When Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks collaborated on the Academy Award-winning Saving Private Ryan, an abiding passion to further honour the young fighting soldiers of WWII was born in both men, resulting in Band of Brothers, an ambitious 10-part mini-series based on historian Stephen Ambrose's account of a 101st Airborne regiment as it fought its way across Europe. In scoring the sweeping project, Michael Kamen has eschewed much of the martial music familiar from past war epics in favour of the quiet, largely introspective sound that has informed modern battle films from Platoon through Private Ryan and The Thin Red Line. And if his reverential, often somber tones capture the dignity of the soldiers and the gravity of the events, they sometimes do so at the expense of other human dimensions--and the lively pop music of the 1940s. Still, Kamen's work strikes an impressive balance, fusing the pastoral with subtle modern rhythm touches and utilising spare piano solos, a darkly ironic use of Beethoven's String Quartet in C-Sharp Minor, and a memorable, elegiac main theme. --Jerry McCulley

Band of Brothers (Kamen) [Soundtrack]., 06 Dec 2005
If you liked the series you will love the sound track. You will end up in a world of your own plus it's so relaxing just make sure you don't leave the kettle on!

Fans of the Show, 05 Feb 2004
This rating is based on the fact that I'm a big fan of the series. The music is wonderfully evocative and is great for easy listening background music.

If the Theme music for the series moves you then this is for you especially if you like classical music.

Unmatched Accompaniment to a Majestic Series, 29 Aug 2003
Since purchasing this album, I've listened to virtually nothing else. The Main Theme alone is probably one of the most moving pieces of music written in the last fifty years; the two Suites are admirable and vastly 'listenable' alternative takes on the rest of the score, and the selection that makes up the rest of the album is superb. The string quartet is enough to make you cry, and the final track, featuring a choral accompaniment to the main theme is strangley uplifting. The TV series is the ultimate statement of there being no glory in war, only infinite sadness, and this album echoes and enhances that sentiment without becoming mawkish. I know of no other soundtrack that both matches its source perfectly, yet remains a masterpiece in its own right. Utterly, utterly wonderful.

Excellent, 21 Jan 2002
This Soundtrack recaptures the moving account of the famous Easy Company in the Band of Brothers series.It's not hard to feel very emotional when listening to the various tracks.Highly recommended

Emotional bliss!, 02 Jan 2002
Superb from the first moment that you here the main theme you know this is something special!

Haunting, perfect and captures a past time superbly, soundtracks don't get much better than this!

To add to this the two Band Of Brothers Suite's are excellent, all the music reminds you of scene's from the series and its finale with Austria and the exceptional Band Of Brothers Requim put this in a class of its own.

Michael Kamen should be proud, this music is everything it should be and a little more. Buy and listen! For any person who likes classical film music this belongs right up there with John Williams! Superb and the emotional impact is huge. Thank you for producing such a wonderfull soundtrack!

Band of Brothers (Kamen) [Soundtrack]., 06 Dec 2005
If you liked the series you will love the sound track. You will end up in a world of your own plus it's so relaxing just make sure you don't leave the kettle on!

Fans of the Show, 05 Feb 2004
This rating is based on the fact that I'm a big fan of the series. The music is wonderfully evocative and is great for easy listening background music.

If the Theme music for the series moves you then this is for you especially if you like classical music.

Unmatched Accompaniment to a Majestic Series, 29 Aug 2003
Since purchasing this album, I've listened to virtually nothing else. The Main Theme alone is probably one of the most moving pieces of music written in the last fifty years; the two Suites are admirable and vastly 'listenable' alternative takes on the rest of the score, and the selection that makes up the rest of the album is superb. The string quartet is enough to make you cry, and the final track, featuring a choral accompaniment to the main theme is strangley uplifting. The TV series is the ultimate statement of there being no glory in war, only infinite sadness, and this album echoes and enhances that sentiment without becoming mawkish. I know of no other soundtrack that both matches its source perfectly, yet remains a masterpiece in its own right. Utterly, utterly wonderful.

Excellent, 21 Jan 2002
This Soundtrack recaptures the moving account of the famous Easy Company in the Band of Brothers series.It's not hard to feel very emotional when listening to the various tracks.Highly recommended

Emotional bliss!, 02 Jan 2002
Superb from the first moment that you here the main theme you know this is something special!

Haunting, perfect and captures a past time superbly, soundtracks don't get much better than this!

To add to this the two Band Of Brothers Suite's are excellent, all the music reminds you of scene's from the series and its finale with Austria and the exceptional Band Of Brothers Requim put this in a class of its own.

Michael Kamen should be proud, this music is everything it should be and a little more. Buy and listen! For any person who likes classical film music this belongs right up there with John Williams! Superb and the emotional impact is huge. Thank you for producing such a wonderfull soundtrack!

Good Programme Doesn't Sparkle Enough, 08 Dec 2003
Marco Polo has been doing a great job in reintroducing the sort of light music that aficianados of a certain age, such as me, thought would never be revived. It isn't surprising that a sampler CD from the catalogue has appeared at Naxos price. That said, this is rather a mixed bag. It's good to hear the old familiar tunes come tumbling out--the only one new to me was Sketch of a Dandy and I loved it instantly. And I have to admire the way that the overseas orchestras capture the English light music idiom so effectively. But the delightful Vanity Fair sounds much too thin, Roses of Picardy and the Tom Jones waltz really need their words and Marigold would have been far better left as a piano solo than worked up into such an overblown arrangement. There is still much to enjoy here and the price is attractive; but, if you're prepared to spend a bit more, the Ronald Corp collections, which duplicate much of this repertoire, are better.

This is not the BBC, 12 Sep 2003
An interesting but disappointing selection. If, like me, you have fallen in love with ‘By the Sleepy Lagoon’ and ‘Sailing By’ through long association with BBC Radio 4 and the World Service, then you’ll find these versions flat and cheerless. However, the Slovaks certainly bring something bracing and exotic to ‘In a Persian Market’, which is the highlight of this disc.

A familiar suprise, 16 Mar 2002
I found this CD by accident, as I was looking for the track 'Sailing By'. Frankly its a delight, alot of familar tunes with a romantic classical theme. Buy it, you'll love it.

Band of Brothers (Kamen) [Soundtrack]., 06 Dec 2005
If you liked the series you will love the sound track. You will end up in a world of your own plus it's so relaxing just make sure you don't leave the kettle on!

Fans of the Show, 05 Feb 2004
This rating is based on the fact that I'm a big fan of the series. The music is wonderfully evocative and is great for easy listening background music.

If the Theme music for the series moves you then this is for you especially if you like classical music.

Unmatched Accompaniment to a Majestic Series, 29 Aug 2003
Since purchasing this album, I've listened to virtually nothing else. The Main Theme alone is probably one of the most moving pieces of music written in the last fifty years; the two Suites are admirable and vastly 'listenable' alternative takes on the rest of the score, and the selection that makes up the rest of the album is superb. The string quartet is enough to make you cry, and the final track, featuring a choral accompaniment to the main theme is strangley uplifting. The TV series is the ultimate statement of there being no glory in war, only infinite sadness, and this album echoes and enhances that sentiment without becoming mawkish. I know of no other soundtrack that both matches its source perfectly, yet remains a masterpiece in its own right. Utterly, utterly wonderful.

Excellent, 21 Jan 2002
This Soundtrack recaptures the moving account of the famous Easy Company in the Band of Brothers series.It's not hard to feel very emotional when listening to the various tracks.Highly recommended

Emotional bliss!, 02 Jan 2002
Superb from the first moment that you here the main theme you know this is something special!

Haunting, perfect and captures a past time superbly, soundtracks don't get much better than this!

To add to this the two Band Of Brothers Suite's are excellent, all the music reminds you of scene's from the series and its finale with Austria and the exceptional Band Of Brothers Requim put this in a class of its own.

Michael Kamen should be proud, this music is everything it should be and a little more. Buy and listen! For any person who likes classical film music this belongs right up there with John Williams! Superb and the emotional impact is huge. Thank you for producing such a wonderfull soundtrack!

Good Programme Doesn't Sparkle Enough, 08 Dec 2003
Marco Polo has been doing a great job in reintroducing the sort of light music that aficianados of a certain age, such as me, thought would never be revived. It isn't surprising that a sampler CD from the catalogue has appeared at Naxos price. That said, this is rather a mixed bag. It's good to hear the old familiar tunes come tumbling out--the only one new to me was Sketch of a Dandy and I loved it instantly. And I have to admire the way that the overseas orchestras capture the English light music idiom so effectively. But the delightful Vanity Fair sounds much too thin, Roses of Picardy and the Tom Jones waltz really need their words and Marigold would have been far better left as a piano solo than worked up into such an overblown arrangement. There is still much to enjoy here and the price is attractive; but, if you're prepared to spend a bit more, the Ronald Corp collections, which duplicate much of this repertoire, are better.

