I might not be a history buff, but I do know that King Arthur was British. So, deep in my heart, I know that having the score to King Arthur (featuring the ever so luscious Keira Knightley) feature an almost Irish lilt to it is just plain wrong.
So why do I like this disc so much?
Maybe it's the fact that, being part Irish in my heritage, there's something about Hans Zimmer's score which resonates in my subconscious. Maybe it's the recurring theme first laid out by the haunting vocals of Moya Brennan on "Tell Me Now (What You See)." Maybe Zimmer has just created a spectacular series of songs with a hint of humor in them (more on that in just a minute).
Whatever the case, this is one of the best soundtracks I've heard this year.
Zimmer does create the music around a theme - something which could have been dangerous had the score not been particularly well-written. In this particular case, though, Zimmer is able to create a body of music which stands out on its own, away from the action on the big screen, and keeps the listener interested. All the while, Zimmer keeps things tied together with the musical theme created in "Tell Me Now (What You See)." He keeps your hope alive with its use ("Woad To Ruin"), and he suggests deep sadness in its mournful tone ("All Of Them!")… and makes each appearance sound fresh. There's a reason why Zimmer is on a par with John Williams in terms of movie soundtracks, and King Arthur is just further proof of this.
Yet Zimmer doesn't let the moment slide without a touch of humor. Granted, the subject of the movie is quite serious, but you can't help love slight plays on words in song titles like "Do You Think I'm Saxon?" (thank you, Rod Stewart), "Another Brick In Hadrian's Wall" and "Hold The Ice". I don't claim to know if there's any theme to the titles in terms of their relationship to the movie -- even with Knightley in this one, the film just doesn't have enough appeal to my tastes to send me into the theatres. But, in the end, the titles don't matter -- indeed, they just serve as icing on a well-baked cake of music.
The fact is, you don't have to have seen King Arthur in the theatres to enjoy this disc -- you don't even have to have a degree in European history. You just have to enjoy well-written, well-executed symphonic music -- and, in this regard, Zimmer delivers.