Tallguy

Well, Varese did release PotA on CD....

I'm using "star" in the most superficial leading man kind of sense. I didn't want to make the Cruise comparison just because of Powell's Top Gun connection.
 
No, I don't think Philip Seymour Hoffman was ever a star in this sense. An astonishing actor, but not a leading man star. I remember a friend of mine pointing out that in the 70's Walter Matthau of all people was this kind of star. As was Dustin Hoffman.
 
But Powell seems to be in his "Risky Business" phase. Or maybe even before. He hasn't had his Top Gun. (See why I was avoiding the Cruise comparison?) Top Gun was more like his Taps or The Outsiders. Is he going to be Tom Cruise or is he going to be Rob Lowe? I'm trying to think of someone who was going to be The Next Big Deal that then totally fell off the map. For a minute that was probably going to be Robert Downey Jr.
 
To me the last Big Star that we've had (and yes, I know I'm picking guys) was Matt Damon. We don't have many (any?) traditional Leading Men anymore. Henry Cavil might be getting there. But he's kind of a weird case. None of the Chrises (Pratt, Pine, Evans) seem to be able to open a movie.
 
Mel Gibson is good example. He became known because of Road Warrior but when did he become a reliable Star? It seems he was there by the time they made Thunderdome. If not then shortly after.
 
Alien probably put Sigourney Weaver on the map, but by the time she returned for Aliens she was as more of the draw on her own than as being the returning star (survivor) of Alien.
 
 
Depends on how many and for how long.

Don't know if this should go here or in a score thread in the John Williams section proper.
 
But I put on the complete(ish) Return of the Jedi today. (Some sort of mish-mash of sources. I think it's probably one of the ABC editions.)
 
I don't know that there is another score, not even a Star Wars score, that takes me to THE first time that I saw a film the way Jedi does. I hear that intro of the Star Destroyer and Vader's approach as JW teases the Imperial March through the first minutes and I can feel the air conditioning and I can smell the popcorn. I can feel the summer heat when the doors open at the end. I can remember the cheers at the Fox and Lucasfilm logos, the hush during "A long time ago" and the cheers again at Star Wars.
 
The Jabba music in particular can make me "hear" the ambiance of a cinema.
 
We're film music nerds, and for many of us part of the appeal is re-experiencing a beloved film. But this isn't just the film, this is that exact DAY.
 
I wonder why this one?

Maybe because by then, after two films, you saw the pattern, knew the conventions, and as a kid, you were so hyped for the outcome to the ESB cliffhanger, your brain was recording the experience differently. 
 
Nevertheless I do agree with you, and you articulated it well.  It does capture the essence of the experience somehow. Whether that’s inherently the score (nature) or our childhood responses (nurture), I’m not sure. 

It has some of his best meat and potatoes underscore, or sneaking around music, that picture.

The initial shot of the Tydirium flying over the camera is underscored brilliantly.
The whole sequence is fantastic.

I don’t think it’s spotted as well. 
 
I don’t think the action music is as melodic. 
 
I don’t think the reuse of themes from the first film wins it points for ingenuity. 
 
I don’t think it’s associated with a film that’s as innovative or fresh as the first two acts. 
 
I don’t think the new concert worthy themes are as hummable or catchy as the previous ones. 
 
I do however think it takes a wonderful bronze medal.  (Or silver if the first two are tied)

Don't know if this should go here or in a score thread in the John Williams section proper.
 
But I put on the complete(ish) Return of the Jedi today. (Some sort of mish-mash of sources. I think it's probably one of the ABC editions.)
 
I don't know that there is another score, not even a Star Wars score, that takes me to THE first time that I saw a film the way Jedi does. I hear that intro of the Star Destroyer and Vader's approach as JW teases the Imperial March through the first minutes and I can feel the air conditioning and I can smell the popcorn. I can feel the summer heat when the doors open at the end. I can remember the cheers at the Fox and Lucasfilm logos, the hush during "A long time ago" and the cheers again at Star Wars.
 