This is not the BBC, 12 Sep 2003
An interesting but disappointing selection. If, like me, you have fallen in love with ‘By the Sleepy Lagoon’ and ‘Sailing By’ through long association with BBC Radio 4 and the World Service, then you’ll find these versions flat and cheerless. However, the Slovaks certainly bring something bracing and exotic to ‘In a Persian Market’, which is the highlight of this disc.

A familiar suprise, 16 Mar 2002
I found this CD by accident, as I was looking for the track 'Sailing By'. Frankly its a delight, alot of familar tunes with a romantic classical theme. Buy it, you'll love it.

classic flicks, 17 Nov 2003
I recently listened to the music on the box set being played by the London Royal philharmonic orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall in London and immediately loved the music and bought the c.d box set. All the themes from the films are played brilliantly with a real joyous sound to them. The themes that I had seen the films to I think I enjoyed the most as I already new them yet hearing them being played by such a good orchestra really makes the c.d worth listening to. There is not a single bad track on the c.d and one of my particular favourites was 'the great escape' which really made me smile. This album is a must buy for anyone who enjoys film theme tunes or anyone who likes listening to an orchestra as talented as this. 5 stars!

Band of Brothers (Kamen) [Soundtrack]., 06 Dec 2005
If you liked the series you will love the sound track. You will end up in a world of your own plus it's so relaxing just make sure you don't leave the kettle on!

Fans of the Show, 05 Feb 2004
This rating is based on the fact that I'm a big fan of the series. The music is wonderfully evocative and is great for easy listening background music.

If the Theme music for the series moves you then this is for you especially if you like classical music.

Unmatched Accompaniment to a Majestic Series, 29 Aug 2003
Since purchasing this album, I've listened to virtually nothing else. The Main Theme alone is probably one of the most moving pieces of music written in the last fifty years; the two Suites are admirable and vastly 'listenable' alternative takes on the rest of the score, and the selection that makes up the rest of the album is superb. The string quartet is enough to make you cry, and the final track, featuring a choral accompaniment to the main theme is strangley uplifting. The TV series is the ultimate statement of there being no glory in war, only infinite sadness, and this album echoes and enhances that sentiment without becoming mawkish. I know of no other soundtrack that both matches its source perfectly, yet remains a masterpiece in its own right. Utterly, utterly wonderful.

Excellent, 21 Jan 2002
This Soundtrack recaptures the moving account of the famous Easy Company in the Band of Brothers series.It's not hard to feel very emotional when listening to the various tracks.Highly recommended

Emotional bliss!, 02 Jan 2002
Superb from the first moment that you here the main theme you know this is something special!

Haunting, perfect and captures a past time superbly, soundtracks don't get much better than this!

To add to this the two Band Of Brothers Suite's are excellent, all the music reminds you of scene's from the series and its finale with Austria and the exceptional Band Of Brothers Requim put this in a class of its own.

Michael Kamen should be proud, this music is everything it should be and a little more. Buy and listen! For any person who likes classical film music this belongs right up there with John Williams! Superb and the emotional impact is huge. Thank you for producing such a wonderfull soundtrack!

Good Programme Doesn't Sparkle Enough, 08 Dec 2003
Marco Polo has been doing a great job in reintroducing the sort of light music that aficianados of a certain age, such as me, thought would never be revived. It isn't surprising that a sampler CD from the catalogue has appeared at Naxos price. That said, this is rather a mixed bag. It's good to hear the old familiar tunes come tumbling out--the only one new to me was Sketch of a Dandy and I loved it instantly. And I have to admire the way that the overseas orchestras capture the English light music idiom so effectively. But the delightful Vanity Fair sounds much too thin, Roses of Picardy and the Tom Jones waltz really need their words and Marigold would have been far better left as a piano solo than worked up into such an overblown arrangement. There is still much to enjoy here and the price is attractive; but, if you're prepared to spend a bit more, the Ronald Corp collections, which duplicate much of this repertoire, are better.

This is not the BBC, 12 Sep 2003
An interesting but disappointing selection. If, like me, you have fallen in love with ‘By the Sleepy Lagoon’ and ‘Sailing By’ through long association with BBC Radio 4 and the World Service, then you’ll find these versions flat and cheerless. However, the Slovaks certainly bring something bracing and exotic to ‘In a Persian Market’, which is the highlight of this disc.

A familiar suprise, 16 Mar 2002
I found this CD by accident, as I was looking for the track 'Sailing By'. Frankly its a delight, alot of familar tunes with a romantic classical theme. Buy it, you'll love it.

classic flicks, 17 Nov 2003
I recently listened to the music on the box set being played by the London Royal philharmonic orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall in London and immediately loved the music and bought the c.d box set. All the themes from the films are played brilliantly with a real joyous sound to them. The themes that I had seen the films to I think I enjoyed the most as I already new them yet hearing them being played by such a good orchestra really makes the c.d worth listening to. There is not a single bad track on the c.d and one of my particular favourites was 'the great escape' which really made me smile. This album is a must buy for anyone who enjoys film theme tunes or anyone who likes listening to an orchestra as talented as this. 5 stars!

Free the WM3!, 12 Aug 2008

You have to watch this doc. A huge miscarriage of justice, caught on film. The case is still ongoing, making the film as important now as it ever was.

Free the WM3!

Two great documentaries that are both fascinating and horrifying, 02 Mar 2007
These documentaries are about the brutal murders of three eight year old boys in West Memphis, Arkansas. When three teenage misfits are arrested, we appear to be following a clear-cut story of the aftermath of a crime, but what is slowly revealed is a much darker tale of sloppy police work and a painfully obvious rush to judge three young men based on almost nothing more than their appearance and interests.

At the centre of all of this is Damien Echols, the oldest of the three arrested youths. He is intelligent and articulate, but he wears his outsider status with pride and, as a result, carries himself with a sense of aloofness and arrogance. What prevents you from simply taking the side of the accused in this situation is Echols himself, and when he states - despite continuing to protest his innocence - that he wants to be remembered as 'the boogie man of West Memphis', the waters become very muddy indeed. The sense of empathy you feel for the jury, who must have been utterly confused by this young man who is so very different from them, means it is never easy to decide where your sympathies lie.

It is a great credit to film makers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky that they never guide you in this decision. They have an uncanny ability to sit back and let events unfold, never trying to impose a clear view on the guilt or innocence of the boys on trial. That is your decision to make, and even after the first film has reached its conclusion it will not be an easy choice.

The second film, Paradise Lost 2: Revelations, picks up the story six years after part one. The events revolve around Echols's latest appeal, but, as with the original film, things quickly become more complex.

A new development here is the interest in the case sparked by Paradise Lost itself. Many well-meaning people from all around America have seen the film and formed a support group with the intention of freeing the 'West Memphis Three'. The second major aspect is the focus on another possible suspect, a man with a very checkered past who was, bafflingly, never even considered as a potential murderer by the police.

Given the almost complete lack of evidence against the accused teenagers (the prosecution's case rested largely on the jury's perception of the accused as freaks and outsiders), it is at once fascinating and horrifying to see how many corners can be cut by trained professionals, even when in connection with such a heinous crime.

This one is recommended to all documentary film fans, especially if you have any interest in the flawed workings of America's legal system.



A Terrifying portrait of our corrupt legal system..., 21 Feb 2006
This is a very well made documentary that, despite its length, manages to keep your attention all the way through. It manages to be horrifying, emotional, and incredibly revealing. It contains trial video, interviews with the suspects, the families of both suspects and victims, and very definitive shots of the murder scene. I was astounded to witness as one of the first shots, the dead bodies of the three young boys, it was a very powerful opening and very impartial as it makes sure it starts your journey in exactly the same place as everyone who was there at the time, enabling you to feel the raw emotions of this terrible tragedy before you see the suspects.
The documentary does seem to sway more to the side of the defence as the case progresses as we get to see the consultations between the defence attorneys and the three teenage boys accused of ritual murder. This might seem like a tactic by the film makers in an attempt to throw an 'innocent' possibility into the mix, but as seen in the second part, there are many people that believe this to actually be true and are currently campaigning to get them out.
The movie really evokes emotion through the trial verdict, seeing the very little amount of evidence, if it can even be called evidence, be enough to convict these kids, even send one to death row, is very disturbing, and most of the evidence points in other distant directions. Despite whether or not these boys are guilty, the prosecutors had nowhere near enough actual evidence to convict them, and bring purely speculation. It is exceptionally enraging to see such legal bias existing in the present day and it is difficult to not feel fairly scared that this is always a possibility.
It is revealing in the sense that it shows the inefficiency and bias within the community and specifically the police department. The fact that it tells how a police officer 'lost' blood samples that could have connected another man to the case, the fact that the movie makers had to give a possible murder weapon to the police, it brings out their inefficiency. The fact that the boys were chosen as suspects merely upon the way they dress and the music they listen to, demonstrates the pure bias of the community.
This documentary is also efficient in bringing to our attention the murderous instincts of the murdered boys' families; their readiness to pick up a gun and kill without remorse is horrifying but so believable of their characters. The documentary and the defence even bring a possibility of one of the victim’s stepfathers being the murderer, and his inconsistent testimony and violent nature give this possibility some ground.
However people feel about the guilt or innocence of the boys convicted of this murder, this movie reveals the truth, there was nowhere near enough evidence to convict them and it is criminal that that bias verdict is standing even to this day with appeals being constantly denied. We see that the minds of West Memphis are made up even before the trial begins.

