ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2016)

If you only had four and a half weeks to compose the music for a movie, and had to live up to fan expectations, would you say yes? Well, if the film is part of the Star Wars franchise, it’s likely that you’ll say yes and deal with the consequences later.

And that was probably what Michael Giacchino did. If you don’t already know, the film went through a series of reshoots. As a result, the post production schedule was altered and Alexandre Desplat, the original composer tied to the project, was no longer available. Giacchino, who had just finished production on Doctor Strange, started work on this movie almost immediately.

The result? A satisfying piece of work that respects the legacy from a certain maestro named John Williams, while adding on rewarding elements that make the music from the standalone film as epic as its counterparts.

The 69 minute soundtrack album kicks off with the intense “He’s Here For Us”, an evident villainous theme that forces its weight upon you with its brassy orchestrations. The theme for heroine of the movie, Jyn Erso, is introduced in “A Long Ride Ahead”, and subsequently heard in “Wobani Imperial Labour Camp” and “Trust Goes Both Ways”.

Adventure is abound in “Jedha City Ambush” and “Confrontation on Eadu”, while an uncomfortable sinister feeling lurks around in “Krennic’s Aspirations”. Patriotism is abound in “Rebellions are Built on Hope” and “Rogue One”, while tears may well up in your eyes in “Your Father Would Be Proud” and “Jyn Erdo and Hope Suite”.

Giacchino has done an impressive job milking different emotions from listeners – whether they have watched the movie or not. Fans of Star Wars movies will also be pleased that the Academy Award winner (Up) has incorporated Williams’ theme from previous installations into this soundtrack. You will hear the “Death Star Motif” in “When Has Become Now”, “The Force Theme” in “Scrambling the Rebel Fleet” and “Imperial Walkers” in “AT-ACT Assault”.

Fans of Giacchino will be smiling when they see the alternate ‘pun filled’ track listing in the CD’s liner notes. For example, “Cargo Shuttle SW-0608” is “World’s Worse Vacation Destination”, “The Master Switch” is “Switch Hunt”, and “Hope” is “Life and Let Jedi”.

This soundtrack is highly recommended, and there is nothing not to like for every minute of music played out on the album. 

ALBUM RATING: 

Recommended Track: (17) Your Father Would Be Proud

Review by John Li