CYPHER

I like the Dances With Wolves soundtrack, but it's fairly repetitive in itself, so I can't imagine what the expanded edition would have that the first was misisng out on. It's a good release, the 1990 one is. I'm happy with that. If you're a DVD collector you should spend the money on buying the Dances With Wolves DVD (make sure you watch the four hour special edition too!!!). It's brilliant. Or you could just spend the 10 Euros on your mum... CYPHER

Whether it's a 'fake' or not (I really don't care), the first pic looks great! I was a little worried about Hayden's mullet at first but this shot quells my fears (at least temporarily). It's hot. CYPHER

Okay, this thread seems perfectly suited to some Lucas-bashing, and suddenly we're all talking about Joel Schumacher??? What's going on??? LOL My two cents on Schumacher: Tigerland wasn't bad and I liked Flatliners - it terrified me as a kid and that's always a plus in my books. Everything else is pretty crap. And I think Georgie-boy, despite his ever-increasing faults, surely deserves an award of this magnitude for past services rendered (whatever the award is. It certainly isn't from the Australian Film Institute, which is the only AFI I'm friends with). CYPHER

"The Days Between" or even "The Soccer Game" from Stepmom would be nice... How about Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin? Or maybe some jazzy stuff too e.g. Miles Davis. I guess it really does depend on what sheet music you have access to, how good your players are and how long you have to rehearse. When is the big day? I would stay away from anything from Schindler's List though. Too depressing and bittersweet by far. It's a wedding not a funeral, okay? Listen to Ray - he speaks wisely. "Fawkes" and some light John Barry would go down a treat. Maybe even his "Love theme" from Dances With Wolves, which might be more accessible. And avoiding major, instantly recognisable themes is a smart play too. Good luck with it all, MM and be sure to let us know how it goes! CYPHER

Bring it. At least it's not Chris Tucker. CYPHER

Mmmm.... sarcasm. Yeah The Polar Express-ship or whatever it's called does look pretty trite. Just in time of the holiday season! CYPHER

I thought Paycheck was pretty sucky but I'll definitely watch a He-Man movie, even if John Woo directs (Masters of the Universe was big in Australia too, Greg!). But personally, I actually love the original Masters of the Universe film with Dolph Lungren, Frank Langella and Courteney Cox. I really enjoyed it as a kid and it still held up well when I saw it again about five years ago. Evil Lynn is a total fox! CYPHER

BEEFCAKE!!! LOL CYPHER

I'd love to hear what Elliot Goldenthall could come up with. What has this guy been doing since Frida anyway? I haven't heard or noticed a thing. Not that I've really been looking though... CYPHER

Crap. I think I voted for Hook but really I could take it or leave it... Love your new avatar jedimaster! Tres cool! CYPHER

I collect movie postcards more than anything else. I don't know how this compares with other countries and regions, but many places here have free postcard stands, generally full of junk postcards, but they'll often have one for a forthcoming movie or DVD release and I'll pick these up, no matter what the film. I've got a whole stash of them over the last few years but my access to these stands has decreased significantly since the start of the year and there aren't nearly as many movie postcards now as there used to be. Only rarely will I actully buy one of these babies from a specialist store. Having so many available for free has spoilt me. I have about 10-15 large-scale movie posters, but only a few of them are up on my walls. The rest are rolled up in my cupboard and most of them are for crap films anyway, which I picked up when I worked briefly in a cinema oh so many years ago. CYPHER

Yay - I'm glad Cynthia Nixon won. Miranda is my fave Sex & the City lady. CYPHER

Amen! Never watched a CSI show in my life, thank god. All my shows are dying out on me these days I swear... I'm still waiting for them to screen the rest of Smallville Season 2 down here (no one watches that show). I totally forgot to watch the Emmys last night when I got back from playing tennis. So I have no idea who won. Some silly actors and actresses no doubt. And Ray you can't dismiss it as "only television" on the one hand and then defend it on the other (well you can, and indeed you did but ...). Everything means something. And usually it's not the same thing to each person. CYPHER - off to watch The O.C.! Guilty as charged. LOL

