My own reaction to seeing the movie and listening to my CD: I enjoyed the music. It was 'lighter' than a Williams or Shore score but that didn't bother me much; the movie was based on a children's fantasy novel. Kinda seems to me that music that was too 'big' or (dare I say it?) bombastic would have been somewhat misplaced. It might even have distracted people into listening to the music rather than watching the film, know what I mean?
Now when it comes to the songs: on a first hearing, I was not impressed by any of them on the Soundtrack. I much prefer some of the songs on the 'Inspired By..." recording. Steven Curtis Chapman's "Remembering You" or Nichole Nordeman's "I Will Believe", for instance. There's a few others I like at least as well but probably wouldn't make it to the Oscar/Golden Globe-nominee category (which Morrisette's has done, I understand.)
