Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Reviews

• Hans Zimmer Provides A Brilliant Continuation For The Trilogy, Not A Reincarnation Of Badelt's Score To The First Film

  
  By A27CHILBK6HIL2 on 2006-07-06
  The first Pirates Of The Caribbean score is one of the most popular adventure scores of all time and I can't believe it was not nominated. Klaus Badelt composed the score with very little time to do so, which is why Hans Zimmer helped guide him through the process. If you look on the back of the CD case of the first score, you will see that the score is "over"produced by Hans Zimmer. Zimmer did write some stuff for the first film, but Klaus helmed it and it turned out simply amazing. Now the master takes over for the apprentice and Hans Zimmer delivers an excellent but very different score for the sequel.
  
  I think the major difference between the scores is the tone. Badelt's score was much lighter and had an epic feel to it while Zimmer's score is darker and much heavier. Since we are dealing with a trilogy I am assuming that the three films will be different in tone as well. Zimmer's score is a full-blown synth/orchestration that borrows themes from the first score as well as add a whole new feel. We are in the belly of the whale here, and the score definately suggests that. A lot of people will probably say that they enjoyed the first score versus this one, and I can understand that. Hans Zimmer doesn't really establish the main themes that we heard in the first one. Instead he only brings them in once in a while just to remind us that this is a continuation of the first movie and not a reincarnation. The highlight of the album is definately track 2 where we hear some signature Zimmer. He uses a structure that reminds me of his work on King Arthur. I absolutely loved this score and can't wait to hear his score to the trilogy's final installment next summer.
  
  

• Zimmer's "Dead Man's Chest" Swashes a Fine Buckle

  
  By A2VOIE123XM7T5 on 2006-07-11
  First foremost, and above all Hans Zimmer's score for "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" is a perfect fit for the film, and the soundtrack album is a fine representation of most of the music for the Disney epic. Sure, a good deal of it is based on themes from the first "Pirates of the Caribbean," and surely all of the themes thus far will reappear next summer with the third and final chapter, but it is good stuff and almost everyone loves it. We still have some lingering questions about how much of the original themes were Zimmer's work and what should be credited to Klaus Badelt, but by now that is all rather academic. In this score Zimmer makes new use of the original themes, the true foundation of this musical voyage, and pops in new themes and motifs, especially his music for the Kraken and Davy Jones, and a few hornpipes for fun. Darker and more menacing in places with apt use of chorus and organ (or electronic organ) that work particularly well as motifs for the Kraken and Davy Jones (including a rather sentimental music-box theme that is quite touching and foreboding). Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, and Elizabeth Swann are all remembered by musical signatures, both in the earlier themes and some new variations, but so are the Caribbean natives. It is all swashbuckling fun, and on that level could not be much better. One thing though; obviously the album was cut before the final version of the film and there is some music that did not make it to the album (much of the opening)...too bad, because we could have done without the Tiesto bonus. Good produciton values and packaging by Disney.
  
  

• A worthy followup

  
  By ASI4BHODRYFQ3 on 2006-07-06
  Some say Zimmer did the better job while others say this isn't as good as the first score. I have my personal opinion about the score. The fact is that I hated both of the scores but here I am helping POTC fans out.
  
  If you loved the first one, you'll be happy to know that most of the themes are reprised on this one. The Capt. Jack theme gets a "waltzy" rendition. It fits the character nicely but whether you'll like is up to you.
  
  There are some new themes most notably that of The Kraken in, well, THE KRAKEN. Its a dark track with some organ music. Another dark track is TAI DALMA with wailing female vocals. WHEEL OF FORTUNE is the action track from the first movie. It's played a bit slower but otherwise it's the same. There's heavy similarities to Zimmer's other work KING ARTHUR in both YOU LOOK GOOD JACK and HELLO BEASTIE.
  
  HELLO BEASTIE is a long, dark song lasting just over 10 minutes. It contains dark percussion with hits against electric guitars. I hated the last track, HE'S A PIRATE - TIESTO REMIX. Its 7 minutes long taking up room that could've been used for more Zimmer music. Oh well.
  
  You loved the first one, you'll like this one. I bought it because I'm a completist. Amazon has it for $9.99. Why not buy it at such a price?
  
  If you're a fan of the movie, get it then you'll only need to wait one more year to own part three.
  
  

• Lookout Zimmer! I'm sending the Kraken after you!

  
  By A1ZYGREUZPGS24 on 2006-07-12
  After listening to the Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest soundtrack I have experienced perhaps this year's biggest letdown. If filmtracks.com gave Badelt's attempt at #1 a horrible review, I can't imagine how much they'll slam Zimmer's latest. I am shocked, horrified....saddened....disgusted; all of the above, but it's true. Hans Zimmer's soundtrack to one of the year's most-anticipated films (and soundtracks) is WITHOUT-a-doubt the biggest film music letdown of the year. Zim offers 48 minutes on eleven tracks and Tiesto remixed the famous "He's a Pirate" cue for the twelfth track (which runs seven minutes long).
  
  (Ah!!! Zimmer!! How could you do this to us?!?)
  
  Anyways, here's my review of the.....mess.
  
  If you were expecting to read a bunch of over-the-top compliments of the German composer's latest, greatest musical masterpiece........read THIS review instead. Otherwise, if you want to be tortured and maligned by cruel and harsh ravings, read on.....
  
  For starters, we were expecting this latest installment to the musical Pirates of the Caribbean to be more genuine. Whereas the last soundtrack was criticized for its over-the-top usage of synths and canned percussion pieces, people were expecting Hans Zimmer's refined ear to come up with a TRULY swashbuckling work.
  