The Jabba music in particular can make me "hear" the ambiance of a cinema.
 
We're film music nerds, and for many of us part of the appeal is re-experiencing a beloved film. But this isn't just the film, this is that exact DAY.
 
I wonder why this one?

What about the other Tom ... Mr Hanks? I regard him as a 'marquee name'. 

Eejit.

Alsop probably has her own agendum.

Don't know if this should go here or in a score thread in the John Williams section proper.
 
But I put on the complete(ish) Return of the Jedi today. (Some sort of mish-mash of sources. I think it's probably one of the ABC editions.)
 
I don't know that there is another score, not even a Star Wars score, that takes me to THE first time that I saw a film the way Jedi does. I hear that intro of the Star Destroyer and Vader's approach as JW teases the Imperial March through the first minutes and I can feel the air conditioning and I can smell the popcorn. I can feel the summer heat when the doors open at the end. I can remember the cheers at the Fox and Lucasfilm logos, the hush during "A long time ago" and the cheers again at Star Wars.
 
The Jabba music in particular can make me "hear" the ambiance of a cinema.
 
We're film music nerds, and for many of us part of the appeal is re-experiencing a beloved film. But this isn't just the film, this is that exact DAY.
 
I wonder why this one?

How about Thin Red Line?  Have you heard it?  It has a good reputation and I’m currently force feeding it to myself to decide if I want the LLL CD.  10 tracks in and I’m wondering why the good reputation. 
 
 
The one time Zimmer ever got my attention was in WW84.  The early scenes in the Mall were sort of jubilant heroic fun. 
 

Williams has it covered. Between Private Ryan, Schindler, Empire of the Sun, Midway, Indiana Jones, Amazing Stories - The Mission, None But the Brave, and yes 1941, he left no facet of the war unscored. 

Sail Barge Assault and Faking the Code are two of my favorite cues of all time.

Ah. It took me some time to see if "wtf are you kidding me" came out as positive or negative. (Positive, apparently.) Sometimes when I'm navel gazing and thinking "How would I make the Animated Series into live action?" I realize the I would know what the sets would look like, I'd know how the actors would act. But I would be utterly out of my depth with the cinematography.
 
Balance of Terror stands apart a little bit even in first season TOS. It's very moody. This was a great quote from X: "Early TOS was like noir in color."
 
 
Oh heavens, yes. I love SNW. It's my second favorite Star Trek. But when they went back to Balance of Terror they went with the common conception of "Kirk is a cowboy who shoots from the hip". (I have since come to adore Paul Wesley in other episodes.) HOW can you do that Kirk in the very episode that has him going full Hamlet with Bones? "What if I'm wrong?" He's never a cowboy. Although he does decide that the Romulan vessel has to be stopped.
 
I always say that the two sides of the Star Trek coin are Balance of Terror and The Corbomite Maneuver. Or put another way The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
 

Don't know if this should go here or in a score thread in the John Williams section proper.
 
But I put on the complete(ish) Return of the Jedi today. (Some sort of mish-mash of sources. I think it's probably one of the ABC editions.)
 
I don't know that there is another score, not even a Star Wars score, that takes me to THE first time that I saw a film the way Jedi does. I hear that intro of the Star Destroyer and Vader's approach as JW teases the Imperial March through the first minutes and I can feel the air conditioning and I can smell the popcorn. I can feel the summer heat when the doors open at the end. I can remember the cheers at the Fox and Lucasfilm logos, the hush during "A long time ago" and the cheers again at Star Wars.
 
The Jabba music in particular can make me "hear" the ambiance of a cinema.
 
We're film music nerds, and for many of us part of the appeal is re-experiencing a beloved film. But this isn't just the film, this is that exact DAY.
 
I wonder why this one?

