Michael Giacchino's Dawn of The Planet Of The Apes (2014)

[Jay 37,351]

Haven't seen a lot of discussion for this score yet for some reason. Are people waiting for their physical CDs? Or is there just not a lot to say about it?

Anyone whose seen the film want to talk about the themes and what they represent?

[SafeUnderHill 205]

[Max 141]

I haven't really done one before, but I can do a score analysis of the themes in a day or two.

As far as I've been able to tell, there is the Noble Apes theme (as Matt Reeves called it), the Rogue Apes theme, the Human theme, and Caesar's theme, which are the four themes highlighted in Planet of the End Credits (in the order of Human, Rogue Apes, Caesar, Noble Apes, and Caesar again). I think there also might be a small motif for Caesar's newborn son, but it appears only once on the soundtrack and only twice in the film, I think. (Edit: Now that I think about it, I think the newborn's motif is actually just Caesar's theme... We can discuss this later!)

Anyway, I can do a full track-by-track analysis in the next day or two. I've really enjoyed the score on its own, and I thought it worked really well in the film. I need to do another listen-through to get the specific time stamps for themes.

[Jay 37,351]

There's a 4 note theme you can hear it at:

Close Encounters of the Furred Kind 1:15-1:30

Enough Monkeying Around 2:10-2:45

Primates For Life 0:15-0:55

Primates For Life 4:35-5:15 (backed up by other stuff)

Planet Of The End Credits 5:00-5:25

Planet Of The End Credits 7:35-8:15 (backed up by other stuff)

Is that Caesar's Theme?

[Max 141]

There's a 4 note theme you can hear it at:

Close Encounters of the Furred Kind 1:15-1:30

Enough Monkeying Around 2:10-2:45

Primates For Life 4:35-5:15 (backed up by other stuff)

Planet Of The End Credits 5:00-5:25

Planet Of The End Credits 7:35-8:15 (backed up by other stuff)

Is that Caesar's Theme?

Yep! In Close Encounters of the Furred Kind, it appears when Caesar stands on the rock in front of the humans.

In Enough Monkeying Around, it appears when

Caesar starts to win the fight against Koba.

In Primates for Life, it also appears from 0:15-0:53, both times as

Caesar stands victorious in front of the rest of the apes.

It also appears in a scene in the dam (not on the soundtrack), when

Caesar walks in and interrupts the fight between Koba and Blue Eyes.

[Koray Savas 2,251]

Haven't seen a lot of discussion for this score yet for some reason. Are people waiting for their physical CDs? Or is there just not a lot to say about it?

Anyone whose seen the film want to talk about the themes and what they represent?

I listened to it once and it didn't do much for me. Haven't revisited it since.

[Max 141]

NOTE: I've never tried anything like this before, so it's very likely that I haven't caught the more minor motifs or variations. If I've messed up anything or left out something, or if I need to be more specific with the theme descriptions, just let me know and I'll fix it!

As far as I've been able to tell, there are four main themes.

The most prominent theme of the score is what director Matt Reeves has called the Noble Apes theme. This theme is used to reflect the apes who align with Caesar and the utopian society in which they live.

Opposing this theme is the Rogue Apes theme, which is a harsher, angrier theme representing primarily Koba, the film's antagonist, and also, to a smaller extent, the apes who follow him.

The Human theme is relatively quiet and sad. It represents the main group of humans who interact with the apes, as well as the human civilization in San Francisco. The theme's apparent simplicity is a reflection of these humans' way of life.

Caesars theme appears only a few times throughout the score, when Caesar stands out as a leader of the apes. (In general, Caesar is associated with the Noble Apes theme.)

I believe there are also at least two smaller motifs: the "war" motif, which appears in Gorilla Warfare and The Apes of Wrath, and the "baby" motif, which appears in The Great Ape Processional, when Caesar and Cornelia's baby is born, and (from what I could tell) one another time in the film, when Ellie (Keri Russell's character) plays with the baby in the scene preceding Along Simian Lines.

Hopefully any disagreements, additions, or questions you have about this can drive the discussion!

