16 replies to this topic

[Pieter_Boelen]

Every few days I will post a thread on a random score from my collection that we can discuss and rate. I made a playlist on my computer with one track of each score I've got, so by using the random play option, I'll be able to post a truly random score each time. Hopefully this will allow us to discuss some scores that would otherwise never be discussed. Also we can record the rating so that we can create a full list of the ratings given to scores by JWFan.com.

Today's score is Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb by Clint Bajakian. Are you familiar with it? What do you like about it? What don't you like about it? How do do you think it works in the game? What are your favourite tracks?
This time again not a random choice, but I figured it might be interesting to discuss this one while holding out for Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. If you're not familiar with this one, please say so but don't vote yet. I can really recommend giving this one a listen. There's several good new themes, good action music and some great, interesting usages of the Raiders March.

So far JWFan has rated:
Zathura by John Debney: 3,17 stars - 17 votes - 11 unfamiliar
Rambo III by Jerry Goldsmith: 3,57 stars - 22 votes - 8 unfamiliar
Star Trek X: Nemesis by Jerry Goldsmith: 3,03 stars - 38 votes - 9 unfamiliar
The Sea Hawk by Erich Wolfgang Korngold: 4,58 stars - 39 votes - 13 unfamiliar
Independence Day by David Arnold: 4,21 stars - 57 votes - 5 unfamiliar
Krull by James Horner: 4,31 stars - 45 votes - 10 unfamiliar
Quigley Down Under by Basil Poledouris: 3,63 stars - 16 votes - 8 unfamiliar
Judge Dredd by Alan Silvestri: 3,56 stars - 29 votes - 12 unfamiliar
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope by John Williams: 4,75 stars - 57 votes - 2 unfamiliar
The Mummy by Jerry Goldsmith: 4,12 stars - 41 votes - 8 unfamiliar
Kingdom of Heaven by Harry Gregson-Williams: 3,89 stars - 32 votes - 5 unfamiliar

[Luke Skywalker]

3

Its not original composition.. (thank god..)

Nice cameos of Williams orchestrations in action cues. And some mola ram chants. Nice renditions of the main theme, and a nive nazi theme.

Synth underscore unforgiveable

And lack of a propper CD release.

[Pieter_Boelen]

What do you mean by "it's not original composition"?

I vote for 4 stars. I think it's really good. The nazi theme is great and Mei Ying's theme is really quite lovely. Then there's also Von Beck's theme and Kai Ti Chan's theme. The Raiders March recorded for the game has some nice surprises and there's a lot of interesting variations on the Raiders March in the score. Also there's plenty of very good action tracks.

It's unfortunate about the synthesized music though and on the 2-disc edition I've got, there's rather a lot of music doubled. Still good stuff though.

[Luke Skywalker]

What do you mean by "it's not original composition"?

That like Speed racer it is not complete original music from the composer.

[Pieter_Boelen]

Yes, it does use the Raiders March, which wasn't composed by Clint Bajakian. But he does quite some interesting things with it not heard in the John Williams Indiana Jones scores and there's several new themes and plenty of stuff that Clint Bajakian did compose. So I don't mind. Actually, I think it's a really good effort. It sounds like an Indiana Jones score while still being original and not a copy-paste job.

[Stefancos]

It's synth, so it's manure!

[Luke Skywalker]

It's synth, so it's manure!

Only some undescore cues.

[Pieter_Boelen]

Most of the stuff is completely orchestral, I can assure you.

[Stefancos]

Ok

It's videogame music, so it's manure!

[Pieter_Boelen]

If you're not familiar with this one, please say so but don't vote yet. I can really recommend giving this one a listen. There's several good new themes, good action music and some great, interesting usages of the Raiders March.

I don't think people read this.

[Henry Buck]

This is a great video game score, but it's leagues behind the film scores. To compare them is to hold this score to an impossible standard. Mei Ying's theme is nice, but the recordings of it are only about thirty seconds long, so there's no development. The Nazi theme is darker and more dramatic than the Nazi motives from the films, which I suppose reflects the villain, Von Beck. The Chinese material sometimes sounds hackneyed, but for the most part it's respectable ethnic music. The strongest part of this score is the action music.

The orchestra (Seattle Sinfonia?) performs decently.

[John Crichton]

I'll go 3 also. It's good enough, but I prefer Fate of Atlantis.

[BurgaFlippinMan]

Can we vote for the Ford sound-alike?

[Pieter_Boelen]

Does anyone have any interest in giving this score a listen?

[BurgaFlippinMan]

3 stars. Some interesting takes on the march, but its pulled down by some synth tracks and a small (at least small sounding) orchestra.

[Toontje]

3,5 stars, because of the great action cues and all the raiders march variations. There are better game scores (halo, gears of war etc.) but it definitly helps to add to an indy feel in the game.

[西斯大帝]

4.5 Star. Because It's a very good game,and music is also good.I palyed it thrice times,collected all 30 hidden artifacts.