Loud, pacing music. This is the score from an action movie, so it needs such a backing. The music has a pounding pulse laid out by timpanists and other percussionists (who are surprisingly left uncredited in the liner notes). On top of that is a huge number of brass players laid out in another layer of sound. Altogether, it's a dense mass of compositions, with an extra beat pounded out in the back. For an action movie, this all seems pretty decently fitting. As such, this is certainly a worthwhile listen. As is the case with many scores, however, without the movie to back up, the music is somewhat less listenable on its own (in this case, the problem is primarily the extreme length of the works, which tend to drag on without a good chase scene to accompany them). Collectors will still find pleasure in this album, though. ~ Adam Greenberg