour and the band is organic, progressing through the years with younger, equally talented musicians, so if you see a gig advertised and can get to it, don't miss it! This album has changed many lives...

Over rated, 11 Sep 2008
I think there is alittle bit of hysteria about this album. I think the importance of the album lies in the fact that it opened the flood gates for Cuban music in general rather than to the individual merits of the album itself. Since its release there has been renewed interest in Cuban music and it has revitalised the careers of many of those involved in the project. But the album itself? Well, it's good, but not great! The album is pedestrian. I can't help thinking that Ry Cooder was at the mercy of time and just couldn't get the album to sound the way he wanted it to. Compared to other Cuban albums I have heard, and own, this one ranks lower.

Buena Vista Social Club, 06 Jul 2008
'Buena Vista Social Club' is the Ry Cooder produced album of such melodic, harmonious, relaxed Cuban beauty. Each track transports you to another time and place and you honestly feel your cares drifting away as you listen to each song. From the wonderful album opener 'Chan Chan' to the infectious 'El Cuarto de Tula' and the delightfully mournful 'Dos Gardenias' and more, this album throws up delight after delight. Ry Cooder may have brought this amazing music to a wider audience, but it is the talent and passion of the musicians that shines through. A beautiful album that deserves a place in any music collection. Well worth a try.

This is simply amazing..., 16 Dec 2007
Just take a listen, it doesn't matter what you're in to, just listen.

It's relaxing and melodic while being completely passionate and beautiful. How anyone could ban this stuff is beyond me. Damn politics!

Gorgeous classic - Party starter, 27 Apr 2007
This is such a gifted compilation, Ry Cooder gave music lovers everywhere a rare gift by being the inspiration and the driving force behind exposing these great musicians to the world. It's one of those cd's that always somehow seems to be close to the top of your collection, a guaranteed great play and essential for any party.

Back in the Golden Age of the Hollywood epic, composer Miklós Rózsa lavished much scholarly research on his scores for Quo Vadis (1951), Ben-Hur (1959), El Cid (1961) and others, gracing those movies with music that had as its wellspring authentic (or at least authentic-sounding) melodies from the period. For Ridley Scott's revival of the Roman epic, Gladiator, Hans Zimmer eschews such learned academia in favour of his own more contemporary, wall-of-sound approach (honed to perfection on movies like Tony Scott's Crimson Tide). In truth, no one is quite sure what Roman music sounded like, and Zimmer's unscholarly rock music background is temperamentally better suited to Scott's all-action movie anyway.

Gladiator's score is a stylistic conflation of some audacity, incorporating lavish synthesised, percussive action sequences (a Zimmer trademark), "ethnic" instrumentation including Spanish guitar, Chinese dulcimer and Armenian duduk, and--most suprisingly of all for Zimmer--unabashed plagiarism of Wagner (his cue "The Might of Rome" is "Siegfried's Funeral March" in all but name) and Holst ("The Battle" and "The Barbarian Horde" lean heavily on "Mars"). Vocalist and co-composer Lisa Gerrard (fresh from working on The Insider, coincidentally also starring fellow-Australian Russell Crowe) adds her ethereal vocalisms to the music's more intimate scenes ("Sorrow" and "Elysium" for example). Her contribution brings an exotic, Oriental flavour to a score that in its broad musical canvas reflects the movie's depiction of the vast scope of the Roman Empire. If not the equal of Zimmer's career best work on The Thin Red Line (1998), this is still a hugely entertaining and diverse soundtrack. --Mark Walker

RY COODER....a national treasure to be heard again and again, 17 Nov 2008
Ry Cooder is one of the most wonderful guitarists on the planet.Anyone looking to play guitar should listen to him,because when it comes to tone,to texture and beautiful playing he's among the very best there is.The rave over Stevie Ray's,Hendrix,et all as great as they are no question of that RC is a master of his art.This anthology has a wonderful range of varying styles from a whole range of his albums right upto his 2008 release I Flathead,and it's all fabulous stuff,no fillers here at all.listen to the texture in his film scores like Paris Texas,or his take on Johnny Cash's Get Rhythm to the wonderful unreleased track Let's Get Together.You get 34 tracks for your money,all put together by his son Joachim,plus notes by the man himself.This is surely among the best releases of the year,certainly the best anthology.You've no Ry Cooder ? then this is one truly great place to begin.TOTALLY FABULOUS SET.

The Ry Cooder Anthology, 30 Oct 2008
For someone who has been making music for over 40 years it's very hard to encapsulate their career into even two CDs as we have here. This compilation was put together by Ry and his son Joachim and contains a good selection of Ry's solo records from his 1970 eponymous debut to 2008's "I, Flathead" and also his film soundtracks. It also contains one unreleased track the old Wilbert Harrison number "Let's work together" featuring Ry playing with accordionist Buckwheat Zydeco.

The two CDs present a good variety across his work from the acoustic worksong "Tamp 'Em Up Solid" to the electric R&B of "The Very Thing That Makes You Rich (Makes Me Poor)" to the evocative soundtrack instrumental "Paris, Texas". Inevitably with a record like this there are some missing tracks which you wish had been included (although my all time favourite Cooder track "Teardrops Will Fall" made the cut) but overall this is a very good overview of his entire career and will allow people to sample and then buy the individual albums if they like particular sounds/styles.

So why haven't I given it five stars? Well I would have preferred less of the soundtrack themes - which did get their own compilation in 'Music by Ry Cooder' - and 12 of these tracks appeared on the 90s compilation 'River Rescue'. I would also have liked a few more obscure tracks, Ry's session work and collaborations with other artists, but perhaps I'm being a bit picky. Overall this is an excellent sampler of a wonderful artist who has produced marvellous music throughout his career.



Buy This and Weep!!, 08 Oct 2008
When the lights came up in the cinema where we saw Wim Wenders' movie of the same name, we saw grown adults weeping. This is more than a band, it is a musical phenomenon. Such a synergy is rare in this day and age, and the vibe on this album is just fantastic.

Buy it and weep, because you have missed your chance to ever see or hear Ruben Gonzales, Compay Segundo or Ibrahim Ferrer playing live with the band again, but the remaining members still tour and the band is organic, progressing through the years with younger, equally talented musicians, so if you see a gig advertised and can get to it, don't miss it! This album has changed many lives...

Over rated, 11 Sep 2008
I think there is alittle bit of hysteria about this album. I think the importance of the album lies in the fact that it opened the flood gates for Cuban music in general rather than to the individual merits of the album itself. Since its release there has been renewed interest in Cuban music and it has revitalised the careers of many of those involved in the project. But the album itself? Well, it's good, but not great! The album is pedestrian. I can't help thinking that Ry Cooder was at the mercy of time and just couldn't get the album to sound the way he wanted it to. Compared to other Cuban albums I have heard, and own, this one ranks lower.

Buena Vista Social Club, 06 Jul 2008
'Buena Vista Social Club' is the Ry Cooder produced album of such melodic, harmonious, relaxed Cuban beauty. Each track transports you to another time and place and you honestly feel your cares drifting away as you listen to each song. From the wonderful album opener 'Chan Chan' to the infectious 'El Cuarto de Tula' and the delightfully mournful 'Dos Gardenias' and more, this album throws up delight after delight. Ry Cooder may have brought this amazing music to a wider audience, but it is the talent and passion of the musicians that shines through. A beautiful album that deserves a place in any music collection. Well worth a try.

This is simply amazing..., 16 Dec 2007
Just take a listen, it doesn't matter what you're in to, just listen.

It's relaxing and melodic while being completely passionate and beautiful. How anyone could ban this stuff is beyond me. Damn politics!

Gorgeous classic - Party starter, 27 Apr 2007
This is such a gifted compilation, Ry Cooder gave music lovers everywhere a rare gift by being the inspiration and the driving force behind exposing these great musicians to the world. It's one of those cd's that always somehow seems to be close to the top of your collection, a guaranteed great play and essential for any party.

Plagiarism, 30 Aug 2008
Despite the plagiarism of Wagner (Siegfried's Funeral March) and Holst (Mars) this is an astonishing soundtrack.

Dr BeeClarke.

Epic!, 18 May 2008
Fantastic soundtrack. As a writer looking for inspiration for film music, this has to be one of my absolute favourites. Buy it now!

Epic, powerful, evocative - a fantastic soundtrack, 09 Feb 2008
"Gladiator" is the Golden Globe-winning original soundtrack from the 2000 film of the same name. Composed by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard, it is one of the most easily recognisable film scores of recent times. This Special Anniversary Edition 2-disc set is in fact comprised of two titles previously released separately: "Gladiator" and "Gladiator: More Music from the Motion Picture". Fans of the soundtrack who already own either - or both - of these albums may want to consider twice before purchasing this one. Having said that, at the time of writing this review, Amazon are pricing this set considerably lower than either of the two albums individually.

