| Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | ||||
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| Released | July 1, 2003 | |||
| Recorded | 2002–2003 | |||
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| Genre | Film score | |||
| Length | 51:22 | |||
| Label | Varèse Sarabande | |||
| Producer | Marco Beltrami | |||
| Terminator soundtrack chronology | ||||
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| Marco Beltrami chronology | ||||
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Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is thefilm score to the 2003 filmTerminator 3: Rise of the Machines directed byJonathan Mostow, which is the third instalment in theTerminator franchise and a sequel toTerminator 2: Judgment Day (1991).Marco Beltrami composed the musical score, with the series'leitmotif byBrad Fiedel was not used, though it was featured in the film's end credits. The score was completely orchestral compared to Fiedel's electronic score in the first two films. The film'ssoundtrack was released byVarèse Sarabande on July 1, 2003.
Marco Beltrami composed the music forTerminator 3: Rise of the Machines, replacing the originalTerminator composerBrad Fiedel. During the editing process, thetemp tracks included many of Beltrami's scores, such asMimic (1997),The Crow: Salvation (2000),The Watcher (2000), the first threeScream films, andI Am Dina (2002). Mostow liked the scores and insisted to meet Beltrami. Afterwards, Mostow mentioned that sinceRise of the Machines was a high-profile film, several composers are lined up for it but assured that he would push Beltrami as the frontrunner. That December, Beltrami was announced as the composer. He then came up with a palette sounds, with few of them inspired from previous Terminator films and wrote thematic materials afterwards; Beltrami began scoring individual scenes afterChristmas 2002.[1]
Beltrami consideredRise of the Machines as a complete entity to itself and though he was inspired byBrad Fiedel's score forTerminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), he wanted to do something inventive with the score. With controversies from theTerminator fans on whether Fiedel's main theme would be omitted, Beltrami denied having such ideas and instead recorded an updated, orchestral version of that theme. However, when that theme was about to be incorporated into the film, it felt that the theme took the audience out of the picture, bringing back to the predecessor as well; Beltrami admitted on the main theme being used very little in the predecessor. He noted on the sound of metallic motifs which Fiedel used, and with Beltrami making it more orchestrally. Hence theRise of the Machines had a more orchestral score as opposed to an electronic score, while paying homage to Fiedel's work, but had more action music than the previous film scores.[1][2]
The idea of a complete orchestral score came from discussions with Mostow, after watching the edit. Beltrami opined on using a larger orchestral score, as the music needed to reflect the emotional aspects of the human characters, over the machines, expanding on the fear ofJohn Connor's character and him developing the courage to do his job. Beltrami further had 120 tracks ofsynthesizers and electronics but used to work with the orchestra as opposed to supersede it.[1]
The scoring process began in April 2003 and completed scoring it within six weeks. It was recorded with a 94-piece orchestra, 30-piece choir and 13 percussionists and electronic sounds. Approximately 85 minutes of music were recorded for the film, with around 45–50 minutes of it were used in the final score.[2]
Christian Clemmensen ofFilmtracks wrote "the muddled underscore is perplexing in its inability to excite, tantalize, or terrify. Even so, orchestral score fans may findTerminator 3 to be more accessible than Fiedel's previous entry in the saga. The disgruntlement remains, however, for strictTerminator fans who have waited far too long for a newTerminator score that powerfully and forcefully does what it should:kick ass."[3] Bret Adams ofAllMusic wrote "Mostow and Beltrami definitely put their own stamp on it. Whereas Fiedel's score—especially in the original film—relied heavily on synthesizers and keyboards, Beltrami's Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines' score is a professional, rather standard orchestral work performed by a collective of session musicians credited as the Hollywood Studio Symphony. But some pieces do stand out, such as "A Day in the Life," "Hooked on Multiphonics," "Graveyard Shootout," "Magnetic Personality," and "Terminator Tangle."[4]
Thomas Glorieux ofMaintitles wrote "Beltrami does a fair enough attempt at recreating the Fiedel atmosphere and villain sound ofT2, succeeding at least on that part with a thumbs up effort. And between all that you receive the familiar Beltrami stabs and rhythms, making it not a particular engrossing experience, but by far an effective one."[5] Gary Datkin ofMusic Web International called it a "the best new action score since John Williams'Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones last summer."[6] Steven Horn ofIGN wrote "In the end, Beltrami has delivered something of a curiosity. Sometimes quiet and organic, other times loud and abrasive, the overall effect is that of a hodge-podge of musical elements. It seems completely appropriate to the subject matter and yet it lacks a distinctive voice of its own. Unlike the similarly structured score forAliens, this is not one to listen to over and over again."[7]Todd McCarthy ofVariety considered it to be "unobtrusive by current standards".[8]
All music is composed by Marco Beltrami except "The Terminator" and "I Told You".
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "A Day in the Life" | 3:41 | ||
| 2. | "Hooked on Multiphonics" | 1:47 | ||
| 3. | "Blonde Behind the Wheel" | 2:07 | ||
| 4. | "JC Theme" | 3:34 | ||
| 5. | "Starting T-1" | 1:50 | ||
| 6. | "Hearse Rent a Car" | 1:48 | ||
| 7. | "T-X's Hot Tail" | 3:39 | ||
| 8. | "Graveyard Shootout" | 1:31 | ||
| 9. | "More Deep Thoughts" | 0:58 | ||
| 10. | "Dual Terminator" | 0:51 | ||
| 11. | "Kicked in the Can" | 2:03 | ||
| 12. | "Magnetic Personality" | 4:35 | ||
| 13. | "Termina-Tricks" | 2:12 | ||
| 14. | "Flying Lessons" | 0:56 | ||
| 15. | "What Do You Want on Your Tombstone?" | 1:19 | ||
| 16. | "Terminator Tangle" | 3:21 | ||
| 17. | "Radio" | 2:23 | ||
| 18. | "T3" | 3:17 | ||
| 19. | "The Terminator" (from the motion pictureThe Terminator) | Brad Fiedel | Brad Fiedel | 2:21 |
| 20. | "Open to Me" (bonus track) | Dillon Dixon | Dillon Dixon | 3:46 |
| 21. | "I Told You" (bonus track) | Mia Julia | Mia Julia | 3:11 |
| Total length: | 51:22 | |||
Songs that are not included on the soundtrack album[9]
Credits adapted from liner notes:[11]
| Awards | Category | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Result |
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| ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards[12] | Top Box Office Films | Marco Beltrami | Won |
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