Quintus

Ricky Gervais reckons its the reason why The Office was brought to an end after only two seasons. End it while it still feels fresh, leave the fans wanting more... He said he's gonna do it wih Extras too. Sounds like he has the right idea to me. The Faulty Towers method, so to speak. Having said that, I bet HBO bleeds the American encarnation of The Office to death. Money talks, especially where the tv consumption of the States is concerned.

I remember when The Simpsons orchestra used to perform the movie pieces themselves. Like they did with the Raiders skit. And The Great Escape. Its a shame they just tracked in the original DOTF for this.

Or the BBC ESB one...

Maybe (not that I personally noticed), but it certainly doesn't sound like Ken Thorne

Click here. Note the music Some of the sfx are still a bit "Dr Who" though, but I guess thats part of the charm

Me and my mates always have a little knowing giggle at the way he usually ends his main bombastic main themes. VVVVVVVvvvvrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrRRRRRGGGHHHHHH - VRUMMMMM!

I can only play the ear. But I can confirm that like all the other instruments - it gets better with age.

And unashamed! At least we are not part of the world wide musical flock

Absolutely! I know I will probably get screamed at for this one...but he IS only a mediocre conductor. The guy is a performer, and a composer. He gets the job done with his conducting...he goes into the studio and records his music perfectly to the screen. In no way am I saying he can't get the job done. However, if you watch him conduct for a whole piece up close...there are hardly any inflections in his conducting. He usually only conducts the beat. And in his old age, he is a bit "wobbly" with his pattern in the first place. So before you freak out on me...YES I am a huge Williams fan. But is he an amazing conductor in the field of Bernstein and Toscannini? Nope. Not even close. So what would Toscannini have done with the Superman March and the LSO? Bettered Williams' effort? By your estimations I'd love to hear it, even though its not possible.

I was just disappointed that it wasn't used in it's original context, that of nature. On the contrary, seeing as that particular (and wonderful) theme has no real official title, I rather refer to it as a theme of hope. Hope against unbeatable evil, against all odds - Human Spirit. Having said that, I respect the reasons why some people call it the 'Nature' theme, indeed it suits that purpose too. The theme is wholly ambiguous, adding to its genius. I still liken it to the Force theme. It serves the exact same purpose: Believe in yourself.

Especially were Williams is concerned. I'm talking about when I'm listening to a piece of score (usually a fave of mine) and I keep rewinding the damn thing at my favourite moments, replaying that burst of brass or clash of percussion over and over again because I just love it so much - it hits the right spot. For example: Far From Home / E.T. Alone takes me bloody ages to get through, simply because I rewind the bits I love so much. And thats just one example, there are many more. A 70min album can take me 2hrs to get through! Am I the only one who has this 'problem'?

He likes to collect tv boxsets. He's got the entire Friends, Chips, T J Hooker, Babylon 5, Charmed, Angel, Space 1999, Blake 7, The High Chaparral and Red Dwarf on dvd.

I have an Andre Previn conducted 1812 Overture LP somewhere. From the 70's. Its got amazing Battle of Waterloo artwork on the cover. Must seek it out actually.

The Ballad of Cable Hogue is an excellent film starring the late Jason Robards and David Warner, as a vicar I think. Its a western, but I can't actually remember what it's about (many years since i saw it), but I just remember it revolving around a woman and me being thoroughly entertained. It strolls by at a retired, yet engrossing pace and feels more like Sergio Leone than Sam Peckinpah. Oh and the score is a Goldsmith one. Film is definitely worth catching if you ever get the chance. Picnic at Hanging Rock is another film which is hardly known outside of filmic circles. Or perhaps I'm just wrong and many people DO know of it, because it surely would've made a high spot on that list. It a superbly haunting and abstract piece of Australian cinema, directed by Peter Weir and it's about the supposedly true story of a group of school girls on a field trip who literally vanished into thin air, or into another dimension. All but one of them that is - making her a witness. The actual scene where the girls "vanish" is horribly weird and downright spooky, with sound editing playing a big part. Picnic at Hanging Rock is rightly revered as somewhat of an oddity masterpiece in cinema. Hunt it down and you will see why. Oh and I've just remembered that it has an absolutely gorgeous wind main theme. I'm gonna hunt that down right now 8O Can't believe I haven't done until now.

I started collecting when Jurassic Park came out and since then I've aquired the most famous (best) of the Williams catalogue. Basically his late 70s and '80s stuff. Sort of ironic since JP only came out in '93. I used to avidly collect his cd's mainly because I loved the main theme, or themes. That got me into the incidental cue side, but sadly, since I aquired the internet and LimeWire I haven't purchased any Williams cd's since Harry Potter 1 and AOTC. I tend to just download the themes/cues I like thesedays, but thats not very many. Its not that I wouldn't buy a cd from a store anymore, but because I've not heard a complete Williams score which I feel is worthy of my cash lately. Apart from the odd theme or cue I kinda like, there is nothing he's done for a while now which would make want to own the original album. Its like Goldsmith's Capricorn One soundtrack - I quite like the main theme, but no way would I fork out for the album, just for that one track.

Yes...finally someone agrees with me about this score...yuck! Imagine what Rozsa, Williams or Goldsmith might have produced given the same material. I just don't get this minority dislike of that score. Its easily one of the top 10 best and most memorable scores of the last ten years, suiting the film perfectly and working just as well as a standalone listen. This score is far from crude

Williams can earn and compose/conduct with the best of them, but could he negotiate respectfully through Gambon's Corner?

Whether Elfman likes Williams' work or not, I laughingly expect that he still appreciates and respects it. Any movie composer in their right mind would be just plain daft not to bow their head at the Williams legacy, that much is a given. But having said that, I still think that Elfman looks like a kid at Christmas in the pic. A kid who has met Santa Claus. Regardless of composer within composer tastes. There really is no argument amongst such talent when it comes to track record. That's why Goldsmith sits aside Williams at the front.

It seems fair to say to that Elfman is genuinely responding to some god-like yet modest comment made by Williams. To me it looks like Elfman asked Williams a question about scoring or a particular score of Williams' and the answer he got was the typical (and expected) Johnny words of wisdom. Elfman was reminded who the Boss is

BRING MY SHUTTLE!

Damn right. ROTJ is certainly the weakest of the OT, but its still a great climax to a great tale in its own right. Like someone already said, the scenes between the main three are its highlight and amongst the very best moments in the entire saga, but theres plenty of fun to be had in the other threads of plot. Oh and the Ewoks never did bother me. Shit as they are.

Not at all. Like I said, I only compared in jest. And because I know some around here were deeply disappointed with Ottman's version, not that I was one of them. Relax 8O Oh and I just found this new video: Its the Raiders March performed quite bloody well actually. Its just a shame the clip is a bit f**ked up in places :? Still, its always nice to see Williams getting plenty of recognition on that fine website.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfQrQkt7jXQ Its a shaky start and the sound quality could be (alot) better, but I think these guys did okay. The tempo is vrooooooom and the mad as a hatter conducter goes VROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! A conducter on speed is always a funny sight. But Ottman's rendition is still better imo. Disclaimer: I compare in jest

Yes it does, along with some charming footage of Williams and Spielberg discussing the score's merits. I love that doc.