Shocking, 24 Dec 2005
Like many others, I had read snippets about this case in NME and other 'alternative' publications. It was only when the DVDs were released that I took more interest in the case. I won't go into the ins and outs of the case now, but you can read about it on the website made by their supporters.
The documentaries themselves are harrowing. The first one opens with the murder scene and police video of the boys' bodies; this is disturbing stuff. Unfortunately you get to see more photographs of the victims, but this isn't to shock, this is simply to aid the narrative.
After the first documentary, I could see why people still weren't sure of the boys' guilt. The documentary's style is deliberately unbiased (the film-makers simply set out to make a documentary about 3 boys they believed probably were guilty) and the narrative is guided by the people involved, not a 'voice of god' telling you what to think.
The second documentary is deliberately biased. The film-makers believed that the Memphis Three were innocent and therefore set out to make a documentary suggesting this. Again, there is no voice-over, so you are able to make up your own mind (my partner still doesn't believe all three boys are innocent, even after watching the documentaries) but it is very much in the favour of the WM3.
Brilliantly crafted.

horrific crime, horrific circumstances, 18 Aug 2005
i watched these documentaries not knowing anything about the case & there is no way that the 3 people serving time are guilty of this murder. The crime itself is scary & knowing that 3 innocent people are doing time is scary but the scariest thing about these documentaries is the real murderer is staring you in the face the whole time.

Band of Brothers (Kamen) [Soundtrack]., 06 Dec 2005
If you liked the series you will love the sound track. You will end up in a world of your own plus it's so relaxing just make sure you don't leave the kettle on!

Fans of the Show, 05 Feb 2004
This rating is based on the fact that I'm a big fan of the series. The music is wonderfully evocative and is great for easy listening background music.

If the Theme music for the series moves you then this is for you especially if you like classical music.

Unmatched Accompaniment to a Majestic Series, 29 Aug 2003
Since purchasing this album, I've listened to virtually nothing else. The Main Theme alone is probably one of the most moving pieces of music written in the last fifty years; the two Suites are admirable and vastly 'listenable' alternative takes on the rest of the score, and the selection that makes up the rest of the album is superb. The string quartet is enough to make you cry, and the final track, featuring a choral accompaniment to the main theme is strangley uplifting. The TV series is the ultimate statement of there being no glory in war, only infinite sadness, and this album echoes and enhances that sentiment without becoming mawkish. I know of no other soundtrack that both matches its source perfectly, yet remains a masterpiece in its own right. Utterly, utterly wonderful.

Excellent, 21 Jan 2002
This Soundtrack recaptures the moving account of the famous Easy Company in the Band of Brothers series.It's not hard to feel very emotional when listening to the various tracks.Highly recommended

Emotional bliss!, 02 Jan 2002
Superb from the first moment that you here the main theme you know this is something special!

Haunting, perfect and captures a past time superbly, soundtracks don't get much better than this!

To add to this the two Band Of Brothers Suite's are excellent, all the music reminds you of scene's from the series and its finale with Austria and the exceptional Band Of Brothers Requim put this in a class of its own.

Michael Kamen should be proud, this music is everything it should be and a little more. Buy and listen! For any person who likes classical film music this belongs right up there with John Williams! Superb and the emotional impact is huge. Thank you for producing such a wonderfull soundtrack!

Good Programme Doesn't Sparkle Enough, 08 Dec 2003
Marco Polo has been doing a great job in reintroducing the sort of light music that aficianados of a certain age, such as me, thought would never be revived. It isn't surprising that a sampler CD from the catalogue has appeared at Naxos price. That said, this is rather a mixed bag. It's good to hear the old familiar tunes come tumbling out--the only one new to me was Sketch of a Dandy and I loved it instantly. And I have to admire the way that the overseas orchestras capture the English light music idiom so effectively. But the delightful Vanity Fair sounds much too thin, Roses of Picardy and the Tom Jones waltz really need their words and Marigold would have been far better left as a piano solo than worked up into such an overblown arrangement. There is still much to enjoy here and the price is attractive; but, if you're prepared to spend a bit more, the Ronald Corp collections, which duplicate much of this repertoire, are better.

This is not the BBC, 12 Sep 2003
An interesting but disappointing selection. If, like me, you have fallen in love with ‘By the Sleepy Lagoon’ and ‘Sailing By’ through long association with BBC Radio 4 and the World Service, then you’ll find these versions flat and cheerless. However, the Slovaks certainly bring something bracing and exotic to ‘In a Persian Market’, which is the highlight of this disc.

A familiar suprise, 16 Mar 2002
I found this CD by accident, as I was looking for the track 'Sailing By'. Frankly its a delight, alot of familar tunes with a romantic classical theme. Buy it, you'll love it.

classic flicks, 17 Nov 2003
I recently listened to the music on the box set being played by the London Royal philharmonic orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall in London and immediately loved the music and bought the c.d box set. All the themes from the films are played brilliantly with a real joyous sound to them. The themes that I had seen the films to I think I enjoyed the most as I already new them yet hearing them being played by such a good orchestra really makes the c.d worth listening to. There is not a single bad track on the c.d and one of my particular favourites was 'the great escape' which really made me smile. This album is a must buy for anyone who enjoys film theme tunes or anyone who likes listening to an orchestra as talented as this. 5 stars!

Free the WM3!, 12 Aug 2008

You have to watch this doc. A huge miscarriage of justice, caught on film. The case is still ongoing, making the film as important now as it ever was.

Free the WM3!

Two great documentaries that are both fascinating and horrifying, 02 Mar 2007
These documentaries are about the brutal murders of three eight year old boys in West Memphis, Arkansas. When three teenage misfits are arrested, we appear to be following a clear-cut story of the aftermath of a crime, but what is slowly revealed is a much darker tale of sloppy police work and a painfully obvious rush to judge three young men based on almost nothing more than their appearance and interests.

At the centre of all of this is Damien Echols, the oldest of the three arrested youths. He is intelligent and articulate, but he wears his outsider status with pride and, as a result, carries himself with a sense of aloofness and arrogance. What prevents you from simply taking the side of the accused in this situation is Echols himself, and when he states - despite continuing to protest his innocence - that he wants to be remembered as 'the boogie man of West Memphis', the waters become very muddy indeed. The sense of empathy you feel for the jury, who must have been utterly confused by this young man who is so very different from them, means it is never easy to decide where your sympathies lie.

It is a great credit to film makers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky that they never guide you in this decision. They have an uncanny ability to sit back and let events unfold, never trying to impose a clear view on the guilt or innocence of the boys on trial. That is your decision to make, and even after the first film has reached its conclusion it will not be an easy choice.

The second film, Paradise Lost 2: Revelations, picks up the story six years after part one. The events revolve around Echols's latest appeal, but, as with the original film, things quickly become more complex.

A new development here is the interest in the case sparked by Paradise Lost itself. Many well-meaning people from all around America have seen the film and formed a support group with the intention of freeing the 'West Memphis Three'. The second major aspect is the focus on another possible suspect, a man with a very checkered past who was, bafflingly, never even considered as a potential murderer by the police.

Given the almost complete lack of evidence against the accused teenagers (the prosecution's case rested largely on the jury's perception of the accused as freaks and outsiders), it is at once fascinating and horrifying to see how many corners can be cut by trained professionals, even when in connection with such a heinous crime.

This one is recommended to all documentary film fans, especially if you have any interest in the flawed workings of America's legal system.