The first of the two discs contains 17 tracks and runs to 61 minutes, featuring all the main songs from the film and demonstrating the range and ability of the composers: from the stirring and well-known "The Battle" to the nostalgic, wistful simplicity of "Earth"; from the triumphant tones of "Slaves to Rome" to the sorrowful "Elysium" and the emotionally moving "Now We Are Free". The score tells such a powerful story in itself, epic and full of passion, that the listener need not even have seen the film to enjoy the music.

The second disc contains a miscellany of 18 tracks, lasting for a total of 55 minutes. Some of these are experimental pieces which were never included in the film's final cut (e.g. "Duduk of the North", "The Protector of Rome", "The General Who Became a Slave", "Marrakesh Marketplace"). Others are early drafts or alternate versions of tracks which did make it (e.g. "Now We Are Free (Juba's Mix)", "Maximus", "The Gladiator Waltz", "Figurines", "Not Yet"). Many of these tracks have, in addition, been overlaid with the actors' dialogue taken from the film, although the rationale behind this is unclear, since it adds little to the listening experience, and in some cases even detracts from the beautiful music. This is but a minor fault, however. The collection is also accompanied by sleeve notes written by Zimmer and Gerrard. Though short, these notes provide a fascinating insight into the evolution of these particular pieces as well as the compositional process as a whole.

All in all, the Special Anniversary Edition of the "Gladiator" soundtrack is a musical experience worthy of its high reputation, and easily recommendable to anyone - and not just to fans of the film.

Best soundtrack ever...in my opinion, 21 Nov 2007
I love the film and the soundtrack. The soundtrack is so good it stands alone. It is a soundtrack on a grand scale. A true epic. Full of beauty, energy, power and emotion. As I listen to it (I have almost worn out my CD), I can see the film. The music pains a picture. One of the most moving and inspirational CDs I have ever listened to. Simply brilliant. I consider it the best soundtrack I have ever listened to. Very hghly recommended.

Hauntingly captivating, 31 Oct 2006
One word, 'WOW', this was magnificent. If you are a fan of the movie, the second disc in this collection contains the famous quotes from the characters in the movie, Joaquin PHOENIX, Russell CROWE and the late great Richard HARRIS. The tempo is exactly the same, nothing in the musical content has been altered, only extended versions with the actors voice overs, "FATHER TO A MURDERED SON, HUSBAND TO A MURDERED WIFE, I WILL HAVE MY VENGENCE, IN THIS LIFE OR THE NEXT."
The first disc is the original release of the soundtrack. Usually, you have a few tracks that you do not care for, Gladiator contains the images you love, in the music.
Hans Zimmer, there are not many that can hold to your talent, my hat is off to you.

Top Gun (1986) must be counted one of the most influential movies of the 1980s. It propelled Tom Cruise to superstar status, and jetted director Tony (True Romance, 1994; Enemy of the State, 1998) Scott's career into the stratosphere. It also allowed producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer to perfect their multiplex-friendly blockbuster formula of join-the-dots plot, MTV-inspired visuals and rapid-fire action. Not least, it all but invented the modern pop soundtrack. Certainly it was the success of Simon and Garfunkel's The Graduate (1967) which inspired many song soundtracks in the pre-Star Wars (1977) decade, but since Top Gun, soundtrack pop has been gunning for the top like never before. Two singles dominate the album, Berlin's massive hit, "Take My Breath Away", and Kenny Loggins' "Danger Zone", both co-written by Giorgio Moroder, who also scored Midnight Express (1978) and penned Blondie's "Call Me" from American Gigolo (1980). Most of the remainder is up-beat, energetic American AOR stadium pop-rock by bands like Cheap Trick and Loverboy, huge names at the time of the film's release. Rounding out the collection is the electro-instrumental "Top Gun Anthem" by Harold Faltermeyer, the man behind "The Heat Is On" from Simpson and Bruckheimer's previous box-office bonanza, Beverly Hills Cop (1984). All in all, a landmark soundtrack. --Gary S. Dalkin

RY COODER....a national treasure to be heard again and again, 17 Nov 2008
Ry Cooder is one of the most wonderful guitarists on the planet.Anyone looking to play guitar should listen to him,because when it comes to tone,to texture and beautiful playing he's among the very best there is.The rave over Stevie Ray's,Hendrix,et all as great as they are no question of that RC is a master of his art.This anthology has a wonderful range of varying styles from a whole range of his albums right upto his 2008 release I Flathead,and it's all fabulous stuff,no fillers here at all.listen to the texture in his film scores like Paris Texas,or his take on Johnny Cash's Get Rhythm to the wonderful unreleased track Let's Get Together.You get 34 tracks for your money,all put together by his son Joachim,plus notes by the man himself.This is surely among the best releases of the year,certainly the best anthology.You've no Ry Cooder ? then this is one truly great place to begin.TOTALLY FABULOUS SET.

The Ry Cooder Anthology, 30 Oct 2008
For someone who has been making music for over 40 years it's very hard to encapsulate their career into even two CDs as we have here. This compilation was put together by Ry and his son Joachim and contains a good selection of Ry's solo records from his 1970 eponymous debut to 2008's "I, Flathead" and also his film soundtracks. It also contains one unreleased track the old Wilbert Harrison number "Let's work together" featuring Ry playing with accordionist Buckwheat Zydeco.

The two CDs present a good variety across his work from the acoustic worksong "Tamp 'Em Up Solid" to the electric R&B of "The Very Thing That Makes You Rich (Makes Me Poor)" to the evocative soundtrack instrumental "Paris, Texas". Inevitably with a record like this there are some missing tracks which you wish had been included (although my all time favourite Cooder track "Teardrops Will Fall" made the cut) but overall this is a very good overview of his entire career and will allow people to sample and then buy the individual albums if they like particular sounds/styles.

So why haven't I given it five stars? Well I would have preferred less of the soundtrack themes - which did get their own compilation in 'Music by Ry Cooder' - and 12 of these tracks appeared on the 90s compilation 'River Rescue'. I would also have liked a few more obscure tracks, Ry's session work and collaborations with other artists, but perhaps I'm being a bit picky. Overall this is an excellent sampler of a wonderful artist who has produced marvellous music throughout his career.



Buy This and Weep!!, 08 Oct 2008
When the lights came up in the cinema where we saw Wim Wenders' movie of the same name, we saw grown adults weeping. This is more than a band, it is a musical phenomenon. Such a synergy is rare in this day and age, and the vibe on this album is just fantastic.

Buy it and weep, because you have missed your chance to ever see or hear Ruben Gonzales, Compay Segundo or Ibrahim Ferrer playing live with the band again, but the remaining members still tour and the band is organic, progressing through the years with younger, equally talented musicians, so if you see a gig advertised and can get to it, don't miss it! This album has changed many lives...

Over rated, 11 Sep 2008
I think there is alittle bit of hysteria about this album. I think the importance of the album lies in the fact that it opened the flood gates for Cuban music in general rather than to the individual merits of the album itself. Since its release there has been renewed interest in Cuban music and it has revitalised the careers of many of those involved in the project. But the album itself? Well, it's good, but not great! The album is pedestrian. I can't help thinking that Ry Cooder was at the mercy of time and just couldn't get the album to sound the way he wanted it to. Compared to other Cuban albums I have heard, and own, this one ranks lower.

Buena Vista Social Club, 06 Jul 2008
'Buena Vista Social Club' is the Ry Cooder produced album of such melodic, harmonious, relaxed Cuban beauty. Each track transports you to another time and place and you honestly feel your cares drifting away as you listen to each song. From the wonderful album opener 'Chan Chan' to the infectious 'El Cuarto de Tula' and the delightfully mournful 'Dos Gardenias' and more, this album throws up delight after delight. Ry Cooder may have brought this amazing music to a wider audience, but it is the talent and passion of the musicians that shines through. A beautiful album that deserves a place in any music collection. Well worth a try.

This is simply amazing..., 16 Dec 2007
Just take a listen, it doesn't matter what you're in to, just listen.

It's relaxing and melodic while being completely passionate and beautiful. How anyone could ban this stuff is beyond me. Damn politics!

Gorgeous classic - Party starter, 27 Apr 2007
This is such a gifted compilation, Ry Cooder gave music lovers everywhere a rare gift by being the inspiration and the driving force behind exposing these great musicians to the world. It's one of those cd's that always somehow seems to be close to the top of your collection, a guaranteed great play and essential for any party.

Plagiarism, 30 Aug 2008
Despite the plagiarism of Wagner (Siegfried's Funeral March) and Holst (Mars) this is an astonishing soundtrack.

Dr BeeClarke.

Epic!, 18 May 2008
Fantastic soundtrack. As a writer looking for inspiration for film music, this has to be one of my absolute favourites. Buy it now!

Epic, powerful, evocative - a fantastic soundtrack, 09 Feb 2008
"Gladiator" is the Golden Globe-winning original soundtrack from the 2000 film of the same name. Composed by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard, it is one of the most easily recognisable film scores of recent times. This Special Anniversary Edition 2-disc set is in fact comprised of two titles previously released separately: "Gladiator" and "Gladiator: More Music from the Motion Picture". Fans of the soundtrack who already own either - or both - of these albums may want to consider twice before purchasing this one. Having said that, at the time of writing this review, Amazon are pricing this set considerably lower than either of the two albums individually.