  At the very least, Hans Zimmer's name on a project like this equals some pretty awesome action music. For such cuts, the main piece was supposed to be "The Kraken" (which is the mysterious, octopussy sea monster we've been wowed by in the trailers). Not only is this track completely polluted by synthesizers, they are every-bit as "greasy" and unoriginal as Zimmer playfully warned us. (I'm beginning to realize it wasn't all tongue in cheek.) The only decent "fight" music to be found here is in the 6 1/2 minute "Wheel of Fortune," but I hesitate to give even this cue so 'great' a compliment. It's a ridiculous collision of sound, really, smattered with a couple ideas that show some promise, but are quickly driven into the sand by crazed synths. Zimmer resurrects a couple of the original Pirates motifs we've come to know and love, but they far from rescue the cue.
  
  "You look good Jack" is fairly intense........once you slog through the first (almost noiseless) 3 minutes and twenty seconds. The next minute gets up a pretty rousing bit of percussion--oh, and there are some nasty electric guitars thrown in, too....just for kicks, apparently (fortunately they leave after only a few 'flourishes'). Even so, they sound better than the last 30 seconds...which...don't sound like anything at all.
  
  "Hello Beastie" sounds a bit like "Beneath Alrischa" from The Da Vinci Code score, but it never really rises up into anything like the sweeping, chorale arrangements of Code's "Chevaliers de Sangreal," which is nothing short of gorgeous! It does offer a sweet rendition of another classic Pirates motif (a bit from the "Will and Elizabeth" cue) and then functions like a series of rises and valleys, as if the cue is trying desperately to get somewhere. Now...I don't know what's happening on the screen, but to the ear, this sounds like a lot of useless SOUND. And darned minutes of it! It ends out the last minute with a cross between Da Vinci Code and Into the Fog, complete with a familiar motif at the very end. Despite the final hurrah! however, it is an awful track to end out a despicable soundtrack!
  
  Outside of the dismal action cues, I was also annoyed with the themes presented here. I was excited at the prospects of a theme for Jack Sparrow and his nemesis Davy Jones. Unfortunately, Jack's theme is far less than befitting of his eccentric, conniving, yet desperately-loveable character! Opening the soundtrack, it is a series of simple brass motifs: a 'doo-dum' (2 note) followed by a de-doo-dum' (3 note), with violin overlays. For pretty much the first two minutes, thats all there is--with some little variation. Familiar sounds from "Will and Elizabeth" pepper the second-half of the cue (especially with violin variations played in a minor key), but it became apparent that this was no longer Jack's theme but just another background piece to whatever was happening on the screen. It does end quite grandly (if loud can be considered grand) with considerable string-build-up beneath heavy brass. Overall, though: Dissapointing.
  
  Davy Jones' theme is likewise disjointed. The touch of playing pieces of "The Medallion Calls" (what I would have called a cue from Jack Sparrow's original soundtrack) from the last soundtrack works well here, especially as it sounds like it is coming out of a music box. The real letdown though, was that we never really hear the massive organ theme hinted at in the trailer. Davy Jones' theme gets pretty big and nasty, alright (before ending with the music box, again), full of roucous bass and percussion, but no real direction (which is what this soundtrack really lacked, overall).
  
  "I've got my eye on you" is nothing but a long dirge leading up to the "Medallion Calls" theme.
  
  "Dinner is Served" would be my pick for the best cue on this soundtrack. Unfortunately, it's the second-shortest (cruel irony, eh?), and the shortest (by 15 seconds) "Two hornpipes" cut sounds like a piece of classical dance music copied from somewhere else. But what makes "Dinner" cool is that you have three musical layers: the brass (providing the driving force), an underlying melody (mostly provided by string instruments), and a female voice; which is one of the few places I heard the female instrument (howbeit in a wired chant accompaniment). Anyway, these layers combine for a short--but sweet--piece that I actually enjoyed.
  
  "Tia Dalma" tries to be scary, but its more loud and wacky than anything else. I found myself wondering (as I listened to this and the other tracks) about the pacing of the movie: is it as disjointed as the soundtrack? One minute the music is all brash and blunt, and the next--you can hardly hear anything but dismal droning. Same thing with the following track "Family Affair," which shows the same promise as "Hello Beastie," but ends up failing to deliver the goods. It is probably the second best piece on the soundtrack, though; with a decent strings build-up to a solid rendition of the 'bad guy' theme from last movie (complete with the spooky male chorus we associate with Captain Barbossa's skeletal crew).
  
  "You look good Jack" is soooooo slow.......until it decides it wants to build up a wicked fast momentum of brass and strings. Cool!! --until...they fizzle out after a dozen seconds or so. But!! Aha! They come back soon after. Pound-pound-pound! The drums are relentless and the string accompaniment is fevered...... It's really getting good now....... Until--electric guitars take over, playing out a section of "Swords Crossed." Unlike Trevor Rabin's excellent usage of the electric guitars in Armaggedon, this sounds more like the craziness of National Treasure. In other words: garbage.
  
  And that's it. The "He's a Pirate" remix is pretty stale; it sounds like a torturously-long intro to some Japanese anime show. Blech! Why do we want 7 WHOLE minutes of this nonsense? Through headphones the individualized motif's of Badelt's famous theme sounds like pinballs ricocheting wildly--out of control--inside my head.
  
  In conclusion, Hans Zimmer's famous musical talents are in no way exemplified here . Apparently he expended all his creative genius on his last effort The Da Vinci Code, which was certainly FAR superior in musical creativity and composition.
  
  Try again, Mr. Zimmer!
  
  My Rating: * 1/2 stars (out of 5)
  
  

• Great Score!

