Naïve Old Fart

Another interesting one comes to mind. THE TOWERING INFERNO was called INFERNO IN FLAMES over here. As in, are there any non-flame infernos out there?

This most recent update may not be completely finished yet - For a few days, the site read "maintenance mode is on" and nothing could be accessed.

"Holy Americana, Batman!" 
 
 
While I don't think that SAVING PRIVATE RYAN is up there with, say, PATTON, or THE GRAND ILLUSION, or ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT as a great war film, it is a great film, and it deserved to be named Best Picture at the 1999 Oscars, instead of that Shakespeare bollocks.
The score is among JW's most restrained works. It would be so easy to score the battle scenes, but SS and JW were wise to go in the opposite direction.
If I had my way, 'Hymn To The Fallen' would be played at every Remembrance Day service, the world over.

The new website looks amazing! http://jameshorner-filmmusic.com

Se7en. Bit rainy today in the UK so this fits the bill "nicely". I am always amused just how misleading the first (unused) cue is.
 
Karol

I guess he's singing along with this version:
 
 

"Holy Americana, Batman!" 
 
 
While I don't think that SAVING PRIVATE RYAN is up there with, say, PATTON, or THE GRAND ILLUSION, or ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT as a great war film, it is a great film, and it deserved to be named Best Picture at the 1999 Oscars, instead of that Shakespeare bollocks.
The score is among JW's most restrained works. It would be so easy to score the battle scenes, but SS and JW were wise to go in the opposite direction.
If I had my way, 'Hymn To The Fallen' would be played at every Remembrance Day service, the world over.

The film and score are so masterful and deeply moving, this sequence always brings me to tears.  This film exemplifies two masters of their medium at the pinnacle of their craft.  Sublime, mature, rich, complex, efficient, and ultimately deeply moving.  This is from a moment in the film where so much is happening subtextually.  A masterpiece of film making, scoring, and storytelling.  
 
 
The film never scores the action, only the subtext or inner thoughts of the characters.  Something Spielberg and Williams hinted at in all their prior collaborations but here it is in full display.
 
A few reasons why this film hits me so hard - I think it was 2014, I was flying back from Baltimore, Maryland, after performing there.  That was after a wonderful experience performing with Marin Alsop and the amazing musicians and friends in the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.  Since I had to fly with my trombone in a seat without it blocking any passengers in case there was an evacuation, I was boarded first and in the front row. Next were a group of 20 senior citizens that were all part of the Honor Flight Network (a non-profit organization whose mission is to transport Veterans to Washington DC to visit memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice). This was one of the most enjoyable flights I had ever taken making the five-hour flight feel like only 30 minutes it was over so quick.
 
The man sitting next to me was known as the “kid” because he was the youngest one at 87. He was a rear gunner on a B-17 bomber. I told him I was a pilot which excited him as we began talking about what he saw and experienced flying dozens of dangerous missions, the fright of the Luftwaffe, friends he lost, and the incredible randomness of great tragedies. He almost started tearing up recalling a routine mission with several of his friends where all on board died because the plane simply flew into a mountain. I could feel the cold, noise, smell, fear, cramping, claustrophobia inside the rear and belly turret of these long missions over enemy terrain. He said the introduction of the P-51 Mustang was a game changer because they would now have armed escorts on their dangerous missions who were as agile (probably more so) as the Luftwaffe. They frequently didn't even know what happened to their friends. After difficult missions, they simply returned and noticed airplanes missing or bunks unoccupied. No word of what happened to their friends...are they now POW? Did the plane ditch in the sea? Were there any survivors? They had no easy answers. How terrifying it must have been to fly these missions before the P-51 where it must have felt like they were a large sitting duck! Now at least, they had a chance.
 
Halfway through the flight, many of these men had to go the bathroom so my front row chair became a rotating door of great stories from these incredible veterans. One consistent story I heard was how much they all revered one of the passengers on the flight above all else. Finally, he made his way to the front row seat awaiting the bathroom.
 
When he sat next to me, we started talking and I saw his cap "101st Airborne Screaming Eagles" Infantry division. My jaw dropped. He was a paratrooper on D-Day who jumped from a glider behind enemy lines in the middle of the night during the Invasion of D-Day. Against incredibly bad odds, he survived the battle telling me that night, he lost half his company. Just imagine, in a 24-hour period losing one out of two people you trained and bonded with.  These guys were around 17 to 22 years old at that time and I couldn't believe I was looking them directly in their eyes hearing them recount these horrific experiences firsthand.  This scene from Saving Private Ryan, the 101st is crossing paths with Captain Miller's (Tom Hanks) character as they look through the dog tags of paratroopers killed.  I met those men.  
 
It was incredibly humbling to meet these true heroes and I was reminded of them each time I see this film. I will never forget meeting them and hearing their stories firsthand. 
 

It is North's best.

My favorite Indiana Jones movie.  I had the foldout poster magazine, I had the Marvel adaptation, and I got the collectors edition movie program when I saw it opening day.  Here are the original newspaper clippings I've saved from over the years (there's some Raiders in there too)
 

 
I remember my sister had a job at the local (brand new) multiplex theater, so she saw everything back then.  She hated the stuff I was into, mostly Spielberg and Lucas stuff.  I remember opening up the poster mag to the gatefold image of Indy on the rope bridge surrounded on both sides, and even my sister admitted "Yeah, I gotta admit that was pretty cool".  High praise from her back then.
 
I wear a fedora daily.  It is based on Temple of Doom style, and has an image of the 3 Sankara stones inside the sweatband, with the inscription "Fortune and Glory"
 
I'll watch it again.

Not familiar with him, but I've heard the name. I think he's either Danish or of Danish origins (and I'm too lazy to google).

Gorfaine & Schwartz, his agents.

Why do you do it to yourself? 

All the Mozart symphonies by Adam Fischer. I bow down to him and the wallet will be opened very shortly.

We sang that years ago in our very first concert with our current choir director:
 
Some spots in it remind me of Morricone, actually. I've never heard anything else by Lauridsen though.

Varese. And since I don't know anything by Varese, I have no idea if her comment makes sense.

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

Yeah it’s something about Planet of the Apes being ripped off from Stravinsky which shows an astonishing lack of knowledge of Planet of the Apes and Stravinsky…

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

I love Alex North. My favorite score from him is A Streetcar Named Desire, and I'm not even a jazz fan!
 
Also really like The Agony and the Ecstasy, Cleopatra, Spartacus, Dragonslayer...

I love it dearly but for me The Agony and the Ecstasy takes that title. 😀
 
Karol

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

Berlin? Twice in... what... two years?
And when was the last time you were in London, Mr. Williams?
I'll tell you: July 4th, 1998 (!). I know, I was there! 

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