The first of the two discs contains 17 tracks and runs to 61 minutes, featuring all the main songs from the film and demonstrating the range and ability of the composers: from the stirring and well-known "The Battle" to the nostalgic, wistful simplicity of "Earth"; from the triumphant tones of "Slaves to Rome" to the sorrowful "Elysium" and the emotionally moving "Now We Are Free". The score tells such a powerful story in itself, epic and full of passion, that the listener need not even have seen the film to enjoy the music.

The second disc contains a miscellany of 18 tracks, lasting for a total of 55 minutes. Some of these are experimental pieces which were never included in the film's final cut (e.g. "Duduk of the North", "The Protector of Rome", "The General Who Became a Slave", "Marrakesh Marketplace"). Others are early drafts or alternate versions of tracks which did make it (e.g. "Now We Are Free (Juba's Mix)", "Maximus", "The Gladiator Waltz", "Figurines", "Not Yet"). Many of these tracks have, in addition, been overlaid with the actors' dialogue taken from the film, although the rationale behind this is unclear, since it adds little to the listening experience, and in some cases even detracts from the beautiful music. This is but a minor fault, however. The collection is also accompanied by sleeve notes written by Zimmer and Gerrard. Though short, these notes provide a fascinating insight into the evolution of these particular pieces as well as the compositional process as a whole.

All in all, the Special Anniversary Edition of the "Gladiator" soundtrack is a musical experience worthy of its high reputation, and easily recommendable to anyone - and not just to fans of the film.

Best soundtrack ever...in my opinion, 21 Nov 2007
I love the film and the soundtrack. The soundtrack is so good it stands alone. It is a soundtrack on a grand scale. A true epic. Full of beauty, energy, power and emotion. As I listen to it (I have almost worn out my CD), I can see the film. The music pains a picture. One of the most moving and inspirational CDs I have ever listened to. Simply brilliant. I consider it the best soundtrack I have ever listened to. Very hghly recommended.

Hauntingly captivating, 31 Oct 2006
One word, 'WOW', this was magnificent. If you are a fan of the movie, the second disc in this collection contains the famous quotes from the characters in the movie, Joaquin PHOENIX, Russell CROWE and the late great Richard HARRIS. The tempo is exactly the same, nothing in the musical content has been altered, only extended versions with the actors voice overs, "FATHER TO A MURDERED SON, HUSBAND TO A MURDERED WIFE, I WILL HAVE MY VENGENCE, IN THIS LIFE OR THE NEXT."
The first disc is the original release of the soundtrack. Usually, you have a few tracks that you do not care for, Gladiator contains the images you love, in the music.
Hans Zimmer, there are not many that can hold to your talent, my hat is off to you.

Top Fun, 20 Jul 2006
Classic soundtrack. This album has everything. Kenny Loggins establishes himself as the master of powerful, catchy 80s cheese with the immense Danger Zone and fun-as-you-like Playing With The Boys. Berlin's Take My Breath Away is possibly THE greatest ballad of all time. Harold Faltermeyer's Top Gun Anthem is about as moving a piece of music can be. A must have.

Top Gun....Top Album, 05 Jun 2006
A classic from top to bottom. Starts with Kenny Loggin's Danger Zone and just maintains that feel good party mood you want from an album. From the macho rock outs of Danger zone and Mighty Wings to the soppy Take My Breath Away and In Your Eyes, just awesome Buy it now!!!!!!

30s somethings must have!, 22 Feb 2005
If you are in your mid thierties, like I am, it is a must have! It will sure bring back some wonderfull memories. Don't know anyone in my age that didn't wanted to be a pilot nicknamed "Maveric" when he saw that movie...

AWESOME, 04 Feb 2005
Best soundtrack ever, its age just makes it that little bit more special, however this is the soundtrack to purchase, would recommend to anyone, and Dangerzone has to be the best track by far!

Flying high!, 09 Jan 2004
This album is a real true feel good album and for fans of the film is a must. There isnt a bad track on it and even the instrumental 'Top Gun Anthem' just cannot be bypassed.

After two of the most riveting thrillers ever set on American soil, the serial-killer Hannibal Lecter faces FBI agent Clarice Starling in Florence. Composer Hans Zimmer, following the success of Gladiator, is swiftly reunited with director Ridley Scott, and takes a very different musical path from Howard Shore's austere score for The Silence of the Lambs. Paying regard to the Viennese setting and Lecter's cultural refinement, Zimmer's music features many classical allusions. There are nods towards Mozart, an off-key, subtly disturbing Blue Danube and darkly beautiful choral passages evoking sacred mass and the Dies Irae. Alongside some particularly lush and effective string writing, and echoes of Jerry Goldsmith's Viennese thriller music for The Boys From Brazil, fear-laden, digitally pulsating soundscapes are kept to a minimum. Anthony Hopkins delivers three of Lecter's monologues which, while effectively done, will become less welcome with repeated playings. Both The Assassin and Beyond Rangoon demonstrated Zimmer's talent for haunting melody within a thriller context, and for Hannibal he has surpassed himself. There is a Gothic, melancholy grandeur to much of this score, the Wagnerian rapture of "To Every Captive Soul" and the serene, elegiac finale making this a morbidly enchanting musical dream. --Gary S. Dalkin

RY COODER....a national treasure to be heard again and again, 17 Nov 2008
Ry Cooder is one of the most wonderful guitarists on the planet.Anyone looking to play guitar should listen to him,because when it comes to tone,to texture and beautiful playing he's among the very best there is.The rave over Stevie Ray's,Hendrix,et all as great as they are no question of that RC is a master of his art.This anthology has a wonderful range of varying styles from a whole range of his albums right upto his 2008 release I Flathead,and it's all fabulous stuff,no fillers here at all.listen to the texture in his film scores like Paris Texas,or his take on Johnny Cash's Get Rhythm to the wonderful unreleased track Let's Get Together.You get 34 tracks for your money,all put together by his son Joachim,plus notes by the man himself.This is surely among the best releases of the year,certainly the best anthology.You've no Ry Cooder ? then this is one truly great place to begin.TOTALLY FABULOUS SET.

The Ry Cooder Anthology, 30 Oct 2008
For someone who has been making music for over 40 years it's very hard to encapsulate their career into even two CDs as we have here. This compilation was put together by Ry and his son Joachim and contains a good selection of Ry's solo records from his 1970 eponymous debut to 2008's "I, Flathead" and also his film soundtracks. It also contains one unreleased track the old Wilbert Harrison number "Let's work together" featuring Ry playing with accordionist Buckwheat Zydeco.

The two CDs present a good variety across his work from the acoustic worksong "Tamp 'Em Up Solid" to the electric R&B of "The Very Thing That Makes You Rich (Makes Me Poor)" to the evocative soundtrack instrumental "Paris, Texas". Inevitably with a record like this there are some missing tracks which you wish had been included (although my all time favourite Cooder track "Teardrops Will Fall" made the cut) but overall this is a very good overview of his entire career and will allow people to sample and then buy the individual albums if they like particular sounds/styles.

So why haven't I given it five stars? Well I would have preferred less of the soundtrack themes - which did get their own compilation in 'Music by Ry Cooder' - and 12 of these tracks appeared on the 90s compilation 'River Rescue'. I would also have liked a few more obscure tracks, Ry's session work and collaborations with other artists, but perhaps I'm being a bit picky. Overall this is an excellent sampler of a wonderful artist who has produced marvellous music throughout his career.



Buy This and Weep!!, 08 Oct 2008
When the lights came up in the cinema where we saw Wim Wenders' movie of the same name, we saw grown adults weeping. This is more than a band, it is a musical phenomenon. Such a synergy is rare in this day and age, and the vibe on this album is just fantastic.

Buy it and weep, because you have missed your chance to ever see or hear Ruben Gonzales, Compay Segundo or Ibrahim Ferrer playing live with the band again, but the remaining members still tour and the band is organic, progressing through the years with younger, equally talented musicians, so if you see a gig advertised and can get to it, don't miss it! This album has changed many lives...

Over rated, 11 Sep 2008
I think there is alittle bit of hysteria about this album. I think the importance of the album lies in the fact that it opened the flood gates for Cuban music in general rather than to the individual merits of the album itself. Since its release there has been renewed interest in Cuban music and it has revitalised the careers of many of those involved in the project. But the album itself? Well, it's good, but not great! The album is pedestrian. I can't help thinking that Ry Cooder was at the mercy of time and just couldn't get the album to sound the way he wanted it to. Compared to other Cuban albums I have heard, and own, this one ranks lower.

Buena Vista Social Club, 06 Jul 2008
'Buena Vista Social Club' is the Ry Cooder produced album of such melodic, harmonious, relaxed Cuban beauty. Each track transports you to another time and place and you honestly feel your cares drifting away as you listen to each song. From the wonderful album opener 'Chan Chan' to the infectious 'El Cuarto de Tula' and the delightfully mournful 'Dos Gardenias' and more, this album throws up delight after delight. Ry Cooder may have brought this amazing music to a wider audience, but it is the talent and passion of the musicians that shines through. A beautiful album that deserves a place in any music collection. Well worth a try.