A Terrifying portrait of our corrupt legal system..., 21 Feb 2006
This is a very well made documentary that, despite its length, manages to keep your attention all the way through. It manages to be horrifying, emotional, and incredibly revealing. It contains trial video, interviews with the suspects, the families of both suspects and victims, and very definitive shots of the murder scene. I was astounded to witness as one of the first shots, the dead bodies of the three young boys, it was a very powerful opening and very impartial as it makes sure it starts your journey in exactly the same place as everyone who was there at the time, enabling you to feel the raw emotions of this terrible tragedy before you see the suspects.
The documentary does seem to sway more to the side of the defence as the case progresses as we get to see the consultations between the defence attorneys and the three teenage boys accused of ritual murder. This might seem like a tactic by the film makers in an attempt to throw an 'innocent' possibility into the mix, but as seen in the second part, there are many people that believe this to actually be true and are currently campaigning to get them out.
The movie really evokes emotion through the trial verdict, seeing the very little amount of evidence, if it can even be called evidence, be enough to convict these kids, even send one to death row, is very disturbing, and most of the evidence points in other distant directions. Despite whether or not these boys are guilty, the prosecutors had nowhere near enough actual evidence to convict them, and bring purely speculation. It is exceptionally enraging to see such legal bias existing in the present day and it is difficult to not feel fairly scared that this is always a possibility.
It is revealing in the sense that it shows the inefficiency and bias within the community and specifically the police department. The fact that it tells how a police officer 'lost' blood samples that could have connected another man to the case, the fact that the movie makers had to give a possible murder weapon to the police, it brings out their inefficiency. The fact that the boys were chosen as suspects merely upon the way they dress and the music they listen to, demonstrates the pure bias of the community.
This documentary is also efficient in bringing to our attention the murderous instincts of the murdered boys' families; their readiness to pick up a gun and kill without remorse is horrifying but so believable of their characters. The documentary and the defence even bring a possibility of one of the victim’s stepfathers being the murderer, and his inconsistent testimony and violent nature give this possibility some ground.
However people feel about the guilt or innocence of the boys convicted of this murder, this movie reveals the truth, there was nowhere near enough evidence to convict them and it is criminal that that bias verdict is standing even to this day with appeals being constantly denied. We see that the minds of West Memphis are made up even before the trial begins.

Shocking, 24 Dec 2005
Like many others, I had read snippets about this case in NME and other 'alternative' publications. It was only when the DVDs were released that I took more interest in the case. I won't go into the ins and outs of the case now, but you can read about it on the website made by their supporters.
The documentaries themselves are harrowing. The first one opens with the murder scene and police video of the boys' bodies; this is disturbing stuff. Unfortunately you get to see more photographs of the victims, but this isn't to shock, this is simply to aid the narrative.
After the first documentary, I could see why people still weren't sure of the boys' guilt. The documentary's style is deliberately unbiased (the film-makers simply set out to make a documentary about 3 boys they believed probably were guilty) and the narrative is guided by the people involved, not a 'voice of god' telling you what to think.
The second documentary is deliberately biased. The film-makers believed that the Memphis Three were innocent and therefore set out to make a documentary suggesting this. Again, there is no voice-over, so you are able to make up your own mind (my partner still doesn't believe all three boys are innocent, even after watching the documentaries) but it is very much in the favour of the WM3.
Brilliantly crafted.

horrific crime, horrific circumstances, 18 Aug 2005
i watched these documentaries not knowing anything about the case & there is no way that the 3 people serving time are guilty of this murder. The crime itself is scary & knowing that 3 innocent people are doing time is scary but the scariest thing about these documentaries is the real murderer is staring you in the face the whole time.

Soundtrack CD's, all the same..., 23 Dec 2008
Most of the tracks that can be heard in this CD are based on the theme tune - they all sound roughly the same in parts, but really good if you like that sort of thing I suppose. If you haven't watched the series, this CD compilation with music from the series will make no sense to you whatsoever. But, if you have watched the series, you can really recognise bits of music from the series. Apparently, this CD only features music from series one. But, I think it's still the same in series two.

But, anyway, a great CD if you're a fan of the series, but not if you don't watch it avidly.

Band of Brothers (Kamen) [Soundtrack]., 06 Dec 2005
If you liked the series you will love the sound track. You will end up in a world of your own plus it's so relaxing just make sure you don't leave the kettle on!

Fans of the Show, 05 Feb 2004
This rating is based on the fact that I'm a big fan of the series. The music is wonderfully evocative and is great for easy listening background music.

If the Theme music for the series moves you then this is for you especially if you like classical music.

Unmatched Accompaniment to a Majestic Series, 29 Aug 2003
Since purchasing this album, I've listened to virtually nothing else. The Main Theme alone is probably one of the most moving pieces of music written in the last fifty years; the two Suites are admirable and vastly 'listenable' alternative takes on the rest of the score, and the selection that makes up the rest of the album is superb. The string quartet is enough to make you cry, and the final track, featuring a choral accompaniment to the main theme is strangley uplifting. The TV series is the ultimate statement of there being no glory in war, only infinite sadness, and this album echoes and enhances that sentiment without becoming mawkish. I know of no other soundtrack that both matches its source perfectly, yet remains a masterpiece in its own right. Utterly, utterly wonderful.

Excellent, 21 Jan 2002
This Soundtrack recaptures the moving account of the famous Easy Company in the Band of Brothers series.It's not hard to feel very emotional when listening to the various tracks.Highly recommended

Emotional bliss!, 02 Jan 2002
Superb from the first moment that you here the main theme you know this is something special!

Haunting, perfect and captures a past time superbly, soundtracks don't get much better than this!

To add to this the two Band Of Brothers Suite's are excellent, all the music reminds you of scene's from the series and its finale with Austria and the exceptional Band Of Brothers Requim put this in a class of its own.

Michael Kamen should be proud, this music is everything it should be and a little more. Buy and listen! For any person who likes classical film music this belongs right up there with John Williams! Superb and the emotional impact is huge. Thank you for producing such a wonderfull soundtrack!

Good Programme Doesn't Sparkle Enough, 08 Dec 2003
Marco Polo has been doing a great job in reintroducing the sort of light music that aficianados of a certain age, such as me, thought would never be revived. It isn't surprising that a sampler CD from the catalogue has appeared at Naxos price. That said, this is rather a mixed bag. It's good to hear the old familiar tunes come tumbling out--the only one new to me was Sketch of a Dandy and I loved it instantly. And I have to admire the way that the overseas orchestras capture the English light music idiom so effectively. But the delightful Vanity Fair sounds much too thin, Roses of Picardy and the Tom Jones waltz really need their words and Marigold would have been far better left as a piano solo than worked up into such an overblown arrangement. There is still much to enjoy here and the price is attractive; but, if you're prepared to spend a bit more, the Ronald Corp collections, which duplicate much of this repertoire, are better.

This is not the BBC, 12 Sep 2003
An interesting but disappointing selection. If, like me, you have fallen in love with ‘By the Sleepy Lagoon’ and ‘Sailing By’ through long association with BBC Radio 4 and the World Service, then you’ll find these versions flat and cheerless. However, the Slovaks certainly bring something bracing and exotic to ‘In a Persian Market’, which is the highlight of this disc.

A familiar suprise, 16 Mar 2002
I found this CD by accident, as I was looking for the track 'Sailing By'. Frankly its a delight, alot of familar tunes with a romantic classical theme. Buy it, you'll love it.

classic flicks, 17 Nov 2003
I recently listened to the music on the box set being played by the London Royal philharmonic orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall in London and immediately loved the music and bought the c.d box set. All the themes from the films are played brilliantly with a real joyous sound to them. The themes that I had seen the films to I think I enjoyed the most as I already new them yet hearing them being played by such a good orchestra really makes the c.d worth listening to. There is not a single bad track on the c.d and one of my particular favourites was 'the great escape' which really made me smile. This album is a must buy for anyone who enjoys film theme tunes or anyone who likes listening to an orchestra as talented as this. 5 stars!

Free the WM3!, 12 Aug 2008

You have to watch this doc. A huge miscarriage of justice, caught on film. The case is still ongoing, making the film as important now as it ever was.

Free the WM3!

Two great documentaries that are both fascinating and horrifying, 02 Mar 2007
These documentaries are about the brutal murders of three eight year old boys in West Memphis, Arkansas. When three teenage misfits are arrested, we appear to be following a clear-cut story of the aftermath of a crime, but what is slowly revealed is a much darker tale of sloppy police work and a painfully obvious rush to judge three young men based on almost nothing more than their appearance and interests.

At the centre of all of this is Damien Echols, the oldest of the three arrested youths. He is intelligent and articulate, but he wears his outsider status with pride and, as a result, carries himself with a sense of aloofness and arrogance. What prevents you from simply taking the side of the accused in this situation is Echols himself, and when he states - despite continuing to protest his innocence - that he wants to be remembered as 'the boogie man of West Memphis', the waters become very muddy indeed. The sense of empathy you feel for the jury, who must have been utterly confused by this young man who is so very different from them, means it is never easy to decide where your sympathies lie.

It is a great credit to film makers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky that they never guide you in this decision. They have an uncanny ability to sit back and let events unfold, never trying to impose a clear view on the guilt or innocence of the boys on trial. That is your decision to make, and even after the first film has reached its conclusion it will not be an easy choice.

The second film, Paradise Lost 2: Revelations, picks up the story six years after part one. The events revolve around Echols's latest appeal, but, as with the original film, things quickly become more complex.

