Tom 4,640 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 12 minutes ago, Bill said: Variety updated their review http://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/the-bfg-review-steven-spielberg-1201774476/ Sounds like maybe, like TFA, the score is very good but the themes may not be considered very memorable by the general public. Or at least for this sequence. The days of instantly memorable themes seem to be over (if they ever really existed), but I would bet on a very strong theme for Sophie. Then again, I find Rey's theme exceedingly memorable, but even film score enthusiasts seem to have difficulty remembering it. Once 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Mr. Big 4,639 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 Quote Certainly the actors are more of a pleasure to listen to than the miles of melodic whimsy concocted by John Williams, playing relentlessly over scenes that might have benefited from more of the eerie silence of what both book and movie refer to as “the witching hour.” Holy shit! I can't wait! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loert 2,510 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 33 minutes ago, Bill said: Variety updated their review http://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/the-bfg-review-steven-spielberg-1201774476/ Sounds like maybe, like TFA, the score is very good but the themes may not be considered very memorable by the general public. I read that as saying that the music in that sequence (at least? or are they talking about the entire movie here?) is more coloristic and less thematically-driven. The fact that they used the word "relying" seems to suggest that Williams was able to write something that doesn't have a clear theme/melody but which the audience would've still found "memorable". So I read it as a positive thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romão 2,274 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 God forbid a movie has scenes that are music driven these days... crumbs 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Mr. Big 4,639 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 Critics' tastes have been spoiled by the foul noodling of Trent Reznor and co. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbellamy 6,272 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 Overscored fantasy/adventure usually turns out to be a good thing for us when it comes to John Williams. His approach will always have critics wishing for a little less noise but it's gotten him this far. crumbs 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricard 2,243 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 26 minutes ago, Tom said: The days of instantly memorable themes seem to be over (if they ever really existed) ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 A bit more info on the musical idiom used is required. I hope it's not just more Potter whimsy. We have fucking enough of that. Loert 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 4,640 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 44 minutes ago, Ricard said: ? Well, I suppose it depends on what we mean by "memorable to the general public after one viewing of a film" (the context in which I made the comment). Back in the early 80s, my friends could never have remembered a melody after seeing a film for the first time (maybe Jaws was the exception in the 70s). I remember seeing TWOK and instantly knowing the music, but my friends after multiple viewings could not identify the music even when it appeared on a tv segment we were watching. I think what we know think of as memorable to the public at large is due to long-term exposure. Star Wars fans who have lived with the movie for 5 months now can easily recognize the new themes, but the majority probably could not after seeing the movie the first time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Mark 3,626 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 Took me a while to remember the TFA themes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricard 2,243 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 20 minutes ago, Tom said: Well, I suppose it depends on what we mean by "memorable to the general public after one viewing of a film" (the context in which I made the comment). Back in the early 80s, my friends could never have remembered a melody after seeing a film for the first time (maybe Jaws was the exception in the 70s). The main theme from Jaws, Star Wars, CE3K five notes, Superman, The Imperial March, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and E.T. were all instantly memorable to the general public. crumbs and JoeinAR 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 Indeed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 4,640 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 5 minutes ago, Ricard said: The main theme from Jaws, Star Wars, CE3K five notes, Superman, The Imperial March, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and E.T. were all instantly memorable to the general public. not my friends (but, I am willing to admit they may have been idiots). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 2,833 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 When was the last time a composer wrote a genuinely memorable theme? A theme that the "general public", not just film score enthusiasts would consider "memorable". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Romão 2,274 Posted May 14, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted May 14, 2016 I always find the discussion about how recognizable by the larger public a theme is totally irrelevant to its quality. DarthDementous, Not Mr. Big and Loert 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artguy360 1,843 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 I don't really trust general film reviews for comments on any score. Of course my own listen/viewing will tell me the most, but outside of that, album reviews and other film music enthusiasts offer more than general film reviews. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricard 2,243 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 8 minutes ago, Romão said: I always find the discussion about how recognizable by the larger public a theme is totally irrelevant to its quality. That's pretty obvious isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romão 2,274 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 So it really isn't a discussion worth having. I much prefer great melodies to instant earworms Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricard 2,243 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 1 minute ago, Romão said: So it really isn't a discussion worth having OK... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 15 minutes ago, alextrombone94 said: When was the last time a composer wrote a genuinely memorable theme? A theme that the "general public", not just film score enthusiasts would consider "memorable". Hans Zimmer, Pirates Of The Caribbean Once 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,949 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 25 minutes ago, Ricard said: The main theme from Jaws, Star Wars, CE3K five notes, Superman, The Imperial March, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and E.T. were all instantly memorable to the general public. Totally agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 4,640 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 So the question, then, is what do we mean by "instantly memorable." I guarantee the majority of people could not have hummed the melody of, say, ET, after one viewing (and no other exposure to the music). Some could, but not a majority. (Again, I was there). Are you simply saying that they could have identified a piece as from SW or IJ later in the day? If so, many composers, including Williams, still produce music of this sort. If it is neither of the above, what is the criterion in question? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbellamy 6,272 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 3/5 review from The Independent calls the score "rousing." Also it's one of a few reviews I've seen that compares the film in spirit to Powell/Pressburger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,949 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 Perhaps you can't. Perhaps you lack the ability many of us have. Some of us hear and instantly remember. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 4,640 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 1 minute ago, JoeinAR said: Perhaps you can't. Perhaps you lack the ability many of us have. Some of us hear and instantly remember. Well of course some can: my (clearly stated) point is that the majority never did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,949 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 I think it's a more common ability than you realize. It is certainly common among the group here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joni Wiljami 1,206 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,949 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 your ear may be brilliant but your memory might be shitty. who knows. I cannot play music on any instrument yet I can remember music in my head, Its seems rather simple to me. Ricard 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joni Wiljami 1,206 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,949 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 well you were rather dismissive of what i said, don't be so hurt as I was not trying to hurt your feelings. You're mistaking musical ability versus memory. It not that same. At least that's how I read what you're saying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crumbs 14,304 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 So how about that BFG score, hey... Cerebral Cortex 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mrbellamy 6,272 Posted May 14, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted May 14, 2016 You've heard it?? 3 hours ago, Tom said: So the question, then, is what do we mean by "instantly memorable." I guarantee the majority of people could not have hummed the melody of, say, ET, after one viewing (and no other exposure to the music). Some could, but not a majority. (Again, I was there). Are you simply saying that they could have identified a piece as from SW or IJ later in the day? If so, many composers, including Williams, still produce music of this sort. If it is neither of the above, what is the criterion in question? It is an interesting question, kinda comes down to how stuff gets popular in general.....this whole discussion may have more to do with "immediate impressions" than "instant memorability." I think the argument of whether or not everybody could hum a Williams theme on command the day after seeing the film once and never listening to the soundtrack is kinda missing the point. What makes Williams or any composer special is that regardless of whether or not we can whistle the tunes right away, the music sticks on us while we're listening/watching and we finish going "Wow, that music was GREAT!" The important thing is that he made millions of people want to listen over and over again so that they could memorize the music. To me memorability is not as much about literally being able to remember something note for note after just one listen or viewing, but just recognizing that it has some kind of power on you and makes a strong impression. And then when you listen again it keeps giving you a buzz and you inevitably remember more and more. But it has to compel you to go back in the first place. Not Mr. Big, Loert and Pieter Boelen 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,949 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 how does one remember the score from say the River without seeing the film but one time and not having the album? really good score btw, the music gets played on tv often during golf tournements or did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Loert 2,510 Posted May 14, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted May 14, 2016 Billy Connolly has the answer