Jurassic Park

[Pieter Boelen 633]

After a period of inactiveness due to the release of Indiana Jones and myself being ridiculously busy with school, let's try resuming this series of polls.

Every few days I will post a thread on a random score from my collection that we can discuss and rate. I made a playlist on my computer with one track of each score I've got, so by using the random play option, I'll be able to post a truly random score each time. Hopefully this will allow us to discuss some scores that would otherwise never be discussed. Also we can record the rating so that we can create a full list of the ratings given to scores by JWFan.com.

Today's score is Jurassic Park by John Williams. Are you familiar with it? What do you like about it? What don't you like about it? How do do you think it works in the film? What are your favourite tracks?

So far JWFan has rated:

See Soundtrack Ratings by JWFan.com.

This web page contains the ratings from all my previous polls as well as those of Blumenkohl's.

Final ratings are converted to a 1-10 rating for both rating systems so that they can be compared.

[MSM 85]

Actually, I think John Williams is the best composer that ever lived. And I think JP is his best effort from the 1986-1996 period, which I regard his best period. So this album has the best music that has ever been written

Also this soundtrack is very special for me since it introduced me to the music of John Williams. Therefore, it has actually changed my life, since all my present musical activities have been influenced by John Williams.

[Quintus 5,391]

As it was the case for many, JP was the first time that film theme tunes became film scores, for me. It was my first purchased soundtrack and it introduced me to JW proper, so it will always be a classic as far as I'm concerned. It's regrettably ironic that JW has yet to better the score which began my love of his medium.

5 worthy stars.

[Pieter Boelen 633]

I'll go for 5 stars as well. Definitly brilliant stuff and also the first CD I ever bought. Funny how Jurassic Park marks the beginning of John Williams fandom for so many people.

[Marian Schedenig 5,520]

5 stars. It perfectly combines one of the most gorgeous themes ever written by Williams, a powerful fanfare, and some of Williams' best action writing. Brilliant orchestrations and a very good recording do the rest.

[Melange 446]

Great score. In the cinema, the Journey to the Island made your hair stand on end, High wire stunts had you on the edge of your seat, and that final music with the T-Rex when the 'when dinosaurs ruled the earth' banner flutters down from the ceiling as T-rex roars upwards and the sound seemed to shake the cinema seats, it made your hair stand on end too (there is a lot of hair standing on end here, it seems). Jurassic Park wasn't the beginning of Jw fandom for me, but it was certainly the spark that got me to actually getting about buying CD issues of that score, his previous scores I'd loved for many years, and also going back and buying the scores of other composers I'd enjoyed. Prior to that, I mostly owned the odd LP or Cassette of two or three film scores while enjoying so much movie music. Jurassic Park was the spark which set off the 'collecting' as such.

[MSM 85]

I'll go for 5 stars as well. Definitly brilliant stuff and also the first CD I ever bought. Funny how Jurassic Park marks the beginning of John Williams fandom for so many people.

It's now mostly our generation that hangs around here

[Elmo Lewis 6]

5 stars. It perfectly combines one of the most gorgeous themes ever written by Williams, a powerful fanfare, and some of Williams' best action writing. Brilliant orchestrations and a very good recording do the rest.

There you go.

[Quintus 5,391]

The way the brass sounds in this score is simply phenomenal, possibly rivalling that of E.T.

[Henry B 49]

3 stars. Some great music, but a lot of autopiloted music. I don't like the Pat Doyle rip. The main theme ("Theme from Jurassic Park") really rubs me the wrong way. Alexcremers once stated that it reminded him of men drinking; I tend to agree. It's like a college graduation song. It's too congratulatory.

[MrScratch 292]

4 Stars, I like this score but its not my favorite by Williams. The main themes are great. The action music is skillful but not among Williams' best, though it goes without saying its better than most other composers. I was 16 when Jurassic Park came out and though it certainly wasn't the score that introduced me to JW, it did come out right when I was rediscovering his classic scores and starting my interest in film scores. So it was an exciting release and, at the time, I viewed it as another Star Wars- or Superman-caliber score. In the years since, I don't consider it as great as I once did. It's not something I can listen to over and over again, like JWs true masterpieces.

Alexcremers once stated that it reminded him of men drinking; I tend to agree.