A new development here is the interest in the case sparked by Paradise Lost itself. Many well-meaning people from all around America have seen the film and formed a support group with the intention of freeing the 'West Memphis Three'. The second major aspect is the focus on another possible suspect, a man with a very checkered past who was, bafflingly, never even considered as a potential murderer by the police.

Given the almost complete lack of evidence against the accused teenagers (the prosecution's case rested largely on the jury's perception of the accused as freaks and outsiders), it is at once fascinating and horrifying to see how many corners can be cut by trained professionals, even when in connection with such a heinous crime.

This one is recommended to all documentary film fans, especially if you have any interest in the flawed workings of America's legal system.



A Terrifying portrait of our corrupt legal system..., 21 Feb 2006
This is a very well made documentary that, despite its length, manages to keep your attention all the way through. It manages to be horrifying, emotional, and incredibly revealing. It contains trial video, interviews with the suspects, the families of both suspects and victims, and very definitive shots of the murder scene. I was astounded to witness as one of the first shots, the dead bodies of the three young boys, it was a very powerful opening and very impartial as it makes sure it starts your journey in exactly the same place as everyone who was there at the time, enabling you to feel the raw emotions of this terrible tragedy before you see the suspects.
The documentary does seem to sway more to the side of the defence as the case progresses as we get to see the consultations between the defence attorneys and the three teenage boys accused of ritual murder. This might seem like a tactic by the film makers in an attempt to throw an 'innocent' possibility into the mix, but as seen in the second part, there are many people that believe this to actually be true and are currently campaigning to get them out.
The movie really evokes emotion through the trial verdict, seeing the very little amount of evidence, if it can even be called evidence, be enough to convict these kids, even send one to death row, is very disturbing, and most of the evidence points in other distant directions. Despite whether or not these boys are guilty, the prosecutors had nowhere near enough actual evidence to convict them, and bring purely speculation. It is exceptionally enraging to see such legal bias existing in the present day and it is difficult to not feel fairly scared that this is always a possibility.
It is revealing in the sense that it shows the inefficiency and bias within the community and specifically the police department. The fact that it tells how a police officer 'lost' blood samples that could have connected another man to the case, the fact that the movie makers had to give a possible murder weapon to the police, it brings out their inefficiency. The fact that the boys were chosen as suspects merely upon the way they dress and the music they listen to, demonstrates the pure bias of the community.
This documentary is also efficient in bringing to our attention the murderous instincts of the murdered boys' families; their readiness to pick up a gun and kill without remorse is horrifying but so believable of their characters. The documentary and the defence even bring a possibility of one of the victim’s stepfathers being the murderer, and his inconsistent testimony and violent nature give this possibility some ground.
However people feel about the guilt or innocence of the boys convicted of this murder, this movie reveals the truth, there was nowhere near enough evidence to convict them and it is criminal that that bias verdict is standing even to this day with appeals being constantly denied. We see that the minds of West Memphis are made up even before the trial begins.

Shocking, 24 Dec 2005
Like many others, I had read snippets about this case in NME and other 'alternative' publications. It was only when the DVDs were released that I took more interest in the case. I won't go into the ins and outs of the case now, but you can read about it on the website made by their supporters.
The documentaries themselves are harrowing. The first one opens with the murder scene and police video of the boys' bodies; this is disturbing stuff. Unfortunately you get to see more photographs of the victims, but this isn't to shock, this is simply to aid the narrative.
After the first documentary, I could see why people still weren't sure of the boys' guilt. The documentary's style is deliberately unbiased (the film-makers simply set out to make a documentary about 3 boys they believed probably were guilty) and the narrative is guided by the people involved, not a 'voice of god' telling you what to think.
The second documentary is deliberately biased. The film-makers believed that the Memphis Three were innocent and therefore set out to make a documentary suggesting this. Again, there is no voice-over, so you are able to make up your own mind (my partner still doesn't believe all three boys are innocent, even after watching the documentaries) but it is very much in the favour of the WM3.
Brilliantly crafted.

horrific crime, horrific circumstances, 18 Aug 2005
i watched these documentaries not knowing anything about the case & there is no way that the 3 people serving time are guilty of this murder. The crime itself is scary & knowing that 3 innocent people are doing time is scary but the scariest thing about these documentaries is the real murderer is staring you in the face the whole time.

Soundtrack CD's, all the same..., 23 Dec 2008
Most of the tracks that can be heard in this CD are based on the theme tune - they all sound roughly the same in parts, but really good if you like that sort of thing I suppose. If you haven't watched the series, this CD compilation with music from the series will make no sense to you whatsoever. But, if you have watched the series, you can really recognise bits of music from the series. Apparently, this CD only features music from series one. But, I think it's still the same in series two.

But, anyway, a great CD if you're a fan of the series, but not if you don't watch it avidly.

One of Kamen's better releases, 10 Oct 2005
This CD is certainly a popular one, thanks in no small part to Bryan Adams' hit song. Kamen's CD releases are notoriously lazy and bare but when I listened to the first few tracks, I was pleasantly surprised. The first quarter of the movie is presented quite satisfactorily (tracks 1-3) and is the best section of the CD. His theme tune for Robin of Locksley is an exciting piece, updating the Prince of Thieves for a new generation of cinema goers and his fondness for Mario Nascimbene's 'The Vikings' shows in Robin's fanfare. This segues directly into the escape from the Crusades then a beautiful piece as Robin returns home, a melancholic theme for Marion and finally an adventurous frolicking in Sherwood, complete with traditional 'twangs'. However, from here on, as expected, the CD drops into an editing mess. Bits and pieces of the rest of the score are chopped into a handful of tracks with most of the score omitted, giving you a taste, rather than an experience and it ends with the inclusion of a mis-judged song 'Wild Times'. Overall, it's a good CD but since this is possibly Kamen's best scoring effort, it could have been so much better. I eagerly await an expanded release.

All the beauty of the film, 01 Oct 2001
What can I say? I saw the film for the first time about six years ago and it has always been a firm favourite of mine - getting this brought back all the memories of the first time I ever saw it. Highlights are 'Maid Marian' 'Overture and a Prisoner of the Crusades' and who could ever forget 'Everything I do (I do it for you)'? As you listen you can picture the action in your mind - from the beginning when we find Robin in the prison during the crusades to his reunion with Duncan to the birth of John little's baby to the wedding of Robin and Marian. Truly this a worthwhile soundtrack befitting any collection and not to be missed!

Haunting melodies, 29 Oct 2000
This CD contains haunting melodies from the hit movie. It transports you back to Sherwood forest and contains the Brian Adam's song of songs - "Everything I do, I do it for you." Happy memories of a good movie.

As if to accentuate their fundamental hugeness, Metallica (arguably the most consistently innovative metal band of the 80s and 90s) stretched yet further into the arena of the titanic with this immense cohesion of the orchestral and the truly seismic. Recorded live at California's Berkeley Community Theatre with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra under the direction of composer and arranger Michael Kamen, S & M showcases over two hours of the band's best known material including the muscular thrash of "Master Of Puppets" and the devastating power of "Enter Sandman". Also featuring a pair of brand new compositions--the pounding menace of "Human" and chest-beating nihilism of "No Leaf Clover"--S & M steers clear of pompous self-indulgence in favour of sheer blistering intensity. Kamen's orchestral arrangements perfectly complement the underlying subtlety of Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett and Newsted's singularly bombastic muse and the end result is nothing short of awesome. --Ian Fortnam

Band of Brothers (Kamen) [Soundtrack]., 06 Dec 2005
If you liked the series you will love the sound track. You will end up in a world of your own plus it's so relaxing just make sure you don't leave the kettle on!

Fans of the Show, 05 Feb 2004
This rating is based on the fact that I'm a big fan of the series. The music is wonderfully evocative and is great for easy listening background music.

If the Theme music for the series moves you then this is for you especially if you like classical music.

Unmatched Accompaniment to a Majestic Series, 29 Aug 2003
Since purchasing this album, I've listened to virtually nothing else. The Main Theme alone is probably one of the most moving pieces of music written in the last fifty years; the two Suites are admirable and vastly 'listenable' alternative takes on the rest of the score, and the selection that makes up the rest of the album is superb. The string quartet is enough to make you cry, and the final track, featuring a choral accompaniment to the main theme is strangley uplifting. The TV series is the ultimate statement of there being no glory in war, only infinite sadness, and this album echoes and enhances that sentiment without becoming mawkish. I know of no other soundtrack that both matches its source perfectly, yet remains a masterpiece in its own right. Utterly, utterly wonderful.

Excellent, 21 Jan 2002
This Soundtrack recaptures the moving account of the famous Easy Company in the Band of Brothers series.It's not hard to feel very emotional when listening to the various tracks.Highly recommended

Emotional bliss!, 02 Jan 2002
Superb from the first moment that you here the main theme you know this is something special!