  
  By AOVDV6L35DQM5 on 2006-07-07
  If you expect this score to be a revisit to Curse of the Black Pearl, you will be disappointed. Because not even the theme to the original movie is in this score. But if you listen to it as a stand-alone score without any expectations, it'll thoroughly entertain you. "The Kraken" is the best track by far. A very unearthly track that depicts a good deal of action with very strong "Phantom of the Opera" overtones associated with Davy Jones. The Track "Davy Jones" is also very good with the music box and organ arrangement.
  
  The ending Techno track is a complete waste that should have never been included. It isn't even good techno. I don't care how famous Tiesto is, his music just doesn't belong here. The "Bonus Track" should have been more music from the movie.
  
  
• Classic Zimmer, With Familiar Themes
  By on 2006-07-29
  I think it came as a sock to all of us that Klaus Badelt, the composer who wrote the brilliant score for Curse of the Black Pearl would not be returning for Dead Man's Chest. Well, Disney got a great composer anyway. Hans Zimmer brings to the new score music that simply screams his name, and rearanges some of Badelt's own themes. But there is only about 2 minutes total on this hour long disc of recycled music. It's all new, and its all great.
  
  Is it as good as Badelt's score? No. Is it still exceptional? Yes. No one will ever outmatch Badelt's wonderful score, but Zimmer does a brilliant job of showing us that Dead Man's Chest is not a rehash of the first film, but a reincarnation. Where Badelt's score was light and upbeat, Zimmer's is much heavier, but still very fun, with tradmark Zimmer throughout.
  
  Stand-Out Tracks:
  
  1. Jack Sparrow 9/10
  This six minute track is more of an overture than anything else. It has some rearangements of old themes, as well as some of the new music featured in the DMC score.
  
  2. The Kraken 10/10
  By far the best on the whole soundtrack. It uses drums to great advantage, and is all around brilliant adventure music. If you've seen the movie, you'll know it when you hear it.
  
  3. Davey Jones 10/10
  Another brilliant track. It starts with Davey jones musical box playing its song, and then goes into that theme again, only with an organ.
  
  7. Two Hornpipes 9/10
  The brilliant and fun Tortuga theme.
  
  8. A Family Affair 8/10
  A creepy song that is basically Bootstrap Bill's theme.
  
  9. Wheel of Fortune 9/10
  This is a great adventure track, and combines new adventure themes with Badelt's classic adventure song, "He's A Pirate."
  
  12. He's A Pirate Remix 2/10
  I could barely get through this...Remixes are "hip" now, but for the life of me I cannot understand why. This one is hard on the ears...
  
  
• Icy cold water
  By A21M6XJHHBQSEC on 2006-07-06
  When I first heard that Hans Zimmer was going to provide the score for Dead Man's Chest, all hopes I had for a good consolation after the droning catastrophe that was Curse Of The Black Pearl were instantly gone.
  After hearing Da Vinci Code, though, I thought well, maybe Zimmer has a good year and it won't be that bad.
  Boy was I wrong.
  To get one thing out of the way right now. When you have to deal with Media Ventures, you never know who the heck is doing what; but Zimmer did write all the themes for Curse Of The Black Pearl, Badelt just used them.
  So, in Dead Man's Chest, Zimmer got the first opportunity to unfold his own thematic material.
  
  Unfortunately, his approach, although different from Badelt's, is just as ineffective and plainly annoying.
  Jack Sparrow's theme is ... well, it's without character. It brushes Jack's wackyness and adventurous side somehow, but if I heard that thing (even knowing it was a POTC theme) out of context, I couldn't indentify it with Jack.
  The Kraken introduces the sound of an organ. Actually, the integration of an organ sounded like a good idea at first because it depicts evil creatures very well, but the execution, as always, is extremely dire. The so- called Kraken theme is merely a lifted theme from Batman Begins, nothing more, and it's just not the kind of writing that makes an organ sound massive. The synth beats underneath are just too wierd and too much of a contrast.
  Then the only theme left is Davy Jones'. The music box tune is kind of interesting, we have to see how it fits into the character, but boy oh boy did my head hurt when I heard electric guitars twanging. You don't even have to fight over this; it's bad, just bad. If there was ever a wrong choice in film music, this is it. James Horner already came up with more than questionable ideas, but this one tops them all. ALL I say!
  
  The major problem with almost every track is that although Zimmer tried to do some "character work" and establish different identities, everything builds into the same loud, brassy, orchestral crash- filled action climax sooner or later.
  The problem with the overall sound quality is the same as always. Zimmer so much relies of the lowest extremes of instruments that the result is extremely stale and shallow. Everything just mushes together. Even the organ loses its power and brightness because of that low end writing.
  These things just showcase that Zimmer has either no clue of orchestration or that he finds this pale mass powerful.
  And I've yet to hear a Zimmer score with a clever integration of woodwinds anyway.
  
  I really can't believe there are people who actually like this mess. The general argument always goes:
  
  "This isn't pirate music"
  "But Pirates Of The Caribbean is no real pirate movie!"
  
  Of course the Pirates Of The Caribbean series is not really home in the pirates genre, but neither is it a generic action- adventure flick as the music implies.
  And I don't see why Zimmer's utterly generic and monotonous music should be called good or at least sufficent, just because the film is not 100 % pirate movie.
  
  Do you remember when you were a little kid, you watched a TV show, and you just knew, even as a child, that the music was totally ineffective, corny and out of place?
  Well, that's the kind of music Hans Zimmer produced for Dead Man's Chest. Neither artsy, nor effective, nor "different", just really really bad stuff.
  