Update: She was suitably dismayed. The "It's a peaceful life" meme was icing. So thank you, all!

Don't know if this should go here or in a score thread in the John Williams section proper.
 
But I put on the complete(ish) Return of the Jedi today. (Some sort of mish-mash of sources. I think it's probably one of the ABC editions.)
 
I don't know that there is another score, not even a Star Wars score, that takes me to THE first time that I saw a film the way Jedi does. I hear that intro of the Star Destroyer and Vader's approach as JW teases the Imperial March through the first minutes and I can feel the air conditioning and I can smell the popcorn. I can feel the summer heat when the doors open at the end. I can remember the cheers at the Fox and Lucasfilm logos, the hush during "A long time ago" and the cheers again at Star Wars.
 
The Jabba music in particular can make me "hear" the ambiance of a cinema.
 
We're film music nerds, and for many of us part of the appeal is re-experiencing a beloved film. But this isn't just the film, this is that exact DAY.
 
I wonder why this one?

Update: She was suitably dismayed. The "It's a peaceful life" meme was icing. So thank you, all!

Don't know if this should go here or in a score thread in the John Williams section proper.
 
But I put on the complete(ish) Return of the Jedi today. (Some sort of mish-mash of sources. I think it's probably one of the ABC editions.)
 
I don't know that there is another score, not even a Star Wars score, that takes me to THE first time that I saw a film the way Jedi does. I hear that intro of the Star Destroyer and Vader's approach as JW teases the Imperial March through the first minutes and I can feel the air conditioning and I can smell the popcorn. I can feel the summer heat when the doors open at the end. I can remember the cheers at the Fox and Lucasfilm logos, the hush during "A long time ago" and the cheers again at Star Wars.
 
The Jabba music in particular can make me "hear" the ambiance of a cinema.
 
We're film music nerds, and for many of us part of the appeal is re-experiencing a beloved film. But this isn't just the film, this is that exact DAY.
 
I wonder why this one?

Don't know if this should go here or in a score thread in the John Williams section proper.
 
But I put on the complete(ish) Return of the Jedi today. (Some sort of mish-mash of sources. I think it's probably one of the ABC editions.)
 
I don't know that there is another score, not even a Star Wars score, that takes me to THE first time that I saw a film the way Jedi does. I hear that intro of the Star Destroyer and Vader's approach as JW teases the Imperial March through the first minutes and I can feel the air conditioning and I can smell the popcorn. I can feel the summer heat when the doors open at the end. I can remember the cheers at the Fox and Lucasfilm logos, the hush during "A long time ago" and the cheers again at Star Wars.
 
The Jabba music in particular can make me "hear" the ambiance of a cinema.
 
We're film music nerds, and for many of us part of the appeal is re-experiencing a beloved film. But this isn't just the film, this is that exact DAY.
 
I wonder why this one?

Update: She was suitably dismayed. The "It's a peaceful life" meme was icing. So thank you, all!

Of the "You MUST love this score, especially if you love X:" Legend. Parts of it are great, sure. But nothing that I don't think I can't get from another Jerry score. OTOH, I don't NOT like it.
 

 
Thank heavens for Conan. It is a) not a score I encountered between the ages of 8 and 18 and b) it's a a movie that I don't like. And I still love the score.
 
I'm also really not that much of a fan of Star Wars 2, 3, 8, and 9. I mean, they're all great as far as it goes but there is little that makes me say "I want to listen to THIS today."
 
OTOH, I can't even imagine not liking E.T. Adventures on Earth?!?
 

Update: She was suitably dismayed. The "It's a peaceful life" meme was icing. So thank you, all!

So is early TNG, at times!

 
Rob Bowman in particular did a lot of cool angles and dramatic lighting, as director.
 
Oftentimes the writing in early TNG is very hit-or-miss, but the directing was actually far more interesting/striking than when the show "got good" (it become more homogenous and didn't swing for the fences directorially, as much).
 
Yavar