Maestro

Memorability of a theme is nice, but nothing to rest your hat on. I voted James Newton Howard simply because he is so versatile and so wonderful. I believe his score for Signs is brilliant from the opening titles to the absolutely gorgeous climax at the end of the film. And from really listenable (and well-serving) scores from The Fugitive to the Emperor's Club - I look forward to each new movie he's assigned to. I have to say, though, that I love Hans Zimmer. I'm not sure what the big beef is about him personally. His Gladiator and Last Samurai scores are in my top 10 - and I'm a purist. Not some popcorn-scarfing, Avril Lavigne-loving pop culture teenager who shallowly whistles the catchy tunes that get stuck in my acorn-sized brain. I love film scores and I love John Williams, and Zimmer has what it takes to be the best of the best when it's all said and done. If you're going to complain about someone continually and unashamedly borrowing from their own offensively bathos work, point the criticism at Horner where it belongs.

For once, I would love for any of those scores to win. This is a pleasant surprise.

The special they did on Tom Brokaw, which showed all of the things he's reported over the decades, utilized several Williams pieces - most memorably the theme from Born on the Fourth of July.

The Nazis were portrayed as they were to fit the Saturday afternoon matinee genre of film that Indiana Jones was meant to be by Spielberg all along - not a dramatic, graphically realistic representation of the real historical events surrounding their prominence. This is the funniest, best cast, best scored, and most enjoyable of the IJ trilogy, and its shame people have to nit-pick it tirelessly instead of just enjoying it.

A.I. - and not because it is some intelligent/metaphorical commentary on the future of robots or machines taking over the human race, but because it is the most poignant, bittersweet reunion between a mother and her son. The son who had been through hell just so he could be loved. And in the end, he was. So he finally went to sleep. I pity those who don't find this beautiful. At least my friend John Williams does.

C'mon, this movie was great! Harrison Ford is wonderful for the role, and the chemistry is very effective. Greg Kinnear is, as always, very entertaining. Williams' score is perfect for the purpose it needs to serve - even if it is a little breezy and unmemorable except for the theme. Stanley and Iris is much less listenable to me than Sabrina.

"Reunion and Finale" from A.I. by John Williams

But John Williams is immortal, so this conversation is purely fanciful hypothesis.

I think Williams is capable of producing two amazing scores, REGARDLESS of the tight schedule. Why does more time automatically mean better scores? Do we not trust him?

I, like Justin, have a soul. And that line is emotionally satisfying to me. I'm in all agreement about "I am no man", however.

Let's just try to forget that John ever wasted his time on these movies and move on.

This movie was entertaining. The visuals were unbelievable. It was extremely clever. BUT... What seems to be missing from the last three Pixar films is humor. It wasn't that funny. It had a few laughs, but for the most part it was only just clever. Finding Nemo was also visually impressive, but it wasn't funny at all. I know a lot of people would disagree, but the style of humor just wasn't up to par with the Toy Story's and A Bug's Life - because those make me laugh. A good movie, but not funny. I miss Buzz and Woody. And I will always hate Finding Nemo because it got on my nerves. When those responsible for character's voices are annoying, the movie suffers....and I HATE Ellen Degeneres. It's sad when the only laugh a movie gets is when a bird floating on the ocean farts. There's my two cents.

God has everything to do with it.

National Treasure looks like Joel Schumaker took a dump in a film reel and tried to pass if off as an actual movie. Couldn't he make more movies that are based on theme park rides? Those are great!

This is the first CD I ever owned. Some lady from my church just gave it to me one day. What a gift. What a blessed conception for a born-again John Williams disciple.

Thank you John for not wasting any more of your precious time on these pathetic films.

bd I tried emailing you about the link, but it said "no user specified" so I don't think it got sent. But I would really like to hear it, so please email it to me or get a hold of me. I would be forever grateful. Maestro

How would I go about getting a hold of these recordings?

Hey all. It will not be possible for me to hear the internet broadcast of the Soundings concert live, and the local PBS station isn't broadcasting the show. Is there any possible way I can get a recording of this? Will the sites offering it live offer it after it's over? Is anyone here going to record it? I really, REALLY want to see or hear this, so any information or help would be most appreciated. Maestro

I love the military-style percussion in "Hymn to the Fallen" and the JFK theme. And I think it's already been eluded to, but the delicious cymbal action in "The Land Race" from Far and Away just about makes my heart explode...in a good way.

Okay, I know I love John Williams way more than any other composer, so maybe I'm a little bit biased. Okay, I know I am. But I believe my "bias" is founded on solid ground. And, in my opinion, John Williams is the absolute best at maintaining his own unique and recognizable style WITHOUT copying himself. I mean, you hear a string of notes every once in a while that reminds you of something else, but rarely if EVER is there a direct and blatant copy of his own theme or work. He is the most creative, innovative, constantly changing composer I know of. This article, although intended to be humorous and lighthearted, is stupid and shows how little this moron actually knows about John Williams. Maybe they meant James Horner...

Pretty much the entire film Empire of the Sun is a powerful and emotion combination of music and image. Especially, though, the scene where Jim sees the plane flying by and he starts jumping up and down excitedly - that is awesome. Also, when Jim is trying to resuscitate his Japanese friend and is saying "I can bring everyone back" - that scene is an emotional punch in the face. In a good way, of course. The biggest one though, for me (being a die-hard A.I. fan) is the Reunion scene at the end. When David finally sees his mother again and John's gorgeous piano lullabye plays against David playing and sharing time with his mother for the last time - one of the only things that can make me cry. And when it all swells to a climax as David closes his eyes and "goes to the place where dreams are born," there just isn't word to describe how I feel. So there's my two cents worth.

Granted everyone is entitled to their own opinion, especially when it comes to music and more specifically, film scores. But to say that James Newton Howard's score for "Signs" is bland or any other insult for that matter is just plain ignorant. John Williams is my all-time favorite composer, hands down, but "Signs" has earned its way into being one of my favorite scores of all time. If you don't own it, buy it. Maybe you just remember the repetitive three-note motif, which is fine. Personally, I think it works brilliantly the way it's used. But there is a depth to that score that is so rare. There is some truly, truly beautiful music, particularly the asthma attack scene and the ending. There is great action, suspense music. And the opening credits would make Bernard Herrmann jealous! You can insult me. You can even insult my mother. But don't you ever, ever insult the soundtrack from "Signs."

On a tangent - has anyone else noticed a piece of the Prologue from "Hook" in the trailer for the new animated Sinbad movie? The movie looks dumb, but I was glad to hear a snippet from one of William's best scores in a theatre. Maestro - who doesn't understand why people on this board don't love Empire of the Sun as much as he does.

Okay, call me ignorant, but I'm not aware of how to isolate the score on a DVD. Does it depend on the DVD or the DVD player or what? There are several movies in which I would like to be able to listen to parts of the soundtrack that aren't included in the score, or that I don't have the score for. Any information would be helpful. Maestro