Trumpeteer

I saw this film on Christmas Eve, at a fairly late showing. From the looks of the people walking in, it appeared it was going to be a crowd full of sci-fi fans, not romance/epic movie fans. And at the end, there were very few people who applauded. I wasn't one of them, but maybe it was because I saw the ending coming near the end of the final battle. Anyway, I enjoyed the film. I didn't like its obvious cliches. I know cliches are cliches because they work, but it's one thing to use a cliche and have it work very well (see Jeff Bridges in "Crazy Heart") and another to use a cliche and mask the holes with CGI. I liked the film because it did transport me to a brand-new place with many visual wonders. I can see why it took James Cameron and his team so long to get this movie made. A lot of work went into this movie ... in post-production. Sam Worthington was more expressive as a Nav'i than a human (and maybe that was intentional). I always like Sigourney Weaver and thought she was the best human in the movie. The guy leading the human army was very cartoonish. I expected him to eventually be chomping on a cigar and in the end, riding a missile to his death. As for the score, it was boring. Once Jake found his flying animal and took off on it, I was hoping -- praying! -- that I would get something like "Buckbeak's Flight," which I didn't like the first time I heard it, but at least I appreciated it a lot on first listen and have grown to love it. The "flying music" was soooooooooooo dull I wanted the scene to end as quickly as possible so I could stop judging it on what it lacked. I am sure James Horner is well-schooled on the most famous flying sequences in movie history, and knowing they were all scored by John Williams, should have at least tried to do something worthy of comparison. I was very disappointed he dropped the ball, but then again, that's what James Horner does. This could have been his "Star Wars." I fully expected lush orchestrations, but I thought we'd get some theme that would be remembered. Besides the danger theme, I don't remember any other piece of music in the film. Anyway, I read a post earlier about someone saying this film moved him in the same way he was moved when seeing "Star Wars" and "Jurassic Park" for the first time. My jaw was on the floor the first time I saw "Jurassic Park." Not so much here.

The Empire Strikes Back is "space opera" personified, both in the film and in the music. I can listen to the score of ESB and feel what happens in the film. I often felt that someone could put lyrics to the score of ESB and it could play as an actual opera. I will always love Star Wars for being the first, but Empire took the genre a step further and is what all action scores should try to achieve. Emotion and thrills without simply being just music to cover a boring scene. That is what Jedi became at times and what 90 percent of the prequel scores were. The orchestrations are about as perfect as they can get. In Star wars, I think Williams relied too much on brass. The final 30 minutes of music are absolutely superb. The love theme when Han is lowered into the carbonite chamber. Vader's theme as he and Luke fight. The love theme again as R2 opens the door to get to the Falcon. The interplay of action music and Vader's theme during the escape from Cloud City. The love theme again to close out the film. Only the finale of ET surpasses it.

John Williams wins his third Emmy, in the category Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music: http://www.emmys.com/nominations?tid=124 I've heard it, and it is indeed outstanding! The E! Network is broadcasting it Friday at 1 p.m. (Eastern time I think). Hopefully we'll get to see JW accept the award!!!!!!!!!!!!

I imagine no one on this forum is watching the FINA world swimming championships live on the Internet or on television. Too bad, because you're missing film music! When the athletes parade out before each race, they are accompanied by music from "Gladiator." Then, when most races finish, I have heard the "Superman" theme. And finally, not surprisingly, Ennio Morricone gets the most play. During the awards presentation, the theme from "The Untouchables" plays. I say it's not surprising because the world championships are in Rome. If you want to watch this in the United States, go to universalsports.com at noon Eastern each day. If you're not in the United States, you can still probably find live feeds on your computer or coverage on television, especially in Europe.

This is one of the few scores I heard before watching the movie. I couldn't imagine what type of movie could have this type of music. A guy yelling and groaning and breathing heavily? I saw the movie and understood the music better, but the movie confused me to the point of disinterest. I listen to the score a lot, and I love "Nightwatch Rise" and "In Search of Unicorns."