This is simply amazing..., 16 Dec 2007
Just take a listen, it doesn't matter what you're in to, just listen.

It's relaxing and melodic while being completely passionate and beautiful. How anyone could ban this stuff is beyond me. Damn politics!

Gorgeous classic - Party starter, 27 Apr 2007
This is such a gifted compilation, Ry Cooder gave music lovers everywhere a rare gift by being the inspiration and the driving force behind exposing these great musicians to the world. It's one of those cd's that always somehow seems to be close to the top of your collection, a guaranteed great play and essential for any party.

Plagiarism, 30 Aug 2008
Despite the plagiarism of Wagner (Siegfried's Funeral March) and Holst (Mars) this is an astonishing soundtrack.

Dr BeeClarke.

Epic!, 18 May 2008
Fantastic soundtrack. As a writer looking for inspiration for film music, this has to be one of my absolute favourites. Buy it now!

Epic, powerful, evocative - a fantastic soundtrack, 09 Feb 2008
"Gladiator" is the Golden Globe-winning original soundtrack from the 2000 film of the same name. Composed by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard, it is one of the most easily recognisable film scores of recent times. This Special Anniversary Edition 2-disc set is in fact comprised of two titles previously released separately: "Gladiator" and "Gladiator: More Music from the Motion Picture". Fans of the soundtrack who already own either - or both - of these albums may want to consider twice before purchasing this one. Having said that, at the time of writing this review, Amazon are pricing this set considerably lower than either of the two albums individually.

The first of the two discs contains 17 tracks and runs to 61 minutes, featuring all the main songs from the film and demonstrating the range and ability of the composers: from the stirring and well-known "The Battle" to the nostalgic, wistful simplicity of "Earth"; from the triumphant tones of "Slaves to Rome" to the sorrowful "Elysium" and the emotionally moving "Now We Are Free". The score tells such a powerful story in itself, epic and full of passion, that the listener need not even have seen the film to enjoy the music.

The second disc contains a miscellany of 18 tracks, lasting for a total of 55 minutes. Some of these are experimental pieces which were never included in the film's final cut (e.g. "Duduk of the North", "The Protector of Rome", "The General Who Became a Slave", "Marrakesh Marketplace"). Others are early drafts or alternate versions of tracks which did make it (e.g. "Now We Are Free (Juba's Mix)", "Maximus", "The Gladiator Waltz", "Figurines", "Not Yet"). Many of these tracks have, in addition, been overlaid with the actors' dialogue taken from the film, although the rationale behind this is unclear, since it adds little to the listening experience, and in some cases even detracts from the beautiful music. This is but a minor fault, however. The collection is also accompanied by sleeve notes written by Zimmer and Gerrard. Though short, these notes provide a fascinating insight into the evolution of these particular pieces as well as the compositional process as a whole.

All in all, the Special Anniversary Edition of the "Gladiator" soundtrack is a musical experience worthy of its high reputation, and easily recommendable to anyone - and not just to fans of the film.

Best soundtrack ever...in my opinion, 21 Nov 2007
I love the film and the soundtrack. The soundtrack is so good it stands alone. It is a soundtrack on a grand scale. A true epic. Full of beauty, energy, power and emotion. As I listen to it (I have almost worn out my CD), I can see the film. The music pains a picture. One of the most moving and inspirational CDs I have ever listened to. Simply brilliant. I consider it the best soundtrack I have ever listened to. Very hghly recommended.

Hauntingly captivating, 31 Oct 2006
One word, 'WOW', this was magnificent. If you are a fan of the movie, the second disc in this collection contains the famous quotes from the characters in the movie, Joaquin PHOENIX, Russell CROWE and the late great Richard HARRIS. The tempo is exactly the same, nothing in the musical content has been altered, only extended versions with the actors voice overs, "FATHER TO A MURDERED SON, HUSBAND TO A MURDERED WIFE, I WILL HAVE MY VENGENCE, IN THIS LIFE OR THE NEXT."
The first disc is the original release of the soundtrack. Usually, you have a few tracks that you do not care for, Gladiator contains the images you love, in the music.
Hans Zimmer, there are not many that can hold to your talent, my hat is off to you.

Top Fun, 20 Jul 2006
Classic soundtrack. This album has everything. Kenny Loggins establishes himself as the master of powerful, catchy 80s cheese with the immense Danger Zone and fun-as-you-like Playing With The Boys. Berlin's Take My Breath Away is possibly THE greatest ballad of all time. Harold Faltermeyer's Top Gun Anthem is about as moving a piece of music can be. A must have.

Top Gun....Top Album, 05 Jun 2006
A classic from top to bottom. Starts with Kenny Loggin's Danger Zone and just maintains that feel good party mood you want from an album. From the macho rock outs of Danger zone and Mighty Wings to the soppy Take My Breath Away and In Your Eyes, just awesome Buy it now!!!!!!

30s somethings must have!, 22 Feb 2005
If you are in your mid thierties, like I am, it is a must have! It will sure bring back some wonderfull memories. Don't know anyone in my age that didn't wanted to be a pilot nicknamed "Maveric" when he saw that movie...

AWESOME, 04 Feb 2005
Best soundtrack ever, its age just makes it that little bit more special, however this is the soundtrack to purchase, would recommend to anyone, and Dangerzone has to be the best track by far!

Flying high!, 09 Jan 2004
This album is a real true feel good album and for fans of the film is a must. There isnt a bad track on it and even the instrumental 'Top Gun Anthem' just cannot be bypassed.

Music that makes your emotions soar..., 12 Jan 2005
There are few occasions these days where music will take your emotions to the depths of despair and up to the highest cloud and back before the album is finished. Mostly this happens in film soundtracks and Hannibal is easily one of the finest. There is humour, sadness, heart-pounding atmosphere and some pieces that will make your heart sing and sent your soul alight as the finest music does, and should.
The highlight of the album is Vide cor Meum by Patrick Cassidy - the album is worth buying for this alone. When I first watched the film I became determined to discover which great opera that piece was from, not realising that it was written specially for the film. Rarely will you find a piece of music that makes you want to simply sit back, shut your eyes and just listen, but with Vide cor Meum it is impossible not to. I was shocked and delighted at the simplicity and beauty of this piece, and it marks Cassidy as one of the finest composers of our, and indeed, any age.
The truly amazing aspect of this album is that it is designed to accompany a film that is very dark and disturbing in its imagery, but the soundtrack will make you laugh, cry and fall to your knees with its wry humour and beauty. It is a truly ironic soundtrack for the film, which in many ways fits Hannibal perfectly, as the film and Hannibal himself, are highly ironic and contradictory. It is rare that a soundtrack fits and compliments a film, yet Hannibal accomplishes this expertly. A wonderful collection of widley different musical styles, but one that you will want to play again and again. Buy it and find out for yourself, you wont regret it.

the BEST soundtrack I come across, 25 Aug 2002
Needless to say how much I was impressed with this soundtrack. It captured beautifully the setting and mood for the film, as well as that "lecter feel!" I listen to it almost every day.

"Anthony Hopkins delivers three of Lecter's monologues which, while effectively done, will become less welcome with repeated playings" What do you MEAN? sometimes I just listen to tracks to hear his voice! lol! It can never tire you out!

Jane:)

Great music to sleep too., 03 Feb 2002
There are movie soundtracks.... and then there are movie soundtracks. This one most definitely fits into the latter.

Hans Zimmer has created yet another masterpiece, adding to his already growing collection of perfect music scores. He uses previous melodies and adds them in a rich mix with new styles, for example his "Aria De Capo" [ from "Goldberg's Variations"] intertwined with the haunting "Gourmet Valse Tartare" contribute to make a perfect soundtrack for a perfect movie.

And if it were possible, a finer touch of class is added when we have Sir Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal playing lead role as part of many of the tracks. Hannibal features in "Dear Clarice", as he reads his letter to Starling, framed beautifully by a chilling yet relaxing piece, "Let My Home Be My Gallows", where Hopkins delivers wonderful Italian - again framed by a slighly more pacy but equally as chilling piece.

And as if that wasn't enough, the score delivers further: with a variety of atmospheric melodies, such as "Virtue", "The Capponi Library" and "To Every Captive Soul".

To round it all, and finalize an already perfect album, "Vide Cor Meum", with the Libretto taken from Dante's "La Vita Nuova" provides the emotions that makes your soul feel all tingly; and you just know it's right.

If you buy this album, I recommend also "Goldberg's Variations", as well as Dante's "La Vita Nuova". If they are anything like this album, then you'll certainly be in for a treat.

Finally : as to the point of the summary. I find the best place to listen to this soundtrack is when I am in bed ready to sleep: it has marvellous relaxing qualities.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I have done too!

This is very, very good music!, 26 May 2001
I really enjoy this album. And yes, it is an album and not just the score to a movie. It stands perfectly alone (and really, it does surpass the movie). It perfectly summarise the world of Hannibal, especially with Hopkins narration.