Haunting, perfect and captures a past time superbly, soundtracks don't get much better than this!

To add to this the two Band Of Brothers Suite's are excellent, all the music reminds you of scene's from the series and its finale with Austria and the exceptional Band Of Brothers Requim put this in a class of its own.

Michael Kamen should be proud, this music is everything it should be and a little more. Buy and listen! For any person who likes classical film music this belongs right up there with John Williams! Superb and the emotional impact is huge. Thank you for producing such a wonderfull soundtrack!

Good Programme Doesn't Sparkle Enough, 08 Dec 2003
Marco Polo has been doing a great job in reintroducing the sort of light music that aficianados of a certain age, such as me, thought would never be revived. It isn't surprising that a sampler CD from the catalogue has appeared at Naxos price. That said, this is rather a mixed bag. It's good to hear the old familiar tunes come tumbling out--the only one new to me was Sketch of a Dandy and I loved it instantly. And I have to admire the way that the overseas orchestras capture the English light music idiom so effectively. But the delightful Vanity Fair sounds much too thin, Roses of Picardy and the Tom Jones waltz really need their words and Marigold would have been far better left as a piano solo than worked up into such an overblown arrangement. There is still much to enjoy here and the price is attractive; but, if you're prepared to spend a bit more, the Ronald Corp collections, which duplicate much of this repertoire, are better.

This is not the BBC, 12 Sep 2003
An interesting but disappointing selection. If, like me, you have fallen in love with ‘By the Sleepy Lagoon’ and ‘Sailing By’ through long association with BBC Radio 4 and the World Service, then you’ll find these versions flat and cheerless. However, the Slovaks certainly bring something bracing and exotic to ‘In a Persian Market’, which is the highlight of this disc.

A familiar suprise, 16 Mar 2002
I found this CD by accident, as I was looking for the track 'Sailing By'. Frankly its a delight, alot of familar tunes with a romantic classical theme. Buy it, you'll love it.

classic flicks, 17 Nov 2003
I recently listened to the music on the box set being played by the London Royal philharmonic orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall in London and immediately loved the music and bought the c.d box set. All the themes from the films are played brilliantly with a real joyous sound to them. The themes that I had seen the films to I think I enjoyed the most as I already new them yet hearing them being played by such a good orchestra really makes the c.d worth listening to. There is not a single bad track on the c.d and one of my particular favourites was 'the great escape' which really made me smile. This album is a must buy for anyone who enjoys film theme tunes or anyone who likes listening to an orchestra as talented as this. 5 stars!

Free the WM3!, 12 Aug 2008

You have to watch this doc. A huge miscarriage of justice, caught on film. The case is still ongoing, making the film as important now as it ever was.

Free the WM3!

Two great documentaries that are both fascinating and horrifying, 02 Mar 2007
These documentaries are about the brutal murders of three eight year old boys in West Memphis, Arkansas. When three teenage misfits are arrested, we appear to be following a clear-cut story of the aftermath of a crime, but what is slowly revealed is a much darker tale of sloppy police work and a painfully obvious rush to judge three young men based on almost nothing more than their appearance and interests.

At the centre of all of this is Damien Echols, the oldest of the three arrested youths. He is intelligent and articulate, but he wears his outsider status with pride and, as a result, carries himself with a sense of aloofness and arrogance. What prevents you from simply taking the side of the accused in this situation is Echols himself, and when he states - despite continuing to protest his innocence - that he wants to be remembered as 'the boogie man of West Memphis', the waters become very muddy indeed. The sense of empathy you feel for the jury, who must have been utterly confused by this young man who is so very different from them, means it is never easy to decide where your sympathies lie.

It is a great credit to film makers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky that they never guide you in this decision. They have an uncanny ability to sit back and let events unfold, never trying to impose a clear view on the guilt or innocence of the boys on trial. That is your decision to make, and even after the first film has reached its conclusion it will not be an easy choice.

The second film, Paradise Lost 2: Revelations, picks up the story six years after part one. The events revolve around Echols's latest appeal, but, as with the original film, things quickly become more complex.

A new development here is the interest in the case sparked by Paradise Lost itself. Many well-meaning people from all around America have seen the film and formed a support group with the intention of freeing the 'West Memphis Three'. The second major aspect is the focus on another possible suspect, a man with a very checkered past who was, bafflingly, never even considered as a potential murderer by the police.

Given the almost complete lack of evidence against the accused teenagers (the prosecution's case rested largely on the jury's perception of the accused as freaks and outsiders), it is at once fascinating and horrifying to see how many corners can be cut by trained professionals, even when in connection with such a heinous crime.

This one is recommended to all documentary film fans, especially if you have any interest in the flawed workings of America's legal system.



A Terrifying portrait of our corrupt legal system..., 21 Feb 2006
This is a very well made documentary that, despite its length, manages to keep your attention all the way through. It manages to be horrifying, emotional, and incredibly revealing. It contains trial video, interviews with the suspects, the families of both suspects and victims, and very definitive shots of the murder scene. I was astounded to witness as one of the first shots, the dead bodies of the three young boys, it was a very powerful opening and very impartial as it makes sure it starts your journey in exactly the same place as everyone who was there at the time, enabling you to feel the raw emotions of this terrible tragedy before you see the suspects.
The documentary does seem to sway more to the side of the defence as the case progresses as we get to see the consultations between the defence attorneys and the three teenage boys accused of ritual murder. This might seem like a tactic by the film makers in an attempt to throw an 'innocent' possibility into the mix, but as seen in the second part, there are many people that believe this to actually be true and are currently campaigning to get them out.
The movie really evokes emotion through the trial verdict, seeing the very little amount of evidence, if it can even be called evidence, be enough to convict these kids, even send one to death row, is very disturbing, and most of the evidence points in other distant directions. Despite whether or not these boys are guilty, the prosecutors had nowhere near enough actual evidence to convict them, and bring purely speculation. It is exceptionally enraging to see such legal bias existing in the present day and it is difficult to not feel fairly scared that this is always a possibility.
It is revealing in the sense that it shows the inefficiency and bias within the community and specifically the police department. The fact that it tells how a police officer 'lost' blood samples that could have connected another man to the case, the fact that the movie makers had to give a possible murder weapon to the police, it brings out their inefficiency. The fact that the boys were chosen as suspects merely upon the way they dress and the music they listen to, demonstrates the pure bias of the community.
This documentary is also efficient in bringing to our attention the murderous instincts of the murdered boys' families; their readiness to pick up a gun and kill without remorse is horrifying but so believable of their characters. The documentary and the defence even bring a possibility of one of the victim’s stepfathers being the murderer, and his inconsistent testimony and violent nature give this possibility some ground.
However people feel about the guilt or innocence of the boys convicted of this murder, this movie reveals the truth, there was nowhere near enough evidence to convict them and it is criminal that that bias verdict is standing even to this day with appeals being constantly denied. We see that the minds of West Memphis are made up even before the trial begins.

Shocking, 24 Dec 2005
Like many others, I had read snippets about this case in NME and other 'alternative' publications. It was only when the DVDs were released that I took more interest in the case. I won't go into the ins and outs of the case now, but you can read about it on the website made by their supporters.
The documentaries themselves are harrowing. The first one opens with the murder scene and police video of the boys' bodies; this is disturbing stuff. Unfortunately you get to see more photographs of the victims, but this isn't to shock, this is simply to aid the narrative.
After the first documentary, I could see why people still weren't sure of the boys' guilt. The documentary's style is deliberately unbiased (the film-makers simply set out to make a documentary about 3 boys they believed probably were guilty) and the narrative is guided by the people involved, not a 'voice of god' telling you what to think.
The second documentary is deliberately biased. The film-makers believed that the Memphis Three were innocent and therefore set out to make a documentary suggesting this. Again, there is no voice-over, so you are able to make up your own mind (my partner still doesn't believe all three boys are innocent, even after watching the documentaries) but it is very much in the favour of the WM3.
Brilliantly crafted.

horrific crime, horrific circumstances, 18 Aug 2005
i watched these documentaries not knowing anything about the case & there is no way that the 3 people serving time are guilty of this murder. The crime itself is scary & knowing that 3 innocent people are doing time is scary but the scariest thing about these documentaries is the real murderer is staring you in the face the whole time.

Soundtrack CD's, all the same..., 23 Dec 2008
Most of the tracks that can be heard in this CD are based on the theme tune - they all sound roughly the same in parts, but really good if you like that sort of thing I suppose. If you haven't watched the series, this CD compilation with music from the series will make no sense to you whatsoever. But, if you have watched the series, you can really recognise bits of music from the series. Apparently, this CD only features music from series one. But, I think it's still the same in series two.

But, anyway, a great CD if you're a fan of the series, but not if you don't watch it avidly.