We should come up with some lyrics for such a drinking song!

[crocodile 6,294]

While it's probably a little bit inferior to other JW classics, it is one of those scores that turned me into a film music fan. And two main themes are great.

4.5 stars.

Karol

[Marian Schedenig 5,520]

There is not a single moment of autopilot music in JP.

[indy4 152]

4.5

"Journey to the Island" is one of the greatest cues ever written.

[JoeinAR 1,759]

5 stars, what else could you give this TRUE masterpiece, one of only 2 of the 90's, the other being Lost World.

This was the best score that year despite everyone erroneously thinking it was the lesser work known as SL.

[Maglorfin 195]

Easily a ***** stuff, also one of my JW's favourite scores and one of his overall finest works.

[Melange 446]

Alexcremers once stated that it reminded him of men drinking;

Well the American national anthem came from a British drinking song, so why break the habit?

[Romão 1,931]

Fantastic score, with some incredible lesser talked moments (Hatching Baby Raptor and Remembering Pettycoat Lane). The action writing is top notch, as good as the very best from Williams.

[Richard Penna 2,082]

5 stars, what else could you give this TRUE masterpiece, one of only 2 of the 90's, the other being Lost World.

This was the best score that year despite everyone erroneously thinking it was the lesser work known as SL.

Is it me, or does what Joe considers a masterpiece change from week to week?

5 stars from me. It contributed to the birth of my love for scores and works phenomenally well in the movie.

[Melange 446]

(Hatching Baby Raptor and Remembering Pettycoat Lane).

I remember Hatching Baby raptor mesmorised me in the cinema.

And the way it turned ominous as grant's mind was ticking over, was great.

Pettycoat lane is nice, but I think My Friend the Brachiosauras surpasses it for sheer beauty.

[Lurker 5]

Two stars from me. I've never been into this score. It just doesn't sound like the music for a thriller about dinosaurs running amok. I never play this album and the only time I ever hear this music is when I go to concerts.

Which reminds me, I heard it last night at the Golden State Pops concert. The suite seemed to play all of the key moments. If I remember my JP track titles and what I heard last night it: the main title, the end title, Journey to the Island, My Friend, The Brachiosaur and then back to the end title, without the T-Rex ending.

Anyway, even after that I still give it 2 stars.

Neil

[Marian Schedenig 5,520]

It just doesn't sound like the music for a thriller about dinosaurs running amok.

Only half of it does. Because only half of the movie is.

[Mr. Breathmask 480]

I wouldn't even call the movie a thriller.

This one easily deserves four stars.

I give it five because of its high nostalgia factor.

[Ollie 859]

I think I rated this at either 4.5 or 5 stars originally.

It's one of my favorites although I don't listen to it as much as I used to because i wore myself out on it.

[Red 73]

4.5

It is a great score, but not quite up there with Williams' masterpieces. It apparently means a lot to many people, but I've never grasped it in that way.

[Luke Skywalker 1,284]

It just doesn't sound like the music for a thriller about dinosaurs running amok.

Only half of it does. Because only half of the movie is.

And half ot it is not on the CD.

5 Stars, as others have stated, i could not give less to the score that introduced many people (the 90s generation) into film scores. It has great lyrical moments as well as action cues.

Thanks Mr. Williams

And lets hope it did not got burnt on the Universal fire.

[Koray Savas 2,095]

5, but it's probably more deserving of a 4 or 4.5

[Marian Schedenig 5,520]

I'm sure there are many scores I rate slightly better out of nostalgia or just because I "like" them. And both feelings could certainly be applied to JP, but I seriously think it deserves 5 stars no matter what. (4.5 maybe, but only if consequently limit the five-star rating to only a handful of scores).

[MSM 85]

Who gives it 2 stars is not being serious or should backup his choice

[Ollie 859]

It just doesn't sound like the music for a thriller about dinosaurs running amok.

Only half of it does. Because only half of the movie is.

And half ot it is not on the CD.

5 Stars, as others have stated, i could not give less to the score that introduced many people (the 90s generation) into film scores. It has great lyrical moments as well as action cues.

Thanks Mr. Williams

And lets hope it did not got burnt on the Universal fire.

There's not a whole lot of music left off the CD.

[Melange 446]

Only half of it does. Because only half of the movie is.