Goody Goody, 20 Mar 2001
After reading the book then watching the film, I eagerly followed the course of the soundtrack's release. For once, I think the critics are correct. A truely magical example of moody classical music. I take off my hat to Hans Zimmer.

RY COODER....a national treasure to be heard again and again, 17 Nov 2008
Ry Cooder is one of the most wonderful guitarists on the planet.Anyone looking to play guitar should listen to him,because when it comes to tone,to texture and beautiful playing he's among the very best there is.The rave over Stevie Ray's,Hendrix,et all as great as they are no question of that RC is a master of his art.This anthology has a wonderful range of varying styles from a whole range of his albums right upto his 2008 release I Flathead,and it's all fabulous stuff,no fillers here at all.listen to the texture in his film scores like Paris Texas,or his take on Johnny Cash's Get Rhythm to the wonderful unreleased track Let's Get Together.You get 34 tracks for your money,all put together by his son Joachim,plus notes by the man himself.This is surely among the best releases of the year,certainly the best anthology.You've no Ry Cooder ? then this is one truly great place to begin.TOTALLY FABULOUS SET.

The Ry Cooder Anthology, 30 Oct 2008
For someone who has been making music for over 40 years it's very hard to encapsulate their career into even two CDs as we have here. This compilation was put together by Ry and his son Joachim and contains a good selection of Ry's solo records from his 1970 eponymous debut to 2008's "I, Flathead" and also his film soundtracks. It also contains one unreleased track the old Wilbert Harrison number "Let's work together" featuring Ry playing with accordionist Buckwheat Zydeco.

The two CDs present a good variety across his work from the acoustic worksong "Tamp 'Em Up Solid" to the electric R&B of "The Very Thing That Makes You Rich (Makes Me Poor)" to the evocative soundtrack instrumental "Paris, Texas". Inevitably with a record like this there are some missing tracks which you wish had been included (although my all time favourite Cooder track "Teardrops Will Fall" made the cut) but overall this is a very good overview of his entire career and will allow people to sample and then buy the individual albums if they like particular sounds/styles.

So why haven't I given it five stars? Well I would have preferred less of the soundtrack themes - which did get their own compilation in 'Music by Ry Cooder' - and 12 of these tracks appeared on the 90s compilation 'River Rescue'. I would also have liked a few more obscure tracks, Ry's session work and collaborations with other artists, but perhaps I'm being a bit picky. Overall this is an excellent sampler of a wonderful artist who has produced marvellous music throughout his career.



Buy This and Weep!!, 08 Oct 2008
When the lights came up in the cinema where we saw Wim Wenders' movie of the same name, we saw grown adults weeping. This is more than a band, it is a musical phenomenon. Such a synergy is rare in this day and age, and the vibe on this album is just fantastic.

Buy it and weep, because you have missed your chance to ever see or hear Ruben Gonzales, Compay Segundo or Ibrahim Ferrer playing live with the band again, but the remaining members still tour and the band is organic, progressing through the years with younger, equally talented musicians, so if you see a gig advertised and can get to it, don't miss it! This album has changed many lives...

Over rated, 11 Sep 2008
I think there is alittle bit of hysteria about this album. I think the importance of the album lies in the fact that it opened the flood gates for Cuban music in general rather than to the individual merits of the album itself. Since its release there has been renewed interest in Cuban music and it has revitalised the careers of many of those involved in the project. But the album itself? Well, it's good, but not great! The album is pedestrian. I can't help thinking that Ry Cooder was at the mercy of time and just couldn't get the album to sound the way he wanted it to. Compared to other Cuban albums I have heard, and own, this one ranks lower.

Buena Vista Social Club, 06 Jul 2008
'Buena Vista Social Club' is the Ry Cooder produced album of such melodic, harmonious, relaxed Cuban beauty. Each track transports you to another time and place and you honestly feel your cares drifting away as you listen to each song. From the wonderful album opener 'Chan Chan' to the infectious 'El Cuarto de Tula' and the delightfully mournful 'Dos Gardenias' and more, this album throws up delight after delight. Ry Cooder may have brought this amazing music to a wider audience, but it is the talent and passion of the musicians that shines through. A beautiful album that deserves a place in any music collection. Well worth a try.

This is simply amazing..., 16 Dec 2007
Just take a listen, it doesn't matter what you're in to, just listen.

It's relaxing and melodic while being completely passionate and beautiful. How anyone could ban this stuff is beyond me. Damn politics!

Gorgeous classic - Party starter, 27 Apr 2007
This is such a gifted compilation, Ry Cooder gave music lovers everywhere a rare gift by being the inspiration and the driving force behind exposing these great musicians to the world. It's one of those cd's that always somehow seems to be close to the top of your collection, a guaranteed great play and essential for any party.

Plagiarism, 30 Aug 2008
Despite the plagiarism of Wagner (Siegfried's Funeral March) and Holst (Mars) this is an astonishing soundtrack.

Dr BeeClarke.

Epic!, 18 May 2008
Fantastic soundtrack. As a writer looking for inspiration for film music, this has to be one of my absolute favourites. Buy it now!

Epic, powerful, evocative - a fantastic soundtrack, 09 Feb 2008
"Gladiator" is the Golden Globe-winning original soundtrack from the 2000 film of the same name. Composed by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard, it is one of the most easily recognisable film scores of recent times. This Special Anniversary Edition 2-disc set is in fact comprised of two titles previously released separately: "Gladiator" and "Gladiator: More Music from the Motion Picture". Fans of the soundtrack who already own either - or both - of these albums may want to consider twice before purchasing this one. Having said that, at the time of writing this review, Amazon are pricing this set considerably lower than either of the two albums individually.

The first of the two discs contains 17 tracks and runs to 61 minutes, featuring all the main songs from the film and demonstrating the range and ability of the composers: from the stirring and well-known "The Battle" to the nostalgic, wistful simplicity of "Earth"; from the triumphant tones of "Slaves to Rome" to the sorrowful "Elysium" and the emotionally moving "Now We Are Free". The score tells such a powerful story in itself, epic and full of passion, that the listener need not even have seen the film to enjoy the music.

The second disc contains a miscellany of 18 tracks, lasting for a total of 55 minutes. Some of these are experimental pieces which were never included in the film's final cut (e.g. "Duduk of the North", "The Protector of Rome", "The General Who Became a Slave", "Marrakesh Marketplace"). Others are early drafts or alternate versions of tracks which did make it (e.g. "Now We Are Free (Juba's Mix)", "Maximus", "The Gladiator Waltz", "Figurines", "Not Yet"). Many of these tracks have, in addition, been overlaid with the actors' dialogue taken from the film, although the rationale behind this is unclear, since it adds little to the listening experience, and in some cases even detracts from the beautiful music. This is but a minor fault, however. The collection is also accompanied by sleeve notes written by Zimmer and Gerrard. Though short, these notes provide a fascinating insight into the evolution of these particular pieces as well as the compositional process as a whole.

All in all, the Special Anniversary Edition of the "Gladiator" soundtrack is a musical experience worthy of its high reputation, and easily recommendable to anyone - and not just to fans of the film.

Best soundtrack ever...in my opinion, 21 Nov 2007
I love the film and the soundtrack. The soundtrack is so good it stands alone. It is a soundtrack on a grand scale. A true epic. Full of beauty, energy, power and emotion. As I listen to it (I have almost worn out my CD), I can see the film. The music pains a picture. One of the most moving and inspirational CDs I have ever listened to. Simply brilliant. I consider it the best soundtrack I have ever listened to. Very hghly recommended.

Hauntingly captivating, 31 Oct 2006
One word, 'WOW', this was magnificent. If you are a fan of the movie, the second disc in this collection contains the famous quotes from the characters in the movie, Joaquin PHOENIX, Russell CROWE and the late great Richard HARRIS. The tempo is exactly the same, nothing in the musical content has been altered, only extended versions with the actors voice overs, "FATHER TO A MURDERED SON, HUSBAND TO A MURDERED WIFE, I WILL HAVE MY VENGENCE, IN THIS LIFE OR THE NEXT."
The first disc is the original release of the soundtrack. Usually, you have a few tracks that you do not care for, Gladiator contains the images you love, in the music.
Hans Zimmer, there are not many that can hold to your talent, my hat is off to you.

Top Fun, 20 Jul 2006
Classic soundtrack. This album has everything. Kenny Loggins establishes himself as the master of powerful, catchy 80s cheese with the immense Danger Zone and fun-as-you-like Playing With The Boys. Berlin's Take My Breath Away is possibly THE greatest ballad of all time. Harold Faltermeyer's Top Gun Anthem is about as moving a piece of music can be. A must have.

Top Gun....Top Album, 05 Jun 2006
A classic from top to bottom. Starts with Kenny Loggin's Danger Zone and just maintains that feel good party mood you want from an album. From the macho rock outs of Danger zone and Mighty Wings to the soppy Take My Breath Away and In Your Eyes, just awesome Buy it now!!!!!!

