Music By John Williams (2024 Documentary film) - previously Steven Spielberg is Making a John Williams Documentary

[Marian Schedenig 9,151]

7 hours ago, Groovygoth666 said:

 

Spielberg and Howard introducing the movie at AFI 

 

Ron Howard is a strange little man.

[Groovygoth666 1,045]

7 hours ago, Marian Schedenig said:

 

Ron Howard is a strange little man.

Yeah, but at least he's having fun 

[kingtolkien 17]

On 28/10/2024 at 6:13 PM, Marian Schedenig said:

 

Ron Howard is a strange little man.

I love how older people don't give a Damn.

 

[pete 993]

Those with Disney Plus in the US, does the documentary show up on a search? Maybe I'm getting mixed up with NetFlix, but I thought you could still see information about a show before it was released - a summary and release date etc.

 

I just searched Disney Plus in Korea, and it didn't come up. Oh god. Please be released here on Nov. 1.

 

And another question if anyone knows - do new releases land at midnight on their release date? I'm hoping I'll be able to watch it at midnight, just under 12 hours from now. Fingers crossed!

[Doo_liss 6,632]

8 minutes ago, pete said:

 

And another question if anyone knows - do new releases land at midnight on their release date? I'm hoping I'll be able to watch it at midnight, just under 12 hours from now. Fingers crossed!

Over here, things show up around 3 I think.

[pete 993]

1 minute ago, Doo_liss said:

Over here, things show up around 3 I think.

 

Thank you. I just saw an article that confirmed the Nov. 1 release on Disney Plus Korea. I guess I can wait a few more hours!

 

 

[Doo_liss 6,632]

1 minute ago, pete said:

 

Thank you. I just saw an article that confirmed the Nov. 1 release on Disney Plus Korea. I guess I can wait a few more hours!

 

 

What time is it over there? Over here we still have over 24 hours to go

[pete 993]

16 minutes ago, Doo_liss said:

What time is it over there? Over here we still have over 24 hours to go

 

It's 1:20 PM, Oct. 30- oops, Oct. 31 - time for some lunch!

[bollemanneke 3,622]

I think it's now Friday in NZ.

[Groovygoth666 1,045]

.

[crumbs 14,904]

If their Star Wars shows are any indication, Disney+ drops titles at the same global time in all markets, unlike soundtracks that drop at midnight in each region.

 

We usually get new episodes at ~6pm AEST in Australia, around 12AM PST. That means the doco should launch in around 18 hours.

[Quintus 5,467]

My nifty app has it.

 

 

[pete 993]

2 hours ago, crumbs said:

We usually get new episodes at ~6pm AEST in Australia, around 12AM PST. That means the doco should launch in around 18 hours.

 

Cheers, that sounds quite likely. It's just after midnight here, and it's not available yet. That's a good thing as it's bed time. 

[aj_vader 570]

 

[BB-8 4,047]

I was like: why not just leave him alone?

[Mr. Hooper 3,550]

Signed up, and waiting...

 

[Trope 831]

Gotta say, I haven’t seen many new films this year, but I am actually quite excited to watch this one. I really enjoyed the Ennio Morricone documentary from a few years ago. I watched that one with my family, and I might do the same with this one.

[Joni Wiljami 1,212]

It's been 1. of November almost 8 hours here, give me it!! WTF

[pete 993]

It's arrived! At least where I am - which is the only place that matters. 

[BB-8 4,047]

6 hours ago, Mr. Hooper said:

Signed up, and waiting...

 

Me waiting for it to be released on Bluray

[pete 993]

Well that was beautiful. I teared up a few times. That's something I think I could easily watch over and over. Cold Play guy was in it a lot - well not a lot, but he kept popping in. That was random - but he's certainly a fan.

 

I found it a little odd that not many big name actors took part with new comments. It would have added some variety to the talking heads - Tom Hanks, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamil, etc. I'd even have liked to have heard from some weirdos like Tom Cruise and Mel Gibson.

[Thor 8,504]

Yeah, also saw it this morning. Need to digest a bit. It was better than I had feared, although still loaded with the type of Hollywood adulation and hyperbole that makes me squirm in my seat. Best part was unquestionably the all-too-rushed segment on his early life, with some photos I hadn't seen before. I wanted to see a film, or even a TV series, JUST about that. Will probably write a review soon, on my site.

