Yavar Moradi

I think a major problem of the show is that different storylines move at different paces, which results in some of them being super drawn out and other ones rushing too quickly at times. I actually think both seasons may have been better at a GOT-like 10 episodes, believe it or not, because certain parts just didn't seem well fleshed-out! I mean good grief they just rushed through the creation of the rings for dwarves and men in just a few episodes this season, didn't they? It felt very much Cliff's Notes to me. I wanted more, just like with The Hobbit trilogy Peter Jackson got my hopes up with talk that splitting such a short book into two (and later three!) epic length films would allow the fleshing out of the thirteen dwarven characters. That ended up being total BS, and instead we got other nonsense. Yavar

Well from that perspective then the Hobbit trilogy is "at the end" too. Yavar

https://lalalandrecords.com/diamonds-are-forever-55th-anniversary-remastered-expanded-limited-edition-2-cd-set/ Yavar

I'm more of a "mixed bag" mindset about it, like this guy: I just think Season 2, contrary to a lot of people's opinions, was a step down with more bad writing in this mix than Season 1 had. There was some really excellent stuff in season 2 IMO, but more rare than in season 1. Adar remained the most interesting character IMO, despite the recast, and the new actor really managed to make me care about his fate in the final episode of season 2 which was by far its strongest. The dwarves/Moria remained the most compelling storyline of the show for me overall, but even that felt far sloppier than season 1, even though the actors really kept giving their all to sell it! Based on fan comments praising it as a major step up, I was frankly expecting the stuff between Sauron/Annatar and Celebrimbor in Eregion to be MUCH better than it was. Such a shame, because I do think those two actors are really excellent and did the best they could with the material they were given. But the writing for so much of that stuff... was ass. Cruz Cordova is still a surprisingly good elf... when you watch interviews with the guy he just doesn't come across even remotely like his character, so that's some damn good acting (and accent) work IMO! But sheesh I wanted more with the Ents... they felt totally wasted. The two harfoot actors are still wonderful, but in terms of their plot this season it was very much "butter scraped over too much bread". Yeah, I dunno. I don't hate the show but after hearing season 2 was a significant step up, I admit I was bummed to find out it was overall a step down. At least it continues to provide a good canvas for some amazing music, and I'll be very happy if McCreary gets to finish all five seasons of this magnum opus musical work. Yavar

Oooh, we could potentially have dueling McCreary and Shore Tom Bombadil songs! If it happens, I'm here for it... Wait... what's the one at the end? The Scouring of the Shire would make sense, if they hadn't already closed off that possibility with the EE of Return of the King. Aren't both The Hunt for Gollum and Shadow of the Past in the middle? Yavar

No! Where is my promised Tintin sequel, dammit?! Hell, John Williams is still scoring films... Yavar

What I find odd about this is its reference to 5 seasons and 50 episodes...when the first two seasons were 8 episodes each. I liked the final episode of season 2, but I guess I'm one of the few people who overall prefers the first season. But I'm in for the long haul anyways because the scoring is just THAT great. Yavar

Not that I recall; probably just different pressing batches. Yavar

Getting a cool new Bond song by David Arnold was certainly not on my bingo card today… The lyrics aren’t all great but Lana Del Rey’s got a great voice for Bond and WOW, that orchestra! I’m getting “Surrender” vibes (and maybe even a touch of “Gollum’s Song” at the beginning?)… this is SO good, IMO, and apparently Nicholas Dodd is back too! Who had any idea they were involved with this major new Bond game? Yavar

At least it's happening. Yavar

I agree. Better setpieces and of course a better orchestra performing! But it still has similar issues to KSM, which is the only reason I brought it up. Yavar

I’ve high hopes that if he’s the sole composer from the very beginning, he can craft something that’s better than the rush job mishmash that Superman was. Fleming’s got thematic orchestral chops… for anyone who doesn’t know: Yavar

I’ve high hopes that if he’s the sole composer from the very beginning, he can craft something that’s better than the rush job mishmash that Superman was. Fleming’s got thematic orchestral chops… for anyone who doesn’t know: Yavar

I’ve warmed up to it a bit since the new Neil S. Bulk/Mike Matessino LLL edition. The love theme sounds particularly magical now and I’ve always thought it was the best part of the score. I have two issues with it: 1) As with Supergirl, it feels like Goldsmith is trying to ape Williams to some degree… and I just prefer the Williams originals! (On the other hand, when Goldsmith’s brief was to imitate the sound of Elfman’s Batman on The Shadow, I think he knocked it out of the park and wrote a better superhero score than any of Elfman’s.) 2) There just isn’t enough variation, in the thematic development IMO. That main theme just keeps coming back, and back, and back in almost the same way every time. It’s an issue I have with most Alan Silvestri scores, even really good ones like The Mummy Returns — that “My First Bus Ride” adventure theme is GREAT, the first time you hear it… but then he brings it back again, over and over with little variation. One of my favorite things about Goldsmith is how he endlessly varies his thematic material… and KSM is just a rare case where he barely does it. If those aren’t factors that bother you, then more power to you! KSM is certainly a fun old-fashioned orchestral adventure score that’s far beyond what most Hollywood films get today. I just don’t think it’s quite up to the amazing standards Goldsmith was usually hitting in the 80s. Yavar

Correct; this great Settling the Score podcast episode talks about just how sparse it is… and I think they also play an unreleased cue or two from the film (very minimal): https://www.settlingthescorepodcast.com/35-rocky/ Still, if tapes survive for Intrada to revisit it similarly, I’ll buy it! Yavar