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.

One track that came to mind seeing the thread, curiously, is "Journey to Blofeld's Hideaway" from On Her Majesty's Secret Service -specifically when Bond begins his journey up over the Alps. There's a sense of wonder in the beauty of the Alps in that first half of the track, especially when listed in isolation.

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.

That is so fucking nasty. I've seen people do this in the U.S., and I die a little inside every time.

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.

If we're doing patriotic British stuff:
 
 

And the sting over the title card.
 
It really is one of the great movie openings. Just from your short description I picture it, hear it, and get goosebumps. 

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.

It's fascinating how the movie score opens with the five-minute Hymn of Red October, which plays uninterrupted over the opening scenes of the movie. This piece lays out all of the score's thematic material. Almost everything that comes after is derived from that hymn; even the suspense and action cues come out of it. This shows the tremendous amount of confidence director McTiernan had in Poledouris, that essentially this one piece of music would be allowed to drive his movie. It's such a bold decision and I can't think of a modern film scored this way. 

The Hunt for Red October, expanded.
 
Fantastic.

The Hunt for Red October, expanded.
 
Fantastic.

UFO is a real groove!
Dig that Hammond b3 
 
 
Two brilliant scores...and "The Final Conflict". 

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

I want Jane Seymour. I feel like after Wedding Crashers and her heart jewelry commercials we need to Seymour of her. 

They should not include any of the previous actors. For this work to exist at all, it needs to be its own beast. 
 
Stu Phillips WAS Battlestar Galactica. Still is, last I knew. 

Tiomkin was...loud. Still, I quite enjoy a great deal from Fall of the Roamn Empire and Land of the Pharaohs

Tremendous score. El Cid and Quo Vadis are even more impressive, IMHO

Jurassic Park III

The Jurassics were on cable and before I turned off that POS JPIII, I caught a little bit of the score and remembered how cool it was. Davis did an awesome job. He uses Williams' themes well and it's surprisingly loaded with Williams-esque original material. I mean, not that it sounds like Davis was imitating Williams, but his approach seemed to be, "This is what came before and it was great and the sound of this one should be consistent, so I'll do the best I can." And he did. It certainly sounds of the JP musical universe, unlike that Giacchino Jurassic World score. Ugh. But this one is damned entertaining.

Oh god, what have they done...
 
Evans was pretty awful, especially in the challenge sections. His presenting style was far too Clarksonish, it was almost like a bad parody, with added shouting. Lots of shouting. LeBlanc was decent, even verging on quite good in the challenges. The audience seemed really subdued, and their reactions never really felt too real, but I guess that's to be expected early on?
However, the visuals and editing are still top-notch, though I thought the audio had taken a bit of a hit, seemed a bit off in places.
 
So yeah, I'd maybe give it 4/10, definitely not a fan of Evans, but maybe the show will be able to find its feet soonish, I hope.

 
The Kardashians

After listening to Secret of NIMH a couple of times I really have to agree. It does have that "Hollywood fantasy spectacle is here" vibe to it. To my ears Horner's music might have come to stand for this on a more general level as well.
 
Lincoln by John Williams: I love the soothing tender quality which permeates most of this score. Sure it might enhance some of the hagiographic qualities of the film but there is also simple emotional honesty to it, feeling like Williams' own personal gut reaction to Lincoln as a person, the composer trying to capture much of his different facets with his score in addition to giving the burnished patina of stately respectability to him. The soloist work in particular gives a lovely intimacy to the whole work with Chicago Symphony and their individual members (and Randy Kerber on piano) providing their considerable talent to the task and giving their best.
 
P.S. Trumpet Hymn (found on the FYC album) might contain some of the most emotionally resonant trumpet work I have heard in years, that little over a minute being a stunning showcase of Christopher Martin's gift.

A doff of the cap to Battle of Britain and Colditz Story on top of his Bond portfolio. I recall from a book about Battle of Britain that Hamilton had a few rows with Adolf Galland including one referencing his own duty in motorboats. To quote from his obit':
 
 
from the Telegraph.
 
stand up bloke and missed.

Since I last popped my head in I've re-listened to a few scores but tonight, in light of the remakes trailer, Elmer Bernstein's The Magnificent Seven
 
a favourite part is always the latter half of "Strange Funeral" when Chris and Vin ride away from Boot Hill. Another highlight is "The Journey" but overall it's a fantastic score.

Badass
 
 

My first Williams album was this one:
 

 
My first "Williams soundtrack" album was this one:
 

(the Concord Indiana Jones set)
 
I only download digitally though, it is much more convenient for me. I simply don't have the storage space to store lots of physical CDs.