It was inevitable that a “Transformers” movie would be made once technology had reached a point that it could convincingly render a robot transforming into objects of mammoth or small proportions. One also had to realize the enormous potential that the “Transformers” franchise had, not only in the obvious money making scheme (which is the main reason why Michael Bay reconsidered directing Transformers) but also in the story telling aspect. Judging by the first movie it’s easy to tell (even in the hands of Michael Bay) that there is fertile ground in the “Transformers” history to unleash a wealth of fruitful ideas for a story. It was briefly touched on in the “Transformers” movie, and one wishes that more of it was explored, but unfortunately mostly you are treated to a routine Michael Bay movie (although he does seem to poke a little fun at himself). Steve Jablonsky, reunites with Bay for the “Transformers” movie, and essentially he picks up where he left off in “The Island”.
Jablonsky’s score is a lot of fun, but it’s mostly what’s wrong with Hollywood music now, most director’s or maybe it’s the studios who are mostly responsible, seem to request a score from composers that’s safe, and wont turn audiences away (a notable example being Gabriel Yared‘s rejected score to Troy). Innovation seems to be dying out (although this is not completely true) with scores like “Transformers”, and “The Island”, most of which seem to come from Hans Zimmer’s company Media Ventures/Remote Control. In “The Island”, Jablonsky, used a lot of Zimmer's traits, and the most sought out track of that album “My Name Is Lincoln” , was a variation off of Zimmer’s “Now We Are Free” which is from Gladiator (it‘s excruciatingly obvious). Now, with “Transformers”, Jablonsky, takes it another step further by taking even more of Hans Zimmer’s work and incorporates it into his own score. He slightly modifies each theme so it’s not a blatant copy, most will probably recognize the Batman Begins rhythm, and two note motif (it appears in the first track “Autobots, and most notably in “Arrival To Earth“), but that’s just the beginning. The Kraken theme from “Pirates of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” is even incorporated into the track “Skorponok”, not to mention the constant use of Hans Zimmer’s score to “Crimson Tide” (the choral effects are always employed), portions of that score somehow manage to bleed into every single score by a Media Venture/Remote Control, composer. There are even traces of Trevor Rabin’s work here from his score to (in the track “Optimus”) “Armageddon“, and one becomes curious, why does so much work from other composers find it’s way onto “Transformers”? Is it a request by Michael Bay? It certainly seems as if it might be, because we were treated to something similar on “The Island”, and Jablonsky has shown his talent before (Steam Boy, being the composers high point in his career so far). If this score had been created about 15 years ago it would rightly deserve high praise, but most of material here has been used before, and far more effectively I believe, and it’s grown tiresome and boring to constantly hear several times over, and not to mention rather insulting, that a composer will try to pass such re-hashed material off as their own work.
Even with all the borrowing that goes on in this score (did I mention that it also has the choral elements of King Arthur?) it is a lot fun, and it’s hard not to get swept up in some of the tracks. Some of the music is uplifting, and does fit the film well at certain times, “Arrival To Earth”, and “Skorponok”, work extremely well in their presentations on album and especially in the movie. I suppose the borrowing of Hans Zimmer’s work will only bother those who are familiar with his music, but even those who aren’t very familiar with his work are bound to recognize some of the music in the movie and one may think that they are either using music from “X” movie, or they in fact stealing, either way it can be very distracting, and I’m sure most people noticed the “Batman Begins” rhythm being used frequently through most of the movie.
Most of the album is mixed together to such a degree that it sounds as if almost everything is synthesized, and at times it’s quite enjoyable, but other times sounds very cheap, and uninspired. The use of the staccato chants for the Decepticons is a lot of fun to hear, and does come off as being very menacing and evil, and is cleverly used in “Sam On the Roof” (a highlight of the album in my opinion). The movie was met with a fairly positive response from critics, mostly due to novelty factor, I believe, it’s hard not to become giddy when you see giant robots smash each other into bits, no matter the age of the individual. The music was received quite well by fans, but it does have plenty of detractors and that’s mostly due to the albums lack of innovation and heavy reliance of themes created for previous movies.
Transformers, has it’s high points and several low points, it’s extremely unoriginal, but it is fun, and it’s hard to deny that. Steve Jablonsky, is a true talent, but this score hardly reflects it, and I hope he stops falling back on material created by Hans Zimmer, because Jablonsky, is capable of so much more.
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