[BB-8 4,047]

Hope this will enlighten the usual Cold Play consumer.

[pete 993]

 

2 hours ago, Thor said:

Best part was unquestionably the all-too-rushed segment on his early life, with some photos I hadn't seen before. 

 

Yeah, there were really great photos. He was one cool looking high school kid! And I loved all those stories from his childhood. Williams recalls them like they happened last week.  And seeing his parents and his first wife singing and dancing, and tragically, just how happy they looked together. 

[Thor 8,504]

2 hours ago, pete said:

Yeah, there were really great photos. He was one cool looking high school kid! 

 

He was. Especially that pic with the sunglasses. I sometimes wonder how he, as a firstgrader in high school (who arrived there halfway into the year, no less) managed to secure a stunning girlfriend like Barbara Ruick so quickly, but it makes sense now.

[Bilbo 3,868]

Will hopefully catch this over the weekend but why is the berk from Coldplay in this? 

[Thor 8,504]

2 minutes ago, Bilbo said:

Will hopefully catch this over the weekend but why is the berk from Coldplay in this? 

 

Because they play the theme from E.T. as their intro music for their shows. I know, strenous at best, but star attraction, perhaps?

[bollemanneke 3,622]

1 hour ago, BB-8 said:

Me waiting for it to be released on Bluray

Yes, seriously. I need more Christmas present ideas.

[BB-8 4,047]

Just now, Bilbo said:

Will hopefully catch this over the weekend but why is the berk from Coldplay in this? 

He probably is just a JW fan. But with him in it, the documentary may attract a younger audience?

[pete 993]

1 minute ago, Bilbo said:

Will hopefully catch this over the weekend but why is the berk from Coldplay in this? 

 

No idea. But it was nice hearing and seeing his enthusiasm, but his presence would have made more sense if other big names such as Sprinsteen, Sting, Brian May, Billy Joel, Elton John etc (maybe I'm showing my age) had also taken part and offered a few comments/anecdotes.

[BB-8 4,047]

7 minutes ago, bollemanneke said:

Yes, seriously. I need more Christmas present ideas.

You already have four coloured HP vinyl sets to choose from...

[bollemanneke 3,622]

How rich do you think my family is?

[Thor 8,504]

5 minutes ago, pete said:

No idea. But it was nice hearing and seeing his enthusiasm, but his presence would have made more sense if other big names such as Sprinsteen, Sting, Brian May, Billy Joel, Elton John etc (maybe I'm showing my age) had also taken part and offered a few comments/anecdotes.

 

Or even better, some people (non-orchestral folks) that he worked with over the years, that are still around. Some that shared stage with him at Boston Pops, for example. Branford Marsalis was there, but I don't believe he ever worked with Williams, other than performing the "Escapades"? John Williams replaced his brother Wynton's music for ROSEWOOD, though. I wondered if he was going to touch on that, but obviously not.

[pete 993]

I'll have to go back later and check, but I think most of those discarded 5-note Close Encounters motives shown in that big manuscript book were legible. 

 

And having thought about who could have appeared and didn't, I think a documentary with just Spielberg and Williams would certainly work. There's 100 hours of televsion right there. 

 

And the doc. has left me more eager for the upcoming book. The stories that must be in that - mind boggling!

And I liked the music choices - It was nice to hear music from The River and Space Camp in particular.

[aj_vader 570]

Near the beginning there's a statement of The Imperial March, it's the film version recording not the concert arrangement. It sounded like a new mix to me, I listened to each channel and it's in 5.1, it sounds a lot cleaner than the 5.1 version in any of the film mixes. 

 

Could this be a new mix or release created by Mike Matessino!? Who is listed as 'Music consultant' for the film. 

 

I know it's dangerous getting our hopes up like this... yet here I am doing it again. 

 

Centre

Left Right

 

Surround

 

 

Or it's just the 5.1 film mix without sound effects and I am just wanting it to be new  

 

UPDATE!!! Ignore me it's just the Dolby Atmos Mix from the 2018 Disney Releases, but it does sound, a little softer in places. 

[crumbs 14,904]

1 hour ago, pete said:

I'll have to go back later and check, but I think most of those discarded 5-note Close Encounters motives shown in that big manuscript book were legible. 

 

This was absolutely the most tantalizing detail in the whole documentary. I wish it contained more fragments of insight like this...

