Alien 3 appeared in cinemas in 1992 to much criticism by film critics and Alien fans alike. The film is by far the darkest of the trilogy and many fans objected to the deaths of Hicks and Newt. The film also lacks the scare factor of Ridley Scott�s original and the stunning spectacle of James Cameron�s Aliens.
The score for Alien 3, by the then unknown Elliot Goldenthal reflects the bleak atmosphere of the film. However unlike his score for Sphere this score is not scary. The first track �Agnus Dei� borders on haunting and potentially scary music but never quite manages it. However the track does introduce the Alien 3 theme with a brief statement after a barrage of whining brass and discordant choral effects that is obviously representing somebody�s nasty demise.
Track 10 �Visit to the Wreckage� is a good tension cue. Making a simple rendition of the theme and combining it with a steadily progressive crescendo that makes up a good 2 minute track.
The action cues of Alien 3 are, unlike the previous two scores, weak and create little excitement. They are however incredibly creative in their use of the orchestra. Whilst this may not be pleasant to listen to or be considered exciting action music (or even in some places be classed as music at all!) it distinguishes the score from the previous two entries and provides some very effective horror music.
Many of the action cues are painful to listen to ("Bait and Chase" being one of the worst), degenerating into tapping percussion making a scuttling noise for several minutes. However, the best tracks create some excitement for the score. Tracks such as �Candles in the Wind� and �Explosion and Aftermath� are highly creative in their approach to creating the chase music and, �Candles in the Wind� particularly make use of trombones and trumpets in a way similar to David Arnold action pieces.
The last action cue �The Entrapment� can not really be called a great action track as it is merely a big performance of the main theme with an almost classical use of violins which sound far too light and flighty to sound anything but out of place and almost comical in what is supposed to be the climax of the film.
In the end it is the quieter, slower tracks that are the most effective and enjoyable. �Lento� and �Adagio� in particular demonstrate Goldenthal�s talent and potential. �Lento� is in the end, the track on the CD that has everything. First off we hear the choral theme for the film with a movingly sombre string and piano lament accompaniment. Then the main theme explodes out of the speakers in what has to be the best rendition on the album. The theme is effectively used as both a loud dramatic piece in this track as well as a haunting motif for the tension cues toward the end. Short sections of �Adagio� appear in Lento and are made more haunting with an eerie choral accompaniment. �Lento� ends with a short section of obvious horror music with the tell tale whining trumpets and clarinets to represent the Alien.
The �Adagio� track is simply superb. The track is mainly a string lament for the deceased Ripley and has both a sense of awe, power and tragedy. Being four minutes long the track slowly meanders its course through the quiet strings to an immense full orchestra climax with a huge, subtly altered performance of the theme.
Overall there is some stunningly good music on the Alien 3 release especially in the tracks I have mentioned. Some of Alien 3 is very classical in style unlike Goldenthal's work for Sphere which makes his action cues a lot less bombastic. Some of these classical moments seem out of place and left me a bit perplexed after my first listen. Many of the action cues border on bland or just are just too discordant to appreciate but the tracks that are coherent are; creative, exciting and a few are superb.
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2. Bait and Chase (4:42)
3. The Beast Within (3:09)
4. Lento (5:48)
5. Candles in the Wind (3:20)
6. Wreckage and Rape (2:43)
7. The First Attack (4:19)
8. Lullaby Elegy (3:41)
9. Death Dance (2:18)
10. Visit to the Wreckage (2:04)
11. Explosion and Aftermath (2:21)
12. The Dragon (3:08)
13. The Entrapment (3:42)
14. Adagio (4:14)