crocodile 8,052 Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 The end of this year is almost upon us. There are still some things to be released this year, but, I think, we can slowly start to wrap things up.I am mostly referring to NEW scores written for 2010 films. That's because the status status of the re-released older stuff is already established and their glourious re-releases would just overshadow the new ones. Like it usually do. And this is not what's it's all about.So what would you say about this year's releases? Any surprises? Disappointments?I don't want to create lists, because this is not a contest. I'm just looking for opinions.Karol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 Did I even get any new scores this year?2010 was a pathetic year for new filmscores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Brigden 7 Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 Disappointed in Giacchino. Let Me In was pretty dull and generic.Not as wowed as I thought I'd be by Desplat's Potter, but it's still good.Somewhat surprised that Daft Punk have created the film score of the year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wojo 2,453 Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 I'll reserve judgment until I hear it. Until then, and most likely otherwise, that honor belongs to John Powell's How to Train Your Dragon. Hands down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,479 Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 WAYYYY too early for a thread like this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 It;s december... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,479 Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 There's 2010 scores that haven't even finished being written yet, yet alone scores that haven't come out on CD yet, for films that haven't been released to cinemas yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Breathmask 555 Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 It's december...Not for another two hours! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crocodile 8,052 Posted November 30, 2010 Author Share Posted November 30, 2010 There's 2010 scores that haven't even finished being written yet, yet alone scores that haven't come out on CD yet, for films that haven't been released to cinemas yetThat's why there is "start to wrap up" not "wrap up". It's more of a "2010 film music" thread in general.Karol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Crichton 4 Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 WAYYYY too early for a thread like thisWhich is why I'm holding off starting the 2nd annual Golden Mug awards until January. But it's coming, oh yes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Mark 3,631 Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 Let Me In by GiacchinoKick-Ass by a bunch of composers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scallenger 487 Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 Well for me HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON really was the surprise of the year! I thought it was okay the first time I heard it, but after seeing the movie, and listening to it again... it grew on me in a HUGE way and there was a period where I could not stop listening to it. Personal disappointment had to be HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS. Sure, it isn't bad, imo, and I liked it better after listening to it more, but it was still a disappointment from what I expected (and from that interview with Desplat that threw us all off).However, Jason is right. Year is not over yet. I am still very much looking forward to NARNIA: VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 David Arnold will need to use about 5% of his capacity to make his Narnia the BEST score of 2010. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crocodile 8,052 Posted November 30, 2010 Author Share Posted November 30, 2010 This might be true.I liked several scores from 2010, but the last one of these was released in April. There were others later, but not as enjoyable as those from the first quarter of the year.Karol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Mark 3,631 Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 I don't like How to Train your Dragon. It's bombastic alright but Powell is no top composer to meSounds liek Zimmer/RCP translated to full orchestra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koray Savas 2,251 Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 WAYYYY too early for a thread like thisWhich is why I'm holding off starting the 2nd annual Golden Mug awards until January. But it's coming, oh yes...What about the 3rd Annual JWFan awards? Does that have a surviving chance? Some of my favorites off the top of my head:How To Train Your DragonThe Last AirbenderKnight And DayWelcome To The RileysBlack SwanInceptionHarry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wojo 2,453 Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 How to Train your Dragon Sounds liek Zimmer/RCP translated to full orchestraSomeone needs to wipe the shit out of his ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koray Savas 2,251 Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 How To Train Your Dragon sounds like John Powell being awesome as usual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crocodile 8,052 Posted November 30, 2010 Author Share Posted November 30, 2010 My favourite scores:The Wolfman by Danny ElfmanThe Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus by Jeff Danna and Mychael DannaThe Ghost Writer by Alexandre DesplatCreation by Christopher YoungDaybreakers by Christopher GordonHow To Train Your Dragon by John