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This passage from 2:24 to the end of "A Walk in the Woods and Bird's Flight". There's just so much emotion and imagery in this 20 second snippet; a plaintive oboe echoed in longing with the clarinet, chilly tremolo strings evoking the falling snow, and a vaguely ominous pedaled note in the bass signalling the danger always lurking around the corner in this world. It's an exquisite moment in a score absolutely brimming with them.

It's not Benny Hill, it's Benny High Ground

Pretty dumb there wasn't a New York Times review of the NYC premiere of the new concerto by America's the world's most popular composer.

Another of the pieces I wrote for the opening ceremonies that was part of the score x Arab FIFA Opening Ceremonies - Migrant Birds 1271997156_04MigrantBirds.mp3

EM: "I didn't even know you owned a selfie stick." JW: "In Germany, they call it 'Deppenzepter'."

Avatar 2 is officially called Avatar: The Way Of Water, and will be releasing in NA on December 16, December 14 elsewhere. Source

1:04 - 1:24 - some of the most intense 20 seconds JW ever wrote!

So I was asked a couple months ago to write 6 little pieces for the opening ceremonies of the Arab FIFA. This, Call to Champions, is the end piece that was to fireworks at the end. Hope you all enjoy it xox Aired on Nov 30th 2021. Conducted by Johannes Vogel and played by The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra in the Katara Opera House in Doha, Qatar. At the ceremonies, they were split into two sections (because of the pandemic) in Doha's Al Bayt Stadium that looks like a tent, although my 90 year old neighbor asked me why the cookie on screen was on fire... O.o They played to to click to match the recording and were conducted there by Alastair Willis and Giovanni Pasini (1st Viola in the orchestra). Thank you @Luka for editing this out of the whole ceremonies for me. And thank you @Stefan_Cosmanfor always listening to the mock ups and giving me useless feedback before any and all of my recording sessions (kidding of course, lol) 928947402_WaelBinaliCalltoChampionsVid.mp4

Jaws 2 (original album) - Having watched the film (I'll spaff my thoughts on the film on the other thread later), I thought it was only right to give the score another listen, a few thoughts: I'd forgotten just how out of order the original album is, but the assembly and in cue edits actually work really well. Love the sailing music (which I think only appears twice in the actual film), a shame there wasn't any scope to expand it further or it wasn't turned into a concert arrangement, it would fit well alongside plenty of classic JW scherzos. There is a little low string figure (just a fleeting little phrase) about a minute into Toward Cable Junction which sounds weirdly like a similar figure at the start of Hopper Canyon in Starship Troopers. I'm sure it's just a weird coincidence, but it's a remarkably similar little moment. The action writing in Jurassic Park feels quite similar to Jaws 2 at times. Given how much his style moved in during that time, quite surprising. I love the melodramatic "bah bah baaaaah" moments which ought to be cheesy but kinda work.

First bits of Elfman’s score it sounds great

JW: "I can't say no to you." ASM: "You just did." JW: "No, I didn't... Uh, I mean..." ASM: "You just did it again." JW: "I know, but not..." ASM: "Again." JW: "No. This time I said 'know' not 'no'. But..." ASM: "Again. Again." JW: "Hm... You're probably right." ASM: "Want another cookie?" JW: "N... OK."

Here's the audio file for the first piece Arab FIFA Opening Ceremonies - Call to Champions 610985280_06CalltoChampions.mp3 Fixed. I'm awful at computers lol, the link for that one is back above your post Titled Tafta Hindi Variation NBA x

Hey I'd do a bit better job than some recent people when it comes to making an orchestra work, lol Tafta Hindi "Variation NBA" 10 Tafta Hindi Variation_ NBA (May 2011).mp3

For some reason I was completely blown away by the surprising use of choir. I don't know why. Choir is used in other places in JW's HP scores. But this felt like a real surprise and a pretty badass moment.