As we entertained guests for our Fourth of July dinner party, we had the Cinemagic channel on XM Radio playing on DirecTV. As the guests started to make their exits, I noticed a lot of early John Williams music was being played in succession, and all from Spielberg films. I didn't know what was going on, since the volume was just low enough to be subtle background music. When the guests left, I turned up the volume, and the DJ was saying something about a countdown of Steven Spielberg films. I came in at number 20 or so, when they were playing a suite from "Always." I don't think this is a countdown of the best Spielberg films. How could "Munich" rank lower than "The Terminal?" (Oh wait, they are counting down from least-grossing films to best-grossing films. "Schindler's List" is at No. 15 with $96 million in grosses.) Anyway, it's been a fun accompaniment as we clean the dishes. It's probably going to go on for a while tonight. They play scores from four films every hour and they started at 9 p.m. Pacific time with number 25, I think. From what I remember, "The Sugarland Express," "Twilight Zone," "Always," "Amistad," "The Color Purple," "Munich," "The Terminal" and "AI" have played. I imagine "Jaws" and "ET" will be in the top two spots.

I agree wholeheartedly.

The funniest thing I have read in ages.

Like MrScratch, I never tire of talking about my autographed JW cards. I sent a letter in 1995 in January, just to say how much I enjoy his music. No request for an autograph. The next month--on my birthday, no less--I got two cards in the mail with his signatures and the opening notes of the Star Wars theme and Jaws on them. I remember that day well. I don't know how to read music, so I got a roommate to play the notes on his guitar. I got goosebumps when he played the Star Wars theme, then Jaws. I don't recall me sending him a letter in 1997, but that fall, I got another card with some notes on it. At the time no one around me could read music that well, so I had to study the notes -- all five of them. Eventually, I gathered it were the five notes from Close Encounters. Then, after he lost the Oscar for Saving Private Ryan, I sent him another letter. Again, no request for an autograph, just telling him how moved I was by his score. This one took a little longer (about four months), but I got a signed photo of him. These autographs, along with my letter from Alan Menken, are my prized treasures. They are priceless, but very much adored.

I tried to watch the movie three times so far in my life, all on video. Every time, I hit the fast forward button after the camp is bombed. The best musical moment has been mentioned: When Jim salutes the Japanese pilots. Other than that, there's not much there. I do believe this was Spielberg's attempt to make a serious movie, but from the eyes of a kid. It feels very heavy-handed and I also couldn't wait for the end. As a matter of film history, the film is great to remember as Christian Bale's film debut.

The theme for Nixon's brother gives me goosebumps. Just listen to those strings in "Losing a Brother." I'm not sure why the theme is used in "November 1963," though I haven't seen the movie in many years and cannot recall the images associated with it. Using the snare drums from "JFK" in "November 1963" was a cool choice, though I doubt the casual filmgoer picked up on it (these drums aren't on the album). And the music for the Watergate break-in is reminiscent of music in "JFK," but still enjoyable on its own. I like the score much better than the film, and I think it lies in the fact that Stone made two movies: the Nixon portrait film and the anti-Vietnam film. They seemed to clash often.

Neither of these sentences will ever be uttered or typed by me in my lifetime. It makes me shudder just to read it. This was the best show I've seen in a very long time. A very long time. The past actors coming out to shower present nominees with praise was beautiful, though I didn't like Cuba Gooding Jr. I think, though, it would have been cool for Anthony Hopkins to address Frank Langella...one Nixon to another. Anywy, am I the only one who got a lump in his throat when Thomas Newman lost twice? Poor guy. I thought this would be his year. But then again, cousin Randy had to wait for nomination No. 13.

I asked the same question about 10 years ago. I don't remember getting an answer.

WINNER!!!!!“The Adventures Of Mutt,: John Williams, composer (John Williams) Track from: “Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull” “Alegria,” Chick Corea, composer (Chick Corea & Gary Burton) Track from: “The New Crystal Silence” “Claire's Closet,” Russell Ferrante, composer (Yellowjackets Featuring Mike Stern) Track from: “Lifecycle” “Danzón De Etiqueta,” Dave Grusin, composer (Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin) Track from: “Amparo” “Hit The Ground Running,” Gordon Goodwin, composer (Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band) Track from: “Act Your Age” ---------------------------------------------------------- What a great birthday present. I do not know if John Williams was at the Grammys to accept. This is his 20th Grammy and 10th in this category. In other film music-related news form the Grammys: "Down to Earth" wins best song from a motion picture or TV "The Dark Knight" wins best score album "Juno" wins best complilation album Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman win best instrumental arrangement for "Define Dancing" from WALL-E.

