“The Biggest Movie Event
Spanning An Entire Decade..Part One”
INTRODUCTION:
The epic movie event decades in the making. This is what was advertised as Avengers: Infinity War. The culmination of ten years worth of movie building, storytelling and adventures. The first Avengers film (debuting in 2012) released onto the world one of the biggest openings for a film franchise in history. With that kind of draw, you need someone just as massive to partake in the film score. Thus, Alan Silvestri was brought back, in full circle even, to helm the project.
Alan Silvestri, if you remember, helmed the first Avengers film and in my mind, has created one of the most memorable music themes for a superhero film (aside from Danny Elfman’s “Batman Theme” and John Williams “Superman Theme”). The original Avengers film also marked a first in the Marvel Universe in which the film score took a place in the ranks just as well as the movie it came from. Creating an overall heroic theme with adventure, mystery and excitement as should any superhero theme.
Coming back into the fold this time around proved to be quite a challenge. This time, instead of creating music for a “coming together as a team” tale, this film was a benchmark in not only the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but in a decade worth of films. This meant having to keep track of already established themes (such as using the theme from Blank Panther) but warping it to fit the narrative of Thanos’ drive to find the Infinity Stones. This meant new themes, new emotional elements and a whole new venture spanning over 40 different characters. A task not so easily done.
SELECTED TRACK OVERVIEWS:
*While I will be going over key tracks in the score, I will not be going over each individual track as the tracklist is quite large (given the film’s almost 3 hour run time).
“The Avengers”
Right off the bat, we are shown the well known Avengers theme. This first and foremost, brings you in letting you know, “Hey, this is the Avengers”, but also showing that returning to form for the franchise is Alan Silvestri. (While I enjoy Brian Tyler’s work, I feel he couldn’t quite capture the magic of the first Avengers in Avengers: Age of Ultron, even with the help from Danny Elfman).
“Travel Delays”
This is where you first experience the terror of Thanos in the film. This cue sets up the sound of Thanos so very well with an ever feeling of dread and evil, provided by a simple motif played on the lower end of the string section and brass section. While the melody itself is only two notes with an optional third here and there, the overall feeling it provides to the on screen persona is very well captured here. The second half of the song, brings our first “action” cue to the fold when The Hulk and Thanos battle each other with brute power, which is also represented here with big drum hits.
“No More Surprises”
This track begins with a view into the more subtle and softer side of the film. Presented as two characters have a heart to heart moment. But we also see this morph into something more sinister as the track hints at something bad happening in the near future..
“He Won’t Come Out”
Starting off with a literal bang, this track presents the first full featured fight/action sequence. Fantastically mixing in the Avengers Theme we all know and love, while incorporating new string and chord melodies. The middle of this track, showcasing a classic “western standoff” if you will. You can instantly spot when and what characters are on the screen as Iron Man fully suits up, the action begins.
“Field Trip”
This is the second part of the action cue that starts with the standoff in the previous track. Blistering string and horn sections providing the perfect backdrop for the action on screen.
“Wake Him Up”
The second half of this cue brings us to some more of a softer side to the film. About halfway through this track, the action and huge horn and string sections seem to fade away in place of more subtle moments, alternating between the higher registers and lower registers.
“Family Arrairs”
Presenting yet another softer side to the film, this cue flawlessly weaves around various themes all the while presenting a morphed version of the musical themes that goes along nicely with what is happening on screen. The ending portions of this cue provide you with the sense of uneasiness that helps you fully immerse into the story.
“Even For You”
“Even For You” presents one of the biggest heart wrenching moments of the film (that number one spot goes to a later cue). Starting out with a dread inducing low string theme, it opens up to a beautiful slow string chorus, gradually crescendoing into a huge brass and string filled fanfare as we have to say goodbye to one of our beloved characters.
“Charge!”
As the film begins to reach the third act, this presents the moment the final battle begins to take place. The armies of Wakanda going up against the armies of Thanos. Heart pumping action at its finest.