THEME-BY-THEME BREAKDOWN:

Noble Apes theme

02. Look Who's Stalking 1:42-1:52

03. The Great Ape Processional 0:55-1:39, 2:29-2:32, 2:37-2:40, 2:46-2:49, 2:54-2:57, 3:01-3:04, 3:10-3:13, 3:17-3:20, 3:26-3:28, 3:33-3:36, 3:41-4:20

04. Past Their Primates 0:33-1:45

08. Along Simian Lines 2:41-3:15

10. Monkey See, Monkey Coup 0:45-1:37

17. Primates for Life 2:29-4:35

18. Planet of the End Credits 5:32-7:32

Rogue Apes theme

05. Close Encounters of the Furred Kind 3:11-3:55

06. Monkey to the City 0:32-1:05

08. Along Simian Lines 4:13-5:00

10. Monkey See, Monkey Coup 3:21-3:58

11. Gorilla Warfare 0:31-0:42, 5:59-6:11

16. Enough Monkeying Around 1:05-1:23, 1:27-1:29, 1:33-1:35, 1:39-1:41, 1:45-1:47, 1:50-1:52, 1:56-1:58

18. Planet of the End Credits 3:32-4:10, 4:27-4:29, 4:32-4:34, 4:36-4:52

Human theme

01. Level Plaguing Field 0:00-2:05

05. Close Encounters of the Furred Kind 3:56-4:36

08. Along Simian Lines 0:28-1:45, 1:58-2:26, 3:47-4:12

11. Gorilla Warfare 1:51-2:02, 6:12-6:48, 6:55-7:13

12. The Apes of Wrath 0:55-1:26

16. Enough Monkeying Around 2:54-3:16, *0:26-0:31, 0:35-0:40, 0:43-0:47, 0:52-0:57, 1:01-1:06* (maybe?)

18. Planet of the End Credits 0:33-3:26

Caesar's theme

05. Close Encounters of the Furred Kind 1:18-1:29

16. Enough Monkeying Around 2:12-2:25

17. Primates for Life 0:15-0:54, 4:35-5:16

18. Planet of the End Credits 4:59-5:22, 7:32-8:13

"War" motif

11. Gorilla Warfare 0:18-0:28, 4:59-5:36

12. The Apes of Wrath 4:02-4:19

"Baby" motif

03. The Great Ape Processional 3:06-3:09, 3:14-3:17, 3:22-3:26, 3:29-3:33

TRACK-BY-TRACK BREAKDOWN:

01. Level Plaguing Field

Human: 0:00-2:05

02. Look Who's Stalking

Noble Apes: 1:42-1:52

03. The Great Ape Processional

Noble Apes: 0:55-1:39

Noble Apes (first four notes): 2:29-2:32, 2:37-2:40, 2:46-2:49, 2:54-2:57, 3:01-3:04, 3:10-3:13, 3:17-3:20, 3:26-3:28, 3:33-3:36

"Baby" motif: 3:06-3:09, 3:14-3:17, 3:22-3:26, 3:29-3:33

Noble Apes: 3:41-4:20

04. Past Their Primates

Noble Apes: 0:33-1:45

05. Close Encounters of the Furred Kind

Caesar: 1:18-1:29

Rogue Apes: 3:11-3:55

Human: 3:56-4:36

06. Monkey to the City

Rogue Apes: 0:32-1:05

07. The Lost City of Chimpanzee

08. Along Simian Lines

Human: 0:28-1:45, 1:58-2:26

Noble Apes: 2:41-3:15

Human: 3:47-4:12

Rogue Apes: 4:13-5:00

09. Caesar No Evil, Hear No Evil

10. Monkey See, Monkey Coup

Noble Apes: 0:45-1:37

Rogue Apes: 3:21-3:58

11. Gorilla Warfare

"War" motif: 0:18-0:28

Rogue Apes: 0:31-0:42

Human: 1:51-2:02

"War" motif: 4:59-5:36

Rogue Apes: 5:59-6:11

Human: 6:12-6:48, 6:55-7:13

12. The Apes of Wrath

Human: 0:55-1:26

"War" motif: 4:02-4:19

13. Gibbon Take

14. Aped Crusaders

15. How Bonobo Can You Go

16. Enough Monkeying Around

Human(?): 0:26-0:31, 0:35-0:40, 0:43-0:47, 0:52-0:57, 1:01-1:06

Rogue Apes: 1:05-1:23, 1:27-1:29, 1:33-1:35, 1:39-1:41, 1:45-1:47, 1:50-1:52, 1:56-1:58