  
  
• A Must Have For Any Soundtrack Collection
  By A281XPCHJYMWFY on 2006-07-06
  Hans Zimmer not only takes this second soundtrack to the next level in using a full fledged orchestra, he also incorporates many of the original themes from the Black Pearl soundtrack, elaborating and molding them into the amazing pieces displayed in this cd. In most cases, reworking an original theme would be seen as mundane, but Zimmer manages to give the old themes new twists, spicing them up with such seasonings as the organ, music box, electric guitar and synth percussion, reworking the beats and turning them into something all their own. As well as reprising old themes, Zimmer creates a wealth of new ones, which might lay the groundwork for the third film soundtrack. If you love the first album, you'll adore this one as well. I cannot say either of them is better than the other, as they both contain different elements that set them apart as equally amazing scores. A phenomenal soundtrack, when listened to, can make the listener picture exactly what is going on in the movie. Without a doubt, Hans Zimmer achieves this effect; once again, as he always seems to do with any soundtrack he composes.
  
  Top 4 tracks:
  Jack Sparrow: Zimmer twists the original theme around to produce a wonderful track reflecting Jack's erratic demeanor.
  The Kraken: A superb action track.
  Two Hornpipes: It had a sprightly, bouncy feel. Definitely the "happiest" track on the album.
  Wheel of Fortune: Another piece that incorporates many of the original themes from the first soundtrack. Yet another wonderful action piece as well.
  
  
• A well-thought follow-up...
  By A5C39X32PA8UM on 2006-08-07
  As soon as I heard that Hans Zimmer was going to be composing this score, I knew it would be "monstrous" with vibrant strings set against the background of a giant brass section. Klaus Badelt did a wonderful job with the first Pirates soundtrack, and, of course the two soundtracks are going to sound similar because Badelt is part of Zimmer's Media Venture entourage. Zimmer merely took what Badelt had already installed into the Pirates montage and expanded upon it.
  
  1. Jack Sparrow--This song starts out with stringed basses and cellos. It evolves into a more defined string section and adds the brass instruments to reintroduce Jack's theme from the first Pirates movie. The theme does not stay completely the same as the first, though, and creates a new theme for a renewed Jack Sparrow.
  
  2. The Kraken--This theme is, by far, my favorite throughout this soundtrack! The track starts off with bass and cello, again, and builds its way to violins, a brass section, drums, and some distant voice sounds. The track slows down a bit and plays a part of Davy Jones' organ piece, tying the Kraken to Davy Jones. There's another turn in the track where the rhythm changes a bit and gives one the feel of the Kraken approaching. The heavy drums in the background also help to fuel this sense of urgency. There's also a little bit of electric guitar mixed in for a sound that's gnashing and hardcore. The entire piece builds back up to Davy Jones' theme and ends with the organ and a heartbeat.
  
  3. Davy Jones--The track starts off with a musicbox sound of Davy Jones' main theme. The strings come back in, but only very subtly at first. They slowly start to build through the track and lead to the organ piece. The track continues to build upon the organ by adding more drums, cymbals, brass, and strings. Drums continue on, as a repitition of the heartbeat in The Kraken, and the track ends with the musicbox of the theme.
  
  4. I've Got My Eye On You--This track has a similar pattern to Davy Jones, in the beginning, then, about 3/4 of the way through, turns into the Pirates theme established in the first Pirates movie. The theme from Jack Sparrow can be heard finishing out the track.
  
  5. Dinner Is Served--Heavy drums, violins, brass, and a tribal voice start out this track with a "boom!". The track leads up to the point in which Will and the rest of the Black Pearl Crew are swinging in the ball cages. This theme is very waltzy and whimsical and ends the track.
  
  6. Tia Dalma--Another Pirates 1 theme is repeated in this track. That theme evolves into a combination of itself and the already established Davy Jones theme. It evolves, yet again, into a theme that was familiarized with Barbossa in Pirates 1. There's a reason for that and it's a good foreshadowing mechanism on Zimmer's part. The theme then becomes its own with a tribal voice in the background along with the heartbeat from previous tracks.
  
  7. Two Hornpipes (Tortuga)--This track is very light and full of whimsy. One can simply imagine the people around these musicians dancing jigs with large smiles on their faces.
  
  8. A Family Affair--The violins make up the melody of this track, followed by a vibrant brass section. The Davy Jones theme is touched on here and moderated a bit to fit the scene of the movie. One can, once again, here the musicbox sound of Jones' theme playing softly against a background of strings.
  
  9. Wheel Of Fortune--This track starts out as a variation of a Pirates 1 theme heard earlier in track 4. It evolves into a large combination of instruments and sounds. One can hear bits of already established Dead Man's Chest themes and recurring bits of Curse of the Black Pearl themes. The track turns back towards Davy Jones' theme and the musicbox theme is played briefly before turning into elements heard in the Kraken. It then turns right back into the theme from Pirates 1. Again, the theme is back to the Dead Man's Chest version and parts of the Jack Sparrow track. The track ends with the Dead Man's Chest version of the main Pirates theme with some bits of The Kraken mixed in.
  
  10. You Look Good Jack--This track is a bit slower in rhythm than the others and starts off very dark and melancholy. Elements of Tia Dalma are reinstated within this track, as well as the main Dead Man's Chest theme. Again, one hears the electric guitar ripping out power chords as the melody of the main Pirates theme. The theme ends with a brief revisit to the Kraken.
  
  11. Hello Beastie--This is another very melancholy and reflective theme. Themes from Davy Jones' and the Kraken can be heard, as well as a distant heartbeat every once in a while. The track bulids towards the end and ends with the same the Dead Man's Chest version of the main Pirates theme.
  
  12. He's A Pirate (Tiesto Remix)--This is a really cool remix of some sounds and themes from Curse of the Black Pearl. If you don't like trance/techno, you won't like this song very well. If you do, enjoy!
  
