Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard collaborated on the soundtrack for Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins. Both composers worked separately in a bid to create different themes and moods to represent Bruce Wayne's two very different personalities. Here, the composers have produced a sound palette designed to tap into the psychological aspects of the story as well as the psyche of the main character himself...

With Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard working together to set the atmosphere for a new Gotham City you'd be forgiven for instantly thinking this would be a guaranteed winner of a soundtrack. Sadly, for fans of contemporary soundtracks, this is more background noise than it is a collection of well crafted, beautiful themes.

While tracks like 'Macrotus' (and even the opening minute of that is rather bland) are interesting as standalone tracks, the majority of the music collected here is just too uneventful to really warrant a second hearing. 'Lasiurus' also has promise, but just ends up turning into a rather predictable series of chord progressions.

While as an accompaniment to the film this may work it's magic, as a soundtrack to listen to in isolation this is definitely not one I'd recommend.

3

Darren Rea