Sir Hilary Bray

Yesterday went to the British Film Institute (South Bank) to see Seven Days in May which they were showing as part of a Kirk Douglas season. My interest in it stemmed from a while back reading about John Kennedy's reaction to the book and melding an admiration of Lancaster. Heck of a cast really -Martin Balsam, Fredric March, Douglas and of course Lancaster all contributing well. Poor Balsam can't catch a break in some films it seems -somebody seated near me had to ask her husband just who Girard (Balsam) had been in the movie when the death was announced. Aside, a good film which I found hard believing could be done now if for it being full of dialogue. At the BFI you sense it's respected but can't help but feel most audiences wouldn't appreciate it. Like Tinker Tailor. Plot-wise there's something relevant about a military coup even now. And unmentioned until now, the best till last, Edmond O'Brien. Watching the film I found myself thinking that ideally I'd be a Kirk Douglas or Burt Lancaster but if ever played on screen (and back then), it'd be O'Brien. Drunk and on the lose.

It'd have to be Rogue One even with the change in composers.

Best of Both Worlds expanded, Ron Jones (Borg Engaged still has that 'chills down the spine' element and the use of the fanfare in "Captain Borg" just as good the first time round) and two Jerry Goldsmith's, The Last Run and The River Wild.

Star Trek Into Darkness, expanded. We learn by doing.

Uncultured swines. Seem to remember when I saw Phantom Menace for my birthday in '99 watching the film when midway this pair of bare feet suddenly were propped on the top of the empty seat next to me. The unfortunate highlight of the entire movie.

I think this alternate reality's equivalent of the Star Trek VI quote might be 'only Clinton could go to Benghazi'.

Randy Edelman's Gettysburg That's the style, Lo, that's the style!

John Barry's Robin & Marian I say John Barry, it's the Nic Raine/City of Prague recording (yes, I know) and even then it got tweaked by someone else once Barry was done. Only found that out reading the liner notes. Still, while some might not view it as JB's finest, like a few of his scores I quite like it and affecting in parts. It has a similar sound to what he used in They Might Be Giants but it works...in both films. Quite.

After listening to it on the way to work, for much of my shift 'Rey's Theme' was rattling around. Considerably more entertaining than the shift itself.

Some of this I brought last week cheap and half come via an Amazon giftcard for my birthday. Star Trek Insurrection/First Contact/Best of Both Worlds expanded Robin & Marian, The Last Crusade, Gettysburg Individual tracks- The Last Valley, Zulu, Monte Walsh & High Road to China (John Barry), Princess Leia's Theme/UFO/Return of the Saint (Geoff Love), Battle of the River Plate (Easdale), Cruel Sea (Rawsthorne), Wind and the Lion/The Swarm (Suite), Boys from Brazil (Suite, Goldsmith). I'm sure Star Trek Beyond will follow at some point once it comes out.

Quite enjoyed the Quincy Jones Prom, I never heard the Call Me Mr Tibbs track until then -groovy. Looking forward to Last Night. Hope next year involves film music however small like year before or so.

Very sad. Got to meet him, albeit quite briefly at a book signing when I was at university. The role I enjoyed best was Bloom in the Producers. Another great lost.

Indeed, I've always liked the Nuclear Scam track -when the vocals kick (which I believe accompanies the crew taking to the lifeboats) adds something to it. The Hymn as you say just sets everything that is to come. Again, the end titles though made up from Ancestral Aid/Nuclear Scam seems perfect to end the film with. The Hymn contributes to making it one of my favourite movie openings. The stillness and cold of the inlet, the exchange between Ramius and Borodin then the theme coming in as the camera pans out to reveal the might of the Red October.

The Hunt for Red October, expanded. Fantastic.

though it's only a matter of time before a song slips into a Star Wars film surely.

a new design more like.

I guess I was hoping for a different ship altogether for whatever reason. Have to see over time (and in Star Trek XIV) how she turns out.

I got to see the film tonight. It was all right, probably the better of the three reboots but just about. Didn't really connect with the film. Kirk having a crisis, frenetic action and the rest. Little bits like the photo at the end was a nice touch (struck by how it was the Star Trek V cast photo) or the slight continuity to Enterprise (mentions of phase cannons, hull plating and MACO) and yet somehow the Franklin was the first ship to reach warp 4. So the NX-01...was somewhere in the middle. As for the JJPrise-A, bummer. Edit- to my mind the Franklin's bridge was reminiscent of the Bounty's in Star Trek IV. Had that modified/rough and ready look. Though blessedly the Bounty didn't have a motorbike.

This is my first change in months but then I haven't been as active as when I joined, when I seemed to change often. Nothing suits anymore.

The Perfect Storm, Summon the Heroes and some Cult TV themes -Man in a Suitcase, Dangerman (High Wire, several variations), Randall & Hopkirk, UFO etc.

On Her Majesty's Secret Service Peggy Sue Got Married The Concert: John Barry The Black Hole and to shake it up a bit from the Barry block: a selection of Jerry Goldsmith suites.

Well, last I knew, there were brothers of Man still fighting to survive beyond the heavens. Be nice to see the original [Battlestar] Galactica on the screen in full glory rather than redesigned for the Moore series. Even if nothing else is the same. I'm sure it's doomed to fail regardless. Yes, I suppose excluding any of the original cast makes the film it's own entity but somehow like the idea of Richard Hatch as the ill-fated President or Dirk Benedict as some drunk blown to atoms on Caprica and Anne Lockhart in any capacity.

The Right Stuff, Conti Battle of Britain, Goodwin and er, Batman (Nelson Riddle). Touted as the soundtrack album but a bit thin on the ground.

Quite agree and throw in Tiomkin's Fall of the Roman Empire (for sheer epic-ness...ness)