PowellDisappointments:The Twilight Saga: Eclipse by Howard Shore. Not terrible, but not exciting either.Iron Man 2 by John Debney. It could have been fun, but it tries too hard to be too many things at once. And it fails miserably.Nanny McPhee and The Big Bang by James Newton Howard. Boooooring.The Last Airbender by James Newton HowardSalt by James Newton HowardPredators by John DebneyHonorable mentions:Alice In Wonderland by Danny Elfman. While a solid score and one of the best cues of the year (Alice's Theme) it's lacking something.Edge of Darkness by Howard ShoreHarry Potter and The Deathly Hallows by Alexandre Desplat. I enjoy it, but it's still not a winning league.Legend of the Guardians by David Hirschfelder. Not quite up there, but this is the closest you can get to the traditional big orchestral scoring of yesterday. Shades of JW are there.Let Me In by Michael GiacchinoArnold's Narnia score will probably end up in the third category. Fantasy films are not my cup of tea anymore.Karol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Mark 3,631 Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 I think John Powell a very average composer. Somewhat like that other guy I mix him up with...John OttmanI dissed Desplat for Harry Potter but he's a 10X better composer than Powell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koray Savas 2,251 Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 My favourite scores:The Wolfman by Danny ElfmanThe Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus by Jeff Danna and Mychael DannaThe Ghost Writer by Alexandre DesplatCreation by Christopher YoungDaybreakers by Christopher GordonHow To Train Your Dragon by John PowellDisappointments:The Twilight Saga: Eclipse by Howard Shore. Not terrible, but not exciting either.Iron Man 2 by John Debney. It could have been fun, but it tries too hard to be too many things at once. And it fails miserably.Nanny McPhee and The Big Bang by James Newton Howard. Boooooring.The Last Airbender by James Newton HowardSalt by James Newton HowardPredators by John DebneyHonorable mentions:Alice In Wonderland by Danny Elfman. While a solid score and one of the best cues of the year (Alice's Theme) it's lacking something.Edge of Darkness by Howard ShoreHarry Potter and The Deathly Hallows by Alexandre Desplat. I enjoy it, but it's still not a winning league.Legend of the Guardians by David Hirschfelder. Not quite up there, but this is the closest you can get to the traditional big orchestral scoring of yesterday. Shades of JW are there.Let Me In by Michael GiacchinoKarolYou just made me realize how many good ones I overlooked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crocodile 8,052 Posted November 30, 2010 Author Share Posted November 30, 2010 I dissed Desplat for Harry Potter but he's a 10X better composer than PowellI think few people would disagree.Karol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demondm810 399 Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 My favourite scores:The Wolfman by Danny ElfmanThe Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus by Jeff Danna and Mychael DannaThe Ghost Writer by Alexandre DesplatCreation by Christopher YoungDaybreakers by Christopher GordonHow To Train Your Dragon by John PowellDisappointments:The Twilight Saga: Eclipse by Howard Shore. Not terrible, but not exciting either.Iron Man 2 by John Debney. It could have been fun, but it tries too hard to be too many things at once. And it fails miserably.Nanny McPhee and The Big Bang by James Newton Howard. Boooooring.The Last Airbender by James Newton HowardSalt by James Newton HowardPredators by John DebneyHonorable mentions:Alice In Wonderland by Danny Elfman. While a solid score and one of the best cues of the year (Alice's Theme) it's lacking something.Edge of Darkness by Howard ShoreHarry Potter and The Deathly Hallows by Alexandre Desplat. I enjoy it, but it's still not a winning league.Legend of the Guardians by David Hirschfelder. Not quite up there, but this is the closest you can get to the traditional big orchestral scoring of yesterday. Shades of JW are there.Let Me In by Michael GiacchinoArnold's Narnia score will probably end up in the third category. Fantasy films are not my cup of tea anymore.KarolYou were disappointed by Last Airbender?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crocodile 8,052 Posted November 30, 2010 Author Share Posted November 30, 2010 I just feel JNH did better elsewhere.Karol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Mark 3,631 Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 The Suite is all you need from that score Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,949 Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 I really loved James Horner's Karate Kid.I didn't like Let Me in by the very up and down Giacchino, consistency is not his flair, nor did I care for Powell's Dragons, it was a great film and would have been better with at least a decent score which the one it has isn't.Creation by Christopher Young is good, I had to give it a listen cause I like Drag Me to Hell so much.I wanted to like Deathly Hallows more than I do, but I'm ok with it.I really really wanted to like Elfman's Wolfman, but I was not impressed. It's a shame. Course the film and all it's components were mostly a disaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crocodile 8,052 Posted December 1, 2010 Author Share Posted December 1, 2010 The Wolfman in the film is a complete disaster, I agree. But that has very little to do with the music on album.I haven't heard Karate Kid yet.Karol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indy4 155 Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 Of the 4 scores I bought this year, here is my