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Trumpeteer

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Posts posted by Trumpeteer

    As long as we are competing: Star Wars vs. Close Encounters

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    This thread reaffirms my belief that the majority on this board lacks any real appreciation for Close Encounters of the Third Kind.  Refering to Merkel's quote, it is apparent to me that many here's obsession with A.I., has granted them license to grant it a status of masterpiece.  The qualities of the two films in a side by side comparison, seem obvious to me, that Close Encounters is the far better picture.

    .....

    I believe I can speak for Ricard in this instance when I say that few film experiences have been so powerful, so though provoking, so uplifting, so transcendetal(for a lack of a better word).

    Don't go away, Joe! I want to converse.....

    I hope my "put-down" of Close Encounters by saying I only like 3/4 of the score didn't lead you to believe that I don't find the movie to be one of the best Spielberg/Williams collaborations, third behind Jaws and Schindler's List. The movie doesn't get going for me until the scene with the mashed potatoes, just before the family leaves. And that's a good thing, because I never liked the casting of Terri Garr, nor the Neary kids. They never got into the feel of the film as the doubting Thomases.

    As far as AI, it is more beautifully shot, but not necessarily better in its approach to the ideas it tries to present.

    As far as scores are concerned, Close Encounters is awesome. AI is great.

    As far as the entire film, Close Encounters is a near-masterpiece. AI is great.

    Jeff -- who is still astounded by the story behind the creation of the five tones (check the newest CD release for that one)

    STAR WARS (films) question

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    This is the officially unofficial explanation:

    Back when The Phantom Menace was released, Lucas said he really had wanted that film to be released in 1977, as a way of starting the saga (from the beginning of course). But, effects weren't in place so he could show the scenes he wanted (like, I'm assuming, the underwater city, the podrace, etc.).

    And when Lucasfilm (natch) came up with the technology, Lucas was able to generate the films the way he thought they could be done.

    John Williams' best end titles

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Yes, we all disagree on many things concerning John Williams, but I would be surprised if anyone says the Man doesn't write damn fine end titles. Pick the best one from the list above. Then tell us why.

    Of course, every John Williams end title isn't included -- just the top 15 in my opinion (and off the top of my head).

    And naturally each one is great in its own way, and has different styles. But try to vote on the best end title composition based on logical criteria. And don't be surprised if you vote for a film that has, in your opinion, a bad overall score. For instance, I would have voted for the end title to The Empire Strikes Back (my favorite score), but that end title to A.I. just haunts me to this day.

    Thanks!

    So, I got this package in the mail today...

    in JOHN WILLIAMS

    Posted

    Well, Stef, I can understand your hate. I would hate me too. ;)

    I can't say why I got the response I got. I don't really think I wrote some Pulitzer-prize winning letter or something. I don't know if you should send pictures of a themed birthday cake for him to sign. Personally, I'd just be genuine.

    As far as the time frame, I think I wrote to him on a busy year myself -- just as he was writing scores for Sabrina and Nixon and, if I'm not mistaken, ending up his tenure at the Boston Symphony.

    AOTC Oscar nods

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I assumed TPM would get a score nomination based solely on "Duel of the Fates." It didn't happen.

    I am not going to assume that AOTC will get a score nomination, regardless of the "Across the Stars" theme. Besides, that hack job near the end probably makes it ineligible for original score. :music:

    As far as other nominations, Visual Effects, Sound and Sound Editing are good possibilities.

    Art Direction? What a joke? The sets were designed on computer to be pasted on bluescreen. Other films actually build sets for actors to walk through and interact with.

    Cinematography? Another joke. It's not hard to point a camera at actors against a bluescreen.

    As far as JW's score nods this year, he'll get one for Minority Report, mark my words. If Catch Me If You Can is good, it'll have to be better than Road to Perdition and Signs, the other two great films so far this year, and possibly Gangs of New York.

    (Here we go again) Your favorite Star Wars score to date

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Like Merkel says, they are all part of one grand space opera, even if the films were completed years apart.

    That said, I marvel at The Empire Strikes Back because it sounds like an operatic composition on its own, both in the film and on CD. Thanks to the 1997 release, I can appreciate that more.

    As far as TPM and AOTC goes, I think the only reason I am not enamored with them is because there is no fow through each of them. Most of the music sounds like wallpaper, composed only because of the decision to make it wall-to-wall music. That takes away from the flow and listening experience.

    In defence of John Williams

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    :music: to Ren for restoring peace and goodwill to the board!

    And :) to everyone else here, male and female. Don't want you to feel left out.

    And *sigh* I have to say to jsawruk that I admire your musical knowledge. It's very comprehensive. Sometimes I feel that I wish I had your education in music. But then...after I listen to something like Monica's theme from AI or the final 17 minutes of ET or, hell anything else by JW, I don't want to be thinking about the construction of the score and whether it's written in 7/8 or 4/4 or if the tonal rhythms mirror compositions by Wagner or anyone else. I think that takes away from the emotion of the score.

    And that's why I probably wouldn't want to be a composer. If I were say, Jerry Goldmsith sitting in a theater watching and listening to the opening of "Jaws," would I be scared or would I be deconstructing the notes? (I read that once JG heard the opening of that film, he knew he lost the Oscar that year. It was the best opening he'd ever heard.)

