Kasey Kockroach 2,344 Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 I've been delving into these lately (I've of course always been familiar with the main theme, but haven't heard what the scores offer beyond that until recently), and am curious as to which of the three is the particular favorite here. I would do a "Best movie" poll alongside this, but aside from vague memories of seeing the first two as a kid (not by choice), I don't have much to say except the basilisk fight in the second one's pretty cool. From what I've heard, I'd say Chamber of Secrets has offered the most highlights so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,482 Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 I guess it's my favorite, as it's the one that I listen the most often: The philo.. ehh sorcer... stone. Maybe because it remembers me how I was amazed in the cinema when I first saw the movie. I guess when they will expand the three scores, I will discover the other two a little bit more. I'm not really a fan of those "post-LP" CD programs that JW makes... like if he was still recording LPs... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodBoal 7,538 Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 Once and Bilbo 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crumbs 14,316 Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 Azkaban was easily one of the most perfect fusions of film and score in the series; they are inseparable. Once and Bilbo 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 The medieval-to-baroque instrumentation is incorporated so well in that score, in both obvious and subtle ways. Bilbo and Once 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,504 Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 The third. It's the best Potter score (of them all), and really the last time we heard "classic" Williams. Bilbo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrScratch 294 Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 Sorcerer's Stone by a slim margin over Prisoner of Azkaban. My single favorite theme from the series is Fawkes' Theme from Chamber of Secrets, but that score is definitely the weakest of the three overall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 I've seen many people single out "Fawkes' Theme" over the past 18 months or so I've been on the forum and I just had no idea it was so loved. It's never been a particular favorite of mine. aviazn 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo 3,709 Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 I went with Philosopher's Stone as that's my favourite even though I think Prisoner of Azkaban is the better score. PS gives me the warm and fuzzies. Naïve Old Fart and Not Mr. Big 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasey Kockroach 2,344 Posted June 3, 2017 Author Share Posted June 3, 2017 Listened to Prisoner of Azkaban this morning. Okay, yeeah, I can see why this is the favorite so far (as much as I really like Fawkes' theme and the basilisk music), even this album feels a bit more 'bitty'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bollemanneke 3,348 Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 Prisoner of Azkaban because of the medieval element. But also Goblet of Fire. It was the score that made me pay attention to film music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BloodBoal 7,538 Posted June 3, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted June 3, 2017 Well, that score is so loud, it would be hard not to pay attention to it. crumbs, Once and Chewy 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Mark 3,631 Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 Sorcerer's Stone. A true Williams classic Smeltington 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Mr. Big 4,639 Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 While Prisoner of Azkaban is more individual in Williams' oeuvre, I end up preferring the classic Williams feel and extended thematic set-pieces of the first score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SF1_freeze 131 Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 My favorite is PoA. Completely utterly fantastic score!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,234 Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 3 hours ago, Disco Stu said: I've seen many people single out "Fawkes' Theme" over the past 18 months or so I've been on the forum and I just had no idea it was so loved. It's never been a particular favorite of mine. It's one of those Williams themes that starts out really lovely and then trails off sort of awkwardly. aviazn 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodBoal 7,538 Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 What about the Chamber's theme? Is it TGP-approved? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 2,835 Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 I don't know what JW was on when he wrote POA. The themes, the orchestrations and the general sound quality are outstanding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Once 605 Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 He was on the Cuarón drug. Most of the people on Azkaban got under it's influence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 God. Just listened to "Quidditch, Third Year." Incredible. That music that plays when Harry sees the Grim. Chills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted June 4, 2017 Share Posted June 4, 2017 Half Blood Prince. Its avant garde use of musical vapidness is so remarkable. Oh. Williams? The original! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muad'Dib 1,802 Posted June 4, 2017 Share Posted June 4, 2017 crumbs 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted June 4, 2017 Share Posted June 4, 2017 Isn't that Belle? And Igor? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbellamy 6,287 Posted June 4, 2017 Share Posted June 4, 2017 10 hours ago, TheGreyPilgrim said: It's one of those Williams themes that starts out really lovely and then trails off sort of awkwardly. Yeah I've seen that criticism about "Fawkes" a few times on here. I sort of understand it intellectually but "awkward" is definitely not how I experience the piece. Gruesome Son of a Bitch and Arpy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,234 Posted June 4, 2017 Share Posted June 4, 2017 9 hours ago, BloodBoal said: What about the Chamber's theme? Is it TGP-approved? What's that one? Whistle it for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewy 2,391 Posted June 4, 2017 Share Posted June 4, 2017 4 hours ago, Muad'Dib said: This is the unreleased cue I want the most Bilbo and crumbs 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodBoal 7,538 Posted June 4, 2017 Share Posted June 4, 2017 51 minutes ago, TheGreyPilgrim said: What's that one? Whistle it for me. Goes like this: teewoodeewoop teewoodeewoop teewoodeewoop teewoodeewoop, teewoodeewoop teewoodeewoop teewoodeewoop teewoodeewoop, teewoodeewoop teewoodeewoop teewoodeewoop teewoodeewoop, teewoodeewoop teewoodeewoop teewoodeewoop teewoodeewoop... Tutu tu-tu-tuuuuuuuuu-tu... Tutu tu-tuuuuuuuuuuu... Tu-tu tu-tuuuuuuuuuuuuu-tu tutu tu-tuuuuuuuuuuu... Alternatively: Chewy and Once 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bollemanneke 3,348 Posted June 4, 2017 Share Posted June 4, 2017 Okay, so we all adore POA, but what about the continuity issues? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crumbs 14,316 Posted June 4, 2017 Share Posted June 4, 2017 All the original music in COS is just as strong as his writing for PS. The Flying Car, Basilisk and Spiders escape music is all classic, complex, multi-layered Williams writing. The new themes are excellent, from Fawkes to the Chamber theme. When listening to the complete score, it becomes really obvious what parts Williams wrote and what parts Ross adapted from other scores (AOTC and PS being the obvious inspiration). I usually skip the cues that are carbon copies of PS music. Part of the reason POA feels like a revelation is because it's an entirely fresh score and it had Williams' undivided attention. Bilbo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Brundlefly 2,385 Posted June 5, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted June 5, 2017 Although "The Lost World" is my favourite score of all time, I consider "The Prisoner of Azkaban" to be the best film score of all time! - complexity - creativity - versatility - originality All at 100%! On 4.6.2017 at 8:58 AM, Chewy said: This is the unreleased cue I want the most Mine is, when Trelawney warns Harry about the dark lord's return. Regarding the movies: the third one is probably the best of the first three films, as 4 of the 8 Harry Potter movies lack enough emotional profoundness: 1, 2, 4 and 8. Display Name, Disco Stu and crumbs 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted June 5, 2017 Share Posted June 5, 2017 I'm on record many times on this forum with my opinion that Goblet of Fire is underrated and the 2nd best Potter film. But yeah, I want a complete Prisoner of Azkaban release so badly it aches. Arpy and Bilbo 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bollemanneke 3,348 Posted June 5, 2017 Share Posted June 5, 2017 @Disco Stu We are allies in this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mstrox 6,651 Posted June 5, 2017 Share Posted June 5, 2017 Goblet of Fire used to be among my least favorite of the films, and I was really disappointed by the score at the time (post-Williams'-Azkaban-score, of course). Now I really love the score, and I came around in a big way to the movie on a series rewatch a few years ago. Better than the Columbus movies and Order of the Phoenix, at least. Part of the problem with the movie is the source material - I don't particularly care about the Triwizard stuff, but I think the director and cast did a great job in making me care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bollemanneke 3,348 Posted June 5, 2017 Share Posted June 5, 2017 And it has great dialogue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo 3,709 Posted June 5, 2017 Share Posted June 5, 2017 4 hours ago, Disco Stu said: I'm on record many times on this forum with my opinion that Goblet of Fire is underrated and the 2nd best Potter film. But yeah, I want a complete Prisoner of Azkaban release so badly it aches. Goblet of Fire captured the boarding school element the best I think. It has some really great scenes in it and the graveyard is as good as anything in the series IMO. I keep changing my mind on the order order but I could definitely put it 3rd or 4th. PoA and DH part 1 are my favourites (I think I'm the only one who likes DH 1) followed