30s somethings must have!, 22 Feb 2005
If you are in your mid thierties, like I am, it is a must have! It will sure bring back some wonderfull memories. Don't know anyone in my age that didn't wanted to be a pilot nicknamed "Maveric" when he saw that movie...

AWESOME, 04 Feb 2005
Best soundtrack ever, its age just makes it that little bit more special, however this is the soundtrack to purchase, would recommend to anyone, and Dangerzone has to be the best track by far!

Flying high!, 09 Jan 2004
This album is a real true feel good album and for fans of the film is a must. There isnt a bad track on it and even the instrumental 'Top Gun Anthem' just cannot be bypassed.

Music that makes your emotions soar..., 12 Jan 2005
There are few occasions these days where music will take your emotions to the depths of despair and up to the highest cloud and back before the album is finished. Mostly this happens in film soundtracks and Hannibal is easily one of the finest. There is humour, sadness, heart-pounding atmosphere and some pieces that will make your heart sing and sent your soul alight as the finest music does, and should.
The highlight of the album is Vide cor Meum by Patrick Cassidy - the album is worth buying for this alone. When I first watched the film I became determined to discover which great opera that piece was from, not realising that it was written specially for the film. Rarely will you find a piece of music that makes you want to simply sit back, shut your eyes and just listen, but with Vide cor Meum it is impossible not to. I was shocked and delighted at the simplicity and beauty of this piece, and it marks Cassidy as one of the finest composers of our, and indeed, any age.
The truly amazing aspect of this album is that it is designed to accompany a film that is very dark and disturbing in its imagery, but the soundtrack will make you laugh, cry and fall to your knees with its wry humour and beauty. It is a truly ironic soundtrack for the film, which in many ways fits Hannibal perfectly, as the film and Hannibal himself, are highly ironic and contradictory. It is rare that a soundtrack fits and compliments a film, yet Hannibal accomplishes this expertly. A wonderful collection of widley different musical styles, but one that you will want to play again and again. Buy it and find out for yourself, you wont regret it.

the BEST soundtrack I come across, 25 Aug 2002
Needless to say how much I was impressed with this soundtrack. It captured beautifully the setting and mood for the film, as well as that "lecter feel!" I listen to it almost every day.

"Anthony Hopkins delivers three of Lecter's monologues which, while effectively done, will become less welcome with repeated playings" What do you MEAN? sometimes I just listen to tracks to hear his voice! lol! It can never tire you out!

Jane:)

Great music to sleep too., 03 Feb 2002
There are movie soundtracks.... and then there are movie soundtracks. This one most definitely fits into the latter.

Hans Zimmer has created yet another masterpiece, adding to his already growing collection of perfect music scores. He uses previous melodies and adds them in a rich mix with new styles, for example his "Aria De Capo" [ from "Goldberg's Variations"] intertwined with the haunting "Gourmet Valse Tartare" contribute to make a perfect soundtrack for a perfect movie.

And if it were possible, a finer touch of class is added when we have Sir Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal playing lead role as part of many of the tracks. Hannibal features in "Dear Clarice", as he reads his letter to Starling, framed beautifully by a chilling yet relaxing piece, "Let My Home Be My Gallows", where Hopkins delivers wonderful Italian - again framed by a slighly more pacy but equally as chilling piece.

And as if that wasn't enough, the score delivers further: with a variety of atmospheric melodies, such as "Virtue", "The Capponi Library" and "To Every Captive Soul".

To round it all, and finalize an already perfect album, "Vide Cor Meum", with the Libretto taken from Dante's "La Vita Nuova" provides the emotions that makes your soul feel all tingly; and you just know it's right.

If you buy this album, I recommend also "Goldberg's Variations", as well as Dante's "La Vita Nuova". If they are anything like this album, then you'll certainly be in for a treat.

Finally : as to the point of the summary. I find the best place to listen to this soundtrack is when I am in bed ready to sleep: it has marvellous relaxing qualities.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I have done too!

This is very, very good music!, 26 May 2001
I really enjoy this album. And yes, it is an album and not just the score to a movie. It stands perfectly alone (and really, it does surpass the movie). It perfectly summarise the world of Hannibal, especially with Hopkins narration.

Goody Goody, 20 Mar 2001
After reading the book then watching the film, I eagerly followed the course of the soundtrack's release. For once, I think the critics are correct. A truely magical example of moody classical music. I take off my hat to Hans Zimmer.

Much better than expected, 31 Oct 2008
I bought this on a whim, just out of interest really, and didn't expect that I'd go back for repeated listens. On the one hand the score is quite predictably "Hollywood blockbuster"-ish with lots of big drums, urgent marcato strings and dark industrial synth sounds. But you get past that, and the vision of the score becomes clearer over repeated listens, and I began to find it a very satisfying piece of work, and as an album, feel that the narrative and coherence works really well: the album flows seamlessly. Recommended for children of darkness everywhere.

On a different note, some reviewers commented that the album leaves off some of the score - but the CD comes in at 73 minutes, so you can't really complain that you don't get your money's worth. Possibly a double CD album would have nailed it 100%, but then maybe the album wouldn't have been so coherent, and anyway, it means you've got an excuse to watch the film for those missing parts eh?

Missed titles and mixed ones, 25 Oct 2008
I totally agree with B.J.Lee. Some titles are missed (e.g. the piece after Gordon gives his "Dark Knight" monologue). Frankly, I bought the CD just for the last track in the film, but it wasn't there!
In addition, some other tracks are "blended together"!
Bottom line, the soundtrack on CD was worthless for me; I even didn't add it to my music library. However, the movie soundtrack is great, but they are NOT identical.

Disapointing, 08 Sep 2008
Whilst I really enjoyed the music that Zimmer and Howard produced for the film itself, I am a little disapointed that the album appears to be the "highlights" of the score, rather than a definitive reproduction of it. For example, you only get literally about 4-5 seconds of the opening scene (where the window is blown out and the robbers get onto the roof) (the tracks are blended together). The same goes for the scene where Batman is beating the drug dealers in the car park, but here it seems to be totally missing.

There are other bits missing, but I forget. I don't think that the piece where Gordon is giving his "Dark Knight" monologue is there either.

A great great score, but poorly represented on this CD.

Listen to a new era of Batman!!!!, 03 Sep 2008
Wow, great soundtrack!! A new era of Batman deserves a new era in music and sound to show just how much it has evoloved since the cartoon style films of the 80's and 90's! Zimmer is perfect to open up the explosive score with the harsh drums and suspencefull ear churning screeches of string instruments!!! With a definate style throughtout, the composers take you on a journey of fast paced drums and loud brass, to the harmonic, tranquil use of string and melody! Overall the scores represents a dark, suspensefull ride, that fits perfectly to a dark suspensefull superhero!!!!!

A superior soundtrack, 14 Aug 2008
Those who remember the Danny Elfman epics from the the Tim Burton films may well be surprised at how different this score is. Where as Elfman used a much more uptempo score with flurries of brass, the Zimmer/Howard score is alternately high percussive or symphonic with strings. Hans Zimmer's score is driving and percussive, similar in style to his scores for Crimson Tide and Gladiator but a a very dark feel all of its own. His music picks out the isolation of both Batman and the Joker, the former with a heroic, determined feel and the latter with dread and fear.

Like all great scores it can almost tell the story through music in its own right; John Williams' great scores for Star Wars is the kind of tradition this music belongs to. One of the best film scores I have heard in a long time and highly recommended.

Ennio Morricone anthologies come and go, and there are always several to choose from. But as so many recycle the same tracks, one might be forgiven for thinking Morricone had only scored a dozen or so movies rather than something over 300. This makes picking a collection difficult, but this disc can be recommended for particularly polished remastered sound and, with 20 tracks, a lengthy 75 minutes' playing time. Nine cues come from the Sergio Leone movies with which Morricone is indelibly associated, including the Clint Eastwood "dollars" trilogy and Once Upon a Time in the West. With their eclectic orchestrations and infectious melodies these landmark scores set film music in an entirely new direction. The more recent music concentrates on the hauntingly romantic side of Morricone's talent, ranging from the fatalistic "Chi Mai" to two cues from the lushly exotic The Mission and the lovely theme from Cinema Paradiso. Leone's final film, Once Upon a Time in America enabled Morricone to pen some of the most heartbreakingly nostalgic music in all cinema, while a selection from Mission to Mars reveals that after four decades the Italian master is still writing some of Hollywood's most imaginative and heartfelt music. --Gary S Dalkin

RY COODER....a national treasure to be heard again and again, 17 Nov 2008
Ry Cooder is one of the most wonderful guitarists on the planet.Anyone looking to play guitar should listen to him,because when it comes to tone,to texture and beautiful playing he's among the very best there is.The rave over Stevie Ray's,Hendrix,et all as great as they are no question of that RC is a master of his art.This anthology has a wonderful range of varying styles from a whole range of his albums right upto his 2008 release I Flathead,and it's all fabulous stuff,no fillers here at all.listen to the texture in his film scores like Paris Texas,or his take on Johnny Cash's Get Rhythm to the wonderful unreleased track Let's Get Together.You get 34 tracks for your money,all put together by his son Joachim,plus notes by the man himself.This is surely among the best releases of the year,certainly the best anthology.You've no Ry Cooder ? then this is one truly great place to begin.TOTALLY FABULOUS SET.

