A24

When reading this thread one thing becomes painfully obvious: the music of the Prequels fails to recruit new John Williams fans. ---------------- Alex Cremers

It would've been much more interesting if they showed us some Padméracing. ---------------- Alex Cremers - thanking Stefancos for the inspiration

Darth Maul and Qui-Gon duel in the desert: The music! The style and the movements of Ray Park. The surprising speed of the attack and fighting. The end shot of Darth Maul while he shuts off his lightsaber. The final typically chopped up duel between Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan and Darth Maul: Fantastic opening shot with the appearance of the Sith! Great menacing atmosphere all around! The style, the movements of Ray Park. The closing and opening of the energy doors! The waiting! Qui-Gon death! Obi-Wan's dramatic scream! McGregor's rage and determination to kill Maul! ---------------- Alex Cremers

You are very right to say those things. I was one of those who wanted TPM to be good. I felt like a child when I first saw Williams' video clip on MTV. It looked so promising!!! I came out of the cinema liking only two scenes. ---------------- Alex Cremers

As a matter of fact, I have not listen to it. Yes, I will wait for the genuine thing. I want the conditions of the "premiere" to be good. (You know I'm an audio nut). I read that many are somewhat disappointed by what they've already heard. I wish it were different. ---------------- Alex Cremers

So what? Some people like Battlefield Earth. It's a big world! There's always some crazy bloke who likes the unlikable. But unlike the prequels, there is no real consensus that says that Star Wars and Empire are the worst of the "saga". I find it worthy of notice that Star Wars freaks like Chris fail to see the value of valid arguments. There are some core matters, basic film principles in which the prequels fall short. I guess the prequels are made for the Star Wars freaks and not for movie fans in general. ---------------- Alex Cremers

This is no way to set an example, Stefancos. Piracy should not be fed. Soon, music as we know it, will be no more. What's unprofitable ceases to exist! We're going back to the times when we'll have to sit in the living room and hear a family member play the piano in order to enjoy music. ---------------- Alex Cremers

If critics praised it, they did it mostly for its visuals. Her career is in severe jeopardy, my friend. Don't forget, she a woman working in Hollywood. Her decline has already started. You should trust me more often. I know about these things. Are you a professional movie reviewer yourself? Have you ever even read a review of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow? Obviously not, since you said "if critics praised it. . . ." Please don't give us crap about how we should trust you if you aren't even going to validate why. ~Sturgis I'm not a "professional" reviewer but I somehow think like one. I know it sounds crap, but it's true. I cannot help myself. I don't have to look up reviews to know what they are saying. I'm sure that most (not all) reviewers critique the Law/Gwyneth chemistry in that film. But despair not, sometimes I'm wrong. I did not choose for this. It's a gift that has been given to me. Don't hate me for it. ---------------- Alex Cremers

I think his quality has improved. See latest Spielberg movies (no more Amistads, if you know what I mean) and even the third Potter, which is an improvement over the other two, especially in terms of originality.

I think he passed that period now.

Yes, absolutely, but saying that any amateur composer can write this sort of music is ... illusive. Alex McGregor

That's exactly what the fans wanna hear. How convenient for him and especially the fans to forget that with Star Wars and Empire he was hailed as a god. That's the reason why in 1983 a tear rolled down my eye when I sat in the theatre watching ROTJ. I spotted it immediately. Star Wars was no more. Which made them less cold and not so bland. Also, beneath the action, Star Wars and Empire created "myth". The prequels are only tearing it down. The article doesn't mention the great dialogue Yoda had in "Empire". I think Yoda's lines have entered the language more than "?Leave that to me,? ?You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.? A good article, Neil! ---------------- Alex Cremers

I don't think I will see this film a dozen times in the theatre. In fact, I know I won't! I will go see it, but only once, because I've made a promise to someone, a promise I cannot refuse.

Funny, I think it's accurate to say that I usually disagree with everyone who was recruited by Jurassic Park. ---------------- Alex Cremers

Everybody is talented at something, Stefancos. Let's just say that I have a well-trained eye for these things. ---------------- Alex Cremers

Like what?

Don't BS. It didn't even break even in the US. It was a box-office failure. And if critics praised it, they did it mostly for its visuals. Her career is in severe jeopardy, my friend. Don't forget, she a woman working in Hollywood. Here decline has already started. You should trust me more often. I know about these things. ---------------- Alex Cremers

That's why 12-note music is often referred to as atonal music. It's probably the most employed, most accepted and most widely spread form of atonality in the Western world.

Well, I thought they provided one the worst in film history. Historically bad, in fact! I wouldn't be surprised if Gwyneth's career is in jeopardy because of it.

agreed, just not for the cd player. That's not so important. The score should always serve the film.

Ah, Goldsmith's 'Planet of the Apes'. What a chemistry that brought forward! It's a time when people were more artistically open-minded, in stark contrast of the spoonfed entertainment wave we know now. ---------------- Alex Cremers

The look of the film was special indeed. The rest was not so special: overfamiliar music, bad casting of Gwyneth Paltrow - there was no chemistry between her and Jude Law, who I thought was pretty good as the 'Sky Captain', bad story, a poor script, bad climax, uninteresting direction of the characters. It was "interesting design" let down by almost everything else, especially a wrong leading lady, and boy was she wrong. Gwyneth should've switched roles with Angelina Jolie. Now these two, Angelina and Jude, had it "going on" instantly. I was glad when the movie ended. ---------------- Alex Cremers

It had a similar effect on me, pixie. I was dead sure the man at the end of the hallway was going to run away! But no!!!! The thing that really creeped me out is that they caught him (he turned himself in) before we got any climax. When the two cops were taking a leak, and Freeman told Pitt that he should expect anything from now on, I was truly short-circuiting. I could not figure out what the heck was going to happen in the next part of this movie. The drive sequence with a hand and footcuffed Spacey in the back was acutely nerve-wracking. ---------------- Alex Cremers

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow: 4/10

Composing is not the same as acting. I wouldn't compare those two. And who knows what Patrick Stewart likes or not. I think he really believed in Nemesis during the shooting of the film. After all, many actors don't know how a movie will turn out untill they see it in the theatre. Actors can only give their best and hope the result will be good in the end. However, you're right about Jaws 2, but that film came when he was at his creative peak. Any artist has a creative peak. Plus, I would rather do the soundtrack to Jaws 2 than to AOTC. I guess John saw the static & forced emotions of that film and sadly translated them to music. I completely understand if Williams didn't find himself very inspired by AOTC. I know I wouldn't be. BTW, who would love to write music when most of the time all you see is a green screen? Anyhow, that's exactly the reason why I want Williams to do new and other kind of movies, so that his genius gets provoked and challenged. When you write music as long as John has been doing your enthusiasm gets a little chilled. Remember, this is not the young and eager Williams conquering the movie world. And AOTC is not the right fuel to stir up the fire again. --------------- Alex Cremers