I agree. The idea was the characters being lured into a false sense of security, and the earlier music reflects that. A Disney park kind of scenario. Bright, Happy, Holiday, and Wonder. Then it all goes claws up, and even within the bright moments, there is a sense of impending trouble in the music. There are certainly 'cute' moments in the score which remind the listener of moments from E.T or something (my friend the Brachiosauras, for example) and perhaps do seem out of place at times in their 'cuteness'. But it's still great music. Overall I think the second film captured the dread mood of the original novel of Jurassic Park that I read before the first film came out. The first film didn't really capture the mood of the novel for me, even though I enjoyed the movie. I think they achieved more accuracy in regards to that with the second movie. And in some ways the first score was in people's face. Williams was lucky that the score was great, because he certainly didn't do 'modest' in that score. I believe criticisms went towards Williams score for the first Harry Potter movie by fans of the novels who found it far too "in yer face".

[Red 73]

Who gives it 2 stars is not being serious or should backup his choice

That would be sir Neil.

[Desplat13 1]

I certainly give this score 5 stars. The simplistic Jurassic Park theme works so well, combined with all of the complex, sometimes almost atonal music. It is so diatonic, and really works great as a contrast. Putting it among all of the modern, complex music is like putting humans in with heartless and cruel dinosaurs. It is a wonderful contrast in the score.

[Henry B 49]

Only half of it does. Because only half of the movie is.

I agree. The idea was the characters being lured into a false sense of security, and the earlier music reflects that. A Disney park kind of scenario. Bright, Happy, Holiday, and Wonder. Then it all goes claws up, and even within the bright moments, there is a sense of impending trouble in the music. There are certainly 'cute' moments in the score which remind the listener of moments from E.T or something (my friend the Brachiosauras, for example) and perhaps do seem out of place at times in their 'cuteness'. But it's still great music. Overall I think the second film captured the dread mood of the original novel of Jurassic Park that I read before the first film came out. The first film didn't really capture the mood of the novel for me, even though I enjoyed the movie. I think they achieved more accuracy in regards to that with the second movie. And in some ways the first score was in people's face. Williams was lucky that the score was great, because he certainly didn't do 'modest' in that score. I believe criticisms went towards Williams score for the first Harry Potter movie by fans of the novels who found it far too "in yer face".

I feel like the tone hardly changes. I haven't seen the film in a while, but doesn't the scene where Grant and the children hide in a tree and marvel at the brachiosauruses happen somewhere in the second act? There are lots of moments like these. The T-Rex rescue (tracked with "Journey to the Island" - awful!), the end credits... I feel like Spielberg completely missed with this film; he needed to ditch the persisting sense of childlike wonder, but he didn't. Williams just wrote the score the film deserved, so the score's mediocrity can sort of be blamed on Spielberg.

The Lost World is interesting. The score is much better, the film much worse. Williams tried to go in a different direction and got his score hacked up for his trouble.

[JoeinAR 1,759]

5 stars, what else could you give this TRUE masterpiece, one of only 2 of the 90's, the other being Lost World.

This was the best score that year despite everyone erroneously thinking it was the lesser work known as SL.

Is it me, or does what Joe considers a masterpiece change from week to week?

5 stars from me. It contributed to the birth of my love for scores and works phenomenally well in the movie.

its definately you because I am consistant. don't know about you though

[Luke Skywalker 1,284]

It just doesn't sound like the music for a thriller about dinosaurs running amok.

Only half of it does. Because only half of the movie is.

And half ot it is not on the CD.

5 Stars, as others have stated, i could not give less to the score that introduced many people (the 90s generation) into film scores. It has great lyrical moments as well as action cues.

Thanks Mr. Williams

And lets hope it did not got burnt on the Universal fire.

There's not a whole lot of music left off the CD.

If you read well, you will see i'm saying that half the action/thriller music is not on the CD.

Basically almost all missing music from the CD is that kind of music: The remaining opening sequence, T-Rex attack on the cars, Dennis driving the Jeep, T-Rex Chase... Even the mines-digging site music is somewhat ominous.

I would trade the alternate end credits for one of those....

[arathornion33 0]

One of Williams all time best. This is what got me going on film music in the first place, like so many others here. Just wish there was more on the CD...

