JacksonElmore 69 Posted July 12, 2016 Share Posted July 12, 2016 Being that this is the first Star Wars score that will not be composed by Williams, What do people think about the decision of having Desplat do it? I never really got into him until recently, mostly "imitation game," "danish Girl," and "unbroken." The man definitely has talent but... Star Wars talent? Maybe he'll pull some great themes out of his ass but what I'v observed is that he excels in more "thoughtful" movies, ya know, the ones where the theatre is filled with a whole lot of white people sitting with their legs crossed and fingers folded on their lap. Not that that is all he does, but the music from "godzilla" or "zero dark thirty" never really stood out to me as much as the ones mentioned above. I might be completely off, but I still feel like someone along the lines of Giacchino would be a better pick? I just don't get the sense that Desplat can make a more than serviceable star wars score based on my experience with his music. Then again, i totally didn't see "The Secret Life of Pets" score coming from him, and that one's great! Thoughts? Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted July 12, 2016 Share Posted July 12, 2016 Since i found TFA only one or two notches above 'serviceable' i don't see any problem with Desplat. Action music probably will not be the strong suit of this score, thoug. Bilbo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Dixon Hill 4,234 Posted July 12, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted July 12, 2016 And the film will be better off it it doesn't require that to be the strong suit. I've given up most enthusiasm for Giacchino, and while Jurassic World was a step in the right direction, I think the last thing he needs is to be given more franchise-permission to write pale imitations of other composers' styles. Desplat will be Desplat and I think it'll be classy. Naïve Old Fart, Once, KK and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerebral Cortex 3,357 Posted July 12, 2016 Share Posted July 12, 2016 3 hours ago, JacksonElmore said: Being that this is the first Star Wars score that will not be composed by Williams Why must the little Ewoks be deprived of your love? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted July 12, 2016 Share Posted July 12, 2016 Or Joel McNeely! crumbs and JacksonElmore 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbellamy 6,287 Posted July 12, 2016 Share Posted July 12, 2016 I agree with pub that I'm not expecting much out of the action music but I'm hoping that he'll at least follow suit with Williams and that Star Wars will take him in a broader and more extroverted mode overall. His blockbuster scores for me have been kinda broody for the most part with the occasional burst of something exciting, but when called for he can growl and pound and sing it out with the best of them. Something like this would be right at home in Star Wars, emotionally and texturally. I could see him finding opportunities for this kind of elegiac writing in Rogue One, I'd love that. Monsieur showing he can bring out a nice meaty melodic statement in an action setting. "The Rathtars!" reminded me of some of Desplat's more Williamsy Potter action music. Monuments Men has various colors that I might expect from a Desplat SW. My biggest point of interest with the score will be if Desplat can get anything unexpected out of the Imperial March. JacksonElmore and Cerebral Cortex 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karelm 2,913 Posted July 12, 2016 Share Posted July 12, 2016 1 hour ago, Cerebral Cortex said: Why must the little Ewoks be deprived of your love? Don't forget this monstrosity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus 5,399 Posted July 12, 2016 Share Posted July 12, 2016 Gordy Haab. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbellamy 6,287 Posted July 12, 2016 Share Posted July 12, 2016 I think my worst-case scenario would probably be that the score will end up being about 75% this: And that his primary thematic contribution to the saga will be something like this: That's about as low as I can imagine this score will go in Desplat's hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Dixon Hill 4,234 Posted July 12, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted July 12, 2016 Pretty decent worst case scenario! Jilal, Sharkissimo, Will and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post TownerFan 4,983 Posted July 12, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted July 12, 2016 It's tough territory for any composer, of course. But I guess it's also enthralling to be given the opportunity to play with Williams' Star Wars musical world. I'm pretty sure Desplat will be given the freedom to do his own score, but given he has pious admiration for the man himself, he will also pay dutiful homage all throughout. There will be of course mandatory references to certain themes (first and foremost, the Imperial March) and the orchestral palette will likely be the same as used by JW. I just hope he won't be forced to spoonfeed references to original SW music too much, but I also hope he won't go too much into minimalist/ostinato-driven territory à la Godzilla. mrbellamy, Will and crumbs 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbellamy 6,287 Posted July 12, 2016 Share Posted July 12, 2016 24 minutes ago, TheWhiteRider said: Pretty decent worst case scenario! Sure, that's what I mean. Desplat's a pro, he'll deliver something relatively solid at worst and that would be about my idea of the most predictable thing I could imagine him doing in some kind of intense action thriller "with a heart" which is what Rogue One looks like. But one hopes for more... