Anakin's Theme versus Across The Stars

[Quintus 5,399]

I actually remember the first time I listened to Anakin's theme. I'd yet to see the film. I was delighted at how he'd (JW) turned the Imperial March on it's head. Brilliant.

for all it's flaws the Phantom Menace is John still enthusiastic about Star Wars.

It's a five star vintage in my eyes. He absolutely delivered on the Star Wars promise where his director could not. Unfortunately its quality has been dampened and stained by bitter memories. I personally haven't listened to it for ten years.

[JoeinAR 1,949]

I have my new nano slightly more than half loaded. I've even got the three prequels on there. So far I've listened to TPM only. It's the original soundtrack, not the ultimate edition which I will not load.

To be honest I think I prefer Anakin's theme even more than Duel of the Fates. So in essense I'm saying it is my favorite track from the prequels. I do love the trade federation theme, love it in any of the 3 scores. (if it is in all three)

[Josh500 1,615]

Across the Stars, hands down.

[Quintus 5,399]

I have my new nano slightly more than half loaded. I've even got the three prequels on there. So far I've listened to TPM only. It's the original soundtrack, not the ultimate edition which I will not load.

To be honest I think I prefer Anakin's theme even more than Duel of the Fates. So in essense I'm saying it is my favorite track from the prequels. I do love the trade federation theme, love it in any of the 3 scores. (if it is in all three)

I always freakin' loved the largely unused space battle cue, which felt like a sort of Star Wars version of The Lost World's The Hunt and was just another instance where John says, "you know I'm a fucking badass movie composer with no equal, motherfuckers." Back when he used to write incidental concert pieces just because he can.

[SF1_freeze 131]

Back when he used to write incidental concert pieces just because he can.

Hahaha, nice! But he also showed that afterwards, remember "Quidditch, Third Year" from PoA

[Quintus 5,399]

True, but that seems like so long ago now

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

It IS very long ago.

Quiditch, Third Year does not feel like a concert piece to me...

[Brónach 1,301]

I have my new nano slightly more than half loaded. I've even got the three prequels on there. So far I've listened to TPM only. It's the original soundtrack, not the ultimate edition which I will not load.

To be honest I think I prefer Anakin's theme even more than Duel of the Fates. So in essense I'm saying it is my favorite track from the prequels. I do love the trade federation theme, love it in any of the 3 scores. (if it is in all three)

I always freakin' loved the largely unused space battle cue, which felt like a sort of Star Wars version of The Lost World's The Hunt and was just another instance where John says, "you know I'm a fucking badass movie composer with no equal, motherfuckers." Back when he used to write incidental concert pieces just because he can.

Does Sir Francis and the Unicorn count?

[Quintus 5,399]

It IS very long ago.

Quiditch, Third Year does not feel like a concert piece to me...

Actually, you're right. Then again I was never really a fan of the score, even if I did buy it.

Does Sir Francis and the Unicorn count?

No.

[Brónach 1,301]

My radar of what sounds like a concert piece and what not is pretty much destroyed by listening to film music.

[indy4 155]

True, but that seems like so long ago now

Adventures of Mutt is an incidental concert piece.

[Quintus 5,399]

I meant good ones only.

Sorry indy4, but that cue is my single worst piece of music in the entire Indiana Jones canon.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

It doesn't even sound anything like Indiana Jones music.

[indy4 155]

It doesn't even sound anything like Indiana Jones music.

The whole thing is based on the Raiders March...

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

True. But it sounds wrong.

KOCS really isn't that good a score actually...

[Brónach 1,301]

I don't like that cue either. I find it bland.

[crocodile 7,984]

I like IJ4 score more than any of the prequels.

No idea what you're talking about when you say it doesn't sound like Indy. Certainly moreso than prequels sound like SW.

Karol

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Meh...

[crocodile 7,984]

"The Terminal effect" will take place eventually. Just give it a few years.

Karol

[Quintus 5,399]

I like IJ4 score more than any of the prequels.

No idea what you're talking about when you say it doesn't sound like Indy.

Sounds more like JW in Hook mode to me.

[crocodile 7,984]

I don't like Hook.

So... no.

Karol

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

"The Terminal effect" will take place eventually. Just give it a few years.

Karol

Wrong Polish boy!

Ive listened to Indy 4 a lot, but never really bonded with it much. The complete score is actually more boring then the CD.

The Terminal is a score i didnt hear until a few days ago. And i really like it.

