 |
Title |
| Godzilla 2000: Millennium |
| International Title |
| Godzilla
2000: Millennium |
| Music
By: Takayuki
Hattori |
| Record
Label: Nippon Columbia |
| |  |
| Running Time: 59:05 |
Discs: 1 |
| Release: November
1999 |
CD Number: COCP-50196 | |
| Comments |
 |
Anthony
Romero |  |
|
|
The original and first soundtrack release of the budding entry in the Millennium Godzilla series. Composed by Takayuki
Hattori, who five years earlier did Godzilla
vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994), this score as a whole is a slight misfire, lacking the engaging elements most often associated with the long running franchise.
Hattori's
Godzilla
vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994) had promise. SpaceGodzilla's theme was interesting, Birth Island was a real stand out and overall the score seemed like a nice entry point from a new composer to the series. A few years later and Hattori feels totally out of place in the franchise. For this film the composer keys in on simple themes, horn blares and other techniques which waste the large orchestra at his disposal and removes the grandeur that other composers have achieved on the series. Its not totally devoid of worthwhile cues. Although the chorus work is a over done, "End Title: Godzilla - Dreaded God" is a pleasing finisher for the disc. "Giant UFO Approaching #1" also stands out, with an almost tribal background drum that is set to violin work. The combination is odd and slightly alien, although not in the way one might associate with an invading force, but for better or worse it pops out to the listener.
However, even with glimmers here and there, as a whole the score is forgettable. It's mediocre and lacks energy, which slumps it down as one of the more easy to overlook entries in the long running series. The marches feel forced and "Godzilla's Theme: 2000 Millennium" starts off almost comical before sounding more plodding than powerful. This is highlighted all the more by track 31: Godzilla's Theme as
done by Akira
Ifukube originally for Godzilla
vs. Destoroyah (1995). The cue feels like a breath of fresh air, with the powerful, booming and energetic theme placing into focus what the themes before it so sorely lacked. While there are worse entries in the franchise in terms of their soundtrack, like Godzilla Raids Again (1955) or Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971), this one certainly ranks among the lowest of the modern entries in the series.
While this was the first CD release of the score, there have been others to follow each of which is a little different. Compared to the later GNP Crescendo release (GNPD-8065), there are a couple of notable changes. Most obvious is that the sound effects are all contained at the end. There are no sound effects sprinkled between cues as there are on the US version. Several themes were also merged into single tracks as well that are found separately here, such as "Tensions on the Rise" and "Extraterrestrial Life: The Metamorphosis" that are one track on the GNP issue. The short but nice track "Organizer" is also found on this release, which was puzzlingly removed altogether from the GNP version. This CD is also in strict chronological order. "Godzilla's Theme: 2000 Millennium", which appears at the start of the US version, and Akira
Ifukube's "Godzilla's Theme"
both appear at the correct location with where they play during the film. In terms of audio quality, it's pretty similar between the two; I wasn't able to tell a difference between them in a blind sound test.
In contrast to the Godzilla Perfect Collection version (G-023), stick with the newer release. It has more content with comparable audio quality. The only edge this release has are the sound effects and the presentation of Ifukube's Godzilla theme is a little better.
Overall, despite many shortcomings, it's still an okay soundtrack in the long running franchise. In terms of how to pick it up, this release is easily superior to the GNP one. However, it also will cost you more to buy and for that reason it loses out as the choice is clear: pick the Toho Music release for the most complete content offering, pick the GNP release for the cheapest price.
Rating:  |
| | Tracks |
- Godzilla 2000: Millennium Main Title
- The Giant Tail
- Face to Face with Terror
- Inches from Disaster
- Godzilla Appears in Nemuro
- Deep at Sea
- Sixty Million Year Slumber
- The Object from Outer Space: Bizarre Happening
#1
- The Self Defense Force Swings into Action
- Godzilla's Theme: 2000 Millennium
- Launching the Full Metal Missile
- The Object from Outer Space: Flight
- Godzilla Comes Ashore
- The Encounter with the Mysterious Object
- Eerie Silence #1
- Eerie Silence #2
- Ominous Premonition
- The Wonder of G Revealed
- The Object from Space: Bizarre Happening #2
- Giant UFO Approaching #1
- Giant UFO Approaching #2
- Off to Shinjuku
- Earth Invasion
- Before the Explosion
- Millennium
- Thinking of My Dad
- 21:10
- The Millennium Kingdom
- Miraculous Survival
- Organizer
- Godzilla's Theme
Composer: Akira Ifukube
- Extraterrestrial Life: The Birth
- Tensions on the Rise
- Extraterrestrial Life: The Metamorphosis
- Astonishing Resurrection
- G's Decision
- Irony of Fate
- End Title: Godzilla - Dreaded God
- SE - Sound Effects
| |
