Experienced adventure music by James Horner

After a long creative break, which was trying to fill, especially with unspeakable synth routine ("Class Action") and meager Americana James Horner, the composer reports back with a traditional music adventure in the mold of "Krull". But there already lies the problem: "The Rocketeer" is absent in all swing any originality that could make them attractive for addition to the repertoire. And as in the past also attract here grim "plagiarism clouds" on the horizon that can not be so easily dismissed time. Joining closer eklektizitisch to classical models is one thing, stealing ideas for colleagues another. And the first few bars of the main theme can be ominous: synth sheen with piano theme are the starting point of the variations in the Americana style. Think back to 1984. Recognized? Correct: "The Natural" Randy Newman. Let there be no misunderstanding: this is not is a "following"; Rather Horner copied Newman theme music "in detail"!

So far, so bad. But from then on going "Rocketeer" back their own way, reflects a parallelism mainly to "Star Trek II - The Wrath of Khan" realize one of the most original compositions remain solid this film musician. Light in tone than other action scores the composer takes the music in the "Flying Circus" sequence, an Allegro molto scherzando, their unfortunately quite lonely peak.

But this cue and perhaps the best love theme in Horner's previous works ("Jenny") justify a purchase of the disc which otherwise only has familiar. Of course, a little Swing a la Glenn Miller may (again in collaboration with Billy May) is not missing, the time of exception does not come from Horner's own spring, but is recruited from subjects of the late musical giants Irving Berlin.