Caesar: 2:12-2:25

Human: 2:54-3:16

17. Primates for Life

Caesar: 0:15-0:54

Noble Apes: 2:29-4:35

Caesar: 4:35-5:16

18. Planet of the End Credits

Human: 0:33-3:26

Rogue Apes: 3:32-4:10, 4:27-4:29, 4:32-4:34, 4:36-4:52

Caesar: 4:59-5:22

Noble Apes: 5:32-7:32

Caesar: 7:32-8:13

19. Ain't That a Stinger

[Jay 37,351]

Wow, awesome work!

[Jay 37,351]

My physical copy arrived from Amazon yesterday

There's a really nice note from Matt Reeves on the first page. Apparently he showed MG the first rough cut in the film in December, 3 hours long and with no special effects. MG came back a few weeks later with a 10 minutes suite that Reeves listened to repeatedly while cutting and finishing the film. There's some stills from the film, all the musicians are listed, and there are 3 great pictures of Giacchino credited as being taken by Maria Giacchino, who it looks like is MG's sister. Finally in the special thanks MG gives a nice tribute to Jerry Goldsmith.

Definitely one of the better OSTs that comes out, Sony Classical did a real nice job here!

[Koray Savas 2,251]

Yeah I liked his little thank you to Goldsmith. Just ripped the CD today, but had it since Tuesday.

[Max 141]

I don't really know where else to post this, but

‘Apes’ Director Matt Reeves Inks 3-Year Production Deal With 20th Century Fox

I'm excited for this partnership, mainly for the Giacchino scores that could arise from it. Hopefully the deal will last long enough to produce more than just the next Planet of the Apes film in 2016 (which Giacchino has already confirmed he's scoring).

[OneBuckFilms 319]

Great, now I have Koba's theme running through my head again ...

[BloodBoal 7,538]

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

Good news that Gia's returning, bad news that Reeves is.

[crocodile 8,003]

So you're enjoying the score then?

Karol

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

Oh yeah. Didn't think much of the film or the direction though..

[crocodile 8,003]

It's a decent and competent film. That's all I can really say about it.

Karol

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

I just hoped for much more. With the exception of Doyle's score, I loved RISE OF THE THE PLANET OF THE APES.

[crocodile 8,003]

In all fairness, these are very difficult to pull off. By anybody's standards. But for me they both kind of miss the point.

Karol

[Koray Savas 2,251]

I just hoped for much more. With the exception of Doyle's score, I loved RISE OF THE THE PLANET OF THE APES.

I thought Doyle's score was good, but I haven't listened to it in awhile. The film was my favorite from that Summer.

Been listening to Giacchino's entry and it's growing on me, but I don't think I'm going to catch this one in theaters. Good to hear he's scoring the next one.

[crocodile 8,003]

I think watching the film can only improve your enjoyment of the svore. Gia nailed this one.

Karol

[BloodBoal 7,538]

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

Maurice rules.

[BloodBoal 7,538]

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

Apes stupid.

[BloodBoal 7,538]

[OneBuckFilms 319]

I loved the film and score, same with Rise.

Giacchino's take on the score really does harken back to Goldsmith's original at times, and Koba's theme is awesomely aggressive and primitive, absolutely spot on.

The almost utopian theme for Caesar does a great job of capturing his conflicted wisdom.

[Koray Savas 2,251]

Are they going to keep sticking to events before the original film? I'm all for them remaking it and going in their own direction to create a unified universe.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

They will do several prequels and eventually it will all tie into the Tim Burton film.

