My Favorite Themes - Part XVII

Score: The Rundown by Harry Gregson-Williams (Team America: World Police)

About the film: Before he can get from under his boss's thumb and open his own restaurant, an enforcer (The Rock) must locate the man's son (Seann William Scott) who's searching for a rare treasure in the South American jungles. Problem is that a mining town operator (Christopher Walken) also wants it. This is a fairly enjoyable action-comedy laced with a number of peculiar (but effective) touches. Good non-think entertainment for those in the mood, well-directed by Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights).

Title: "Hatcher and His Men". Let me be straight with you: this theme is pretty much a leftover from the composer's Media Ventures days. A repetitive, pounding melody with no real variations to it beyond its synth and intermittent horn blast base...but damned if my blood isn't pumping every time I hear it. It's a real 'I wanna kick some ass' kind of tune, no more cool than in the climatic "Whip Fight".

Other themes of interest: This isn't really a 'thematic' score, per se, so much as it is one of ambience and atmosphere, with lots of (cool) ethnic percussion and some fine guitar playing. There is, though, a neat (albeit one time only) anthem-like theme in the rock-tinged "Guns".

Availability: Varese Sarabande...enough said.