    But then, I'd love to look at a composer as he writes. That Spyder theme from "Minority Report" for example. How did JW get that cue from working at the piano? Or how did that wonderful cue "Roxy Loses" from Basic Instinct? These are the many things that I consider when explaining how much I love composers.

    That said, John Williams is unequaled. His work in the concert hall undoubtedly helps his film work. Just listen to "The Empire Strikes Back" or "Schindler's List."

    And I've never known anyone who has bashed JW after only hearing notes from his popular films. They always praise him, and then after listening to more intimate works and lesser-known scores, their praise increases. Granted, I know very few people in the classical world.

    Oh yeah, one more thing about Williams and what people call plagarism: I am a newspaper writer. I have a style of writing that is my own. But, I have read other articles by writers I admire and those I do not. From that, I know what makes a good writer and I use their styles as skeletons. I tend to think that's the way lots of people in other industries work. --> "Survivor" was a big hit, so CBS said, "Hey, let's take the premise of that show, but the people will be "stranded" in a house!" And that's how you get the popular Big Brother. But is saying that BB is a ripoff of Survivor. Survivor was a model.

    Am I making sense? If not, please tell me so.

    Your top 5

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Well, this list is pretty definitive for me...hasn't changed in years:

    Films:

    Ferris Bueller's Day Off

    The Lion King

    Aladdin

    The Hunchback of Notre dame (Disney)

    The Empire Strikes Back

    Scores:

    The Empire Strikes Back

    The Lion King

    Interview With the Vampire

    Schindler's List

    Star Wars

    Themes:

    Imperial March

    Luke's Theme

    Emperor's Theme

    Jaws Theme

    Superman

    So, I got this package in the mail today...

    in JOHN WILLIAMS

    Posted

    Just a thought: how many do you think he gets in one day? After all, I mailed mine to his agent, who probably opened it, read it, and decided JW would probably like to read it. Others are probably like, "Gosh, you are so kewl! I love that music you did for those dinosaurs movies! My brother says U rock 2. I also love the music for D. Vader! My brother scares me with it all the time! Well, gotta go! And again, U rock!"

    I think the ones that are thoughtful and well-written are few and far between.

    Spielberg playing the clarinet in Jaws?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Sounds like it's at the 55-second mark on the 25th anniversary CD.....or the 1:20 mark. I wish I knew what a clarinet really sounded like.  :oops:

    Watch Ferris Beuller's Day Off to see the scene where he plays one badly. Then you'll know.

    Don't have to. Every scene in that film is burned in my head...

    Ferris plays off-key. Looks at the camera.

    "Never had one lesson."

    Continues to play badly, but confidently. :)

    Favorite Movie Scene

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Well, I guess the bicycle chase and saying goodbye scenes from ET.

    But there's so many....I couldn't really pick.

    Every scene in Ferris Bueller.

    "Circle of Life" and the wildebeest stampede in The Lion King.

    When Alex is attacked in Jaws.

    So, I got this package in the mail today...

    in JOHN WILLIAMS

    Posted

    Seven years ago, I wrote to John Williams. Just out of the blue, no specific reason other than I had found the address to his agent in California. It was a pretty short letter. I just wanted him to know how much I appreciated his mucis and how much it has shpaed my life. Yada, Yada, yada. I'm sure he gets this stuff all the time.

    Anyway, about a month later, on Feb. 11, I got the same kind of envelope that Obi-wan recieved. In fresh marker (not a photocopy) was -- and you'll have to excuse me, my musical knowledge is, well, crappy -- a couple of bars of some musical notes, written by hand. Below it was JW's signature! Of course, not knowing music, I had to know what the notes were! One of my roommates took out his guitar and played the notes. After the fifth note note (out of seven), I knew it was the main theme from Star Wars!

    ;)

    And what significance does Feb. 11 have to this whole thing! It's my birthday! Obviously, it was the best brithday present ever! So I laminated the card and hung it on my wall.

    The following month, I received another envelope from Boston. It was the same as the last one, with different notes. But this one was pretty easy to read: the theme from Jaws. At this point, these two cards that cost about 10 cents to make and 50 cents to ship were my most valued possessions.

    Fast forward to 1997, when I heard John would indeed be scoring Episode 1. I wrote to tell him how much I was looking forward to hearing his score more than seeing the movie (Which still holds true today). I didn't expect anything this time.

    But I got another card! And this one was better than the rest. On the card was a small picture of JW at the piano, with five notes and his signature. Through some deduction, a group of us figured it out to be the five tones from Close Encounters! :mrgreen:

    But wait, the story doesn't end there. eek2

    Two years later, after he so brutally was defeated by Life is Beautiful at the Oscars, I wrote to tell him how much I thought the score was definitely the best of the year, and one of the besthe's done in the 90s. Once again, didn't expect a response (silly me). I got another one. :wiggle: But this one was "simple": just a 4x6 photo of him with his signature.

    Now I have the four framed on my wall...my little :joke: if you will. Also in that frame is a personalized letter I received from alan Menken when I wrote to him just shortly after writing to JW in 1997, saying that I thought he was robbed at the Oscars when Emma beat The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the Oscars. Basically, the card said he felt he, too, was "robbed." But he says letters like mine made him feel that the score had reached people. Plus, he mentioned it was the most fun he had writing a score.

    So that makes five cards in my shrine. I think that there's only two things left in my life: see the man live in concert and be able to interview him. One day, one day....... :nod:

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