Just saw it recently, it's perfectly fine to me. It doesn't do anything better than the Nolan films in my opinion besides the detective aspect and the costume. I honestly phased out throughout most of the car chase because I was bored, and all of a sudden Penguin was laughing at a truck exploding and I thought Batman caused the explosion for a second. Catwoman was fine, though I definitely enjoyed her character more in TDKR. Her connection to Falcone adds nothing but a tired "conquering past trauma" plotline that I don't think benefits her character that much. It feels more like filler, much like this connection's inclusion in that awful "Batman: The Long Halloween" animated adaptation. Riddler was quite frankly just laughable and lame. The incel / social media angle is something that I think is going to be extremely dated pretty quickly, and it felt like a really weak commentary on movements like that. He was also often indistinguishable from the Joker for me, with his weird giggling and laughing, along with his elaborate riddles reminding me of Joker's chess-like double meaning, unpredictable moves in The Dark Knight and comic stories like "The Laughing Fish". The only thing that distinguishes Nigma is the more saw-like aspect (which was done better and more interestingly in Arkham City), and his encoded messages. His first message he sends to the news though seems almost exactly the same beat for beat to Joker's initial message on the news in TDK, but I guess we're calling that an homage now. I also ran into a debate with my friends whether his weird fit and Ave Maria singing in the interrogation scene was supposed to be funny or not. Either way, I didn't find it funny or threatening, just embarrassing. Pattinson as Batman was fine. He's no Kevin Conroy from The Animated Series, or Batman from Arkham Asylum, City, and Origins, but I believe him enough as Batman to take him seriously most of the time. His noir narration felt kind of ham-fisted and silly to me though. I also find his Batman voice way too similar to Christian Bale's more subtle, raspy whisper in Batman Begins (besides that one stupid interrogation scene in BB). His edgy, ultra-brooding Bruce Wayne did nothing for me. I guess it's supposed to set up a more mature, and better at socializing Bruce Wayne in the next two films, but it doesn't really change the fact that I don't find him interesting here. Alfred was there. The Thomas Wayne / Falcone connection I found annoying and unnecessary. It turns a tragic crime of passion brought on by the very people the Waynes were trying to help, into a sleazy mob dealing gone sour. I know Thomas only wanted to "scare" the journalist, but making a deal with a mobster is just not something I ever want to associate with the Waynes' characters. It makes them more morally grey, sure, but it doesn't make them more interesting to me. Penguin was good. Falcone himself was played well. I'm glad the Joker scene was deleted. The score was non-descript. I noticed the Bruce Wayne theme but don't remember it, I don't remember Catwoman's theme, Riddler's Ave Maria theme was funny because I knew it was supposed to be creepy and foreshadowing but it wasn't for me, and the two-note motif worked fine but is still not that interesting. Apologies for the review-like length, but overall I found this film and its story to be better than all of the original 4 Batman films, and better than Batman: Arkham Knight, but not as good as the Nolan movies and the first 3 Batman: Arkham games. Maybe I'd call it on-par with The Dark Knight Rises. I just feel it's trying too hard to be the ultimate dark and edgy Batman, and the result feels more over-the-top, over-compensation than an authentic Batman story.

Like what? I don’t necessarily disagree with these points (mostly), but I fail to see how The Batman does any of this much better than TDKR. Well that’s just a stupid thing to say. Fans of Reeves’ film all say this and to be fair, this is the first Batman film to emphasize the detective side of the character. That said, it’s not like this movie was a particularly good detective film. It’s very average.

It is quite interesting to hear an Egyptian composer's take on "Hollywood's ancient Egypt music". Karol

Avatar 2’ Footage Astonishes Audience at CinemaCon

As I recently commented about Back to the Future on the "older scores" thread might bear in mind that prior to BTTF, Alan Silvestri hadn't really written anything that would suggest he'd write a classic, orchestral score. Most of his prior work was kinda pop/disco sounding TV scoring and then out came BTTF almost out of nowhere. People can surprise you.

its a solid film but not up to nolan's triology

Definitely. It doesn't have to return to an orchestral thematic JW style Renaissance but something better than fucking sound design as the predominant style. That approach has its own nuances but it's worn out its welcome forever and needs to go away.

It's about time...

