For his 17th collaboration with director , film composer finds himself in familiar territory. Though drawn from the unmade project pile of director , , with its science-fiction theme and central character of a child, is strongly reminiscent of previous / works, none more than , with which it even shares a similarity of title. Once again, is able to explore his gentler and more lyrical musical nature, though he doesn't have as much of an opportunity for the kind of lush, heroic melodies he has enjoyed in the and movies. Here, his major influences seem to be contemporary classical composer music. ' style is heard in the film's main theme, which employs short, quickly repeated notes in percussive patterns running up and down the scale. adds other elements to the pattern in and by the third track, has gone to an sound that recalls much is delicate and charming, and after the more demonstrative there are several cues featuring the wordless vocals of . a song with lyrics by that is presented in both a solo version sung by and a duet version by , is attractive but emotionally distant and unlikely to score a hit for the composer. Nevertheless, this is one of ' better scores, and all the better for managing to find such an appealing tone while remaining true to the film's remote, wistful themes. ~ William Ruhlmann