This review will be different from what you are used to from me. Instead of talking about a soundtrack from a movie, I would like to talk about the movie itself. For me to do such a thing, it has to be about film music, of course, and that is what Hans Zimmer & Friends: Diamond in the Desert is.
The foundation of the film is the Hans Zimmer Live concert that was performed in Dubai, which was roughly the same as the one I experienced in Amsterdam back in 2022. With that knowledge, I could see that they would go through the concert in chronological order in the movie. It did not start with the concert, however, but with vocalist Loire Cotler on some dunes in the middle of the desert, performing the beginning of the concert at that location, with “House Atreides” from Dune before transitioning to the concert itself, with the artists performing on stage in a big arena in Dubai. It would not be the only time we would see the artists perform outside the venue. Also, music from Gladiator, Interstellar and “Time” from Inception were shot at different locations near Dubai. In between the various suites, including music from Inception, The Lion King, Pirates of the Caribbean and Man of Steel, we could see different conversations between Hans Zimmer and people he has worked with, including directors like Christopher Nolan, actors like Zendaya, and fellow artists like Billie Eilish and Pharrell Williams.
It was quite an intriguing experience for me to see the concert again, but on the big screen this time. When I go to concerts in huge arenas, I like to sit slightly elevated in the back of the hall to get a good view of the stage. It also means I do not get to see the details since I am sitting at a great distance. That is why I loved all the cameras on stage, to witness the amazing interactions between the artists. Seeing it with other people in a movie theater also meant I could not clap and cheer, which I almost did after seeing the outstanding suite from Wonder Woman again with Tino Guo killing it on her electric cello.
This movie is an excellent watch if you are into Hans Zimmer. It is fantastic to relive the concert again if you have seen it in the past, but also if you haven’t, it is a great alternative. A ticket to the theater is way cheaper than paying a lot of money to see Hans Zimmer perform live. If you wait a bit longer, you can probably catch this film on a streaming platform, which is, in my opinion, the best way to experience this movie, since it is even cheaper and from the comforts of your home.
