InfoDroid

It reminds me of that conspiracy theory about government hitmen under mind-control being compelled to buy a copy of "Catcher In the Rye" every time they see it on a store shelf. If it's got a Lucasfilm logo on it, I feel the sudden need to pick it up and take it directly to the cash register. We all must've been programmed as kids in the 80's. George Lucas controls my mind. LOL!

I wish I would've had a forum like this growing up in the 80's. I collected soundtracks on cassette tape as a kid and could memorize every note... Would've been nice to have like-minded people to talk to. I still look forward to every new John Williams soundtrack release with every bit as much enthusiasm as I did when I was a kid.

It was probably MARCIA Lucas that helped him...people tend to forget about her. SHE was the real guru behind a lot of the great editing decisions for Star Wars, Empire, and probably (in an "unofficial" capacity) Raiders too. She won an Oscar for American Grafitti. Once her and Georgie-boy got divorced, things began to slide downhill, starting with Temple of Doom.

Indy 4 is only a slight fender-bender compared to the towering train wreck that is Sky Captain.

Well, when you put it that way, Joey...that's hard to argue with. I don't agree with you about Saving Private Ryan or Schindler's List, but otherwise, you're right on the money. Very good point. Maybe he needs a new editor? Or maybe he needs to stop cutting on a Movieola!

Are there any interesting articles about Williams and the music in this new Making Of book? I'm planning to get it anyway, but I hope there's a section on JW. I'm pretty sure there is. I haven't gotten to that part yet. It's toward the end. I don't think it's very extensive though. Not sure if the music was even completed before the book went to print.

That "Making of" book is really good. It'll help you understand the reasons behind some of the crazy decisions that were made...starting with Lucas INSISTING on aliens, flying saucers and psychic stuff...despite the hesitation of Spielberg and Ford. I'm already planning my fanedit. LOL

That's not true. The Raiders Nazi theme plays in The Airplane Fight, The Desert Chase, and The Nazi Hideout. Dovchenko's Theme plays throughout KOCS, starting when he gets out of the jeep and approaches Indy and Mac at the beginning, through to his death. It's just not on the OST much. That's interesting. So, the theme never plays again in the film after he dies?

YES! And it completely took me out of the movie at that point. In fact, the sound didn't ever fully return. It was like center-channel only. It kind of ruined the experience for me. But I saw it a second time at a different theater and it was great.

I think it's as much "Dovchenko's Theme" as the German theme from Raiders is "the big bald guy under the airplane's theme". As far as the cue, I think Williams describes a giant swarm of ants perfectly through music. You can almost feel them crawling on you. And I think it's one of the few scenes in the movie where CGI actually worked to the scene's advantage. Very well done.

This has also become one of my favorite cues. At first it seemed disjointed, but hearing it in the film, it worked great. I especially like the little moment with the clarinet as the monkey stares at Mutt.

The Father/Son theme was always synonymous with the Grail to me, because obtaining the Grail is a metaphor for Indy's reconciliation with his father. In the end, it wasn't the relic itself that was important...they both realize, the quest was about them finding common ground. I was very pleasantly surprised to hear it in the new film (especially since it didn't appear on the CD). Not only to punctuate the invocations of Henry Sr., but also to underscore the newly formed father/son relationship of Mutt and Indy. I think Williams was 100% right to use it.

To me, this track perfectly represents the tone and feel of one of those 50's B-movies like "Creature From the Black Lagoon". I can imagine hearing it play in mono over one of those old title-card credit sequences before the movie starts.