to everything : OK, maybe the "You only remember music if it's bad" line is quite harsh! But I do sort of agree with the general premise, which is that good film music makes you easily recollect what is depicted on screen. And this is the main reason why I love John Williams - it's not because he writes pretty melodies, but it's because he's so good at "getting" the film and fitting music to what's happening on screen AND whatever he writes, it's skillfully and intelligently crafted, irrespective of what musical style it is in, or whether it has a melody. When I listen to the opening of ROTLA, I feel like I'm navigating the jungle, I can sense the danger posed by traps. When I listen to Journey to the Island, I can see the helicopter, I can sense the dinosaurs' presence. Basically, when I listen to Williams' music, I am immediately transported into the film, whatever the music may be. So to me, judging film music by its "musical memorability" or "hummability" is totally missing the point. That's not my idea of what film music is supposed to do. If it has a melody, that's cool I guess. But film doesn't always need a pretty theme or melody...whereas sometimes it works better if it does. I guess, what a pretty melody does is simply make it easy to recall the music. But that's NOT my idea of what film music is required to do. And I don't judge film music (or in fact any music) based on how easy it is to hum or sing the melody. Because, most of the time, that's not the aim of the music. So I am stoked for BFG, whether it has melody, themes, no melody, or twelve-tone...the more music Williams can fit into the film, the merrier! JoeinAR, Not Mr. Big, Jay and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 I might have just found a bit of the score!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (or maybe not) Does anyone recognize the background music in that video from anywhere? Or is it safe to say it's new? It certainly sounds like it could be Williams, but it's hard to be sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Mr. Big 4,639 Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 Sounds like Williams. I think this is the real deal! Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete 906 Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 I concur! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbellamy 6,272 Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 Yep, I think so! Reminds me a lot of Lincoln. Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 14 minutes ago, mrbellamy said: Yep, I think so! Reminds me a lot of Lincoln. Yes! That's actually the first thing I thought when I heard the solo piano melody. Above is the full video of the BFG red carpet. Pop music and such is played until about 5:22, when it switches to "Carnival of the Animals" by Camille Saint-Saëns until about 6:07. Then the possible Williams music begins and continues until 12:49. It's not Carnival of the Animals, right? I clicked to a few points on that composition on YouTube, and none of them sounded like the possible Williams bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Mr. Big 4,639 Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 Hmm, the context of the other pieces sheds some doubt on it being Williams music. Has anybody tried Shazaaming it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 8 minutes ago, Not Mr. Big said: Hmm, the context of the other pieces sheds some doubt on it being Williams music. Yes, it does, if it was the only piece they played I think I'd be a lot more confident in it being Williams. Seems strange that they'd just drop in a score cue in the middle of all that other stuff. Also, the possible Williams bit is very repetitive. Is it looping, or does the thing just meander along for almost 7 minutes? In any case, it is a beautiful emotional melody, no matter who wrote it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Mr. Big 4,639 Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 2 minutes ago, Bill said: In any case, it is a beautiful emotional melody, no matter who wrote it. Yeah. Even if it's not Williams, I'll check it out later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 Well, I'm exiting the forums for the night, it's certainly been a fun day! Nothing like the premiere of a Williams score and Spielberg movie and reading the reviews. Hopefully by tomorrow we'll know whether the unknown bit is Williams (and hopefully it is!) Cerebral Cortex 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artguy360 1,843 Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 It's a nice gentle melody but too difficult to hear to decide if it is JW or not. I'm gonna go with no and say its just some random melody they threw in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mrbellamy 6,272 Posted May 15, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted May 15, 2016 Lots more music here too! I mean, yeah, this is him. Same theme from the other video! crumbs, Loert, nightscape94 and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artguy360 1,843 Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 Now that sounds a lot more like JW. I'm glad the audio is much clearer too. Sounds very whimsical. But I'm just not sure how "memorable" it is........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus 390 Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 Sounds delightful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandor 796 Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 I think it's a beautiful theme..! Greatly looking forward to this score..! JacksonElmore 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Mr. Big 4,639 Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 So far,I love the Hook-ish statement of the main theme that starts at 11:05 but don't really care for the Mickey-Mousing that follows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbellamy 6,272 Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 Yeah, I agree, hope there's not too much of that. Not Mr. Big 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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