“Forge”
The battles still going, “Forge” brings us the creation of another almighty instrument of Thor. This track also brings us our big “hero moment” which brings back the original Avengers Theme in full, epic glory. “Bring Me Thanos!”
“What Did It Cost?”
This track is the key moment of the film. The infamous “Snap”. Providing a swaying and rising string section all the way up to the moment itself, then immediately dying down to a simple vibraphone type sound. Giving a sense of emptiness.
“Porch”
Porch brings us to the finale of the film. A simple string quartet plays over as our villain of the film easily sits down and smiles, fully knowing that he indeed has won. Looking off into the sunset, the music fades out into our final title card.
“Infinity War”
This is the beginning of the end credits sequence. Instead of ending on a epic heroic theme from The Avengers, we are greeted with a fanfare of sadness and emotional strings and brass. The final portion of this cue, plays a simple piano motif of The Avengers theme, setting in stone that our heroes and story for that matter, as been left in shambles.
** The most gut wrenching and soul crushing moment in this film ironically has no music playing whatsoever. In a bold (and very well done) plan by the directors, they chose to not use music in the films most dramatic conclusion. Simple and quiet sound design fill these scenes that simply show our heros not only realizing they have lost this battle, but realize the full scope of it as the majority of our heroes dust away into nothingness. Ending on the final line of “Oh God..” from Steve Rogers as he realizes the dire ending and fate of their battle. A bold choice to end a film about heroes, on the visualization that the bad guy has won. The hope, optimism and heroics within our heroes is dead. Cut to black. To be continued..
SUMMERY:
Tracklisting:
- Alan Silvestri – The Avengers
- Alan Silvestri – Travel Delays – Extended
- Alan Silvestri – Undying Fidelity
- Alan Silvestri – No More Surprises
- Alan Silvestri – He Won’t Come Out – Extended
- Alan Silvestri – Field Trip
- Alan Silvestri – Wake Him Up
- Alan Silvestri – We Both Made Promises – Extended
- Alan Silvestri – Help Arrives – Extended
- Alan Silvestri – Hand Means Stop/You Go Right – Extended
- Alan Silvestri – One Way Ticket
- Alan Silvestri – Family Affairs – Extended
- Alan Silvestri – What More Could I Lose? – Extended
- Alan Silvestri – A Small Price
- Alan Silvestri – Even For You
- Alan Silvestri – Morning After
- Alan Silvestri – Is He Always Like This?
- Alan Silvestri – More Power
- Alan Silvestri – Charge!
- Alan Silvestri – Forge
- Alan Silvestri – Catch
- Alan Silvestri – Haircut and Beard – Extended
- Alan Silvestri – A Lot to Figure Out – Extended
- Alan Silvestri – The End Game – Extended
- Alan Silvestri – Get That Arm/I Feel You – Extended
- Alan Silvestri – What Did It Cost? – Extended
- Alan Silvestri – Porch
- Alan Silvestri – Infinity War
- Alan Silvestri – Old Tech
- Alan Silvestri – End Credits
Favorite Tracks:
Not really a favorite track selection specifically as I enjoyed the score overall as a whole. It paints a beautiful picture in music of the whole film, which allows you to pinpoint exact moments within the film. Which isn’t an easy task to do. If I had to choose some:
- The Avengers
- Travel Delays
- Field Trip
- We Both Made Promises
- Family Affairs
- Even For You
- Charge!
- Forge
- What Did It Cost?
- Porch
- Infinity War
Least Favorite Tracks:
Not really a least favorite track section specifically as almost every cue here represents something needed in the film. However with the scope and scale of this film, a lot of these cues are action cues, so they end up sounding very similar. If I had to pick any least favorite:
- Undying Fidelity
- Wake Him Up
- Is He Always Like This?
- Get That Arm/I Feel You
- Old Tech
Album Rating:
9 out of 10.
I would recommend this score to anyone who enjoys well done adventure and action music. Presenting both high intense action moments with softer intimate ones as well as managing to pull at your heart and adrenaline levels at the same time. Easily some of the best work from Alan Silvestri I’ve heard.