PLUNDER QUEST.

If I were to say that Movie Score Media were an industrious recording label that would be something of an understatement, we all know that this label champions new and up and coming composers and also releases scores by already established film music Maestros, recently the label have out done themselves by releasing so many quality scores digitally, and one of these is Plunder Quest, which has a rousing and delightfully entertaining soundtrack composed by Italian composer Massimo Sammi. I f I were to say that the music is a fusion of many styles I would not be lying, because this is a score that has so many themes and motifs that it is really difficult to comprehend that the music is from just one movie, think Raiders, Star Wars and Pirates of the Caribbean and your nearly there, it’s a dramatic, romantic and powerful soundtrack that bristles with a rich thematic content.

The movie which is a 2022 production is an action/comedy, directed by Kalani Hubbard and stars Katherine Flannery, Eric Rosenberg, and Stefanie Hubbard. In which we are treated to an unlikely but entertaining plot which focuses upon the search for a valuable prohibition-era whiskey that is hidden on an island.

Thomas Waters, embarks on a quest to find the liquid gold and ends up on the adventure of a lifetime. The score is a classic mix of 1980’s and 1990’s symphonic styles all’a John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith, filled with fanfares and fast paced action pieces that are laced with wonderfully sweeping strings.

This maybe a new movie but the musical score evokes those grand and vibrant sounds of both the Golden and Silver ages of Hollywood, and along the way draws from a multicoloured musical palette that includes raucous and comedic sounding passages and anthem like superhero sounding interludes that seem to burst forth out of nowhere, then we are treated to the lush and lavish Hollywood sound that is luxuriously romantic with rich strings dominating.

MASSIMO SAMMI.

Massimo Sammi studied classical guitar at the “Niccolò Paganini” Conservatory in Genoa, Italy, he then moved to Boston to enrol at the New England Conservatory of Music to study with jazz supremo Charlie Banacos. Shortly after his graduation, he enrolled in New York University’s Master’s in Scoring for Film and Multimedia. After moving to Los Angeles in 2014, he enrolled in the Certificate Program in Film Scoring at UCLA Extension, and through the school’s connections he landed several jobs assisting composers actively working in film and TV.

His score for the action-comedy Plunder Quest won the Best Soundtrack Award at the New York International Film Awards and at the Masters of Cinema International Film Festival. Plunder Quest is an entertaining and enriching score and one that every film music fan should add to their collection NOW. I am sure we will be hearing more from this composer in the not too distant future. Highly recommended.  

Dr Strange in The Multiverse of Madness.

Marvel Studios continue to go from strength to strength with characters such as Moon Knight being introduced on Disney plus and sequels and prequels for many of our favourite superhero characters. The sequel to Dr Strange is upon us and the movie entitled Dr Strange in The Multiverse of Madness contains a wonderfully apt and affecting score by Hollywood super star composer Danny Elfman, all the Elman quirks and stylistic sounds are present plus more.

This is a welcome release as I have always enjoyed the offbeat and somewhat oddball compositions of this highly sought-after composer. Right from hearing the opening strains of his Batman theme back in 1989 I just knew that Elfman was here or should I say hear to stay, and over the years he has scored some of the most lucrative and popular movies in recent cinema history. His style and that odd rather off kilter sound that he employs is instantly recognisable, his mischievous musical prowess has graced and supported many superheroes and other character over the decades.

And this one of his recent scores is no exception to the rule. It contains a robust and mainly action led score, which contains hints of mystery and lashings of the anthem like and epic style that we now come to expect with the films as produced by Marvel. To say that Elman’s score for this latest outing for Dr Strange as portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch is a powerhouse of a work would I think be something of an understatement but let’s not forget the lighter and more fragile and delicate interludes that are contained within the soundtrack, pieces that are enchanting, poignant, and rapturously affecting.

Swelling strings, plaintive piano, and light use of woods all come into the equation combining to fashion beautiful and haunting musical passages. This is a commanding work, filled to the brim with numerous action cues and as many melodious and romantically melancholy cues. It’s a winner for me, available now on digital platforms….

DANNY ELFMAN.