  
• "The Da Vinci Code Gone Wild"
  By A39M2P23ASUDI6 on 2006-07-05
  The title of this review is by no means is a shot at the great Hans Zimmer or the movie Da Vinci Code, but simply acts as an attention getter and to some degree--believe it or not--adequately sums up the soundtrack for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. With that being said, yes, there are hints of Da Vinci Code in the more emotional slower portions of the soundtrack, but if there is anything this soundtrack goes wild from, it's King Arthur. "King Arthur Gone Wild" just doesn't grab attention like "Da Vinci Code Gone Wild". Hans seems to have used this as an opportunity to have fun and let loose, especially after the stress and emotion involved with scoring the Da Vinci Code only hours before scoring this movie.
  
  Dead Man's Chest is a wild soundtrack, in that Han's uses this as an opportunity to be unconventional in not just the themes used, but in instrumentation and electronic usage. Before people go down the "electronic" road, the first soundtrack was just as or more electronically induced than this soundtrack. The electronics used in this soundtrack do not carry the themes (unlike the first). This soundtrack is far more orchestrated than the first, with the electronics simply serving as percussive and atmospheric undertones. But back to the unconventional statement I made previously, let us not forget, the main character of this film is unconventional, and if asked to describe a pirate, Jack Sparrow would be the furthest thing from imagination. So I applaud Zimmer's recent emphasis on writing to and bringing extra life to the characters via the music rather than just finish off the moods created by what is on screen.
  
  Staying with the wild and unconventional, Hans uses an array of instruments, including the electric guitar, music box, organs, and the orchestra in ways not often used in blockbuster movie soundtracks. This soundtrack alone will be by far the most unorthodox soundtrack used with the summer blockbusters. He uses these different instruments to grow some of the older themes, but also introduce several new themes with the new characters and dimensions of this film. Zimmer also takes a cue from the Phantom of the Opera (hence the organ usage), using it sparingly to create the darkness and air associated with the bottom dwelling Davy Jones character. The best stand alone tracks on the album are Wheel of Fortune and Hello Beastie. For these particular tracks you get a hint of all new and past themes topped off that touch only Hans Zimmer brings to motion pictures. He clearly has a style and tendency, and it is this style and tendency that makes him the most sought after composer in Hollywood. The last track of the album (Hello Beastie) is a testament to the maturity and orchestration brought to the sequel soundtrack. If you listen closely, the music tells of a story that is unfinished and has much in store. I haven't seen the movie (of course), but I would expect this is the last cue in the movie, paving way for Pirates of the Caribbean III.
  
  If you are true fan of classical, I don't think is one for you. If you enjoyed the first soundtrack, this is a whole new musical rendition to the movie. Hans takes a new approach and reinvents the main themes from the first album, leaving the remaining 90% to new material.
  
  Some closing notes:
  1) Hans is slated to score the next Pirates movie to be released next summer. Not to discredit or take away from this soundtrack, I think he purposely left room for the soundtrack of the next film to grow so to speak--a chance to be original and new both times around.
  2) Disney has failed time and time again to produce/release soundtracks that properly highlight the achievements of their composers. This will without a doubt be one of my favorites, but for a movie that has over 2 hours of music composed for the film, to release only 51 minutes worth seems to be a travesty. They were too busy trying to include 10 minute trance and dance tracks versus highlight the music used in the film. This is a soundtrack, not an album Disney!
  
  
  
• This is an excellent soundtrack
  By AE31M52VLKOG6 on 2006-07-05
  I love Hans Zimmer. His music enhances any movie he works on. I love this soundtrack. The first track Jack Sparrow has a fearless quality. It is one of the many highlights on here. This track symbolizes Johnny Depp's character in the movie so well. My favorite track is Tow Hornpipes. It is a fun upbeat track. I also like the tracks Wheel of Fortune and The Kraken. They sound so exciting and full of adventure. I've Got My Eye on You has a dangerous sounding quality to it. Hello Beastie also has a good dangerous quality. Tia Dalma is another favorite track. It sounds like music that would be heard in the movie when a woman is in trouble. The bonus track He's A Pirate really gets my pulse racing. Overall, I loved this soundtrack, and I can't wait to see the movie.
  
  
• Combination of original themes and new music creates the perfect dark score that fits the tone of the second installment
  By A1GPQX7VGG83C5 on 2006-07-07
  Hans Zimmer is one of Hollywood's most successful and skillfull composers today. He comes to extend on Klaus Badelt's score to Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and knows not to create something entirely new. Zimmer continues to use some themes from the first film but changes the tone rather drastically to fit the tone of the movie. This time around, the score is much darker and heavier than the adventurous and light score by Klaus Badelt. This is necessary to fit the darker and heavier tone of Dead Man's Chest, and by doing so, Zimmer presents his credibility and composes one of his best scores in a long time. The inclusion of Badelt's themes keeps the audience familiar with the first movie, and with the second, and can be said that two scores combine into one to create a continous flow of similar music throughout this adventure trilogy. Rather than changing tone randomly to create confusion, Zimmer gradually changes tone to create smooth trasitions musically from one film to the next. Similar synhtesizer compositions can be heard, as a bit of vocal work and orchestration that makes this score one of a kind, not being too much like Zimmer's previous work. Track 2 is by far the best track on the CD, and is the perfect example of how Hans Zimmer incorporates previous themes with new music to create something entirely new and amazing.
  