One of Kamen's better releases, 10 Oct 2005
This CD is certainly a popular one, thanks in no small part to Bryan Adams' hit song. Kamen's CD releases are notoriously lazy and bare but when I listened to the first few tracks, I was pleasantly surprised. The first quarter of the movie is presented quite satisfactorily (tracks 1-3) and is the best section of the CD. His theme tune for Robin of Locksley is an exciting piece, updating the Prince of Thieves for a new generation of cinema goers and his fondness for Mario Nascimbene's 'The Vikings' shows in Robin's fanfare. This segues directly into the escape from the Crusades then a beautiful piece as Robin returns home, a melancholic theme for Marion and finally an adventurous frolicking in Sherwood, complete with traditional 'twangs'. However, from here on, as expected, the CD drops into an editing mess. Bits and pieces of the rest of the score are chopped into a handful of tracks with most of the score omitted, giving you a taste, rather than an experience and it ends with the inclusion of a mis-judged song 'Wild Times'. Overall, it's a good CD but since this is possibly Kamen's best scoring effort, it could have been so much better. I eagerly await an expanded release.

All the beauty of the film, 01 Oct 2001
What can I say? I saw the film for the first time about six years ago and it has always been a firm favourite of mine - getting this brought back all the memories of the first time I ever saw it. Highlights are 'Maid Marian' 'Overture and a Prisoner of the Crusades' and who could ever forget 'Everything I do (I do it for you)'? As you listen you can picture the action in your mind - from the beginning when we find Robin in the prison during the crusades to his reunion with Duncan to the birth of John little's baby to the wedding of Robin and Marian. Truly this a worthwhile soundtrack befitting any collection and not to be missed!

Haunting melodies, 29 Oct 2000
This CD contains haunting melodies from the hit movie. It transports you back to Sherwood forest and contains the Brian Adam's song of songs - "Everything I do, I do it for you." Happy memories of a good movie.

Metallica and, what? An Orchestra?!, 18 Sep 2008
It's one of those things that, when you first think about it, it really doesn't and shouldn't work.
Ever.

But after coming across this album's version of "Nothing Else Matters" on Kerrang! TV, I was shocked and also intrigued by what else the album may have in store.
Now, most people know Metallica as one of the most influencial and outstanding metal bands of all-time, so when fans heard that they would be combining themselves with the San Francisco Symphony, as you can imagine, assumptions were made before they music was even heard.
This is one of the most beautifully constructed albums that I have ever heard, and the fact that it is a live recording just adds to the charm of it all. It holds all the amazing work and most popular songs of the band, but with the added bonus of sounds that you have never heard from this genre of music before.
As I said, it sould never work, but to be honest, it really does, and is truely a fantastic and astounding album.

Should have been the best ever CD but doesn't work, 11 Jun 2008
Like S.Hammond in an earlier review I too am a huge Metallica fan and consider myself very open minded musically, and I too have tried again and again to get out of this CD what it should be - but it just isn't. Every now and then a bit works really well, but the vast majority does not - it just sounds like two completely different pieces of music are playing at the same time. The orchestra should add weight and emotion to the songs we know and love (check out Dream Theater's 'Score' DVD for an example of how it should be done) but it just makes them sound messy. Very disappointed.

Masterpiece of Symphonic Metal...CHANGED MY MUSICAL LIFE!!, 24 Feb 2008
This 1999 release changed my musical tastes and pointed me in a whole new genre of music - without this cd I may not have discovered the like of Therion, Nightwish, Emperor, Dimmu Borgir and all the many symphonic metal artists out there!!
Much has been said about this album but Metallica should be applauded for having the courage to step out of their comfort zone and play LIVE with a full piece Orchestra (something that the likes of the above bands have yet to do)
Metallica are on the top of their game here and Michael Kamen composed many excellent passages for the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra to accompany them, adding light and shade to a plethora of established classics. Hardly surprising for a composer who scored the Die Hard trilogy and knew a thing about adding cinematic effect when needed!! Sadly, Michael passed away in 2003 but this is a fine body of work for any classical/film score fan to crossover into the world of Metal and vice versa.
Particular credit should be given to Lars Ulrich - we all know he is not the worlds finest drummer but he more than delivers here and forms a formidable rhythm partnership with Jason Newsted who as ever handles the bass guitar with all the authority needed. James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett trade guitar riffs, licks & solos with energy and aggression and personally I think Hetfield is a better singer Live than in the studio as is the case here.
Bob Rock (often equally lauded and vilified) provides a sterling production to hold it all together and 'The cast of thousands' from the Orchestra really flex their muscles here; Strings, Brass, Percussion, Woodwind all take it to the limit. Think of Gladiator, The Two Towers,Conan The Barbarian, Excalibur. If you like any of those scores and like Metallica you will love this!!
Highlights:
The Call Of Ktulu (my personal favourite in this version and a Grammy winner to boot), Master Of Puppets, No Leaf Clover, Human, The Thing That Should Not Be, The Memory Remains (Great interaction with the crowd at the climax).
If there is any criticism , it is that certain Metallica songs that were just made for this have been omitted from the setlist - Orion, Fade To Black, Sanitarium and To Live Is To Die all raise your hands. Maybe Metallica will attempt this again with another composer (perhaps Howard Shore?) and interpret all these accordingly.
One things for sure, Cliff Burton, Metallica's original bass guitarist and classical fan, so tragically killed in 1986, would have been enraptured by this release.

I must also recommend a very similiar release - The Scorched Earth Orchestra Plays Master Of Puppets that you will find on Amazon. This is basically a small orchestra from Los Angeles doing their take on Metallica's magnum opus - and it rivals S&M for orchestral arrangement and surpasses Apocalyptica's worthy efforts. There are no electric guitars/bass or vocals, just strings,woodwind etc but if you enjoy Metallica and say the likes of Holst's The Planets then this is for you. Again the music reminds of an epic like Lord Of The Rings.

Pure bliss, 23 Jul 2007
This is a fantastic album with a perfect mix of orchestral power and speed mixed with grunging distorted guitars and haunting singing. It just works and it does it brilliantly. It is a real treat for the ears. The sound recording is top notch and not compressed to oblivion as so many CD's are these days. The reviewer below that said they couldn't hear it because there was too much going on- listen to it on a decent hi-fi it will blow your socks off. It gives your speakers a work out that's for sure due to the large dynamic range between the orchestra, the guitars, drums and the vocals. I've come to think it's a sin to try play this in the car or on small headphones because it just doesn't do it justice.

Just buy it, you will not regret it!

Metal starting to rust?, 21 Jul 2007
I have been a fan of Metallica for years, I listen to all kinds of music, so am not closed-minded with regard to the orchestra being on this cd. My main gripe about this c.d. is that there is FAR too much going on...there's FAR too much noise. O.K. I am not a conductor or musical arranger, but this sounds like it really is all over the place, with the orchestra sounding for the most part like it's playing just ANYTHING!!! On occasions turning the whole thing into a cacophany of din.

I have tried listening to this on and off since it came out, desperately trying to like it...I really really can't!

I think this was a BAD BAD idea!!

Band of Brothers (Kamen) [Soundtrack]., 06 Dec 2005
If you liked the series you will love the sound track. You will end up in a world of your own plus it's so relaxing just make sure you don't leave the kettle on!

Fans of the Show, 05 Feb 2004
This rating is based on the fact that I'm a big fan of the series. The music is wonderfully evocative and is great for easy listening background music.

If the Theme music for the series moves you then this is for you especially if you like classical music.

Unmatched Accompaniment to a Majestic Series, 29 Aug 2003
Since purchasing this album, I've listened to virtually nothing else. The Main Theme alone is probably one of the most moving pieces of music written in the last fifty years; the two Suites are admirable and vastly 'listenable' alternative takes on the rest of the score, and the selection that makes up the rest of the album is superb. The string quartet is enough to make you cry, and the final track, featuring a choral accompaniment to the main theme is strangley uplifting. The TV series is the ultimate statement of there being no glory in war, only infinite sadness, and this album echoes and enhances that sentiment without becoming mawkish. I know of no other soundtrack that both matches its source perfectly, yet remains a masterpiece in its own right. Utterly, utterly wonderful.

Excellent, 21 Jan 2002
This Soundtrack recaptures the moving account of the famous Easy Company in the Band of Brothers series.It's not hard to feel very emotional when listening to the various tracks.Highly recommended

Emotional bliss!, 02 Jan 2002
Superb from the first moment that you here the main theme you know this is something special!

Haunting, perfect and captures a past time superbly, soundtracks don't get much better than this!

To add to this the two Band Of Brothers Suite's are excellent, all the music reminds you of scene's from the series and its finale with Austria and the exceptional Band Of Brothers Requim put this in a class of its own.

