The Incredible Hulk (soundtrack): Difference between revisions

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}

| name = The Incredible Hulk:<br />Original Motion Picture Score

| type = Film score

| artist = [[Craig Armstrong (composer)|Craig Armstrong]]

| cover = The Incredible Hulk soundtrack cover.jpg

| alt =

| released = {{start date|2008|06|13}}

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio =

| genre =

| length = 110:55

| label = [[Marvel Music]]

| producer = Craig Armstrong

| prev_title = [[Elizabeth: The Golden Age]]

| prev_year = 2007

| next_title = [[Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps]]

| next_year = 2010

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] soundtrack

| type = Soundtrack

| prev_title = [[Iron Man (soundtrack)|Iron Man]]

| prev_year = 2008

| title = The Incredible Hulk

| year = 2008

| next_title = [[Iron Man 2 (soundtrack)|Iron Man 2]]

| next_year = 2010

'''''The Incredible Hulk: Original Motion Picture Score''''' is the [[soundtrack]] for ''[[The Incredible Hulk (film)|The Incredible Hulk]]'', composed by [[Craig Armstrong (composer)|Craig Armstrong]].

==Background==

[[Craig Armstrong (composer)|Craig Armstrong]] was the [[arrangement|arranger]] for [[Massive Attack]], a band director [[Louis Leterrier]] was fond of and had collaborated with on the 2005 film ''[[Unleashed (2005 film)|Unleashed]]''. Armstrong was his first choice, which surprised Marvel, not knowing if he had scored an action film (he did compose 2001's ''[[Kiss of the Dragon]]'').<ref name="MusicEye">{{Cite news| date=July 9, 2008 |first=Rudy |last=Koppl |title=Director Louis Leterrier - Opening the Mind's Eye |publisher=MusicFromTheMovies.com |url=http://www.musicfromthemovies.com/feature.asp?ID=126 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709164729/http://www.musicfromthemovies.com/feature.asp?ID=126 |archivedate=July 9, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Even the [[temp track]] consisted of Armstrong's work and similar music by others. The Hulk, alongside the [[Green Lantern]], was one of Armstrong's favorite comics as a child, although he did not see Ang Lee's ''Hulk''.<ref name="MusicHidden">{{Cite news| date=July 9, 2008 |first=Rudy |last=Koppl |title=The Incredible Hulk - Dr. Bruce Banner's Hidden Secrets |publisher=MusicFromTheMovies.com |url=http://www.musicfromthemovies.com/sotw.asp?ID=125 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709135325/http://www.musicfromthemovies.com/sotw.asp?ID=125 |archivedate=July 9, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Armstrong began composing in his home in [[Glasgow]], Scotland with three sequences; the Hulk and Betty in the cave; the Abomination and the Hulk's alley fight; and Bruce and Betty's reunion. The majority was composed in a few weeks in [[Los Angeles, California]], which was very intense for the director and composer. The score was recorded over four days during late 2007 in a chapel in [[Bastyr University]], located in [[Kenmore, Washington]]. [[Pete Lockett]] played ethnic instruments in the score, which were recorded in [[London]] and mixed together with the orchestra and electronics.<ref name="MusicHidden" /> The score was orchestrated by Matt Dunkley, [[Tony Blondal]], [[Stephen Coleman]], David Butterworth, and Kaz Boyle.<ref name="orchestration">{{cite web|url=http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/incredible_hulk08.html|title=The Incredible Hulk (Craig Armstrong)|work=Filmtracks Modern Soundtrack Reviews|date=July 3, 2008}}</ref> Leterrier suggested the score be released on two discs, which Armstrong believed to be a joke. Only when he compiled the album – and Marvel asked why they were only given one disc – did he realize they were serious.<ref name="MusicHidden" />

The Hulk and the Abomination both have two themes, representing their human and monstrous forms. The Hulk's theme was meant to be iconic and simple, like ''[[Jaws (film)|Jaws]]'' (1975), with string [[glissando]]s on a bass C note. Banner's theme is tragic and includes parts of [[Joe Harnell]]'s "The Lonely Man" theme from the television series. Armstrong played the [[piano]] for one scene featuring that piece. Blonsky has a dark theme, which becomes aggressive when he transforms. Armstrong inter played the Hulk and the Abomination's themes during their battle, and found scoring the action sequences similar to a dance. There is also a suspenseful theme, and a love theme.<ref name="MusicHidden" />

| all_music = Craig Armstrong

| note11 = Includes "The Lonely Man" from ''[[The Incredible Hulk (1978 TV series)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' by [[Joe Harnell]]

==Reception==

{{Album ratings

|rev1=[http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/incredible_hulk08.html Filmtracks]

|rev1score={{Rating|4|5}}

|rev2=[http://moviemusicuk.us/2008/06/13/the-incredible-hulk-craig-armstrong/ Movie Music UK]

|rev2score={{Rating|3.5|5}}

|rev3=[http://www.tracksounds.com/reviews/incredible_hulk_craig_armstrong.htm Tracksounds]

|rev3score={{Rating|8|10}}

}}

The ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' described the soundtrack as ''"the dullest musical score of the year"'' in their review of the film,<ref name="CTSoundtrack">{{cite news | last = Phillips | first = Michael | title = 'The Incredible Hulk' stars Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth and William Hurt | publisher = [[Chicago Tribune]] | date = June 13, 2008 | url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/reviews/critics/chi-0613-universal-incredible-hulk-review,0,535828.story}}</ref> while Dan Goldwasser of Soundtrack.net described it as "bombastic, thematic and energy-filled".<ref name="STSoundtrack">{{cite web|url=http://www.soundtrack.net/movies/database/?id=30006|title=The Incredible Hulk (2008) - Soundtrack.Net|date=June 12, 2008}}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{Hulk}}

{{Marvel Cinematic Universe|selected=Music}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Incredible Hulk (soundtrack), The}}

[[Category:2008 soundtrack albums]]

[[Category:2000s film soundtrack albums]]

[[Category:Craig Armstrong (composer) soundtracks]]

[[Category:Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One soundtracks]]

[[Category:The Incredible Hulk (film)|soundtrack]]