The 1998 satire Small Soldiers reunites Jerry Goldsmith with filmmaker Joe Dante, a partnership that spans features from Gremlins to The 'Burbs and boasts some of the most imaginative and delightful work of the composer's career. Small Soldiers is no exception, even if it fails to break new ground -- in fact, the score consciously nods to previous efforts like Patton, Total Recall, and Explorers, essentially recapping Goldsmith's career in broad, tongue-in-cheek strokes. From military marches ("Assembly Line") to bombastic action ("Prepare for Assault") to tearjerker dramatics ("Off to Gorgon"), the score is like a Whitman's sampler of familiar Goldsmith sounds and sensibilities. It's not quite the career-capping achievement he may have envisioned, but it's a testament to his mastery that his tried and true techniques remain so fresh. ~ Jason Ankeny