[Brónach 1,301]

I like IJ4 score more than any of the prequels.

No idea what you're talking about when you say it doesn't sound like Indy.

Sounds more like JW in Hook mode to me.

It doesn't sound like Hook at all.

[indy4 155]

"The Terminal effect" will take place eventually. Just give it a few years.

Karol

Steef's only got a few years left?

[wanner251 17]

"you know I'm a fucking badass movie composer with no equal, motherfuckers."

Well put....

I find that The Adventures of Mutt shares quite a bit with Indy's First Adventure. My thoughts are that this would be on purpose. However, I don't like it nearly as much. And no, it sounds nothing like Hook, but what it does share with Hook is Williams' harkening back to the days of Korngold and Robin Hood.

[Quintus 5,399]

That's exactly what I meant. It's Williams in swashbuckler mode... in an Indiana Jones movie :-/

You guys... always with the literal interpretations...

[SF1_freeze 131]

I meant good ones only.

Sorry indy4, but that cue is my single worst piece of music in the entire Indiana Jones canon.

Then your taste is not as good as it was

[indy4 155]

That's exactly what I meant. It's Williams in swashbuckler mode... in an Indiana Jones movie :-/

You guys... always with the literal interpretations...

There is also a more literal Hook influence...the Lost Boys descending string lick.

[wanner251 17]

That's exactly what I meant. It's Williams in swashbuckler mode... in an Indiana Jones movie :-/

You guys... always with the literal interpretations...

But what about Indy's First Adventure?

[Quintus 5,399]

Doesn't sound swashbuckling to me. For example there's a recurring locomotive rhythm in there which one wouldn't typically attribute to piratey music; plus the playful young Indy theme (first heard as the old automobiles give chase across the dusty landscape) couldn't sound further from 'swashbuckling' if it tried.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

I agree.

[crocodile 7,984]

I think JW knows more about swashbuckling music than you guys do...

Karol

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

What a bizarre thing to say!

[Nick1Ø66 4,689]

I think JW knows more about swashbuckling music than you guys do...

Karol

Aside from parts of Hook, has he ever scored a pirate movie? I mean, you could make the argument that Hans Zimmer knows more about swashbuckling music than Williams.

[crocodile 7,984]

I just meant he played in sessions for many of the old age composers and is very well versed in this type of music himself, having written some of it... And if he says he's referencing a certain style of music, then I'd believe him.

Zimmer has no experience writing 40's swashbuckling music, which is what we're talking about here.

But that's beside the point. I don't find it any more silly than the opening from Least Crusade or the mine car chase... Those scores jump from one style to another all the time. In fact, each one of them sounds nothing like the previous one. That's how I see it.

Karol

[Nick1Ø66 4,689]

[Quintus 5,399]

Karol what on earth are you going on about? What has Williams stated about his Indy 3 score in regards to "swashbuckling"? And what does it have to do with this discussion?

It seems you're disputing something laterally here.

[crocodile 7,984]

Oh I misread your post, Quint. I thought you were referring to the KOTCS not sounding like a swashbuckler.

Karol - not paying attention

[Quintus 5,399]

[Jay 37,289]

Indy's Very First Adventure is not swashbuckling music, but it is one of the most brilliant sequences of music in JW's ouvre

[Quintus 5,399]

I love it. He even had time to give a rhino its own theme tune. John writes better melodies for animals in captivity than other composers can muster for an entire main theme.

That's why John is an insurmountable beast, feared by Zimmer, Elfman et al.

[Nick1Ø66 4,689]

I love it. He even had time to give a rhino its own theme tune. John writes better melodies for animals in captivity than other composers can muster for an entire main theme.

ROTFLMAO

Not ensure I entirely agree, but that's a great way to put it.

[Trent B 337]

Anakin's Theme gets my vote. I too have preferred it more over Across The Stars. It has a bit more elegance to it than ATS does.

[MSM 126]

Across the Stars. Anakin's theme may be more sophisticated harmonically, Across the Stars has more balls.

[Wojo 2,453]

I love the first love theme JW ever wrote for Star Wars.

AOTC set the bar for forced wooden romances between two dead actors that later encouraged the Twilight Saga.

[crocodile 7,984]

Oh, yes definitely. AOTC gives The Twilight Saga a run for its money.

I really feel sorry for JW, though. Because he composed a really pretty theme. But because of its beauty and elegance, it only makes things worse...

Karol