3/5 NEW, DIFFERENT.....But Missing something
  by Marcus Lacroix (Torrance, CA)
Ok. I am a die hard, Star Trek fan. I do the conventions, I have all the shows on DVD and every sort of Trek merchansise. That being said, I was really excited for the score to the new Star Trek movie. I found out days before the official release of the soundtrack that Michael Giacchino was doing a signing at the Best Buy in Hollywood to promote the release of the music and eventually the movie. So I went to the signing, in costume and met the composer who gladly signed my copy of the CD, and even gave me a poster. I was even interviewed for his website about what I thought of him and the new score. I said then that I was sure his music would be taking is place among the great scores of the other movies....

Then I got home and uploaded the CD into iTunes for my iPod..and I sat back and listened. Keep in mind this was BEFORE I saw the movie and I must say I was disappointed. Mainly for three reasons.

1. The famous Alexander Courage theme ONLY appears at the end (which turns out was also the END of the MOVIE).
As a fan of the original stuff, I had hoped that Giacchino would use Courage's theme throught the movie, while mixing his own twists and turns much like Goldsmith and the others who composed scores for the Trek movies and shows. He did not. Star Trek is not Star Trek without the original theme making small, short appearances throught the score.

2. The Soundtrack CD is only 45 minutes long. The label of the CD, Varese Sarabande, is FAMOUS for their great soundtracks, but they are also famous for putting out incomplete versions such as this. For a 2 hour movie, we only get 45 minutes of music, and if you've seen the movie more then once you will notice that the cues on the CD are mixed up and are not in order. For example, the theme that appeared when the title "Star Trek" comes across the screen, is mixed in with track no. 5 which is called here: "Enterprising Young Men". In my opinion, the entire score as it appeared in the film shouldve been released. I wanted to hear the music in order and how I heard it in the film, But thats just me. Some of the most memorable stuff I remember didnt make it on the CD.

3. The strangest thing about this CD is not the music, but the silly track names. WHY WHY WHY on earth would they do that? Maybe it was to appeal to the masses? I dont know. If I didnt know any better I'd say they were trying to be funny. But I didnt think it was funny. It makes it difficult when someone wants a certain cue and cant find it because the titles are...off. The Main Title should be...well...Main Title..and so on. Like when Kirk and McCoy are in the shuttlecraft and they see the "new" Enterprise for the first time it should be called something like, "First Sight" or "There She Is" or something like that. But Anyway.

Overall this was a good score. And like the movie, it has elements of the past in it. But after listening to it over and over, sometimes I forgot I was listening to a Trek score. Something for missing. But this is 2009 and times have changed. This is Star Trek for a new generation and who am I to say its bad? I liked the score, I was just hoping for more based on the past and in terms of the amount presented on CD. Buy this CD, and you will enjoy it. Its good music, but not Goldsmith, Horner and the others. This is Michael Giacchino, Trek's newest musical star.

Keep in mind these are all just my opinions. We all have a word. But I am not the last word, only a word. Find out for yourself, get this CD. Hopefully they will give us a complete version (with alternates and takes perhaps?) in the future. Live Long and Prosper!

5/5 Grows on you
  by M. Clark
When I first heard this soundtrack, I was disappointed. But after listening to it a few times, found myself humming its themes--a lot. It got to the point where I was humming or thinking about it all the time.

I ended up seeing the movie three times and was better able to mentally match up the soundtrack to scenes in the movie, and that made it even better. For instance "Labor of love" is sweet and mellow, when you know what's actually happening at that point in the movie, wow, it just makes the music even better.

I've been a fan of movie scores for a while, and at first my attitude was, "This ain't no Jerry Goldsmith" because there were some tracks that I like, but many I didn't. But you know what? You can take almost any Goldsmith soundtrack and say the same. Take First Contact or Insurrection for instance. They have beautiful themes, but is every track on either of those scores great? Hell, no.

And I'll tell you what, I've never heard the Alexander Courage theme (as played at the end of the movie) sound any better.

Giacchino has done a great, great job. Listen to it a few times, and I think you'll agree.


4/5 The music grows on you
  by Michael Leonard (Alberta Canada)
When I first listened to the score I thought to myself "okay, this isn't bad." I am an avid Trek fan and score fan and own all Trek movies and their soundtracks. This CD is a departure from the typical Goldsmith Trek score we've all come to know. But I kid you not, the music grows on you. Tracks like "Nailing the Kelvin", "Nero Death Experience", "Enterprising Young Men" and Giacchino's new Star Trek theme are noteworthy pieces that I find myself listening to over and over again.

Michael Giacchino adds something fresh to the Trek world with this score. And I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

5/5 Star Trek 2009 Soundtrack
  by Lois Sales (Everett, Wa USA)
This is one of most greatest Star Trek soundtrack to date thus far. It keeps me hooked and constantly listening to it in my off time and when im driving.
For everyone that rated this 1/5 stars, you all obviously have no ears. Thank god real trekkers have pointed ears that can tell what good music is.

1/5 This movie had a soundtrack?
  by Heidi Goldberg (Baltimore, MD United States)
I don't remember any musical score in this movie when I think back on it and that's not a good sign. Movie scores are supposed to enhance the mood of whatever is happening on screen and help carry that mood with the audience as they leave the theater. They're supposed to be memorable, like Star Trek 2, Pirates of the Caribbean, Lord of the Rings, Battlestar Galactica TV, Amelie, On Golden Pond, to name a few of my favorites. But this score must have disappeared down the black hole with Nero because none of it sticks in my memory. I do remember the film maker's one attempt at including modern music: a 15-year-old song by the Beastie Boys called Sabotage, which didn't really fit the scene it was included in at all. Oh well, the whole Star Trek movie was forgettable anyway.