CD REVIEW - The Last Mimzy


The Last Mimzy
Music by Howard Shore
Silva screen SILCD1231 (UK)
16 Tracks 50:49 mins

I never used to go a bundle on the music of Howard Shore and was somewhat disturbed when I heard he had been chosen to write the music for the first Lord of the Rings film. Of course, we all know how that turned out. Well, in my opinion, working on that esteemed trilogy did all of his music sensibilities a power of good, because I've liked most everything he's written ever since, and this score is no exception.
The film is a sci-fi fantasy, in which a couple of kids are given amazing powers by their association with a box of educational toys that come from the future. As one would expect then, Shore's music has a certain awe and otherwordliness to it at times, and his main theme is certainly interesting and not easily hummable, reminding me somewhat of the unusual thematic leaps Michael Kamen used to provide from time to time. This theme pretty much dominates the score, along with the innocent, playful music for the children, first introduced in "Whidbey Island."
Along the way there is much mystery, suspense and tension, with the odd propulsive moment, and strings feature strongly throughout. The only black mark for this album comes with the composer's collaboration with Pink Floyd's Roger Waters on the song "Hello (I Love You)," which is unattractive and just plain weird. Fortunately however, this is placed at the end of the disc and so can be easily avoided.