I'm back again...

[Sandor 459]

Hi board,

It's been awhile, but i've finally found time to contribute something to my favorite board on the Net. How are you guys (and some girls)? I can see there are a lot of new members, which is great, but I hope my old pals are still here whether lurking or as active posters.

About my life. I'll keep it short. I've been married now for a couple of months to a beautiful and great girl and getting married was by far the best thing I ever did in my life. Lately I've been finding more and more time to invest in my old hobbies such as film music, Star Wars, films and, ofcourse, John Williams.

I have a lot of love for John Williams. His music is still and will always be one of the central pleasures in my life. Sometimes I get overwhelmed just by the sheer brilliance of a piece like The Force Theme. Or The Imperial March. Schindler's List, The Superman Theme, ... John Williams IS the absolute master of film music. Even if I was deaf I could still hear his music. Looking back at 2002 I can say that it was a fine year for Williams. I personally loved Attack Of The Clones mainly because of The Love Theme which is, to me, one of the most powerful and most beautiful themes in his repertoire. Minority Report is a little too 'black and white' for me, but I've noticed that I've been playing the first track a lot. I love the adagio-like melody from the A New Beginning track. The Chamber Of Secrets is a marvelous score and very, very underrated. Williams put a lot of effort in creating new themes (and arranged them all as concert works on the soundtrack album) and Fawkes The Phoenix especially is amazing. Williams concluded the year with Catch Me If You Can. It has kind of grown on me, although I haven't listened to it that much. I love the part where the string section plays the theme in The Father's Theme and the first track is inspiring. However; the central theme (as in track 2, The Float) seems a little too simplistic. I'm really looking forward to Williams' continuing scores. We know that Indiana Jones IV is probably his and so is Star Wars Episode III...

Speaking of Star Wars, I've seen all the films with my wife last month and it gave me some time to re-evalutate the Lucas cycle. Star Wars is still an amazing film series. The story of the Skywalker family and the world of Jedi's, lightsabers and Sith Lords is as cool as it could ever be. The music is amazing, the visuals, the designs... it's all top-notch. As a film project; it's unique. However; while watching it all certain elements began to irritate me. I will go into that:

The directing: Star Wars films have a very flat and unimaginative direction (with the exception of The Empire Strikes Back to a certain extent). Comparing it to The Lord Of The Rings I can only say that The Lord Of The Rings is so much better directed and become beautiful films by themselves (even without special effects) just because of the beautiful, beautiful direction. Star Wars misses that. It's harsh, straight-forward and sometimes even seems like amateur-films (again; not looking at special effects, but purely at the directing).

The special editions: The special editions of the original trilogy from 1997 easily delivered a lot of weak elements to the films. I would have had no problem with the removal of matte-lines or creating a new Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack to enhance the films, but adding that Jabba scene or Vader's departure in Empire seriously degrades the films. The special editions produced some of the worst CGI ever concieved on film (with the exception of the dew-backs, the Yavin Battle and the enhanced Sarlacc). I reckon that in 10 years the added effects from 1997 (supposedly to make the films less 'dated') will be regarded as the most dated effects in the films! Some additions I do like: the Falcon leaving the hangar in Mos Eisley, the destruction of Alderaan, the battle of Yavin, the Wampa (except the shot where he is 'armless' - horribly shooted!), the Sarlacc, the Return Of The Jedi finale and all the parts where they removed and cleaned up matte-lines, etc. Why the terrible matte-lines surrounding the Rancor are still there I don't know.

The prequels: I guess as a Star Wars I kind off have to accept that this is it, but I can't get over the feeling that 'it could have been better'. A LOT better. There are parts I love and there are parts I hate. I LOVE the scenes with Darth Maul, the last hour of Attack Of The Clones among other. I HATE the characterization of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. I hate the political aspects of it, the lack of adventure, the kids, the overdose of CGI, the flat direction... These films don't stand above critisism (like the original trilogy).

But; in general; I LOVE Star Wars. Though it's not perfect. Some elements of the series are however perfection: the character of Darth Vader and the design of his suit, everytime the Force Theme appears, the idea of a lightsaber, R2-D2 and C-3PO, Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back... Looking at those things I sort off can overlook it's many, many mistakes.

I already mentioned The Lord Of The Rings. To me; the trilogy by Peter Jackson is an absolute gift. I really LOVE The Lord Of The Rings. The direction is PERFECT and the eye for detail is brilliant from the casting to the final print. The first film's ending always gets to me. From the moment that Frodo stands before the river with the Ring in his hand, knowing that his destiny is to go to Mordor alone and Howard Shore's cue starts playing (The Breaking Of The Fellowship) there are tears in my eyes. The music, the scenery, the acting is absolutely perfect! The Two Towers is equally great. I loved The Two Towers. Whether you think Gollum is the greatest CGI creature ever or if you think he still looks fake doesn't seem to matter considering that he is a REAL character, brilliantly written and concieved. I love the part where Gandalf and his army march into battle at the end at Helm's Deep. The images are gorgeous. I can't wait for The Return Of The King. It's going to be amazing.