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, aj_vader said:

Could this be a new mix or release created by Mike Matessino!? Who is listed as 'Music consultant' for the film. 

 

The better question would be whether the excerpt of the original version of Binary Sunset is from the SE, because that track was never released elsewhere. To my ears it sounds much clearer than the SE version.

 

That said, we know Disney transferred all those analogue elements years back, so it's probably meaningless and no indication of Star Wars expansions. The end credits do refer to this excerpt with the SE track title.

 

I thought the excerpt of The Reivers sounded great though, but the end credits indicate that was a Boston Pops performance (and sadly not a remaster in the works).

[bollemanneke 3,622]

1 hour ago, aj_vader said:

Near the beginning there's a statement of The Imperial March, it's the film version recording not the concert arrangement. It sounded like a new mix to me, I listened to each channel and it's in 5.1, it sounds a lot cleaner than the 5.1 version in any of the film mixes. 

 

Could this be a new mix or release created by Mike Matessino!? Who is listed as 'Music consultant' for the film. 

 

I know it's dangerous getting our hopes up like this... yet here I am doing it again. 

 

Centre

Left Right

 

Surround

 

 

Or it's just the 5.1 film mix without sound effects and I am just wanting it to be new  

 

UPDATE!!! Ignore me it's just the Dolby Atmos Mix from the 2018 Disney Releases, but it does sound, a little softer in places. 

Wait, I know I should know this, but wasn't that 2018 master completely fucked up? Weren't people complaining that it was the first time they were presenting JW's LP program and then the right channel was all messed up or something?

[crumbs 14,904]

4 minutes ago, bollemanneke said:

Wait, I know I should know this, but wasn't that 2018 master completely fucked up? Weren't people complaining that it was the first time they were presenting JW's LP program and then the right channel was all messed up or something?

 

The stereo balance issues in ESB were mostly fixed in the Dolby Atmos re-release.

[aj_vader 570]

5 minutes ago, bollemanneke said:

Wait, I know I should know this, but wasn't that 2018 master completely fucked up? Weren't people complaining that it was the first time they were presenting JW's LP program and then the right channel was all messed up or something?

The stereo presentation yes, but the Dolby Atmos Mixes that were released later (2023?) were a significant improvement. I think others here speculated that they may have started with the 5.1/Dolby Atmos mix and then printed that to stereo back in 2018 and that's why it sounded off. 

 

The surround channels on the documentary for that Imperial March are not the same as the rear mix of the Dolby Atmos version, the Dolby atmos rear channels sound like reverb being added to the front channels in order to build a rear mix. The documentary sounds like 'real' surround mix, so it could well be new. 

 

I guess we'll know later on when LaLaLand Records reveal their new Star Wars Boxset

[bollemanneke 3,622]

15 minutes ago, crumbs said:

 

The stereo balance issues in ESB were mostly fixed in the Dolby Atmos re-release.

 

14 minutes ago, aj_vader said:

The stereo presentation yes, but the Dolby Atmos Mixes that were released later (2023?) were a significant improvement. I think others here speculated that they may have started with the 5.1/Dolby Atmos mix and then printed that to stereo back in 2018 and that's why it sounded off. 

 

The surround channels on the documentary for that Imperial March are not the same as the rear mix of the Dolby Atmos version, the Dolby atmos rear channels sound like reverb being added to the front channels in order to build a rear mix. The documentary sounds like 'real' surround mix, so it could well be new. 

 

I guess we'll know later on when LaLaLand Records reveal their new Star Wars Boxset

There is no way the documentary uses that Atmos thing. I just had a listen and that release still sounds pretty terrible to me, not worth my time.

[aj_vader 570]

4 minutes ago, bollemanneke said:

 

There is no way the documentary uses that Atmos thing. I just had a listen and that release still sounds pretty terrible to me, not worth my time.

It's certainly from the same source, but it does sound different for sure, i think the documentary sounds better.

[Thor 8,504]

Atmos, schmatmos....

 

As I said earlier, there were many great photos in the film, and even some cool stills from the film itself (like Williams playing golf) that I can't wait to see pop up in the "caption competition" thread.

[crumbs 14,904]

I'm too tired to write a full review but having seen the documentary, my overall thoughts are the first hour was very good, bordering on great. But the last half hour feels a bit unfocused, like a collection of random interview bites they didn't know where to place.