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incanus 5,715 Posted July 12, 2016 Share Posted July 12, 2016 I am very positive about Desplat doing his own thing with this and I am certain we'll get a classy score and I am interested to hear what route the director and the composer will take with the music, honouring Williams while striking out on their own or more dissatisfyingly just emulating the Maestro. crumbs 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,364 Posted July 12, 2016 Share Posted July 12, 2016 Alexandre Desplat is more than capable of writing a score that will fit into the same universe as Williams' efforts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted July 12, 2016 Share Posted July 12, 2016 Do you have faith in Alexandre, Jason? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,364 Posted July 12, 2016 Share Posted July 12, 2016 He has a huge output, only a fraction of which I've heard, but several of his scores - Monuments Men, Godzilla, Grand Budapest Hotel, Secret Life of Pets, Rise of the Guardians, The Ghost Writer - are great! A large amount of his other scores I've tried have done absolutely noting for me, though *shrug* The Harry Potters in particular come to mind Anyway, Monments Men and Rise of the Guardians show he can emulate the Williams style if he chooses to, and he's clearly also got his own distinct voice as evidenced in many other scores and that could certainly come into play here; We don't know the type of score Edwards or the execs at Disney are going for, really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crocodile 8,013 Posted July 12, 2016 Share Posted July 12, 2016 12 hours ago, TownerFan said: It's tough territory for any composer, of course. But I guess it's also enthralling to be given the opportunity to play with Williams' Star Wars musical world. I'm pretty sure Desplat will be given the freedom to do his own score, but given he has pious admiration for the man himself, he will also pay dutiful homage all throughout. There will be of course mandatory references to certain themes (first and foremost, the Imperial March) and the orchestral palette will likely be the same as used by JW. I just hope he won't be forced to spoonfeed references to original SW music too much, but I also hope he won't go too much into minimalist/ostinato-driven territory à la Godzilla. Yeah, but then, the ostinato/minimalist take on Godzilla was also an homage to the original 1954 score, not solely a modern style of choice. It makes perfect sense in this score. If there is anyone in Hollywood to compose a solid score for this film, and retain their own voice, it's Desplat. He's virtually incapable of delivering anything below that. Karol - who would love to hear Danny Elfman's SW score too Jilal 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted July 12, 2016 Share Posted July 12, 2016 19 minutes ago, crocodile said: Karol - who would love to hear Danny Elfman's SW score too I've always wanted to hear the Imperial March with a circus "oompah" rhythm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 @JacksonElmorebasically summed up my opinion. I'm sure Desplat will do a great job but Giacchino would have probably been a better choice. Especially given that there will presumably be a LOT of action music. In that area Giacchino at his best is second only to Williams. JacksonElmore 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 I am much more interested in Giacchino's Doctor Strange score than I would have been in his Rogue One score Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,364 Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 And Book of Henry more than either! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 Yes, a rare non-genre score for Giacchino I am at definitely interested in hearing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 3 hours ago, Will said: @JacksonElmorebasically summed up my opinion. I'm sure Desplat will do a great job but Giacchino would have probably been a better choice. Especially given that there will presumably be a LOT of action music. In that area Giacchino at his best is second only to Williams. It will the least interesting aspect of either composer's work. RIP exciting action music was probably around the late 90's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 7 hours ago, publicist said: It will the least interesting aspect of either composer's work. RIP exciting action music was probably around the late 90's. What?! Giacchino's Into Darkness opening is incredible Williams-quality stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crocodile 8,013 Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 Umm.... nope. I have yet to hear Giacchino doing anything on the level of Williams. And I like his music. Probably the closest bits are some suspenseful Jurassic World passages here and there. And that's still faaaaar behind. Karol Not Mr. Big 