SeekUYoda

Well, I'm definitely a bit biased anyway, but ROTS has Anakin's Dark Deeds, so that's where my vote goes.

Williams' Top 5 Shining Achievements: 1. Binary Sunset 2. real ending of Anakin's Dark Deeds (how is it possible that this hasn't been on anyone's list yet?) 3. Asteroid Field 4. Pastorale from the horn concerto 5. The Motorcade from JFK

I haven't - not out of lack of interest, but because I just haven't had a spare minute in all of June. Really, I shouldn't even take the 10 seconds to post this either. But I will see the movie and probably buy it afterwards!

Funny you should mention Zaragoza - I've got a picture of their concert hall taped to my monitor! It's got to be once of the nicest halls in the world. I played there with an orchestra a couple years ago and it was really a delightful experience. Certainly the nicest hall I've ever been in - anywhere!

Anakin's Dark Deeds! (the complete film version) As for a complete film score, with hummability and strength of themes - Hook.

Definitely Across the Stars, but my ultimate favorite is Anakin's Dark Deeds (as it appears in the film, not the truncated version on the soundtrack.). I really don't like Duel of the Fates that much (!), and as just music (without any accompanying visual images) I find Across the Stars more moving than Battle of the Heroes.

Both these, and all the post-Immolation Scene music are what makes me saddest. Especially the ending of Anakin's Dark Deeds.

What about R2's periscope in the pile of battle droid parts? That made me laugh too. Favorite was Yoda & the guards though.

Yes, of course. The only time I've ever skipped the credits on a JW movie was The Patriot - it was about 4am and ...erm... nature.... But I've never gotten any grief from an usher about it, though! There are usually quite a few people listening when the films first come out. I imagine if I go see ROTS again in a couple months, I'll be one of about 4 people left at the end.

Back to Luke & Leia - I totally expected it there, and I thought it could have been really cool to end the film with the Luke & Leia theme. This is why I don't score Star Wars movies, though, because I like what Williams did better. The L&L theme is too happy for the birth scene the way it was intercut with the Vader-creation scene - it is a triumphant theme, and that moment isn't triumphant at all.

The last part of Anakin's Dark Deeds is "good" on the c.d.In the film it becomes one of Williams greatest moments...Soem parts of Anakin's Betrayal was cut out too. K.M. I didn't hear the score before I went into the film, and I was stunned by Anakin's Dark Deeds - that repeating motif when Obi-Wan is telling Padme what Anakin has done, and it keeps repeating and building as it cuts to Anakin on Mustafar - WOW. That sequence is magnificently scored and, IMO, Williams' best work in the last three SW films. I've now seen it 3 times. I like Battle of the Heroes more every time I hear it, but I just had to comment on how amazed I was by "Anakin's Dark Deeds." I bet if I'd heard it first by itself, I wouldn't have been as impressed - but when you put it together with the actions on the screen, it's really powerful. "Anakin's Dark Deeds"

As long as we're on this topic, what about Exar Kun? (in the EU, I think first appearing in Kevin J Anderson's "Jedi Academy Trilogy") And who was the dark Jedi that Yoda battled on Dagobah? Was he a Sith? Did he have a name? (a creation of Timothy Zahn, in "Vision of the Future" I think, but theoretically he died in the cave and that's why "domain of evil it is?")

Vader is referring to his conversation with Luke on Endor, where Luke tells Vader that there is still good in him and that the Emperor hasn't driven it (the good) from him fully. So when Vader says "you were right about me," he means "you were right that there was good in me." Lucas himself has said that Luke went over to the dark side at the end of ROTJ - that the thought of Vader harming Leia is what propels Luke out of hiding. So he went over to the dark side briefly, cut off Vader's hand, and realized that if he kept going on that path he'd wind up like Vader. He controlled it in the end (he stopped and threw away his lightsaber), but in throwing away his lightsaber renounced the dark side - he'd rather die than become like his father.

Give it a couple weeks or months - digital will still look great, but film will look worn out.

"A New Hope" from ROTS

Well, it would have been something...

Thanks for bringing that out - I'd never read that before. Cool!

Maybe he'll put him in the deleted scenes on the DVD? I was looking forward to hopefully seeing Qui-Gon again. Oh well.

Yeah.... what he said. Ever since Episode 1 I wanted to hear more of that theme!

I LOVED it. And I'm very glad I didn't hear the soundtrack or read any spoilers going in - it was such a cool experience to react to a Star Wars film on its own merits and my own opinions. I thought Tarkin was completely right - I knew it was him from the first little glimpse (don't you see him, then the camera goes to Vader, then it comes back to him as Vader approaches him?). That was very cool. I also thought Obi-Wan was fantastic - he did a fantastic job of developing his character from a hotheaded Padawan to one of the best of the Jedi - wise, cautious, and very reminiscent of Alec Guinness. Really, everything was excellent, except I kept getting upset when we got dragged off from one duel (and more importantly, its accompanying score) to another and back. I think he kind of lost momentum that way. I can see why it was necessary, but it kept annoying me! My favorite part (besides Yoda & the Royal Guards, of course!) came actually as Anakin was leaving Padme to go kill off the Trade Federation - it's not quite as powerful on the soundtrack, but the music underscoring that part really moved me. Not quite sure what it was about that part, but I kept thinking about it for the rest of the film. Some of his most brilliant writing - maybe ever? I was doing okay, tear-wise, until Luke's theme came in at the very end - perfect. And the binary sunset thing again with the same horn solo and the same everything as in Ep II and IV - also perfect. And on ET - the person I was watching it with leaned over and said "Who does he think he is, ET?"

What happened here? Did they not have him on? I had to leave for work 20 minutes before the show ended and I didn't think they still had time for him, but I put in a tape just in case. Was he on before that? Did I miss it?

They were all arranged by 3 members of the ensemble. And you'll be able to hear it in 2006 sometime - I'll keep everyone posted on release dates. The recording is scheduled for mid-June.

.... was performed this past weekend, April 30 & May 1. The Denver Brass, a 13-part professional brass ensemble (with percussion), performed: Summon the Heroes Jurassic Park Hymn To New England Scenes from Star Wars Forest Battle Jabba the Hutt Cantina Band Princess Leia Throne Room and Finale (Intermission) Music from E.T. “A Window to the Past” from Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban Theme from JFK Main Theme from The Lost World Raiders March from Raiders of the Lost Ark Saturday's performance was within 20 seats of selling out - Sunday's was also quite full. Both performances were held at Bethany Lutheran Church in Denver, CO. The audience was very appreciative and seemed to have a lot of fun - the musicians definitely had a good time, especially me! Stay tuned for more details on The Denver Brass' recording sessions in June - with Klavier Records, a CD of exclusively John Williams' music for brass... should be fun!

I'll wait, and buy the soundtrack on the way from the screening at my local 24-hour Wal-Mart. Then I'll probably stay up all night listening to it over and over.

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