[OneBuckFilms 319]

Are they going to keep sticking to events before the original film? I'm all for them remaking it and going in their own direction to create a unified universe.

I suspect they will, at least for now.

Eventually they may remake the original story using the current narrative, and that could be good if they maintain the quality of Rise and Dawn.

[crocodile 8,003]

If you think about it, there is no real reason to even tell that original story at this point, The element of surprise, so crucial to everything, is long gone.

Karol

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

Are they going to keep sticking to events before the original film? I'm all for them remaking it and going in their own direction to create a unified universe.

I suspect they will, at least for now.

Eventually they may remake the original story using the current narrative, and that could be good if they maintain the quality of Rise and Dawn.

That would be heresy.

[BloodBoal 7,538]

[crocodile 8,003]

Cool.

Karol

[Jonesy 55]

Clemmensen's review.

http://filmtracks.com/titles/dawn_planet_apes.html

[crocodile 8,003]

So Giacchino is a no-no because he honoured Goldsmith and not Doyle?

The recording sounds flat?

What the...?

Karol

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

3 stars. Sounds like Gia.

[crocodile 8,003]

Well, at least Goldsmith got two.

Karol

[KK 3,307]

He gave the same rating I'd give, maybe a half star less.

The Goldsmith homage isn't as prominent as people like to make it out to be. So I suppose that's why he didn't mention it. But Clemmenson has always had a strangely overwhelming fondness for Doyle, a composer I'm not very fond of myself. There is some needless bold praise for him in this review, I'll give ya that.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Needless?

[Max 141]

He used Giacchino's Land of the Lost as a negative example, but I regularly listen to that and *enjoy* it, while I've tried several times and have never been able to make it through Doyle's Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

And to call Giacchino's track titles a "detriment" to the score is ridiculous, since what the tracks are called have (or should have) no effect on how they sound. That's one of the most annoying (and, sadly, common) complaints about Giacchino's scores I've heard, and it doesn't make sense.

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

Well, at least Goldsmith got two.

Karol

Hold up.

This twat gave Goldsmith's score two stars?

I will now even more enjoy calling him a twatty twat as I don't click on the link to his page. Eat shit.

[crocodile 8,003]

I mean, people never complain about Horner's track titles.... Now, he does have a real talent for those.

This twat gave Goldsmith's score two stars?

I will now even more enjoy calling him a twatty twat as I don't click on the link to his page. Eat shit.

He never reviewed the album, but if you go to Goldsmith's page, you'll see it's rated.

Don't worry, he hates North, too.

And he doesn't appreciate Desplat's smaller scores - calls them sterile.

Karol

[KK 3,307]

Yeah, he doesn't rank the more challenging stuff very well...but I think its largely because he's catering to his audience, who are mainstream collectors. Clemmenson's always viewed and used his site more as a gateway for more mainstream viewers to learn about film music. And for those guys, Filmtracks is like a platform from which you can go on to explore more serious, challenging corners to the film music niche.

And some of Desolat's work can be sterile!

Needless?

The excessive praise for Doyle in reviews of other composers' works is something I view as needless.

[crocodile 8,003]

Yeah, he doesn't rank the more challenging stuff very well...but I think its largely because he's catering to his audience, who are mainstream collectors. Clemmenson's always viewed and used his site more as a gateway for more mainstream viewers to learn about film music. And for those guys, Filmtracks is like a platform from which you can go on to explore more serious, challenging corners to the film music niche.

I do know his philosophy, but the logic is faltering. How is he supposed to encourage anyone if he's not recommending anything but comfort food? It might be great comfort food, but that's only one thing of many.

Karol

[Faleel 5,346]

The recording sounds flat?

Karol

Its a step down from Into Darkness.

[crocodile 8,003]

Karol

[Faleel 5,346]

It sounds muffled.

STID sounds nice and bright.

[crocodile 8,003]

I don't like Into Darkness. Apes is so much more detailed and rich.

Karol

[Faleel 5,346]

Apes is so much more detailed and rich.

Karol

It sounds like crap.