CYPHER

I'm a massive Tintin fan. I'm slowly building up my collection and I'm more than two thirds towards completion! While I think Tintin could be a good source for a movie adaption, the point is why bother? The comics are fine. Why the hell does everyone feel compelled to have to make a movie out of EVERYTHING? It's like a book or a play or even a bloody poem can only attain legitimacy if it is made into a movie! I'll be the first to admit that I conjure up cinematically inspired mental images when I'm reading a book, but the point is that writing and reading are vital skills and assets to be enjoyed for their own sakes rather than a prelude for popcorn stimulation. Okay, so that was a bit of a rant... By the way I don't think Tintin needs to be more 'hardcore' for any hypothetical updated version (which I completely oppose). Has anyone seen the original Tintin in the Congo where he inserts a stick of dynamite in a rhinocerous' back and blows the poor beast sky high just for the hell of it? Sometimes he can be such a dirty fascist, but other times (thanks to post WWII revisionism by Herge) be can show a really sensitive side such as when he comments on the plight of Native Americans, dispells nasty rumours about the Chinese and even saves those slaves in The Red Sea Sharks. Plus I think he's a great role model, he politely abstains from alcohol and he's ahead of his times too! I mean, his insistence on maintaining a morning ritual of 'calisthenics' is clearly a pre-cursor of the modern preoccupation with yoga LOL CYPHER

So is, like, Roland Emmerich, y'know, a total valley girl, or what? LOL

The Patriot. Why these 4 films Diskobolus? CYPHER

Yeah, I wouldn't recommend Hannibal: it's a bit of a disaster. I guess it has some good bits in it (like Gary Oldman's makeup and Hans Zimmer's music) but ultimately it's a stupid story, Julianne Moore is abysmal and this movie just confirmed to me that Ridley Scott is an overhyped hack. The Silence of the Lambs is one of my favouirte films and I'm a big fan of Jodie Foster and especially her performance in that movie. Red Dragon comes out here next week and I'll probably see it because of the cast and because I'm curious to see how it compares to Manhunter, the original film adaptation of Thomas Harris' novel. Seriously Melange, see Manhunter it's absolutely brilliant, not least because it's the work of director Michael Mann (genius). By the way both Red Dragon and Manhunter both share the same director of photography Dante Spinotti who is also a master craftsman. The decision to re-make Red Dragon after it had already been adapted into a movie is one I consider frustrating and offensive, especially considering how good Manhunter really is. CYPHER

So whatever happened to the "Imperial Theme" first introduced in Star Wars: A New Hope to represent both Vader AND the Empire? It's never heard again in any of the other movies is it? It strikes me that there's a bit of inconsistency here too. The liner notes in the 1997 Special Edition CD release refer to it as both an Imperial theme as well as Vader's. I think it's precise purpose should have been clarified and following that, used subtely in some of the prequels to foreshadow Anakin's tragic destiny and/or the rise of the Empire. Any thoughts? CYPHER

Speaking of Ewoks, I was walking past this young couple on the streets the other day and was very amused to here the woman say to her beaux "I'd much rather have an Ewok than a baby. They're much cuter, AND they have fur..." CYPHER Why the hell didn't they include Lapti Nek and Sy Snootles original song number on the 1997 ROTJ Special Edition soundtrack? They got pretty much everything else. Maybe they have been officially erased from history...

"Across the Stars" is my favourite of the two, though I do love them both. I've been putting off listening to "Duel of the Fates" for a while now because I've gotten a bit sick of it recently: I would listen to it and it would provoke very little response in me - a remarkable contrast to the energy I experienced the first time I heard it. In fact, maybe I'll go put it on now... CYPHER

My username is the code-name of one Doug Ramsey, a character from the Marvel comic THE NEW MUTANTS. He was a great, if fairly minor character whose mutant power was far less flashy and spectacular than those of his more powerful fellow team mates: he could perceive the signs and patterns in all languages. After a small amount of study he could master a langauge (human, alien or computer) within minutes, but he was always considered a liability in conflict (even though his unique skills did manage to save the day -and a few planets - on more than one occasion). However he was killed in action, taking a bullet in the back whilst trying to protect a fellow team mate. :cry: The creation of complete legend Chris Claremont, Cypher embodied some of the values and characteristics I respond most strongly to: intellectualism, insecurity, pacifism and ultimately, unfulfilled potential. PS - that's a cool little picture of him over to your left.

