Atli Örvarsson has delivered a Celtic-flavoured score for Kevin Macdonald’s Roman epic adventure The Eagle. Based on Rosemary Sutcliff’s classic novel The Eagle of the Ninth, the story is set in 2nd-Century Britain and follows two men on their dangerous and obsessive quest to solve the unexplained disappearance of the entire Ninth Legion in Scotland...

The soundtrack for The Eagle is interesting enough, but leans on a few too many cliches. Why is it that Celtic inspired scores always sound the same? It could be that in order to sell a location and a period in history to an audience that this is the easiest way of setting the scene, but whatever the reason original this score isn't.

There are some interesting themes and set pieces, but again it's nothing you won't feel that you haven't heard before. There are a few too many tracks that sound like they were "borrowed" from Hanz Zimmer's score for Gladiator, and others that will remind you of James Horner's work on Titanic.

When Örvarsson is allowed to stray from the Celtic theme he shows what he can produce 'May Your Souls Take Flight' has a beautiful tune at it's core (even though it does delve back into Celtic roots briefly).

I couldn't help laughing at 'Edge of the World' which has lyrics that sounded like "Yakaboo" - which fans of The Goons will remember is the phrase that those who catch lurgi yell out in Lurgi Strikes Britain.

Overall this works well for setting the atmosphere in the movie, but is a little predictable when listened to in isolation.

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Darren Rea