SCORE: Spider-Man 3

[Trent B 354]

Okay please DO NOT add discussion to the actual film itself, just the score.

As we all know this never got an actual score only release because of the retarded rights issues surrounding Elfman's original themes.

Ever since the near complete sessions were leaked by scorepranos on FF Shrine I have been listening to this A LOT recently and can't seem to get enough of it.

Elfman's first two Spider-Man scores as well as Horner's The Amazing Spider-Man are good on their own. However, to me personally Young's Spider-Man 3 score is ultimately the best of the bunch. Young adds more life to Elfman's original themes than what Elfman originally did, especially for the Goblin's theme.

I really like how he did Flint Marko / Sandman's theme as well, to me it's prefect for his character. At first I didn't quite like the Black Spider-Man / Venom theme but after recently listening to the score so much it has grown on me. It does add a bit more to the score and is perfect for the spots that Young recorded it in.

The promo I got from Young's assistant definitely seemed like it may have been the aborted score only release. It had a lot of good highlights and would have been a solid release. It's too bad that it may never get an official release but if it does I would buy it in a heart beat.

So what's your impressions on the score and if you think it's your favorite or what?

[Richard P 5,303]

Hmm, no one else?

Well first off, so that I don't have to go into it again: the rights issues are just stupid, and with all due respect to Elfman, he needs to put Spidey 2 into the past, grow up, and let Young have his music out there. I hope he knows Young's fans are enjoying it anyway.

So, the score

Overall, I like this more than Elfman's scores, mostly I think just due to stylistic differences. Young does more for me at capturing internal turmoil/emotion (Birth of the Sandman must be in the top 5 cues of the year), and his action music often has some very interesting use of counterpoints, mostly in the final battle.

Although the action music has a different source of contention - much of Elfman's - the train sequence for example, is an incredibly fun, dynamic section, whereas some of Young's particularly for the dump truck scene, is slower and more lumbering. Now in that particular scene, it's appropriate, to represent the character, but it does seem to slow things down musically.

The 'aborted release' I think does represent the best of Young's work, and In my view, it's a score that benefits from a little trimming from its sessions form.