Michael Kamen should be proud, this music is everything it should be and a little more. Buy and listen! For any person who likes classical film music this belongs right up there with John Williams! Superb and the emotional impact is huge. Thank you for producing such a wonderfull soundtrack!

Good Programme Doesn't Sparkle Enough, 08 Dec 2003
Marco Polo has been doing a great job in reintroducing the sort of light music that aficianados of a certain age, such as me, thought would never be revived. It isn't surprising that a sampler CD from the catalogue has appeared at Naxos price. That said, this is rather a mixed bag. It's good to hear the old familiar tunes come tumbling out--the only one new to me was Sketch of a Dandy and I loved it instantly. And I have to admire the way that the overseas orchestras capture the English light music idiom so effectively. But the delightful Vanity Fair sounds much too thin, Roses of Picardy and the Tom Jones waltz really need their words and Marigold would have been far better left as a piano solo than worked up into such an overblown arrangement. There is still much to enjoy here and the price is attractive; but, if you're prepared to spend a bit more, the Ronald Corp collections, which duplicate much of this repertoire, are better.

This is not the BBC, 12 Sep 2003
An interesting but disappointing selection. If, like me, you have fallen in love with ‘By the Sleepy Lagoon’ and ‘Sailing By’ through long association with BBC Radio 4 and the World Service, then you’ll find these versions flat and cheerless. However, the Slovaks certainly bring something bracing and exotic to ‘In a Persian Market’, which is the highlight of this disc.

A familiar suprise, 16 Mar 2002
I found this CD by accident, as I was looking for the track 'Sailing By'. Frankly its a delight, alot of familar tunes with a romantic classical theme. Buy it, you'll love it.

classic flicks, 17 Nov 2003
I recently listened to the music on the box set being played by the London Royal philharmonic orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall in London and immediately loved the music and bought the c.d box set. All the themes from the films are played brilliantly with a real joyous sound to them. The themes that I had seen the films to I think I enjoyed the most as I already new them yet hearing them being played by such a good orchestra really makes the c.d worth listening to. There is not a single bad track on the c.d and one of my particular favourites was 'the great escape' which really made me smile. This album is a must buy for anyone who enjoys film theme tunes or anyone who likes listening to an orchestra as talented as this. 5 stars!

Free the WM3!, 12 Aug 2008

You have to watch this doc. A huge miscarriage of justice, caught on film. The case is still ongoing, making the film as important now as it ever was.

Free the WM3!

Two great documentaries that are both fascinating and horrifying, 02 Mar 2007
These documentaries are about the brutal murders of three eight year old boys in West Memphis, Arkansas. When three teenage misfits are arrested, we appear to be following a clear-cut story of the aftermath of a crime, but what is slowly revealed is a much darker tale of sloppy police work and a painfully obvious rush to judge three young men based on almost nothing more than their appearance and interests.

At the centre of all of this is Damien Echols, the oldest of the three arrested youths. He is intelligent and articulate, but he wears his outsider status with pride and, as a result, carries himself with a sense of aloofness and arrogance. What prevents you from simply taking the side of the accused in this situation is Echols himself, and when he states - despite continuing to protest his innocence - that he wants to be remembered as 'the boogie man of West Memphis', the waters become very muddy indeed. The sense of empathy you feel for the jury, who must have been utterly confused by this young man who is so very different from them, means it is never easy to decide where your sympathies lie.

It is a great credit to film makers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky that they never guide you in this decision. They have an uncanny ability to sit back and let events unfold, never trying to impose a clear view on the guilt or innocence of the boys on trial. That is your decision to make, and even after the first film has reached its conclusion it will not be an easy choice.

The second film, Paradise Lost 2: Revelations, picks up the story six years after part one. The events revolve around Echols's latest appeal, but, as with the original film, things quickly become more complex.

A new development here is the interest in the case sparked by Paradise Lost itself. Many well-meaning people from all around America have seen the film and formed a support group with the intention of freeing the 'West Memphis Three'. The second major aspect is the focus on another possible suspect, a man with a very checkered past who was, bafflingly, never even considered as a potential murderer by the police.

Given the almost complete lack of evidence against the accused teenagers (the prosecution's case rested largely on the jury's perception of the accused as freaks and outsiders), it is at once fascinating and horrifying to see how many corners can be cut by trained professionals, even when in connection with such a heinous crime.

This one is recommended to all documentary film fans, especially if you have any interest in the flawed workings of America's legal system.



A Terrifying portrait of our corrupt legal system..., 21 Feb 2006
This is a very well made documentary that, despite its length, manages to keep your attention all the way through. It manages to be horrifying, emotional, and incredibly revealing. It contains trial video, interviews with the suspects, the families of both suspects and victims, and very definitive shots of the murder scene. I was astounded to witness as one of the first shots, the dead bodies of the three young boys, it was a very powerful opening and very impartial as it makes sure it starts your journey in exactly the same place as everyone who was there at the time, enabling you to feel the raw emotions of this terrible tragedy before you see the suspects.
The documentary does seem to sway more to the side of the defence as the case progresses as we get to see the consultations between the defence attorneys and the three teenage boys accused of ritual murder. This might seem like a tactic by the film makers in an attempt to throw an 'innocent' possibility into the mix, but as seen in the second part, there are many people that believe this to actually be true and are currently campaigning to get them out.
The movie really evokes emotion through the trial verdict, seeing the very little amount of evidence, if it can even be called evidence, be enough to convict these kids, even send one to death row, is very disturbing, and most of the evidence points in other distant directions. Despite whether or not these boys are guilty, the prosecutors had nowhere near enough actual evidence to convict them, and bring purely speculation. It is exceptionally enraging to see such legal bias existing in the present day and it is difficult to not feel fairly scared that this is always a possibility.
It is revealing in the sense that it shows the inefficiency and bias within the community and specifically the police department. The fact that it tells how a police officer 'lost' blood samples that could have connected another man to the case, the fact that the movie makers had to give a possible murder weapon to the police, it brings out their inefficiency. The fact that the boys were chosen as suspects merely upon the way they dress and the music they listen to, demonstrates the pure bias of the community.
This documentary is also efficient in bringing to our attention the murderous instincts of the murdered boys' families; their readiness to pick up a gun and kill without remorse is horrifying but so believable of their characters. The documentary and the defence even bring a possibility of one of the victim’s stepfathers being the murderer, and his inconsistent testimony and violent nature give this possibility some ground.
However people feel about the guilt or innocence of the boys convicted of this murder, this movie reveals the truth, there was nowhere near enough evidence to convict them and it is criminal that that bias verdict is standing even to this day with appeals being constantly denied. We see that the minds of West Memphis are made up even before the trial begins.

Shocking, 24 Dec 2005
Like many others, I had read snippets about this case in NME and other 'alternative' publications. It was only when the DVDs were released that I took more interest in the case. I won't go into the ins and outs of the case now, but you can read about it on the website made by their supporters.
The documentaries themselves are harrowing. The first one opens with the murder scene and police video of the boys' bodies; this is disturbing stuff. Unfortunately you get to see more photographs of the victims, but this isn't to shock, this is simply to aid the narrative.
After the first documentary, I could see why people still weren't sure of the boys' guilt. The documentary's style is deliberately unbiased (the film-makers simply set out to make a documentary about 3 boys they believed probably were guilty) and the narrative is guided by the people involved, not a 'voice of god' telling you what to think.
The second documentary is deliberately biased. The film-makers believed that the Memphis Three were innocent and therefore set out to make a documentary suggesting this. Again, there is no voice-over, so you are able to make up your own mind (my partner still doesn't believe all three boys are innocent, even after watching the documentaries) but it is very much in the favour of the WM3.
Brilliantly crafted.

horrific crime, horrific circumstances, 18 Aug 2005
i watched these documentaries not knowing anything about the case & there is no way that the 3 people serving time are guilty of this murder. The crime itself is scary & knowing that 3 innocent people are doing time is scary but the scariest thing about these documentaries is the real murderer is staring you in the face the whole time.

Soundtrack CD's, all the same..., 23 Dec 2008
Most of the tracks that can be heard in this CD are based on the theme tune - they all sound roughly the same in parts, but really good if you like that sort of thing I suppose. If you haven't watched the series, this CD compilation with music from the series will make no sense to you whatsoever. But, if you have watched the series, you can really recognise bits of music from the series. Apparently, this CD only features music from series one. But, I think it's still the same in series two.

But, anyway, a great CD if you're a fan of the series, but not if you don't watch it avidly.

One of Kamen's better releases, 10 Oct 2005
This CD is certainly a popular one, thanks in no small part to Bryan Adams' hit song. Kamen's CD releases are notoriously lazy and bare but when I listened to the first few tracks, I was pleasantly surprised. The first quarter of the movie is presented quite satisfactorily (tracks 1-3) and is the best section of the CD. His theme tune for Rob