FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE NEW FRONTIER
ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK
TO BE RELEASED BY LA-LA LAND RECORDS ON MARCH 18
Renowned Television And Game Composer Kevin Manthei Scores
Justice League: The New Frontier
(March 11, 2008- Burbank, CA) - La-La Land Records will release the
soundtrack for JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE NEW FRONTIER on March 18. The
animated feature will be released on Blu-Ray, Hi Def DVD, and on
Demand on February 26 and on HD DVD on March 18th. Kevin Manthei
(Batman: Gotham Knight, Xiaolin Showdown, Invader Zim) composed the
original music.
Kevin Manthei has been working in the film, television and game arena
for over 15 years. He has worked as the series composer on five
animated TV shows - representing over 130 half hour episodes, composed
over 50 game soundtracks, has made a mark composing music for animated
features, independent films, as well as contributing additional music
on many well-known feature films.
Manthei began his game writing career working on some of the biggest
titles of the time: Panzer General 2, Vampire the Masquerade:
Redemption, Sacrifice, Twisted Metal:Black and other classic games.
Jhonen Vasquez, the creator of Nickelodeon's cult hit Invader Zim, was
a huge fan of games and game music, hiring Manthei to score what was
to become 26 television episodes of Invader Zim. This garnered
Manthei his first Annie Award nomination for Outstanding Achievement
in Music for an animated series. Invader Zim also led to Xiaolin
Showdown for Warner Brothers Animation as well as Brandy and Mr.
Whiskers for Disney. He continued to score both of these shows along
with Warner Brothers' Johnny Test, for which he wrote the emo punk
inspired main title and score to the first season.
While continuing his work on games and film, working on such game
titles as Ultimate Spiderman, City of Villains, The Sims 2, Starcraft:
Ghost, Shrek 2, and recently Marvel Universe Online & Kung Fu Panda,
Manthei has also been active working on several film scores including
Batman: Gotham Knight and The 24th Day starring James Marsden and
Scott Speedman. Batman: Gotham Knight, which Manthei co-composed, is
an anime inspired straight-to-DVD release whose storyline bridges the
gap between the live action films Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.
Based on the graphic novel by Darwyn Cook and produced by Michael
Goguen and executive produced by animation legend, Bruce Timm, JUSTICE
LEAGUE: THE NEW FRONTIER is the epic tale of the founding of the
Justice League. DC Comics legends
Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are all featured in the film as are
Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, and The Flash - as they band
together to form the legendary super team.
Strangers at first, these very different heroes must overcome fear and
suspicion to forge an alliance against a monster so formidable, even
the mighty Superman cannot stop it alone. If they fail the entire
planet will be 'cleansed' of humanity.
The setting of the film allowed Manthei to draw on inspirations from
the past. "I felt very fortunate, because of the fresh take Darwyn
Cooke took in his graphic novel," Manthei described. "The setting, in
the late 50's and early 60's, set up a nice backdrop and tone for the
score. Gone was the current standard of a 'hybrid' score consisting
of electronics and orchestra. Rather, a new approach was suggested,
which was to compliment the time period with a score that was rooted
in that time." He was inspired by the works of Bernard Herrmann and
Aaron Copeland, along with elements of film noir.
"The biggest challenge of the score," said Manthei, "was keeping a
cohesive feel while still addressing all the different characters and
thematic elements. I chose to write major themes for the Centre,
Flash, Hal, Green Lantern & J'onn J'onzz while letting the other super
hero characters be supported by scene specific underscore."
Michael Goguen described, "The surprising touch of a soft, soulful,
film noir-ish saxophone as J'onn J'onnz, the Martian Manhunter, first
stands up into the light to reveal himself to the audience in the
film's first act; the thrilling, propulsive strings and soaring horns
of the Flash's first action sequence as he runs to and around Las
Vegas; the dream-come-true excitement of the secret Mars space flight,
followed by the draining suspense of the tragic crisis-in-space
sequence; and the wonderful moment when a choir of angels welcomes
Superman as he arrives to save Hal Jordan from certain death; these
are all inspired moments of pure musical bliss for me, those things
that can only come from a place of true depth of feeling and
sensitivity. This score is full of such things, and I invite you to
listen for them and savor them."
Warner Bros. Video presents JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE NEW FRONTIER, out on
Blu-Ray, Hi Def DVD, and On Demand on February 26, 2008 and on HD DVD
on March 18th. The JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE NEW FRONTIER Original Motion
Picture Soundtrack will be available in stores or from
www.lalalandrecords.com
on March 18, 2008.
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www.kevinmanthei.com
For more information please contact:
cinemed...@yahoo.com