ranking:1. The Last Airbender2. Inception3. Tangled*4. Deathly Hallows**I've barely listened to these two, so these rankings are far from final Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muad'Dib 1,802 Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 I like a lot Dragon, Knight and Day, The Ghost Writer, The Wolfman (I like Pope's version better, but both are great) and The Karate Kid.I was very very very dissapointed with Inception. After all the fuss it had from the fans and Zimmer himself, I expected something more, and I guess even Zimmer prefers his earlier ideas (the love story score) than the ones that ended up on film.And I'm not too sure what to think about DH1... I like it, but it lacks something. Maybe watching the film will help me appreciate the score more... Yeah, I haven't seen it yet. Never cared too much for the series. I read until the fifth book and saw until the third film (I saw the fourth one but I was never able to finish it). I don't know exactly why people like it so much... Oh well, to itch his own... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Crichton 4 Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 David Arnold will need to use about 5% of his capacity to make his Narnia the BEST score of 2010.I still need to fully hear Let Me In, but Arnold's definitely got a chance to be the top pick for me.Counting everything, the best new music I've heard this year were the final episodes of Lost and Final Fantasy XIII.WAYYYY too early for a thread like thisWhich is why I'm holding off starting the 2nd annual Golden Mug awards until January. But it's coming, oh yes...What about the 3rd Annual JWFan awards? Does that have a surviving chance? Nah. Maybe we can coordinate something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ST-321 4 Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 I was going to say David Shire had the top score for 2010, but I guess you mean the year and not the movie.Actually, I didn't buy any scores for new films this year, but rather older films & LOST. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miguel Andrade 1,267 Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 John Adams' I Am Love. Not even original music, but the only one I found of real interest on a new film this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TownerFan 4,991 Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 This year nothing sticked out prominently to my ears, but I must admit that I didn't listen to a lot of things--I'm losing interest in contemporary film scoring, as I find more difficult to be "in tune" with a lot of stuff (even with some of the most fan favourites here, like John Powell or James Newton Howard).I think Giacchino's Lost - Season Six is probably the best piece of film scoring I've heard this year (even though it's technically television scoring, but whatever). The guy knows his stuff and he can write heartfelt music. Christopher Gordon's Mao's Last Dancer and Daybreakers were two brilliant scores written by a real composer who has real chops at writing symphonic film music with broad strokes--a dying breed of film composers, sadly.The Ghost Writer is Alexandre Desplat's best 2010 score--Deathly Hallows is very good, but the score for Polanski's film is much more interesting.Elfman was a huge letdown for me this year--both Wolfman and Alice in Wonderland are far from being his greatest achievements--there are some very good things in both of them, but they lack the brilliant creative spark I expect from him. The last time I noticed it was in Serenada Schizophrana and Milk.I still have to listen to Goldenthal's The Tempest--he's another true composer who can write something really good and far from cliché, so I hope he will deliver.For all the rest, well, 2010 was kind of creative desert. That's not to say that there isn't some good or even great music written for films, but my view is that Hollywood nowadays is compressing composers' creativity into some very strict patterns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollie 1,069 Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 Lost - Season 6, Let Me In and Wolfman are the only scores that really caught my attention.I haven't had a chance to get the new HP yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koray Savas 2,251 Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 Maurizio, I suggest you check out Clint Mansell's Black Swan. Really wonderful stuff, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Penna 3,757 Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 nor did I care for Powell's Dragons, it was a great film and would have been better with at least a decent score which the one it has isn't.Why didn't you like it? It surprises me that people don't like this score as much as it surprises most that I don't like Star Wars."not my sound" is an acceptable answer. "It sucks" is not.Some of my favourites:HTTYD - An all out fantasy score with every theme you could want.Legend of the Guardians - I was pleasantly surprised by this. The command of the orchestra here is superb.Last Airbender - I think the orchestration in places is a bit dodgy and even amateurish, but it never bores me, and has a few of my most played cues. For those reasons alone it's a highlight of the year.Elfman's efforts (Terminator, Alice, Wolfman) were good but didn't hit the ball out of the park. No one else has really shone this year for me.I've found my LE purchases more interesting this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,698 Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 I'd have to say "The Social Network", simply because I have seen four films at the cinema this year, and this had the most interesting score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fommes 154 Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 The Ghostwriter sticks out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hlao-roo 389 Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 John Williams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Crichton 4 Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 I haven't had a chance to get the new HP yet.It's serviceable and sounds nice but there's nothing in there that's really going to blow you away, I don't think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,698 Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 Although I've only heard samples, "Tron: Legacy" could well be my score of 2010. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 75 Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 LOST: Season Six and The Last Episodes are easily the best new scores I've heard all year. It's been slim pickings for film scores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crocodile 8,052 Posted December 1, 2010 Author Share Posted December 1, 2010 Well, yes. I'm adding Lost 6 to my list as well. Forgot to do so earlier.Karol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,479 Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 Elfman's efforts (Terminator, Alice, Wolfman) were good but didn't hit the ball out of the park. No one else has really shone this year for me.Terminator Salvation was from 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wojo 2,453 Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 Elfman's efforts (Terminator, Alice, Wolfman) were good but didn't hit the ball out of the park. No one else has really shone this year for me.Why would you want your soccer ball hit out of the park? Doesn't that waste time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gkgyver 1,646 Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 The re-releases of this year threw a humongous shadow on 2010's newly borns.Purely by the number of scores that all had good to even great quality, I would think Elfman did best by far.I never understood why people drool all over "How To Train Your Dragon", so no.Iron Man 2 must be one of the major dissapointments of 2010.And I have to agree somewhat that David Arnold just might squeeze the best of 2010 in at the last minute.My personal favourites of 2010 are probably his Dawn Treader and Deathly Hallows (even though it fails as a Harry Potter score).A close third rank goes to Alice In Wonderland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paleo 63 Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 I like Deathly Hallows more and more. Actually quite enjoyable, and I think it grows on you after repeated listen. It's probably one of the most thematic scores of the year, and even though these themes might not be terribly memorable, and I dearly miss some of the old Williams themes (nobody ever mentions already existing themes for Dobby, several for Voldemort etc.) which might actually have fit in this movie (Hedwig's theme really doesn't so much, I think), I expect it to be my second choice of the year (after Dawn Treader). Prince of Persia is my no. 3; strange that it is completely overlooked by most. Yes, it's somewhat generic, and can't hide its ties to Remote Control, but it still is a rousing, thematically rich adventure/fantasy score. Other good entries were Alice in Wonderland, The Last Airbender (even though I agree with whoever said that it's enough to listen to the suite and that it's not one of JNH's best scores), and Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Overall, not a bad year for me. However, there were some truly ghastly scores too, and I'm a little concerned that the soundtrack style I favor might more and more disappear. Hope it doesn't... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Penna 3,757 Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 Elfman's efforts (Terminator, Alice, Wolfman) were good but didn't hit the ball out of the park. No one else has really shone this year for me.Why would you want your soccer ball hit out of the park? Doesn't that waste time?I use Americanizations all the time these days.And the soccer ball can be anywhere for all I care. I find football boring if it's not the world cup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musica42 0 Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 I'm going to agree that all in all the wide-release movies this year were pretty disappointing, particularly in the music department.Edge of Darkness - still can't get over John Corigliano's replacement, even for someone as great as Shore.Alice in Wonderland - liked the tracks that prominently featured the main theme but it, like the movie it accompanied, was a turgid messClash of the Titans - as rarely an epic mythology-based film comes out I was livid at how generic and unlistenable the score to this one wasRobin Hood - another film I excepted great things from, especially given the director, sadly another boring wash of musical wallpaperPrince of Persia - etcThe Twilight Saga: Eclipse - etcThe Sorcerer's Apprentice - etcBe it a wasted opportunity or a composer I respect not quite delivering, there just wasn't a lot this year that excited me.The only scores I've enjoyed this year are Last Airbender, HTTYD, Inception, Kick-Ass, and Dinner for Schmucks. And for me the only knock-out was HTTYD. Clearly I need to hunt down this Ghosterwriter score though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koray Savas 2,251 Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 I forgot about Dinner For Schmucks. That's a great one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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