  
• It's as good as anything out there.
  By A2O0PSL1ZZJXFQ on 2006-07-07
  This soundtrack is just brilliant. I was surprised by how little Zimmer took cues from the original soundtrack, however it was not an unpleasant treat. I think this is a much more powerful score than the original. It's more musical, by that I mean that there is a little more "breathing room" in the pieces instead of everything being "in your face" like it was with the original score. With that said, The Kraken is just a flat out balls-to-the-walls sonic feast. If nothing else, I would pay the ten bucks just for that song, it's that good. The following track, Davy Jones, is quite the haunting piece with layered organs and pounding percussion and is probably a very close second to the Kraken as far as my favorite tracks on the album. The production is much better than with the Curse score. It's balanced and smooth, not bright and overly brassy. All in all, this is an awesome disc and I can easily recommend the purchase.
  
  As most people have already mentioned, the inclusion of the bonus track (or tracks) is ridiculous. I purchased this at Best Buy and was unfortunate enough to get all three bonus tracks. Now typically a bonus is something you enjoy, not the case here. All three techno tracks are a terrible waste of disc space. Sony screwed up by including these, they are horrible.
  
  On a side note, some of the reviewers here are saying that there is a big portion of this score that was basically lifted from the Black Pearl soundtrack and that is simply not true. There is very little here that is repeated from the first soundtrack. What is actually used is done minimally throughout a couple of songs and even then it tends to be just familiar sounding and not direct takes, as is the case with the lead track, Jack Sparrow. Also, some complain about the dynamics of the music, the loud and soft parts. It's not as if this one is any different than most other scores, there are loud and soft parts, often within the same song. It's not unusual, and is certainly not a fault. Hans Zimmer did great work on this movie and it's hard for me to hear what others are considering faults. I'm in no way discrediting what they say or their opinions, I however, like most reviewers are apparently hearing it in an entirely different way.
  
  
• Dead Man's Chest a worthy follow-up
  By A2OUHMQP1BTLED on 2006-07-10
  I am somewhat of a connoisseur of soundtracks and Pirates of the Caribbean has been one of my favorites. The first score was unique and exciting and I didn't realize Klaus wasn't doing the new score until just now. I bought this CD before I saw the movie, but waited to see the film to get the full impression.
  
  The second movie has a very different tone than the first. The score keeps much of the same sound of the first, however, which is a good way of tying the two together nicely, in my opinion. Hans Zimmer handles the soundtrack for this movie, and although I am personally a bit more of a fan of Klaus's, he does a nice job.
  
  We are introduced to a revision of Jack's theme, which I find fits the change in character in the movie. The theme is a little darker, a little more unpredictable, but retains the essence we expect. The undertones from the orginal remain.
  
  The Kraken is deep and dark, fitting for the monster portrayed on screen. Begining slow, but steadily increasing, it is fast, overpowering, wild. The organ music associated with Davy Jones is also featured in it, because of the connection of the two. I believe there are electric guitars in the piece as well, which is a nice touch. The theme itself holds the traditional sound for "monster".
  
  I personally find the theme for Davy Jones one of my personal favorites. The track on the score begins with the music box theme featured in the movie. It is fitting for the sad past we are given for the ruthless ruler of the pirate afterlife, and gives him that certain melancholy air. Then the organ music comes bursting through into a sweeping theme that is very much "pirate-y" although organs may not be classic to the pirate sound. The choral work is impressive and the beat is strong, very much fitting for a dark pirate like Jones. Finally the track returns to the music box, a sad quiet closing.
  
  The other tracks, labeled after their scenes in the movie, feature the Black Pearl theme with an electric guitar (I believe) twist for DAvy Jones's crewmembers. The same sweeping introduction for Jack remains. The theme music for the native tribe is, well, tribal, powerful and gutteral. We are also exposed to the waltz-like theme for the scene with the cages. Tia Dalma is given a slight twist to the theme from when Barbossa is killed in the first movie. The theme for Tortuga is the traditional pirate sound yet again.
  
  Overall, the music is fitting for the dark tones of the film. It has transformed from the unique themes of the first film. However, you will notice familiar themes running like undercurrents. My one qualm is with the "bonus track" which is odd and, I personally believe, doesn't fit in with the soundtrack. But I would strongly recommnend it for pirates fans, although it has received mixed reviews.
  
  
• Bloody Good Music!!!!
  By ASINAKF1T9EGQ on 2006-07-10
  I'm not going to ramble on and give a track by track review. I'm just going to say, if you enjoyed the score to the first movie composed by Klaus Badelt, then you will most defintley enjoy this one.
  
  Hans Zimmer here takes over as the main composer, and he thoroughly and effectivley creates new and wonderful music for this second pirates movie, while still bringing to the table the themes that we heard in the first. One major difference you will notice is the music for this soundtrack is much darker and that is because the overall theme and story for this second movie is darker than the first.
  
  All in all, Highly recommended!! 5 stars
  
  
• 2nd Pirates CD disappoints
  By A1Q209MH72ROJE on 2006-08-13
  I'm a professional musician who has been collecting music soundtracks for over 20 years. I'm very particular with my selections, and only choose those that exhibit inspired and unique qualities. I was excited at picking up "Dead Man's Chest" after hearing the brooding tones along with the original theme from the first movie. I was appalled to learn after purchasing this soundtrack that neither the opening credits music nor the end credits music was included on the CD! (When previewing the selections I figured maybe these selections were included under some of the named tracks on the cd) These two selections are typically the two places where the composer is free to present the movies themes in a more or less "concert" version that is uninhibited by movie action. While there is plenty of brooding music in this CD, it is all incidental music and the main theme is only heard in it's entirety one time! What music producer would leave off such standard selections? None of the other soundtracks that I own! This soundtrack is a total let down. Buy "Black Pearl" instead.
  
