Various Artists - V For Vendetta

In the last several years there’s been a big push in adapting comics to the screen. One of the challenges facing producers and directors is not only to match motion--but also music to the motionless and music-less page. V For Vendetta’s soundtrack, composed by Pride and Prejudice and The Brothers Grimm composer Dario Marianelli, is a hybrid of standard motion picture scores and conventional songwriting. The bulk of the soundtrack has a patriotic, militant feel that matches director James McTeigue’s film adaptation of Alan Moore’s best-selling comic. The symphonic component is, at first, familiar, but soon becomes redundant. Although it is triumphant and well-executed, it doesn’t have the feel of a stand-alone soundtrack. Perhaps not so redundant as the persistent piano plunking of Eyes Wide Shut, but a little too familiar to be dynamic. While other recent movie soundtracks have quickly become must-have compilation, Vendetta falls a little short in vibrancy. Well-matched to the movie, but not to the various, vivacious, or vilifying experiences of the very valued listener. [www.astralwerks.com]