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus 5,399 Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 There's a massive gulf of ability between the two men and frankly I'm tired of the comparisons at this stage. Giacchino has never been anything like being close to Williams and he NEVER will be. One must only listen with one's ears to know this. Sharkissimo and Not Mr. Big 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SzPeti42 49 Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 I personally like Desplat very much, loved his HP scores, for me it managed to capture the spirit of the Harry Potter universe but with his distinctive style and I think this is the way to go with Rogue One. I just hope that the quoted SW themes will not be directly lifted but referenced properly in his own way. Other than that, I’m fine with him, and I’m looking forward to it, the movie sounds like a Star Warsified heist movie rather than a “gritty war movie”, but at this point I don’t think we know the overall mood of the movie just yet, and how the reshoots will change that, and the music. The movie itself is a big question mark, it certainly is a challenge for any composer, but I have faith in him. A Danny Elfman SW score? Sign me up DarthDementous 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,234 Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 6 hours ago, Will said: What?! Giacchino's Into Darkness opening is incredible Williams-quality stuff. It's over-orchestrated swing/samba! Jilal 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 Wasnt Will the 14 year old? He probably doesnt have the emotional maturity to distinguish between Gia and Williams yet. But we must encourage him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 If Desplat's benchmark is child's play like 'ST Into Darkness' he can switch several gears back and just string one simple ostinato after another and be done wth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 Ooooh, hoity toity! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 Rural Virginia, no less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 The most recent picture of me: Cerebral Cortex 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 Such a pretty girl! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Offline 29 Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 Surprised no one mentioned Desplat's "Golden Compass" score... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,364 Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 Meh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crocodile 8,013 Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 It takes more than a couple listens to get used to. It's a rewarding and most distinctive fantasy score. Probably because he wasn't really trying to imitate any style while working on this film. Karol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,234 Posted July 14, 2016 Share Posted July 14, 2016 I like a lot of that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Will 2,215 Posted July 14, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted July 14, 2016 13 hours ago, Lonnegan said: There's a massive gulf of ability between the two men and frankly I'm tired of the comparisons at this stage. Giacchino has never been anything like being close to Williams and he NEVER will be. One must only listen with one's ears to know this. Indeed, Williams is FAR beyond Giacchino. However, that doesn't mean there can't be a few moments where Giacchino makes my heart soar in a Williams-esque way. I'm sure Giacchino's orchestrations are much less complex than Williams', but I'm willing to let that slide in cases like the Into Darkness opening that make my heart soar and have such an energy to them. At his very best, he can be similar to Williams in that regard. JacksonElmore, leeallen01 and Cerebral Cortex 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted July 14, 2016 Share Posted July 14, 2016 4 hours ago, Jay said: Meh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted July 14, 2016 Share Posted July 14, 2016 7 hours ago, Stefancos said: Wasnt Will the 14 year old? He probably doesnt have the emotional maturity to distinguish between Gia and Williams yet. But we must encourage him. I am indeed fourteen years old. And I wasn't making a blanket statement that I like Giacchino as much as Williams. Only in certain exceptional cases. I think the emotional maturity comment was a bit of a cheap shot - unless you were just joking around, in which case, never mind. DarthDementous 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted July 14, 2016 Share Posted July 14, 2016 Do you have pubes yet? ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mrbellamy 6,287 Posted July 14, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted July 14, 2016 I Not Mr. Big, Jilal and JacksonElmore 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted July 14, 2016 Share Posted July 14, 2016 16 hours ago, TheWhiteRider said: It's over-orchestrated swing/samba! A style I happen to enjoy in this instance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koray Savas 2,251 Posted July 15, 2016 Share Posted July 15, 2016 On July 13, 2016 at 9:52 PM, Stefancos said: Do you have pubes yet? ? Pedo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wojo 2,453 Posted July 15, 2016 Share Posted July 15, 2016 You can buy pubes if you don't have them yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted July 15, 2016 Share Posted July 15, 2016 56 minutes ago, Koray Savas said: Pedo! It's paedo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck 154 Posted July 15, 2016 Share Posted July 15, 2016 No, it's hebe! