The Peter Hyams rehash of Alexandre Dumas"s classic novel largely distinguished itself with the often over-the-top martial arts choreography of Chinese master Xiong Xin Xin. But the story"s heart and soul seem to have been entrusted to composer David Arnold. His oft rousing themes are a well-honed mix of Erich Wolfgang Korngold"s dramatics and John Williams"s deft sense of dynamics. With a strong melody (somewhat reminiscent of Williams"s Superman) set against fervently pulsing rhythms, the composer"s main theme fairly ripples heroism from every bar. It"s then set out in permutations that range from suspenseful to pastoral, building logically to the tense, stirring twin action suites, "Scaling the Tower" and "Ladder Fight." Engaging, if not exactly groundbreaking, it"s music that nonetheless invigorates genre traditions with its energy alone. --Jerry McCulley