  
• Good ol Swashbuckling fun
  By A3DKE3HN9TH70D on 2006-07-05
  After reading the few reviews posted, many people are saying it's not as good as the first and that this feels to "synthesized". In my opinion, this soundtrack is superior to the first. The first was too repetitive and really only focused on one theme. After you have listened to the first 3-4 songs on the first soundtrack there really isn't no need to continue listening because the rest of the album just repeats itself. This soundtrack is new and refreshing. You can't continue to produce the same music over and over for franchises in films because it becomes dull and boring. Hans Zimmer did a fantastic job! He incorporates the old theme into the music while also incorporating some new themes for the second film in the franchise. He creates a perfect blend of just enough of the old music and new music that fans of the first should be pleased as well as new fans who felt that the first soundtrack was too repetitive. It's a fantastic soundtrack and definately a must buy!
  
  
• Give it a chance, it's worth it!
  By A3SHZ5D2CQC6WK on 2006-07-05
  I bought this CD as soon as the stores opened. I immediately popped it in and was quite surprised with what I heard. The overall feel of the soundtrack from beginning to end is just a dark, haunting feel with a few exceptions lightening the mood. I was pretty impressed with what Mr. Zimmer came up with and for all you fans just give it a chance. I know it's different but this is a different version of POTC, a new storyline with new music that fits perfectly. I was thoroughly pleased with the result. This soundtrack will not disappoint!
  
  
• The Treasure Is Found.....It's This CD
  By AS0269X5D9PUB on 2006-07-05
  This summer's most awaited movie is coming out July 7, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. With it of course comes a soundtrack. With this one we bid farewell to Klaus Badelt and welcome Hans Zimmer. I must say that this soundtrack is not your normal soundtrack. There are ethnic instruments, wierd beats, and even a Dance Remix Track. Instead of using electronic strings Hans uses a full orchestra which is wonderful. He even adds in an accordion, electric guitar, and organ *which is very Phantom of the Opera*. Unlike the last album which was all action cues, this one is evenly spread out with emotional pieces, a jig, and the action cues.
  
  Hans uses some of the major themes from the last movie and elaborates on them. The most used cues from the last soundtrack are Fog Bound, and The Medallion Calls. This is heard often in this soundtrack.
  
  I'm not going to review each track... but let me say that each track has something different to offer you. I like the way that Hans incorporates the new cues with the old ones in the same song.
  
  Standout Tracks:
  Jack Sparrow: This plays his theme and other cues from the last album
  
  The Kraken: Just a wicked piece with an organ in the background. It's just great this piece, a real action one.
  
  Davy Jones: His theme song
  
  Two Hornpipes: A little jig. Very nice with the ethnic instruments and all.
  
  
  
  
• Hans Zimmer lives up to Klaus Badelt
  By A2UFCERFBBUQQF on 2006-07-04
  Haunting and piraty, this soundtrack speaks for its self of its deep background vocals in some tracks and its high a smooth action packed mood. Listening to this soundtrack makes you wonder if the movie is going to be any good or not if you haven't seen it. Hans Zimmer does well of composing the second installment, and lives up to Klaus Badelt, who composed the first installment, even though I still like the first installment a little better.
  
  1. Jack Sparrow 5/5 (Great Theme for Jack)
  2. The Kraken 4/5
  3. Davy Jones 4/5
  4. I've Got My Eye On You 4/5
  5. Dinner Is Served 5/5
  6. Tia Dalma 5/5
  7. Two Hornpipes (Tortuga) 5/5
  8. A Family Affair 5/5
  9. Wheel Of Fortune 5/5
  10.You Look Good Jack 4/5
  11.Hello Beastie 4/5
  12.He's A Pirate (Tiesto Remix) 4/5 (Weird, but fun to listen to)
  
  Hope you enjoy! This is higly recommended! If you liked this, you may like
  1. Poseidon original soundtrack
  2. When A Stranger Calls original soundtrack
  AND
  3. Superman Returns original soundtrack
  
  Jordan
  Overall grade* A-
  
  
• Extremely disappointed in this.
  By A2TFHD8YI0OA2J on 2006-07-08
  It was like Hans Zimmer was too lazy to think of anything new. The music was my favorite part of the first film and I was excited to hear new music on the second, only it was basically the same. Way to be original.
  
  
• The best music you will ever hear
  By on 2006-07-09
  At first I was really disapointed to find out Klaus Badelt was not going to do the music.
  Pirates is my favorite movie and soundtrack, so I was worried that it might not be as good.
  After seeing the movie and hearing the music I realised I was wrong. The themes are absolutely beautiful, and a lot of them are the old tunes.
  The song when Davy is playing the organ is beautiful, I also like the music box theme.
  The CD is definately worth buying.
  The only thing I didn't like was the "He's A Pirate" remix. Which wasn't done by Zimmer. But they took the best song on the last CD and made it into some strange dance thing.
  The whole CD is not like that, just the bonus song.
  If you don't have the first get that one too.
  
  
• Disappointing soundtrack, music was better in the film...
  By A1CLIHHIIZUSJU on 2006-07-10
  I was quite looking forward to this soundtrack...
  
  I loved Klaus Badelt's soundtrack to POTC: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and I was very pleased to hear most of the themes from the first movie reprised in the second.
  
  Also, the second movie added some beautiful new themes by Hans Zimmer that I hoped would be developed further in POTC: Dead Man's Chest soundtrack. No such luck. The best of new tracks, The Kraken and Hello Beastie, suffered from too much mechanical repetition and lacked melody development, wasting their heart wrenching impact...
  
  My overall impression from this soundtrack was occasional moments of brilliance muddled by long stretches of sub par instrumentals. Dissapointing!
  
