
Some might say I got it backwards when I purchased Klaus Badelt's film score to the 2002 movie "The Time Machine" and then after an awestruck listening experience I watched the movie. However, if I could go back in time, I would do the same thing except I would have bought the score sooner than a year after its release. The
movie retells the story of H.G. Wells famous book of the same name, with a few new twists, turns, and plot devices thrown in for good measure.
As is the case with many movies over the years, The Time Machine's score elevated the movie beyond it's mediocrity. I don't know how Badelt did it, but the man was inspired! There is something for everyone on this score from Professor Alexander Hartdegen's noble theme for piano, strings, and choir (best represented in "Professor Alexander Hartdegen," "The Time Machine," "I Don't Belong Here," and "Godspeed"), to the romantic theme for Emma ("Emma"), to the intense action writing for the Morlocks ("Morlocks Attack"), and finally to the inspiring pop/choral theme for the Eloi ("Eloi," "Stone Language," and "Godspeed"). Each of these themes gets liberal treatment throughout the nearly 58 minute album. My favorite cue on the album is "I Don't Belong Here." The cue starts out subdued and then quickly launches into an inspiring brass fanfare with cymbal crescendos accompanied by triumphant strings. The piece highlights one of my favorite parts of the movie when Professor Hartdegen starts up the time machine, looking longingly at a picture of his deceased love, Emma, and goes forward in time for the first time. The music begins to air triumphant as the date dial starts to move forwards and his surroundings morph around him in quick succession as time accelerates. The cue ends as the professor deactivates the time machine while gazing awestruck at his futuristic surroundings. A clip of this sequence can viewed on
Youtube. Klaus Badelt hit all the right notes with this score, and in fact, it is his best work to date and a classic film score worthy of any collection. My recommendation is to obviate the need for a time machine and pick this one up on CD with all deliberate haste at
Amazon.com. Here's hoping the reported
sequel will be scored by Badelt.
Rating: *****
I Dont Belong Here - Klaus Badelt