The Ry Cooder Anthology, 30 Oct 2008
For someone who has been making music for over 40 years it's very hard to encapsulate their career into even two CDs as we have here. This compilation was put together by Ry and his son Joachim and contains a good selection of Ry's solo records from his 1970 eponymous debut to 2008's "I, Flathead" and also his film soundtracks. It also contains one unreleased track the old Wilbert Harrison number "Let's work together" featuring Ry playing with accordionist Buckwheat Zydeco.

The two CDs present a good variety across his work from the acoustic worksong "Tamp 'Em Up Solid" to the electric R&B of "The Very Thing That Makes You Rich (Makes Me Poor)" to the evocative soundtrack instrumental "Paris, Texas". Inevitably with a record like this there are some missing tracks which you wish had been included (although my all time favourite Cooder track "Teardrops Will Fall" made the cut) but overall this is a very good overview of his entire career and will allow people to sample and then buy the individual albums if they like particular sounds/styles.

So why haven't I given it five stars? Well I would have preferred less of the soundtrack themes - which did get their own compilation in 'Music by Ry Cooder' - and 12 of these tracks appeared on the 90s compilation 'River Rescue'. I would also have liked a few more obscure tracks, Ry's session work and collaborations with other artists, but perhaps I'm being a bit picky. Overall this is an excellent sampler of a wonderful artist who has produced marvellous music throughout his career.



Buy This and Weep!!, 08 Oct 2008
When the lights came up in the cinema where we saw Wim Wenders' movie of the same name, we saw grown adults weeping. This is more than a band, it is a musical phenomenon. Such a synergy is rare in this day and age, and the vibe on this album is just fantastic.

Buy it and weep, because you have missed your chance to ever see or hear Ruben Gonzales, Compay Segundo or Ibrahim Ferrer playing live with the band again, but the remaining members still tour and the band is organic, progressing through the years with younger, equally talented musicians, so if you see a gig advertised and can get to it, don't miss it! This album has changed many lives...

Over rated, 11 Sep 2008
I think there is alittle bit of hysteria about this album. I think the importance of the album lies in the fact that it opened the flood gates for Cuban music in general rather than to the individual merits of the album itself. Since its release there has been renewed interest in Cuban music and it has revitalised the careers of many of those involved in the project. But the album itself? Well, it's good, but not great! The album is pedestrian. I can't help thinking that Ry Cooder was at the mercy of time and just couldn't get the album to sound the way he wanted it to. Compared to other Cuban albums I have heard, and own, this one ranks lower.

Buena Vista Social Club, 06 Jul 2008
'Buena Vista Social Club' is the Ry Cooder produced album of such melodic, harmonious, relaxed Cuban beauty. Each track transports you to another time and place and you honestly feel your cares drifting away as you listen to each song. From the wonderful album opener 'Chan Chan' to the infectious 'El Cuarto de Tula' and the delightfully mournful 'Dos Gardenias' and more, this album throws up delight after delight. Ry Cooder may have brought this amazing music to a wider audience, but it is the talent and passion of the musicians that shines through. A beautiful album that deserves a place in any music collection. Well worth a try.

This is simply amazing..., 16 Dec 2007
Just take a listen, it doesn't matter what you're in to, just listen.

It's relaxing and melodic while being completely passionate and beautiful. How anyone could ban this stuff is beyond me. Damn politics!

Gorgeous classic - Party starter, 27 Apr 2007
This is such a gifted compilation, Ry Cooder gave music lovers everywhere a rare gift by being the inspiration and the driving force behind exposing these great musicians to the world. It's one of those cd's that always somehow seems to be close to the top of your collection, a guaranteed great play and essential for any party.

Plagiarism, 30 Aug 2008
Despite the plagiarism of Wagner (Siegfried's Funeral March) and Holst (Mars) this is an astonishing soundtrack.

Dr BeeClarke.

Epic!, 18 May 2008
Fantastic soundtrack. As a writer looking for inspiration for film music, this has to be one of my absolute favourites. Buy it now!

Epic, powerful, evocative - a fantastic soundtrack, 09 Feb 2008
"Gladiator" is the Golden Globe-winning original soundtrack from the 2000 film of the same name. Composed by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard, it is one of the most easily recognisable film scores of recent times. This Special Anniversary Edition 2-disc set is in fact comprised of two titles previously released separately: "Gladiator" and "Gladiator: More Music from the Motion Picture". Fans of the soundtrack who already own either - or both - of these albums may want to consider twice before purchasing this one. Having said that, at the time of writing this review, Amazon are pricing this set considerably lower than either of the two albums individually.

The first of the two discs contains 17 tracks and runs to 61 minutes, featuring all the main songs from the film and demonstrating the range and ability of the composers: from the stirring and well-known "The Battle" to the nostalgic, wistful simplicity of "Earth"; from the triumphant tones of "Slaves to Rome" to the sorrowful "Elysium" and the emotionally moving "Now We Are Free". The score tells such a powerful story in itself, epic and full of passion, that the listener need not even have seen the film to enjoy the music.

The second disc contains a miscellany of 18 tracks, lasting for a total of 55 minutes. Some of these are experimental pieces which were never included in the film's final cut (e.g. "Duduk of the North", "The Protector of Rome", "The General Who Became a Slave", "Marrakesh Marketplace"). Others are early drafts or alternate versions of tracks which did make it (e.g. "Now We Are Free (Juba's Mix)", "Maximus", "The Gladiator Waltz", "Figurines", "Not Yet"). Many of these tracks have, in addition, been overlaid with the actors' dialogue taken from the film, although the rationale behind this is unclear, since it adds little to the listening experience, and in some cases even detracts from the beautiful music. This is but a minor fault, however. The collection is also accompanied by sleeve notes written by Zimmer and Gerrard. Though short, these notes provide a fascinating insight into the evolution of these particular pieces as well as the compositional process as a whole.

All in all, the Special Anniversary Edition of the "Gladiator" soundtrack is a musical experience worthy of its high reputation, and easily recommendable to anyone - and not just to fans of the film.

Best soundtrack ever...in my opinion, 21 Nov 2007
I love the film and the soundtrack. The soundtrack is so good it stands alone. It is a soundtrack on a grand scale. A true epic. Full of beauty, energy, power and emotion. As I listen to it (I have almost worn out my CD), I can see the film. The music pains a picture. One of the most moving and inspirational CDs I have ever listened to. Simply brilliant. I consider it the best soundtrack I have ever listened to. Very hghly recommended.

Hauntingly captivating, 31 Oct 2006
One word, 'WOW', this was magnificent. If you are a fan of the movie, the second disc in this collection contains the famous quotes from the characters in the movie, Joaquin PHOENIX, Russell CROWE and the late great Richard HARRIS. The tempo is exactly the same, nothing in the musical content has been altered, only extended versions with the actors voice overs, "FATHER TO A MURDERED SON, HUSBAND TO A MURDERED WIFE, I WILL HAVE MY VENGENCE, IN THIS LIFE OR THE NEXT."
The first disc is the original release of the soundtrack. Usually, you have a few tracks that you do not care for, Gladiator contains the images you love, in the music.
Hans Zimmer, there are not many that can hold to your talent, my hat is off to you.

Top Fun, 20 Jul 2006
Classic soundtrack. This album has everything. Kenny Loggins establishes himself as the master of powerful, catchy 80s cheese with the immense Danger Zone and fun-as-you-like Playing With The Boys. Berlin's Take My Breath Away is possibly THE greatest ballad of all time. Harold Faltermeyer's Top Gun Anthem is about as moving a piece of music can be. A must have.

Top Gun....Top Album, 05 Jun 2006
A classic from top to bottom. Starts with Kenny Loggin's Danger Zone and just maintains that feel good party mood you want from an album. From the macho rock outs of Danger zone and Mighty Wings to the soppy Take My Breath Away and In Your Eyes, just awesome Buy it now!!!!!!

30s somethings must have!, 22 Feb 2005
If you are in your mid thierties, like I am, it is a must have! It will sure bring back some wonderfull memories. Don't know anyone in my age that didn't wanted to be a pilot nicknamed "Maveric" when he saw that movie...

AWESOME, 04 Feb 2005
Best soundtrack ever, its age just makes it that little bit more special, however this is the soundtrack to purchase, would recommend to anyone, and Dangerzone has to be the best track by far!

Flying high!, 09 Jan 2004
This album is a real true feel good album and for fans of the film is a must. There isnt a bad track on it and even the instrumental 'Top Gun Anthem' just cannot be bypassed.