  
  
• Even better than the first!
  By A3EI42RMD2ZSHG on 2006-07-18
  I was greatly surprised by this soundtrack. I immensley enjoyed the first Pirates soundtrack, but at the same time, hearing the same themes over and over again got a little tiring. While still keeping some of the original themes, Hans Zimmer has incorporated some new themes into Dead Man's Chest. This cd has more variety in my opinion and some great new score. I particularly enjoy the new "Davy Jones" track... haunting, yet lovely, frightening, yet peaceful... that track sends chills up my spine every time I listen to it. The original themes appear in different tracks throughout the cd. Along with the dark and dangerous music, Zimmer also adds some of the light and cheery in different tracks such as "Tortuga". They also even added a bonus remix track that is quite fun to listen to, even if it is out of place. Overall, I think this cd is wonderful and I am going to be enjoying it for many more days to come. I highly recommend it to any pirates fan!
  
  
• The Flying Dutchman Awaits!
  By A3U79F26AYQVY4 on 2006-07-25
  I have already read some reviews of this soundtrack where they diss Zimmer for going the "typical" Media Ventures route. My response: Who Cares! I love this album! I defy anyone to listen to the first two tracks, "Jack Sparrow" and "the Kraken", and not get excited!
  
  Usually I don't like it when they use electric guitar for a period piece, but in the case of PotC I don't mind at all.
  
  My only complaint is the CD's pacing. My three favorite tracks are all at the very beginning and as a result, I am rarely able to make it through the entire album without stopping and going back and listening to them again.
  
  If you like The first CD, I whole-heartedly recommend this new one. You won't be disappointed!
  
  
  
  
  
• Hans Zimmer Strikes Again!
  By A1D2ZN57YG2NMH on 2006-07-26
  What a wonderful score. Pirates of the Caribbean will go down in history. The first score, (helmed by the talented "new guy" Klaus Badelt) was an incredible feat. Defined by it's constant rythmic action beats, striking cello solos and pronounced themes, it stood alone as a great score.
  
  Now, Hans Zimmer, (the extremely talented "not so new guy") brings the series to a whole new level with extremely mature compositions, (And adaptions from Badelt's original.) This soundtrack ranges from accordions, organs, to electric guitars, to giant orchestra to thumping drums to heroic brass. This soundtrack is near flawless in it's ability to catch the listeners attention, and hold it through it's 50 min. runtime. (I chose not to include the remix at the end because I believe it was a waste of precious plastic, the orchestral suite at the end of the film was much more suited to go where this piece ended up.)
  
  Overall, if you enjoyed the first score, and are a fan of Zimmer, you absolutely cannot go wrong.
  
  
• Not as good as the original too much percussion & distraction
  By A2NNTNC715AJ50 on 2007-05-26
  I was really looking forward to the score for Dead Man's Chest, particularly when I found out that Hans Zimmer would be writing it. I really like much of his work, however, I was ultimately disappointed with this cd. There was too much percussion, too much elecronics & too little music from the movie in it. I also saw little point in the final track on the cd, I would much rather have had the end credit music. I liked Jack's new theme, it fit him & while the themes for JOnes & the Dutchmen fit them well, I still found this cd lacking. I admit however I really enjoyed the Tortuga music.
  
  
• Not nearly as good as the first soundtrack
  By ADFH8S8SZYTJX on 2006-07-04
  If you're a PotC fan, you'll buy this in any case. However, this soundtrack is nowhere near as good as the first one--Klaus Badcelt's soundtrack is, in my opinion, the best soundtrack ever made.
  
  This soundtrack, while more darker, has a more "synthesized" feel, which really doesn't fit with the overall movie. What really dissapointed is the last "bonus" track, which is an awful remix, and I have absolutely no idea why Zimmer even put it on there.
  
  I'm going to give it another chance, but so far, I am dissapointed.
  
  
• Good Ol' Bumbling Cap'n Jack
  By on 2006-07-06
  I am 13, and since the premier of the first movie, I have been avid pirate. The soundtrack for Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, is one of my few treasured items, so for this review, I am particularly harsh. The music expresses the personality of all the characters it is meant to portray (especially in "Jack Sparrow"), although it isn't particularly "deep" in mood. I must say, after the first soundtrack, with clearly different pieces, I wasn't disappointed, exactly, but definitely not thrilled. However, with all the criticism said and done, I still do love the music, the movie, and everything else related to "Pirates of the Caribbean". Because of the rich tones, intense melodies, and meaningful harmonies, I give this album four golden stars. :)
  
  
• Hans Zimmer In A League Of His Own.
  By AXJCH5E2XPNG9 on 2006-07-06
  First let me say...WOW!!! Hans Zimmer proves that he's not satisfied being a man of convention with the new "Pirates of the Caribbean" soundtrack. He has stepped outside of the box for the better. At times it's as big and bold like "Gladiator" or dark, rich, and haunting like Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of the Opera." I think this soundtrack is far more accessible than "Gladiator." It has a more commercial sensibility to it which is logical since "Pirates" is more summer blockbuster fun. But I'm glad Zimmer reached back into his "Gladiator" repertoire. I was watching one of the trailers on the internet and kept playing it over and over because of the great music. It seemed to compliment the action perfectly. So I went to AOL Music and played the entire soundtrack and was really impressed. I bought this at Best Buy yesterday and I can't wait to see the movie this weekend and listening to the soundtrack just makes me even more hyped. "The Kraken" is particularly impressive. It's one of my favorites as is "Jack Sparrow," "Davy Jones," "Dinner is Served," "Two Hornpipes," "Wheel of Fortune," "You Look Good Jack," and "Hello Beastie." The remix that closes the soundtrack is a surprisingly great addition. There are just so many great layers, sounds, and textures. One of the best pieces of music this year. AWESOME!!!
  
  

• Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl
• Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End
• Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
• Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End (Widescreen Edition)
• Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest (Widescreen Edition)