Again, as with the Star Trek II soundtrack, I bought this one only because it was by James Horner. Star Trek III (both the movie and the soundtrack) start off right where the movie ends. The fact that the music is coherent between the two makes it an enjoyable listen. What made Star Trek II so good was it's use of the theme during key passages. This soundtrack offers more of the same. One of the best cues on this CD has to be Stealing the Enterprise. The opening of the cue is what makes it one of the best. With a frenzied bowing of strings, the music races into the meat of the action culminating in an exciting finale.
But unlike his previous effort, Horner doesn't go all action on this one. This is because the movie is not all action packed like part two. The mystical overtones and culture is reflected well in Horner's music. Building on the music he wrote for Spock in Star Trek II, Horner gives it greater depth. This film also provided Horner the opportunity to write some music for the animalistic Klingons. Rather than choosing to follow the lead of Jerry Goldsmith, Horner takes a different route with the Klingon theme. While it is clearly inspired by Goldsmith's Klingon theme, Horner makes it less primitive but threatening nonetheless. Overall I'd recommend this CD to anyone who enjoyed the score to Star Trek II.
Total time:
1: Prologue and Main Title (6:27) *
2: Klingons (5:55)
3: Stealing the Enterprise (8:33) *
4: The Mind Meld (2:30)
5: Bird of Prey Decloaks (3:37)
6: Returning to Vulcan (4:49)
7: The Katra Ritual (4:29)
8: End Title (6:12) *
9: The Search for Spock (3:43)
* Contains TV theme by A. Courage