Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

[jamesie 1]

I'm just curious... Has anyone bought the score yet? And if so... what's it like? Is it worth buying? I have a good gut feeling I'll really like this score... Thanks a bunch.

[Ray Barnsbury 8]

I bought it Tuesday, being a fan of much of Elfman's work, and I'm enjoying it so far. It's possibly the most Elfmannesque score Elfman ever wrote. But, to me at least, his trademarks which are abundant in this score (dark, mood-changing melodies, distinctive choral writing, swirling strings, etc) don't sound tired or worn out. If you like the stereotypical Elfman sound, you'll probably like this score. Oh, and the quirky songs at the beginning of the album are a lot of fun.

Ray Barnsbury

[HPFAN_2 0]

I went to Wal-Mart to pick up something but the geek in me decided to wonder to the Entertainment Section. I already knew the abysmal score selection that Wal-Mart has but decided to head that direction anyways. I was pleasantly surprised that it was updated. I wasn't just looking at REALLY OLD score but there were a few new releases. I started rummaging through the selection and came across Thomas Newman's Cinderella Man. I lovd TN. My budget was only set for one cd but i kept looking because i hate choosing things without looking at everything available. Then i came across Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Elfman. So now it was Elfman vs Newman. I love Newman, to me he is the second best composer. I've only heard Sleepy Hollow and Spider Man 2 from Elfman, the later i hated, the former i thought was okay. The obvious choice was Newman but it was dramatic Newman, i know he can do drama, example the brilliant Road to Perdition but i love his whimisical scores more. So i took a chance and went with Charlie and the Chocalte Factory.

The score neatly seperates the songs from the rest of the album by placing them up front, i liked that.

Wonka's Welcome Song

It's nice its catchy the orchestration is clever. It's a mix (like almost all of the score is) of synth and conventional orchestra. But it's no Double Trouble. Meaning a song that ties into the whole score as an underlining theme.

Augustus Gloop

this track is far better though. It's starts off with the ominous and off setting chants of the Oompa Loompa then goes into to conga drums and then into the semi jazz semi marching band orchestration. All around it's fun song that incorporates several genres.

and this is where the songs go down hill.

Violet Beauregarde

This sounds like some cheap disney pop song. Yuk!

Veruca salt

WTF! Sounds like some foolish pop song.

Mike Teavee

:roll:

Maint Title

Typical Elfman , floury strings, with plucking, plucking, plucking and some interesting horn work. You know the usual choir and everything that you would expect out of Edward Siccor Hand. However that's how it begins, it blends nicely into synth and orchestra playing at the same time. It takes on a more moody and meloidc tone. Elfman is cleary having fun! If this is what the mood and style of the film is like then it makes me excited. This is a wonderful main theme!

The score is very moody and stylistic. It's not too dark it's not to happy from what i've seen it seems to match the film that Burton has made. Other than some clever writing and quirky orchestration it's not technicaly thrilling. If you're a sound mixer and in to that stuff, then you probably will appreciate this score very much. I don't think not one track on this score can be performed and sound like it does on the album. There is alot techinical crafting here.

Some of my fav tracks.

Main theme

Augustus Gloop

The Boat arrives

I LOVE THIS TRACK. It's so fun. Starts all dark with the drums supporting the chanting then goes into the ominous voices with a blast from the horns. It's a very interesting track. Something that you will not listen to only once.

The River Cruise

This is just like The Boat Arrives, same chanting. I love the way the Boat Arrives track ends abruptly but this picks up where it left off.

The River Cruise Part 2

Loompa Land

Overall i give it a 8.4 out of 10.