[John Crichton 4]

4 stars

Journey to the Island is a rightly legendary cue and theme. The main theme is decent enough, and there are some really good action cues in there. It's just missing that extra "oomph" that kicks it up to the next level. If we must compare I'd take Schindler's List over JP.

[Williamsfan301 11]

Funny this came up...I was just watching the movie today.

I gave it 4 stars for two reasons. First, it marks a distinct change in "voice" for Williams - I can't put my finger on it, but he sound different here. And that sound has remained "different" since. Second, this seems to be the last time one of his scores doesn't get butchered in post production editing.

[Wesker 0]

First rate score by Williams.

For the people that don't quite "get" the love for it, it's simply because of the reason it's an introductory score for Williams for many people, myself included. I guess the same reason you don't get it is the same reason i don't get the love for the Indy films. It wasn't a childhood experience for me, thus I can only objectively view the films, without much of the much needed Spielberg sentiments that seem to make some of his films so special to kids.

Anyway, 5 full freakin' stars.

Looks like Journey to the Island may be the best thing he's written since 1993 in terms of a grandoise symphonic movement. Beethoven could of written the damn thing. It's that good.

[Lurker 5]

Who gives it 2 stars is not being serious or should backup his choice

Check out post #21 tough guy.

It's a boring score for a boring movie.

Neil

[Marian Schedenig 5,520]

First, it marks a distinct change in "voice" for Williams - I can't put my finger on it, but he sound different here. And that sound has remained "different" since.

The longer I know his music, the more I get the feeling that Williams' style has been constantly in flux at least from the 70s to the late 90s. Many scores have been cited as the introduction of his new xyz style, when in my opinion the scores before and after it are just one step behind or ahead in the overall development. But I do consider JP as a sort of turning point, more so than at least any other of Williams' "entertainment" scores from its time.

Second, this seems to be the last time one of his scores doesn't get butchered in post production editing.

It did get butchered on album though. The edits in the tracks work well, but the overall structure still seems rather confused. Probably the reason why it took me a long time to appreciate Raptor Attack and most of the action writing in general.

Also, this score is important for me as the work where I first consciously discovered the concept of counterpoint, a long time ago. I'd had the CD, and plenty of other Williams/non-Williams stuff, for a few years, and all of a sudden I noticed the counterpoint writing. Needless to say, the entire score took on a whole new form.

[King Mark 2,924]

First half of the album :5 stars .Some of his best themes

Second half of the album:3 stars (that's also when I noticed a "style change" in the action music from Williams) .Never really liked "Eye to Eye "and such cues.

Overall rating :4 stars

[Romão 1,931]

T-Rex Rescue is such a stunning track...I really don't understand why this track isn't as revered as other Williams action tracks.

[BurgaFlippinMan 7]

I would have given it 4...but Journey to the Island obtains a bonus .5 star...so 4.5 it is

[Williamsfan301 11]

Personally, I always thought JW sounded different after Herb Spencer passed away and he got different orchestrators.

But, that's just me

Yes, this album did get butchered in the soundtrack release. Frankly so did Crystal Skull...

[Docteur Qui 1,248]

I wouldn't say Crystal Skull is butchered. If you listen to it chronologically it works quite well!

[Quintus 5,391]

It's a boring score for a boring movie.

Neil

What a load of rubbish!

[Josh500 1,602]

T-Rex Rescue is such a stunning track...I really don't understand why this track isn't as revered as other Williams action tracks.

Yeah, I agree 100%.

The best action cues from Jurassic Park are among JW's very best . . . hell, among film music's very best, ever:

1. T-Rex Rescue & Finale

2. Incident at Isla Nublar

3. High-Wire Incident

Honorable Mentions: Eye to Eye, The Raptor Attack

Seriously, no 1 to 3 are better than some of the Star Wars action cues.

[Docteur Qui 1,248]

I'd put T-Rex Rescue (what a silly name... the rescue doesn't come till the last 30 seconds of a 9 minute cue...) at the top of any 90s-00s action cues. It's up there with the two Quidditch tracks from PS and PoA, and the action cues from The Lost World.

The album isn't very cohesive though - too many redundant and strangely placed tracks (end credits, I'm looking at you!). It doesn't flow particularly well.