by Goblet and PS. Half-Blood Prince gets better every time I see it. DH part 2. CoS OotP Score wise it's probably 1 3 7 4 2 8 6 5 Once 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Brundlefly 2,385 Posted June 5, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted June 5, 2017 3 hours ago, Bilbo Skywalker said: PoA and DH part 1 are my favourites (I think I'm the only one who likes DH 1). This are the masterpieces of the HP franchise! No, you're not alone! The funny thing is that IMO "Deadly Hallows Part I" is the best (very deep, very atmospheric, created with much care), whereas "Deadly Hallows Part II" is by far the worst of the movies (it becomes more and more obvious how sloppy it was created and that it is not much more than a plain Hollywood flick). Once, Display Name, Bilbo and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skelly 261 Posted June 6, 2017 Share Posted June 6, 2017 For me, easily the first. You can tell Williams was having just a great time writing it. He never lingers too long on any one idea when he doesn't need to and fills even incidental scenes with great melody and atmosphere. Some people say it's 'overscored' and the mood of some scenes are exaggerated by the bursting underscore, but I love it. The third is a fun score too, though it's evident that Cuaron reined Williams in a bit. Nevertheless he did a great job at devising off-beat ways to underscore the weirder scenes (the Knight Bus, Trelawney's prophecy, etc.) As for the other scores, the only one that left me with lasting impression was DH Pt. II. That somber courtyard battle tune was very well-used. Not Mr. Big 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo 3,709 Posted June 6, 2017 Share Posted June 6, 2017 8 hours ago, Brundlefly said: This are the masterpieces of the HP franchise! No, you're not alone! The funny thing is that IMO "Deadly Hallows Part I" is the best (very deep, very atmospheric, created with much care), whereas "Deadly Hallows Part II" is by far the worst of the movies (it becomes more and more obvious how sloppy it was created and that it is not much more than a plain Hollywood flick). Mall the character moments are in 1 it's just pay off in 2. 2 still has problems but it works much better when watched immediately after 1. Basically one long DH film. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 2,835 Posted June 6, 2017 Share Posted June 6, 2017 Half Blood Prince is the worst film and score for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted June 6, 2017 Share Posted June 6, 2017 I'll avoid repeating myself on why DH2 is the worst Not Mr. Big 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Alex 2,835 Posted June 6, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted June 6, 2017 To be honest, all the David Yates ones are a bit shitty Muad'Dib, Once and Not Mr. Big 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bollemanneke 3,348 Posted June 6, 2017 Share Posted June 6, 2017 This. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted June 6, 2017 Share Posted June 6, 2017 It's such a shame he will continue to be the only director making HP/Fantastic Beasts films. For pete's sake, he's had control of the franchise for 11 or 12 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bollemanneke 3,348 Posted June 6, 2017 Share Posted June 6, 2017 But he did improve in Fantastic Beasts, I think. At least that one feels a lot more... magical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted June 6, 2017 Share Posted June 6, 2017 It had a more magical veneer, but he still directed it like the most boring, uninspired BBC period drama imaginable. It's his signature style. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 2,835 Posted June 6, 2017 Share Posted June 6, 2017 #BringBackCuarón Once 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Breathmask 555 Posted June 7, 2017 Share Posted June 7, 2017 On 2017-6-2 at 11:02 PM, kaseykockroach said: From what I've heard, I'd say Chamber of Secrets has offered the most highlights so far. Its highs are high indeed. Sadly, it's pulled down by the lows of rehashes and straight-up rerecordings from the first score. Either way, it's Azkaban all the way for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodBoal 7,538 Posted June 7, 2017 Share Posted June 7, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasey Kockroach 2,344 Posted June 7, 2017 Author Share Posted June 7, 2017 2 hours ago, Mr. Breathmask said: Its highs are high indeed. Sadly, it's pulled down by the lows of rehashes and straight-up rerecordings from the first score. Either way, it's Azkaban all the way for me. Agreed, but since I don't own the first score, I don't mind. It's like I get the highlights of the first one, AND some extras! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nightscape94 965 Posted June 7, 2017 Share Posted June 7, 2017 The first score, Philosopher's Stone, is still the best overall. While I love the new themes on COS (Fawkes, Dobby, etc), and set pieces on Azkaban like Buckbeak, Womping Willow, etc. Azkaban is a masterful score, and even though I adore it, there's something about the flow of the first score and it being our introduction to the Potter musical universe that has always been perfect. Not Mr. Big 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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