Islands In The Stream: The Eternal Beauty of the Ocean
James D. Eret | San Diego | 02/27/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Jerry Goldsmith, in "Islands In The Stream," proved to me that film music can be as beautiful, complex and lasting as classical music. I can not imagine the movie without Goldsmith's music; the actions and characters so woven togther in the themes written for them. Beyond all the action of the film, always, a constant sea theme, a rising and falling of waves, powerful and subtle at the same time, dwarfing almost the human story. Yet Goldsmith is so masterly that he weaves the themes of the Boys, the Woman, the Journey, and the theme of deep loss and regret. There are strains of the folk song "Jamaican Farewell," that is magically turned into the threat of a shark attack. I have many favorite Goldsmith film scores and this is the one I admire the most; it stands on its own, carries the movie, under-rated by the way. I can't imagine how viewers could'nt respond to its themes of love, family, loss, redemtion, mortality, and all brilliantly underscored by Jerry Goldsmith's unforgetable music score. He has scored so many varied works that it is easy to lose track of his great body of musical works. If you have to buy a few of Goldsmith,s film scores, I highly recommend starting with this, "The Islands In The Stream," a score that captures the raptures of nature and tones of regret like no other piece of film music I've listened to in years."
No dedicated surfing enthusiast should miss this
Midwest Book Review | Oregon, WI USA | 07/28/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Islands In The Stream showcases the near incredible surfing talents of Donovan Franenreiter, Hawaiian-borne Tamayo Perry, the very highly skilled Mark Healey, among other expert surfers. We are treated to the beautifully magnificent waves of Tahiti and the filming skills of Wes Brown and T.J. Barrack have produced a true classic that will proudly (and aptly) be compared such surfing movie classics as The Endless Summer; The Endless Summer II; and The Endless Summer Revisited. Enhanced with surfer bios and a "Rest In Peace" music video, this is a wonderful addition to any personal or community library DVD collection, no dedicated surfing enthusiast should miss seeing Islands In The Stream."
Hauntingly Majestic
S. Reece | 05/29/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Jerry Goldsmith raises the impact of an already stunningly perfect film with such hauntingly majestic themes that you'll long remember the melodies. The music of this soundtrack transports you into world of an aging man as he attempts to deal with loss and change.
"The Island" puts you right on a South Pacific beach with lilting clarinet breezes and tantalizing tastes of the main theme that weave in and out of an ocean of melodies.
"Marlin" gets you right in the thrill of deep sea fishing. Initially the mood is exciting and new, but danger begins to reveal a darker theme as the adventure becomes more difficult than expected.
"It's All True" leaves you daydreaming as the major themes whisper to your heart. The strings drift your mind to better times gone by... and you dread the ominous change that you know will soon come. But the music seems to tell you there is still hope.
This movie tells the eternal tale of a man coming to terms with his own mortality as he seeks to leave a legacy... to have made a difference somehow. Jerry Goldsmith has given us a legacy with this beautiful work!"