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post leeallen01 2,136 Posted July 15, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted July 15, 2016 The only truth in anything that concerns both Williams and Giacchino is that they are 2 separate human beings. That's where the facts stop. Anything after that is all personal opinion. I happen to believe that Giacchino is sensational and I have felt the same wonder, excitement, and emotional connection to Giacchino's output, as I have to Williams. Of course Williams has happened to score so many of my all-time favourite films, and so I am far more connected to his music through those childhood obsessions, but that doesn't remove or disprove the fact that, to me, Giacchino has managed to create the same sense of adventure, magic and power that I have felt from Williams since birth. I am not drawn to Giacchino because of his cool clothes. He has made me a big fan because of his music reaching out to me. Simple as that. Anywho, Desplat has proven time and time again to me that he will nail Rogue One. Not only because of his admiration and respect for Williams, but mostly because of his ability to write strong themes, and to use memorable melodies in both his emotional and action writing. Rise of the Guardians alone is his job application for Star Wars. DemonStar, DarthDementous, Cerebral Cortex and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post crocodile 8,013 Posted July 15, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted July 15, 2016 1 hour ago, leeallen01 said: The only truth in anything that concerns both Williams and Giacchino is that they are 2 separate human beings. That's where the facts stop. Anything after that is all personal opinion. I happen to believe that Giacchino is sensational and I have felt the same wonder, excitement, and emotional connection to Giacchino's output, as I have to Williams. Actually I disagree with that. The technical side of things is where the facts stop. And this is where Giacchino fails. Emotionally, his scores deliver for the most part. He has a good understanding of film's needs and comes to aid with his solid dramatic skills. He succeeds despite his somewhat lacking orchestrations, simplistic harmonies and general lack of subtle compositional finesse. It's not that I don't like his themes, it's the fact they don't seem to contain a whole lot of information nor are they really structured in a way that would be interesting to listen to. They usually seem to be simply chordal changes without much going on underneath. And that UNDERNEATH is exactly what separates adequate composers from good ones. It's what makes musical orchestral form so great in the first place. As long as he was doing that in a more chamber-like setting of Lost, these things were fine. But with big orchestral arrangements... that's where the problems begin... Where I see him fail the most is usually in his writing for voices. Jupiter Ascending (here and here), Cloverfield Overture (especially here), I'm looking at you now! There is something really grating about this that really hurts my ears, It is almost as if he had no understanding of the vocal range and simply wrote the thing in his computer without any regard as to how it will sound as performed by a living and breathing human being. It's not like Williams who understands these things and knows his performers and devoted his entire life deepening that kind of knowledge. But I'm sure it sounded nice as a mock up. As I said before, I really like the guy and enjoy most of his music. But a John Williams he ain't. He even ain't James Horner on a bad day (even if he gets close to that one sometimes). I will always admire his knack for supporting the emotional core of the films and the way he creates a solid dramatic spine. He's a great storyteller but in a filmmaking sense, as someone on here once pointed out (I think it was Sharky). But a great musician, the kind of that has mastered his craft, he simply isn't. If you want to look to someone who actually made a huge technical breakthrough over their careers while not going through the rigour of academic background, it would be Danny Elfman. You can sometimes hear he's still struggling here and there but he always tries to make his music interesting. There is a harmonic richness to his works, sometimes probably accidental, even if his themes are often simple nursery tunes. Sometimes it even seems to evoke Alex North's type of adventurousness (like the finale of Serenada Schizophrana). So yeah, I'm not that interested in someone superficially trying to recapture a giddy childhood-like emotions, I'm looking for a voice. And that's not quite there yet. And nothing that I'm talking about has anything to do with my ENJOYMENT or emotional connection to music. It's not about taste, it's about technical stuff. As Herrmann once pointed out, music doesn't need to be good to serve its purpose. Karol KK, Not Mr. Big, Dixon Hill and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now