A review by JAMES SOUTHALL

A somewhat ill-advised movie, Thunderbirds marks the first major movie directed by Star Trek's Jonathan Frakes (outside of that franchise), with a surprisingly good cast (Bill Paxton, Anthony Edwards, Ben Kingsley) being roundly scorned for sub-par performances in what is essentially an attempt by Universal to recreate something along the lines of Spy Kids.  The original series is a kind of camp cult classic but never really seemed the sort of thing suitable for a live-action big-budget treatment, but then what do I know?  It was of course scored by Barry Gray and I suspect this movie would have been scored by Jerry Goldsmith had tragic events not unfolded the way they did, but instead Frakes turned to the remarkably-prolific Hans Zimmer, assisted by Ramin Djawadi.

Many reviews and other comments I have read elsewhere have said that the score is a surprising and mainly-orchestral updating of the Barry Gray sound.  I have to say, the only surprising thing I find about the music is that anyone found it surprising: it's surely everything one would expect a Zimmer score for a kids' film to sound, with his usual mix of the orchestra and electronics but with a slightly lighter feel.  The album opens with a slightly hideous - though less hideous than it could have been - updating of Gray's classic theme, before the Zimmer/Djawadi music starts in earnest with the entertaining "International Rescue", showing off their catchy little main theme.

The score contains a lot of action music, split generally into two camps - some of it is mostly orchestral, but with almost-permanent electronic accompaniment, and this works well - and some features a very modest orchestra overlaid with trendy - but so, so irritating - drum loops.  Some highlights include the playful "Can't Wait to be a Thunderbird", action-packed "TB 3 Takeoff" and anthemic "Junior Mission".  There is some considerably lighter music at times, including a lovely synth wind theme heard briefly in "Fafafa... No Way!"  The less good music comes with t the more obvious attempts to appeal to the yoof audience in things like the pointless "Thunderise!" which is for the most part just a repeating drum loop, before the main theme bursts forth towards the end, showing how much better things could have been if Zimmer had steered clear of the electronics a little more.  The final part of the album is dominated by somewhat meandering, lengthy action pieces which aren't all that great, before a reasonable arrangement of Gray's "FAB" and the popular song by teeny boppers Busted, "Thunderbirds are Go".

This is a reasonable album.  It's nothing too great, nothing too awful, just pleasant and generally inoffensive music all the way through.  I sometimes wish Zimmer would be a little more ambitious a little more often because this is clearly just treading water, but at least it's a bit of a change from the more turgid, serious stuff he has been writing recently.  The Peacemaker-lite, I suppose.

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Tracks

1. Thunderbirds are Go! (2:06)
2. International Rescue (2:40)
3. Lady Penelope: At Your Service (1:36)
4. The Hood (2:42)
5. You Need to Grow Up (1:30)
6. Can't Wait to be a Thunderbird (1:55)
7. Galion Electrolyte Compound (1:40)
8. TB 3 Takeoff (3:40)
9. Tracy Island (1:31)
10. Junior Mission (2:27)
11. Fafafa... No Way! (3:25)
12. Thunderise! (2:51)
13. Lady Penelope to the Rescue (4:16)
14. Buggy Chase (2:12)
15. Major Disaster (6:28)
16. Bank of England (4:06)
17. FAB (1:57)
18. Thunderbirds are Go! Busted (3:14)