 

We get tantalizing glimpses into a more insightful documentary when Williams discusses electronic music, or demonstrates on piano how the 5 note motif in Close Encounters is akin to a musical sentence, or when others discuss AI generated music... but each time they hurriedly retreat back to safe territory and various interviewees waxing lyrical about how great his music is. Tell us something we don't know.

 

There were some curious omissions. Segments discussing the Oliver Stone scores, how he loves writing music for Harrison Ford, and evolving the Harry Potter scores into a darker sound, yet Stone, Ford and Cuaron are nowhere to be found. Similarly Hanks and Cruise, who each have 4 excellent (and very diverse) JW scores. Ron Howard turns up to discuss Far and Away but never references Solo. Powell is never mentioned despite collaborating with JW, yet we hear from other contemporaries like Silvestri and the Newman brothers.

 

The best parts were definitely the previously-unseen family photos and learning more about his upbringing. Or the footage of him in a golf buggy and playing golf with his daughter. The music selections are diverse and comprehensive, providing a well-rounded musical exploration of his career. But much felt glossed over, a surface-level commentary on his filmography as opposed to an exploration of the man who composed it. And for all the hype surrounding Spielberg's hours of home video footage of Williams at spotting/scoring sessions, barely a few minutes is included (most of which we've already seen in other featurettes). I did love the footage of Williams instructing the pianist and harpist on specific sections of E.T. though, I wish we got more of that. Or even a mention of his wild parties while staying in London during the 70s.

 

Overall it's good, but considering the enviable access Laurent had, it feels like a missed opportunity for something great.

[MaxTheHouseelf 335]

Just finished watching, it was a really emotional experience for me, I loved it! I also have to let it settle a bit. I particularly enjoyed the few scences of him playing Golf, he really seems to enjoy that a lot. Now the biography can not come soon enough, to get more detailed insights.

 

BTW, does anybody know the music that plays at 1:02:35 when the section about Tanglewood begins? I can't seem to identify it although the general "sound" of the piece seems familiar.

[pete 993]

1 hour ago, MaxTheHouseelf said:

BTW, does anybody know the music that plays at 1:02:35 when the section about Tanglewood begins? I can't seem to identify it although the general "sound" of the piece seems familiar.

 

Yes, that's Hymn to New England also later called/renamed Of Grace & Majesty. It was first released on the American Journey CD that had Call of the Champions and quite a few other premier recordings of celebratory pieces. 

 

 

[Marian Schedenig 9,151]

29 minutes ago, pete said:

 

Based on the score Williams wrote for this:

 

[Miguel Andrade 1,381]

1 hour ago, pete said:

 

Yes, that's Hymn to New England also later called/renamed Of Grace & Majesty. It was first released on the American Journey CD that had Call of the Champions and quite a few other premier recordings of celebratory pieces. 

 

 

In fact, Hymn to New England  was first released on American Visions, Keith Lockhart debut album with the Boston Pops, in 1997. Williams with the Utah Symphony came in 2002.

There are also a few recordings of the band transcription of the piece.

[pete 993]

Oh yes, I remember that Lockheart CD now. I got it at the time. And wow, New England Time Capsule. I recall reading mention of that, but I just assumed it was the same piece. Wow, that's a weird surprise hearing the original.

[bespinGPT 8,853]

2 hours ago, crumbs said:

I'm too tired to write a full review but having seen the documentary, my overall thoughts are the first hour was very good, bordering on great. But the last half hour feels a bit unfocused, like a collection of random interview bites they didn't know where to place.

 

THIS.

 

There's few segments, where all we see, is few images of a bunch of 4-5 movies one after the other.. or posters.. It's not a documentary, it's a visual discography in high speed... just showing movie names and years one after the other.

 

Is the guy directed those movies... OH NO, HE WROTE THE MUSIC, SO WHY CAN'T WE HEAR THIS MUSIC???

 

Lame you say?

[MaxTheHouseelf 335]

44 minutes ago, pete said:

 

Yes, that's Hymn to New England also later called/renamed Of Grace & Majesty. It was first released on the American Journey CD that had Call of the Champions and quite a few other premier recordings of celebratory pieces. 

 

 

@pete @Marian Schedenig @Miguel Andrade Thank you all!