Wow. I'm good.

In my spacious bedroom on a sunny weekend in 1994, I sat down to watch all five films for which John Williams won an Oscar. It was a way to celebrate his birthday and honor the greatest film composer in history. The tradition continues today. Some years life has intruded on the film festival, but I always manage to make it happen. I cannot think of a better way to honor John Williams. It's the one weekend of the year that is devoted to plunking down on the couch and watching seven movies in about 48 hours. Here's this year's schedule. Friday p.m. -- Fiddler on the Roof Saturday -- Star Wars original trilogy Sunday -- ET, Jaws, Schindler's List So, since I will be a little busy on Sunday, allow me to be the first to wish John Towner Williams a happy 77th birthday!

3.5 The music from the moment they land on Coruscant to the time Sidious says "Wipe them out, all of them" is highly uninteresting. That's about 30 minutes of score, and most of it shouldn't have been written just for the sake of underscore. There are obviously some great moments. Duel of the Fates, the escape from Naboo, the funeral pyre, the hints of Vader, Anakin's theme. But those moments are not as good as the worse parts of the original trilogy music. No wasted music in the original trilogy.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off -- always my most cherished and favorite film of all-time The Lion King -- one of the few films to have me speechless in the opening minute The Omen -- my husband and I officially became a couple after watching this movie

I have watched these films every year since 1994 during the John Williams Film Fest, which takes place on the weekend before or after his birthday. All five of his Oscar-winning pictures are viewed in the privacy of my home, along with the other two in the original SW trilogy. I put "Phantom Menace" and "Attack of the Clones" in there for a couple of years, but nine films in three or four days is too much. Plus, I will never watch "Revenge of the Sith" again, so it was another reason to cut out the prequel trilogy. Obviously, the 15th annual will be this weekend. Friday -- Fiddler on the Roof Saturday -- Star Wars trilogy Sunday -- Jaws, ET Monday - Schindler's List

The opening title music is one of the best opening cues JW has done. "The Tennis Game" is pure fun and Daryl's theme is wonderful. Especially played on harpsichord (?) Every time I watch the movie or hear the cue where Williams dubbed in Nicholson's whistling, I get shivers. It's cool to know that JW and George Miller had the insight to do that. It adds a great layer to that cue, melding score to film. Oh, and "Have a Cherry" is excellent. I think "No Ticket" was born out of this. I could go on forever about this score.

As Trent said, it's called "Escape/Chase/Saying Goodbye." It's the best piece of music ever written for motion pictures. Even if you don't know the images it's associated with, the music tells the story perfectly. A fun chase, a dynamic orchestration as the bikes take flight, a setup for a tearful farewell, a tender moment between boy and alien, a triumphant takeoff and a full-on orchestration of the opening notes. I get choked up every time I listen to it.

Because his sucky film is getting so much undue praise and he knows it.

The songs are fantastic. The score is phenomenal. I remember when I saw the movie in the theater When the attack on the mountain started, I felt Jerry deserved the Oscar. I was in tears when he lost the Oscar to an inferior score (Shakespeare in Love). And then I was inconsolable when John Williams lost to Life is Beautiful five minutes later.

OK, I'm real excited my topic is getting so much attention. Is anyone out there willing to make any choices for this year's nominees for Original Score?

Ballots have been sent to Academy members today. So, if he wanted to withdraw the score, it won't be on the list of eligible scores the Music Branch voters pick from this year. Does anyone know if the score is on the list of eligible scores? (Is there an Academy member on the forum?) And yes, this is a crappy year for music. Besides the score from "Slumdog Millionaire"and in a small way, the score to "WALL-E," music hasn't been very interesting in 2008. So, we just might see John's name on the list.