Oh no! Direct links to mp3s! Neil, do your thang. And yes Saxbabe, the last night of the swimming was fabulous. Some gold for you guys, some gold for us, some gold for the Dutchies! Everyone's happy! And Wael, I swear I saw your doppleganger last night as I was walking home from dinner! That is to say, he had a shaved head and was wearing a red baseball cap, dark jacket and a white shirt - just like in your avatar pic! Weird. LOL CYPHER

Goodbye Elmer! Thank you for your music and may you rest in peace. Condolences to all his family, friends and many fans, with this passing of another film-scoring great. CYPHER

Ha ha - this has been a great thread so far (country music digression not withstanding)! Many a funny tale has been shared. Ray, your story was great and that anecdote about putting cardboard on your screen to transform a pan-and-scan into 16:9 was too brilliant for words. Jeshopk, I love your attitude to purchasing too. And Drax, I agree about people in retail not being encouraged to comment on items you buy unless the customer initiates discussion. Anything else is just plain unprofessional. The customer is here to buy a product, not necessarily solicit the cashier's 'qualified' opinions. As such I don't really tend to give a rat's arse about what the cashier might think of my purchases. Generally I'm proud of the music I buy for myself, so there's no reason to be embarrassed. The only story from my personal experience that I can contribute here is when I bought the score to Titanic back in 1998 at K-Mart. The female cashier asks "Is this for your girlfriend?" Surprised, I replied "Uh... no," paid my money and left. Talk about making assumptions! CYPHER

No Williams music used here either. I watched the replay of the Opening Ceremony yesterday and it was absolutely fantastic. That whole "cultural presentation" was just amazing especially what they did with that floating, disassembling statue!!! Whatever happened to those rumours of Vangelis composing an original piece for these Games? Because I sure as hell didn't hear anything like that... And I'm not entirely sure why DJ T used excerpts from "Adagio for Strings." That one's actually a bit of a downer, don't you know? CYPHER - looking for his first glimpse of a medal tally...

I'd ask him about upcoming CD releases and get him to promise to do all he can to release hitherto unavailable concert music like "Soundings" and the "Horn Concerto." Plus I'd suggest that there might also be a fairly substantial market for expanded release Indiana Jones trilogy music, just for the rest of you guys. CYPHER

This is a very strange poll - I don't really understand the selection criteria at all. Nonetheless I was pleased to vote for The Thin Red Line, my favourite score amongst those listed, regardless of 'epic' qualities. CYPHER - who finally bought Mulan on CD the other day. 'Tis good.

What a wonderful concert review SeekUYoda! Thanks for sharing - it sounded truly amazing and intimate. The Shaham-Williams telephone interactions re: "Treesong" were a fascinating revelation. And to have heard the "Violin Concerto" live! This is one piece that just grows and grows on me: I find it very emotive and each movement has its own distinct yet powerful emotional punch. And I liked your 'favourite key' question and it sounds like John Williams did too - it's quite sweet when you think about it. CYPHER

Well this comes as quite a shock and a truly great loss. I extend my condolences to his family, his friends and his many, many fans, especially those of you here who have written your sensitive testimonies. I don't have a very extensive Goldsmith collection, but I think I will listen to one little piece in memorial - the wonderful melody for the Ba'ku people from Star Trek: Insurrection. I only have a snippet of the score, taped off the radio several years ago and the sound isn't the best, but somehow it seems perfect, describing as it does the tranquil and peaceful life of a community who have found eternal life. CYPHER

Ray, it seems like only a couple of months ago that I was writing in your last Happy Birthday thread. My how time flies. Have a good one mate. CYPHER

Hi Marc. Enjoy the rest of your vacation and don't get trapped in those mountains. CYPHER

Yeah, as hot as Alba is, she's no Susan Storm! CYPHER

I voted 'Yes' but I'd be more than happy to see someone else score it. Harry Gregson-Williams sounds like a fine choice. I just couldn't vote for 'No! The Potter is all I breathe" because nothing could be further from the truth. In many ways The Chronicles of Narnia were my generation's Harry Potter. Almost every kid I knew had at least heard of them and many had read the most famous novel, the second one, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. And to clarify your post Magnus, the kids access the mystical realm of Narnia through a wardrobe in this particular book, but there are of course other ways of getting there. Sigh. Those were the days. CYPHER