There are so many films I truly love: Se7en, The Exorcist, E.T., Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Aliens, Gladiator... The list goes on and on. The Lord Of The Rings and Star Wars will always be very special to me.

OK; this is it for now. I've been repeating things I've already said in the past I know. But it's been so long that it seems new while I was writing it.

Bye!

Roald

[tpigeon 3]

Great to see you back Roald! 8O

Ted, who doesn't have any time to post right now

[Ren 75]

getting married was by far the best thing I ever did in my life.

I wish more people I knew had that view.

About Lord of the Rings,

Each of those parts you mentioned completely hits me everytime too Roald. But I get chills in that section where Smeagol is talking with Gollum and Gollum says "muuuurrrrdddddeeeerrrreeeerrrr". Even if I'm doing something else in that movie I stop and sit to watch that part. I get chills when Theoden is giving his little speech while him and Aragorn are getting ready to ride into battle for the 'last' time. That Rohan Music, aaaahhhh!

[Justin 2]

Good to have you back Roald! Very interesting stuff about Star Wars and LOTR. I agree with you basically 100%. Especially...

To me; the trilogy by Peter Jackson is an absolute gift. I really LOVE The Lord Of The Rings. The direction is PERFECT and the eye for detail is brilliant from the casting to the final print.

8O

Justin -Who'd take LOTR over Star Wars (prequels) anyday.

[Lurker 5]

Welcome back!

Neil

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

And he's back.

Not a moment to soon, BTW.

Please post more often, the wife won't mind.

I agree with most of your comments about SW, certainly you are right about the camerawork and direction of the first trilogy, to me it always looks like the kinda camera work you see on TV.

TESB has 2 wonderfull shots though, the moment Luke first sees Vader standing like a dark shadow on the platform, and the moment when Vader appears from a corner and makes his final assault against Luke. (Vader looks huge in that shot, making Luke seem small and defenseless).

Lord Of The Rings so far is great, i cannot wait for the extended cut of TTT, or till I can finally see ROTK in the cinema.

And I agree with Ren about that Moment in TTT when Theoden and his company ride out for one final charge.

It still gives me goosebumps.

Stefancos- still by far the most frequent posting Dutchie.

[Ren 75]

A Dutchie was in the lead yesterday at a golf tournament in Spain.

[PetePan 163]

Well this flying Dutchmen is still alive too, but I'm a bit busy at the moment so I don't visit the board so often anymore. Anyway I graduated and have a job now for 3 months. My girlfriend and I bought a house and from the first of July we move in there.

Meanwhile I'm still listening quite some Williams music and I look forward to go to London in 2005 to see the master live!

I see you guys (there will come a time that I visit more often)

PetePan,

The Dutchmen who thinks that posted a few years earlier then Stefancos! Ha, he wasn't even born then.

Oh Stefan, you owe me one because of the AI 2CD. I will make a nice CD once for you with our brassband playing the music of williams. I promise!!

Bye ! 8O

Petepan

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

Well this flying Dutchmen is still alive too, but I'm a bit busy at the moment so I don't visit the board so often anymore. Anyway I graduated and have a job now for 3 months. My girlfriend and I bought a house and from the first of July we move in there.

Bla...bla...bla...excuses...excuses...excuses...

Meanwhile I'm still listening quite some Williams music and I look forward to go to London in 2005 to see the master live!

Just don't cough during the concert, cause i'll be trowing marbles at anyone who's disturbing my recording session.

The Dutchmen who thinks that posted a few years earlier then Stefancos! Ha, he wasn't even born then.

Nonsense, i was here long before some "Dutchie in China" started to post.

Oh Stefan, you owe me one because of the AI 2CD. I will make a nice CD once for you with our brassband playing the music of williams. I promise!!

Thanks, but no Star wars please, i've heard it in concert by the Symphonish Blaasorkest "De Tramharmonie" and the London Symphony Orchestra....been there, done that.

Stefancos- very blase.

[Marian Schedenig 5,520]

Hi board,

I get chills when Theoden is giving his little speech while him and Aragorn are getting ready to ride into battle for the 'last' time. That Rohan Music, aaaahhhh!

Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath! Now for ruin! And a red dawn! Forth Eorlingas!

Absolutely stunning! And then that sound of Helm's Horn! At this point I usually have trouble seeing anything through the water. That parts is even greater than Theoden's "Where is the horse and the rider" poem. Bernard Hill was great in the role...and when he cries at his son's grave...

Marian - who has to watch the movie again!

[Ren 75]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH don't get me started on that!!!

Must * sniff* whatch *sniff* it *sniff* again * *blow nose*

Here's what Howard Shore reportedly said very recently:  

I can tell you that having seen The Return of the King, it is a great film. It is amazing.  

SINNER!!!!!! DAMN HIM!!!!!!

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

Ren please, no Religious topics.

Stefancos-

[Ren 75]

LOL