Recurring franchise collaborator, Brian Tyler scored The Expendables 3 after doing the same for the predecessors. Describing the third film's score, Tyler recalled that it had a "Sergio Leone / Ennio Morricone type of vibe to the film, and the score" due to its action themes which increase with each sequel.[1] He wrote a counter-piece cue that resembled a waltz with piano and strings and had eventually implemented orchestral elements with guitar, cello, percussion, drums, timpani, trombone and brass instruments.[2] The main theme had an epic quality, that resembled Harry Potter, Star Wars and Indiana Jones.[3]
Tyler felt that the music for the third film was different to its predecessors, albeit reusing themes from the previous instalments and also had "fun" on writing music for new characters. For the antagonist Stonebanks (Mel Gibson), Tyler wrote a solo piano piece that contrasted the character's nature and stance; he did the same for Loki (Tom Hiddleston) in Thor: The Dark World (2013). He added "I thought more of an etude would work really great so it"s not just arch [...] It shows he has an interesting villainy; there are wheels turning in that brain."[4]
Reception
Filmtracks.com wrote "Overall, this score is as much a disappointment as the film, lacking all vestiges of the personality of the original."[5] James Southall of Movie Wave wrote "The Expandables 3 is an enjoyable album, but it does feature some less interesting passages and (understandably) some of the better parts are very similar to those heard in the previous scores."[6] Thomas Glorieux of Maintitles wrote "In general, if you heard the first and passed through the second, you aren't missing anything."[7] Justin Chang of Variety and Justin Lowe of The Hollywood Reporter called the score as "disappointing" and "predictable".[8][9]
Track listing
The Expendables 3: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack track listing