I've finally had the chance to listen to those cues you pointed out Luke. I agree there is a moment in the misnamed "Ambush on Coruscant" (Track 1 of AOTC CD) where in the background a short piece of music sounds suspiciously like the "ascending horn motif" played several times in Track 9 of TESB Special Edition CD release. Well spotted! While this motif is played several times when Boba Fett is on screen in ESB, I don't like to think of it as his theme. His theme is the "descending two-note bassoon motif" heard in Track 3 and 5 of the same CD. Perhaps this was discarded by Williams in favour of the more neutral ascending horn motif, since Jango and Boba are nominally different characters (albeit with much in common). CYPHER

I'm totally with you King Mark: I encourage all 'Guests' to register. Especially if you're going to be starting new topics. That way we can get to know you and ... well... you'll just feel better for it, trust me Thanks anyway, 'Guest'. Although I'm still not entirely convinced that Lucas has betrayed the ending of Ep III to us all. Seeing Vader in the suit for the last scene is the obvious (and probably most satisfying) conclusion currently imaginable, but I still doubt the fact that Mr George (Secretive) Lucas would spill the beans like that and not keep the fans guessing. It could almost become passe when Ep III finally comes around... CYPHER

I voted 'NO' and here's why: 1. sure John Williams has great talent and as a result he would have achieved some measure of success and acclaim anyway... 2. sure Williams had won an Oscar and been nominated several times prior to Spielberg's career but... 3. Without the connection with Spielberg, Williams may never have been recommended to Lucas, and without Star Wars, Williams might not have received other projects e.g. Superman, and without these, no Olympics, no concertos, no confidence, no experience, no money. 4. The vast majority of Williams most famous, most acclaimed, most successful, and indeed best scores are for Speilberg movies (obviously the Star Wars scores are a standout exception). I think there definitely is some truth to the view that Spielberg and Williams do click together in a very rare and special way and that Speilberg makes movies that brings out the best in Williams. CYPHER

Thanks elvisjones. I always thought the original Star Wars was subtitled Episode IV but I guess we've all been duped by a suspect bit of historical revisionism. So much for George Lucas' comprehensive nine-trilogy vision (although I could understand it if the studio decided to cut the subtitle 'cause it would not have made much sense at the time). And I definitely reckon Williams should score that final battle in AOTC. Or maybe they should just get rid of the botched cut-and-paste TPM music they used entirely because it completely sucks. No music is better than that. And whatever Williams might potentially get around to composing will probably just be completely drowned out by the sound effects anyway (though I would really love to listen to it on its own ). CYPHER

Thanks Marian and Jim. I also really like Marc Shaiman's theme for Castle Rock Entertainment. And when Columbia and Castle Rock are played TOGETHER, it's a really great bit of complementarity/contrast. Obviously watched too many movies... CYPHER

I reckon the best shops for soundtracks in the city are: - HMV Pitt St and Grace Bros for the biggest range - Fish Records George St (near Wynard Stn) and Red Eye Records (they have 2 stores in the CBD, the one closest to George St is better) for more obscure, hard-to-find stuff esp. Red Eye. Though they tend to be more expensive because they're mostly imports. Still, the last time I had the money and inclination to buy a soundtrack, I went to every single CD shop in the city that I could think of (about 7) and not ONE of them had a copy of the score for A.I. Artificial Intelligence which I desperately wanted to buy!!! So I settled for The Patriot instead, which I actually really like. One day soon, I'll scrounge up the funds to buy A.I. if it's the last thing I ever do... CYPHER

I voted for Herrmann because of all the composers listed, his is the work I've heard the most of and think most highly of. Some of the composers I haven't actually heard much of e.g. Korngold I've only heard The Adventures of Robin Hood and for North A Streetcar Named Desire (which is pretty good). And I give an honourable mention to Alfred Newman since no one has voted for him yet and I think he's pretty good, with maybe a few things in common with John William's music? Oh and Morricone is fantastic of course. But where's James Horner? CYPHER - who thinks The Phantom should hurry up and get registered and log on when he posts. Having a proper identity is much more empowering than simply being called "Guest" don't you think?

Like a lot of other members on this messageboard, I probably visit this site a little too often and at all hours of the day. It's just so nice and comforting Having no job and scarse contact hours at uni, I can log on whenever, though most commonly in the afternoon or early evening AUSTRALIAN time. CYPHER

The results I've just posted are the AVERAGES of the votes people gave in that "not so long ago" thread. King Mark you should have voted then, afterall the more participants, the more comprehensive the average! CYPHER

Hi David. I have the back cover you want, with Track 14: On the Conveyor Belt BUT I'm a bit of a computer caveman at times and our scanner is currently out of commission, gathering dust some where. So, sorry but I don't think I can help. Surely Australia wasn't the only country to have Track 14 printed on the back? Maybe there's a copy somewhere out there on the net? CYPHER

Maybe Morn, but I think it works better when watched in chronological order of when the films were made. That way everything's pointed in the right direction and the intent and thought put into constructing the films works best. Given the choice, if Ep III were already released, would you watch the two trilogies for the FIRST time from Ep I - VI? CYPHER