Music that makes your emotions soar..., 12 Jan 2005
There are few occasions these days where music will take your emotions to the depths of despair and up to the highest cloud and back before the album is finished. Mostly this happens in film soundtracks and Hannibal is easily one of the finest. There is humour, sadness, heart-pounding atmosphere and some pieces that will make your heart sing and sent your soul alight as the finest music does, and should.
The highlight of the album is Vide cor Meum by Patrick Cassidy - the album is worth buying for this alone. When I first watched the film I became determined to discover which great opera that piece was from, not realising that it was written specially for the film. Rarely will you find a piece of music that makes you want to simply sit back, shut your eyes and just listen, but with Vide cor Meum it is impossible not to. I was shocked and delighted at the simplicity and beauty of this piece, and it marks Cassidy as one of the finest composers of our, and indeed, any age.
The truly amazing aspect of this album is that it is designed to accompany a film that is very dark and disturbing in its imagery, but the soundtrack will make you laugh, cry and fall to your knees with its wry humour and beauty. It is a truly ironic soundtrack for the film, which in many ways fits Hannibal perfectly, as the film and Hannibal himself, are highly ironic and contradictory. It is rare that a soundtrack fits and compliments a film, yet Hannibal accomplishes this expertly. A wonderful collection of widley different musical styles, but one that you will want to play again and again. Buy it and find out for yourself, you wont regret it.

the BEST soundtrack I come across, 25 Aug 2002
Needless to say how much I was impressed with this soundtrack. It captured beautifully the setting and mood for the film, as well as that "lecter feel!" I listen to it almost every day.

"Anthony Hopkins delivers three of Lecter's monologues which, while effectively done, will become less welcome with repeated playings" What do you MEAN? sometimes I just listen to tracks to hear his voice! lol! It can never tire you out!

Jane:)

Great music to sleep too., 03 Feb 2002
There are movie soundtracks.... and then there are movie soundtracks. This one most definitely fits into the latter.

Hans Zimmer has created yet another masterpiece, adding to his already growing collection of perfect music scores. He uses previous melodies and adds them in a rich mix with new styles, for example his "Aria De Capo" [ from "Goldberg's Variations"] intertwined with the haunting "Gourmet Valse Tartare" contribute to make a perfect soundtrack for a perfect movie.

And if it were possible, a finer touch of class is added when we have Sir Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal playing lead role as part of many of the tracks. Hannibal features in "Dear Clarice", as he reads his letter to Starling, framed beautifully by a chilling yet relaxing piece, "Let My Home Be My Gallows", where Hopkins delivers wonderful Italian - again framed by a slighly more pacy but equally as chilling piece.

And as if that wasn't enough, the score delivers further: with a variety of atmospheric melodies, such as "Virtue", "The Capponi Library" and "To Every Captive Soul".

To round it all, and finalize an already perfect album, "Vide Cor Meum", with the Libretto taken from Dante's "La Vita Nuova" provides the emotions that makes your soul feel all tingly; and you just know it's right.

If you buy this album, I recommend also "Goldberg's Variations", as well as Dante's "La Vita Nuova". If they are anything like this album, then you'll certainly be in for a treat.

Finally : as to the point of the summary. I find the best place to listen to this soundtrack is when I am in bed ready to sleep: it has marvellous relaxing qualities.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I have done too!

This is very, very good music!, 26 May 2001
I really enjoy this album. And yes, it is an album and not just the score to a movie. It stands perfectly alone (and really, it does surpass the movie). It perfectly summarise the world of Hannibal, especially with Hopkins narration.

Goody Goody, 20 Mar 2001
After reading the book then watching the film, I eagerly followed the course of the soundtrack's release. For once, I think the critics are correct. A truely magical example of moody classical music. I take off my hat to Hans Zimmer.

Much better than expected, 31 Oct 2008
I bought this on a whim, just out of interest really, and didn't expect that I'd go back for repeated listens. On the one hand the score is quite predictably "Hollywood blockbuster"-ish with lots of big drums, urgent marcato strings and dark industrial synth sounds. But you get past that, and the vision of the score becomes clearer over repeated listens, and I began to find it a very satisfying piece of work, and as an album, feel that the narrative and coherence works really well: the album flows seamlessly. Recommended for children of darkness everywhere.

On a different note, some reviewers commented that the album leaves off some of the score - but the CD comes in at 73 minutes, so you can't really complain that you don't get your money's worth. Possibly a double CD album would have nailed it 100%, but then maybe the album wouldn't have been so coherent, and anyway, it means you've got an excuse to watch the film for those missing parts eh?

Missed titles and mixed ones, 25 Oct 2008
I totally agree with B.J.Lee. Some titles are missed (e.g. the piece after Gordon gives his "Dark Knight" monologue). Frankly, I bought the CD just for the last track in the film, but it wasn't there!
In addition, some other tracks are "blended together"!
Bottom line, the soundtrack on CD was worthless for me; I even didn't add it to my music library. However, the movie soundtrack is great, but they are NOT identical.

Disapointing, 08 Sep 2008
Whilst I really enjoyed the music that Zimmer and Howard produced for the film itself, I am a little disapointed that the album appears to be the "highlights" of the score, rather than a definitive reproduction of it. For example, you only get literally about 4-5 seconds of the opening scene (where the window is blown out and the robbers get onto the roof) (the tracks are blended together). The same goes for the scene where Batman is beating the drug dealers in the car park, but here it seems to be totally missing.

There are other bits missing, but I forget. I don't think that the piece where Gordon is giving his "Dark Knight" monologue is there either.

A great great score, but poorly represented on this CD.

Listen to a new era of Batman!!!!, 03 Sep 2008
Wow, great soundtrack!! A new era of Batman deserves a new era in music and sound to show just how much it has evoloved since the cartoon style films of the 80's and 90's! Zimmer is perfect to open up the explosive score with the harsh drums and suspencefull ear churning screeches of string instruments!!! With a definate style throughtout, the composers take you on a journey of fast paced drums and loud brass, to the harmonic, tranquil use of string and melody! Overall the scores represents a dark, suspensefull ride, that fits perfectly to a dark suspensefull superhero!!!!!

A superior soundtrack, 14 Aug 2008
Those who remember the Danny Elfman epics from the the Tim Burton films may well be surprised at how different this score is. Where as Elfman used a much more uptempo score with flurries of brass, the Zimmer/Howard score is alternately high percussive or symphonic with strings. Hans Zimmer's score is driving and percussive, similar in style to his scores for Crimson Tide and Gladiator but a a very dark feel all of its own. His music picks out the isolation of both Batman and the Joker, the former with a heroic, determined feel and the latter with dread and fear.

Like all great scores it can almost tell the story through music in its own right; John Williams' great scores for Star Wars is the kind of tradition this music belongs to. One of the best film scores I have heard in a long time and highly recommended.

Disappointing interpretation, 09 Mar 2007
I was really disappointed when listening to these recordings. I had an old recording of Morricone on a tape, which I love, and thought I was to find the same on this CD. But the interpretations are really different (I agree with one of the previous comments), and are far from carrying the same emotions.
Don't do like me, and listen to the song samples to make sure this is what you want.

Not just Spaghetti Westerns, 15 Jun 2002
I made my purchase of this album solely because I wanted the theme music to the Clint Eastwood Spaghetti Western movies and to my surprise, I ended up with a must-have CD.
From the beautiful "Deer Hunter" like Chi Mai, through the hauntingly melodic Deborah's Theme, the unusual The Man With The Harmonica and the outstanding Frantic this CD is a masterpiece equal to Mozart, Beethoven or Handel.
Any music lover should own a copy of this and enjoy the hugely talented Ennio Morricone again and again.

A good introduction to the maestro, 17 Jun 2001
Whilst far from being the most comprehensive compilation (e.g. no Untouchables) it is an excellent introduction to Morricone in that it covers his most famous work and also his most mainstream.

Purists may argue it omits his more experitmental and avant garde side - but in the end how can you complain when you have Gabirel's Oboe and the Once Upon a time in the West theme.

Disappointing selection from a great soundtrack composer, 17 Mar 2001
Ennio Morricone originally came to my attention because of the soundtracks he composed and conducted for the films 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly', 'Fistful of Dollars', 'For a few Dollars more' and 'Fistful of Dynamite'. Judging by this CD these soundtracks are still his best work. The rest, in my opinion, simply don't measure up. I'll admit, I've never been a fan of Chi Mai, which I know is contrary to popular opinion so this CD may be well received generally. But if you like your Morricone to be of the high-camp, high-drama variety, such as is found in the Spaghetti Westerns, then don't buy this CD. A major blemish (and quite why on earth the compilers of this CD chose to do this) is the selection of a Geoff Love version of 'For a Few Dollars More' (I'm sure there is a far superior Morricone version). Overall very disappointed.

Superb instrumental sounds to celebrate the millennium, 15 Oct 2000
Shame that there isn't 6 stars - worth every penny this CD does tremendous justice to one of our best contemporary composers. This is the history of film and music combined in sheer bliss !

The 1966 familiar sounds of "The Good, The Bad & The Ugly" are still as fresh in the year 2000, and contrast with the haunting vibrations of "Gabriel's Oboe" from the film "The Mission".

Certainly CD of the year, and a great Christmas present.