Superman Returns Soundtrack (by Damon Intrabartolo, John Ottman, Soundtrack)

Elegant and sweeping musical arrangements on the SUPERMAN RETURNS SOUNDTRACK will allow parents who are so inclined to help their kids identify all of the different instruments in a symphony orchestra. Beautifully performed and produced, there's nothing subtle about these songs, composed as they were to accompany a not-so-subtle extravaganza of an action movie. Hear those violins? What gives them that melancholy sound? And here comes the brass section, filled with martial enthusiasm. And so on ... Kids too old to be caught dead listening to "Peter and the Wolf" (or other pieces designed to familiarize young listeners to the sounds of an orchestra) can have fun identifying the sounds while they remember their favorite parts of the movie.

Odd and interesting is the fact that John Williams' theme for 1978's Superman features prominently in this new John Ottman-composed soundtrack. With such large shoes to fill, Ottman seems to be emphasizing, rather than ignoring, musical comparison. Still, he does a big, elaborate job of filling those big, elaborate shoes –- with a soundtrack that is dramatic, emotional, and satisfying.