Thanks for that Joe. Good to know that when I finally decide I want to watch that movie, I can see it in widescreen. I was a bit surprised and disappointed that we only ever got a cruddy pan-and-scan version. Though why they couldn't have just released it in widescreen in the first place (or with multiple format options) is beyond me. Actually it's not: that's the wickedness of consumer capitalism but the reasoning is still highly irrational. CYPHER PS - for those who might be potentially outraged that I've never seen the movie, I have my reasons. I want to read the books first and I'm not prepared to do that until 1) everyone comes back down to earth about them and 2) I've read some of my other higher priority fantasy books e.g. Ursula K. LeGuin's Earthsea series, the reading of which is the source of much personal enjoyment at present. And another thing, I have actually heard the entire JW score for HP and reckon it has some excellent tracks alongside some pretty dull ones too - though I realise I have to hear it in the context of the film. Which I will. One of these days. There, that should have curbed any potential criticisms...

Some of you may remember participating in a track-by-track rating of the Attack of the Clones CD on this messageboard some months ago. Currently I'm on my mid-semester break and in between researching for government and political economy essays, I found the time to crunch some numbers and produce an average rating for each track of AOTC - as voted by YOU! :wow: Each average rating is a score out of 10. The tracks are arranged in descending order, from highest average rating to the lowest. They are: 1. Confrontation with Count Dooku and Finale: 9. 4 2. Love Pledge and The Arena: 8. 8 3. Zam the Assassin and The Chase Through Coruscant: 8. 7 4. Return to Tatooine: 8. 5 5. Across the Stars (Love Theme from Attack of the Clones): 8.3 6. On the Conveyor Belt: 8. 0 7. The Tusken Camp and The Homestead: 7. 8 8. The Meadow Picnic: 7. 7 9. Jango's Escape: 7. 6 10. Bounty Hunter's Pursuit: 7. 5 11. Yoda and the Younglings: 7. 4 12. Departing Coruscant: 7. 0 13. Star Wars Main Title and Ambush on Coruscant: 6. 5 14. Anakin and Padme: 6. 2 Total average track rating: 7. 8 / 10 Average album rating: 7. 8 / 10 Number of participants in rating exercise: 13 (though only 11 voted for Track 14: On the Conveyor Belt). Hopefully someone's interested CYPHER

So how many other production/distribution companies had their 'logo' theme music composed by film composers? What's the difference between the Horner and Goldsmith Universal themes and at what time did one replace the other? And lastly, does anyone know who composed the brief theme music for Columbia as featured in 1990s movies? CYPHER

I'd just like to say thank you to Macrea for pointing out the new music. I'm not much of a computer game player myself and certainly won't buy any of the Star Wars games, but as a big fan of the AOTC score, I do care about this kind of stuff. CYPHER

Hey I reckon both Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen are fine actors and did a more than suitable job for the Star Wars prequels (given we take into account that Lucas would be one of the worse acting directors around). I also give my two thumbs up to Portman in The Professional aka Leon and Christensen in Life as a House (I actually really enjoyed the movie too). CYPHER

In regards to the order in which the Star Wars films should be watched, I think it would be foolish to see them for the first time in sequential, numerical order. One must appreciate them in the historical contexts in which they were made, rather than the internal continuity of the films themselves. I believe that the prequels have been filmed with the knowledge that most of the audience would have seen and be familiar with the original trilogy. Many of the most successful elements of The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones (in my opinion) are derived from an awareness of what will happen. For example the duel between Darth Maul, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan in TPM assumes a degree of menace and dread the very first time you see it because 1) you know the parallels established between it and the duel between Darth Vader and Obi-Wan in A New Hope, in which the latter is slain and therefore expect a similar outcome for Qui-Gon; and 2) the foreshadowed and aforementioned death of Qui-Gon itself lays the groundwork for further tragedy: Obi-Wan's acceptance of the apprenticeship of Anakin, a task in which he will fail and prove partly culpable in the emergence of Darth Vader. Another case can be made for the blossoming romance between Anakin and Padme in AOTC. It is just as much a tale of tragedy and loss as it is of love, because the audience is fully aware of how the relationship turns out (albiet minus specific details): Padme "kind, but sad", driven to an early death, unable to experience the growth and development of her two exceptional children, while Anakin is corrupted to become "more machine now than man, twisted and evil", an entity that seeks the destruction of his own progeny. This is testament to his desire to completely and utterly destroy any memory and trace of the passionate love he once felt for Padme Amidala. :cry: How can anyone hope to truly appreciate this texture and development of theme and character, without having seen the original trilogy before the prequels? CYPHER