Robot Jox is a 1990 American post-apocalyptic mecha science-fiction film directed by Stuart Gordon and starring Gary Graham, Anne-Marie Johnson and Paul Koslo. Co-written by science-fiction author Joe Haldeman, the film's plot follows Achilles, one of the "robot jox" who pilot giant machines that fight international battles to settle territorial disputes in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic world.

Then-relative newcomer Frederic Talgorn leads Paris Philharmonic Orchestra in rousing symphonic score. Idea of giant gladiatorial robots transforming into variety of imposing weapons of all manner was born of the Hasbro/Takara Tomy “Transformers” series of toys but interestingly predates all other film versions. No mere tale of battling robots in the ring, director Stuart Gordon draws inspiration instead from such heady fare as Homer’s The Illiad and then-topical political arena of ongoing U.S.-Soviet cold war.

Composer Talgorn avoided electronic idiom then in vogue, approached subjects courtesy vivid symphonic score with nods to John Williams, Miklos Rozsa, other film scoring symphonists. Results are dynamic, full-throttle action sequences, exciting fanfare-theme and variants plus richly scored dramatic cues in between. Talgorn also finishes what he starts, brings the score to a rousing fortissimo end, a bold compositional device sadly lacking in today’s film scoring venue!

01 Overture 3:35
02 Prologue / The Battlefield 2:44
03 Achille's Bedroom 1:38
04 "Open Her Up!" 1:14
05 "Crash And Burn" / Achilles Vs. Alexander 6:57
06 Achilles Leaves 1:44
07 Fanfare For Athena / The Jock Strap Bar 3:38
08 "Hey Jock, Old Buddy" 2:01
09 The Traitor 1:55
10 Alexander's Four-Legged Robot 1:09
11 "That Won't Work" / Achilles To The Rescue 2:47
12 Space Battle 2:24
13 Transformation 1:07
14 The Final Confrontation 2:34
15 "We Can Both Live!" / End Titles 4:28