Avengers’ Theme by Alan Silvestri
With the help of green screen and very skilled animators, the adaptation of superhero comics are now a reality. Many movies and actors have taken a bite of the comic-book apple in order to give the experience to all who watch. Many key factors are included when a superhero comic book is being adapted. They are the writers, directors, actors and CGI animators. But the final touch that truly gives everyone the greatest experience is the music. The heroic themes created by composers of amazing talent that bring the characters to life! Without John Williams’ Superman theme, Superman would never fly. Without the great french horns of Han Zimmer’s theme of The Dark Knight trilogy, Batman would not be as intimidating. And the same can be said of Alan Silvestri’s Avengers Theme! This theme has become so iconic that is now recognized by so many generations and people who adore the Marvel Cinematic Universe or not. In 2012, the Avengers film had finally dropped, the first team superhero movie that connects the others such as Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and Hulk. It was one of the most successful movies to date and was a smash hit at the box office bringing in 1.519 billion dollars around the world.
When the Avengers premiered in 2012, there were many reviews and talks about the film and the music. A review by James Southall says that the “action” is what Silvestri has always done best and that is truly and hugely satisfying. The Assemble of the team is dramatic thrust into the but also heroic. Another review was given by Zanobard Reviews who gave much praise for the Avengers 2012 and Avengers Endgame 2019. He said it was utterly astounding and that the reason the movies were great was because of the score. It was the motion that moved him. He described it as highs and lows. The highs were dramatic and lows were solemn and it was overall jaw-dropping. However not everyone, felt the same about his amazing score.
The review by Chris McEneany was in my opinion, undelightful. He gave quite a bit of criticism for the score of the movie. Going as far as to say that the ending piece is the Avengers theme but an 80’s style retro-fitted rendition was made and was not entirely all that great. The drum pads were incorporated but he was not impressed. He quotes other critics believing that Silvestri was “playing it safe” and was composing more on auto-pilot. He has the audacity to say that the theme is not as memorable and is not hummable. He gave a compliment saying that it does succeed in engaging the audience and giving everyone adrenaline but it is still not as great as James Horner’s Amazing Spiderman theme.
The last bit we will be looking at today is an actual interview between Alex Vo and Alan Silvestri. When asked the question about how Silvestri got his inspiration for such an epic score, he says to Vo that he actually visited the “Battle of New York” scene while they were filming. He wanted to get a feel of the characters and how the score should be scored. Silvestri says that it was actually the iconic pose of the team that gave him the inspiration. “And so the theme, whatever it was going to be, had to really carry the moment and help. I knew it to be something heroic.” (https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/avengers-composer-alan-silvestri-endgame-moment/)
Further into the interview, Vo asked question about the Avengers Infinity War and Endgame as to how it was possible to incorporate other superhero themes mixed in with his own original composition for the movies.
Truly, Alan Silvestri is and always will be, one of the greatest film composers to date. He has an outstanding reputation and has scored so many films that amazing and recognizable themes. It is truly an honor that he still with us today in order to create a theme that will live on and be loved by millions more in the years to come.