Hah. It was more the similarity given how his action writing style evolved and changed over time…

I heard! Thanks for that.

Only partially unused - Sail Barge Assault is one of my favourite cues, an optimistic SW-ey explosion of joy after all the low Jabba stuff, but I was always annoyed by how cut up it is so I had a go: Some parts were obvious, I knew I had to drop a lot and switch some batches around, but I was surprised how much Jabba I had to drop - and some of it was not very obvious, keeping it a coherent action scene with a definite point A, point B and twice as much footage as music between them that couldn't really go anywhere else could be difficult.

Hey @rpvee we mentioned your cool moment as well

The mambo cue really has to be seen in context to be appreciated

I'm still kind of interested in the sequels, mainly for what will be mindblowing CGI. Considering the last film was incredible visually and it was 13 years ago, I'm sure WETA digital will create something truly special, and likely the best CGI we've ever seen, especially with the water-heavy effects.

That's wonderful! I am so used to live performances that omit those precious extra bars of the ostinato build up. Of all the live to projection so far, I think this one is the one I want to hear most. Looking forward to some US dates announced.

Many of his recordings are on Spotify.

Same here. It's a bit like if SCHINDLER'S LIST and "Across the Stars" got together and had a child. But very nice piece, ocelot! Good work!

Maybe you should be the one scoring Kenobi

You need better eyes.

Who just called us Waldorf und Statler?

Great album, the main theme has really grown on me.

Announced last month, WB is working on a miniseries called "Welcome to Derry" that will be set in the 1960s and will unveil Pennywise's origin story as well as leading up to Chapter 1. The Muschiettis will produce. https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/it-prequel-series-hbo-max-1235218176/

I'm not remotely interested in the Marvel tv shows or movies, but this does sound pretty cool

https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cc3OHKbJL-r/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link The trumpets are still a bit messy in places, but I love it either way

Perhaps the recording from NY comes closest. John Williams Conducts the Philadelphia Orchestra | Carnegie Hall Live | WQXR

Another great concert! Williams was missed during the first half, though learning he was above in a box seat before Across the Stars was cool, and turning to see him listening to his own theme as a fellow audience member was surreal. Anne-Sophie also made note that she recalled the theme being from Episode II: Attack of the Clones - my influence? lol Second half with the maestro himself was spectacular as always. He again ended with The Imperial March, which makes me wonder why he didn’t do it in Philly. Amazing evening!

The worst!

I'm sorry, but this photo screams for it… JW: …and then he said: "I know, but…" Both: "…they're all dead!"

I can sort of understand how seeing the film for the first time in 2022 would leave this impression. I disagree with you completely, and I think you're overlooking the fantastic casting and performances getting hung up on a comedic villain. But we've had decades of cynicism and self-awareness polluting the cultural zeitgeist for entertainment in general since then, and so this must in that context come off as a bit slight and silly when compared to "serious" genre epics of today. What you have to remember is the biggest superhero committed to live action prior to this was the 1966 Batman (which I also love), and the first line of this movie was "This is no Fantasy", a sort of meta reference to the "Verisimilitude" mantra emphasized by Richard Donner on the set. You'll have to trust me that growing up with this was nothing short of magical. It was the 1978 version of Epic. (Production Designer) John Barry's crystalline designs advanced the entire feel of this event to something cosmic, classy.... expensive. The tagline "You'll Believe a Man Can Fly" was promising this was not George Reeves jumping off a mattress. The running time was even considered long by 70s standards, and the credits sequence we adore was enough to make the audience gasp and young hearts soar. If you look into earlier drafts of the script, it was going to be even more cartoonish and silly. Donner and Tom Mankiewicz made sure to keep it humorous and appealing to contemporary audiences, without lowering it into camp territory. I'm probably not telling you anything you haven't already heard, but I'll just say that growing up with this was absolutely magical, and I feel so lucky that I did. The sincerity and charm of this movie will never grow old fashioned. In fact, all in all, I'd say it's rather "Swell".

Avatar 2 Trailer Reportedly Attached to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness on May 6th

Love that short modulation moment, especially the string line. (0:47-0:58)