Klaus Badelt strives to reach epic peaks with the score for "The Promise" and he very nearly succeeds in doing so.  For those of you who are a bit unfamiliar with this project, this is a soundtrack created for the big budget Chinese production, "The Promise",  that is hailed as one of the most expensive films ever produced from China.  It's easy to see where the money went upon watching this movie since there are moments in which the film is a spectacle to behold.  The blend of scenery, cgi and cinematography makes for some stellar moments -- much like the score.  This is a tale that produced segments of excellence in nearly every facet, but not in total!

 

Badelt's score is a solid effort, make no mistake there.  There are passages that are simply magnificent to listen to and would make one consider this the album of the year if that is all they heard.  However, I think the music would have benefited had it been toned down in certain segments.  This is an unusual instance where the soundtrack is lacking a consistent presence of an underscore!  Due to this, the main themes (which there are plenty to choose from) are not honored the way they perhaps should be.  These themes seem to flow into one another from one track to the next and I personally could have used a bit of a breather in between!  However, in all fairness, the tempo of the film really did force Badelt's hand here because it moves along at a very fast pace, specifically in the U.S. release.

 

The musical output here is extensive and this score album is indicative of that.  The album is generous with its running time and is produced expertly.  The sound quality has richness and depth to it.  Those who are fans of Tan Dun's work will also appreciate this soundtrack since it is consistent enough with some of the recent Martial Arts/Fantasy scores produced within the past 5 years to find enjoyment from it.

 

In summary, this is indeed a soundtrack I recommend since the high points will engage and entertain enough to make this a worthwhile purchase, especially if you are a fan of bold, heroic film music.  Had this score had enough of a balance between subtle underscore and its themes, than we would be having a serious discussion about this being an Oscar worthy soundtrack.  That's not the case, however, though I do have enough faith in Badelt's talents to know that he'll find that balance one day soon.

 

Final Score: This is a sweeping score,with enough epic moments and thematic excellence to make "The Promise" a solid choice for film music fans.