Scoring Duties in 2005

[Henry B 49]

The last time I checked, Episode III comes in the middle of the series. And none of the prequels are important.

But in terms of narrative, it is clearly not the finale, nor should it be treated as such. That would just make the divide between the two trilogies even wider and could possibly create an even bigger backlash.

You're playing right into Lucas' myth that these new films are truly Star Wars prequels. They're not. The story may precede Episodes IV-VI, but every other aspect of the production screams "sequel," especially the music. Episode III will definitely be a finale of sorts.

At least they went through the effort (in most cases) of re-recording the music and not just tracking it in. And the fact that the new music is so good and memorable offsets the occasional PS borrowing. Does the blatant Star Wars music in ROTJ bother you that much?

I would estimate that there are only five-six minutes of Star Wars music in Jedi. Chamber of Secrets, on the other hand, must have at least ten.

Probably not more than twenty, though. People tend to overestimate these things. I recently read an analysis of Attack of the Clones concluding that only eleven minutes of Menace music were used.

[Steven Awalt 0]

I agree with Neil?"War of the Worlds" is far from original at this point (although it once most certainly was, and really I hope Spielberg's film brings new life to the sub-genre). But to discount something as fresh and original as "Minority Report"...hard to take that too seriously.

And for my vote, I'm most excited for "Revenge of the Sith," "War of the Worlds," "Goblet of Fire," and the Mossad film. Hope he can get to all of these!

[Lurker 5]

It's the last Star Wars score to be made. That means something that has nothing to do with narrative or the fact that IV-VI were made before I-III.

Not if they want to maintain the integrity of the story, or doesn't that matter? I can't believe I'm more concerned about this than someone who genuinely likes these films.

And no, the ANH re-recording in RoJ doesn't bother me that much. It's two cues and Williams had a better reason for doing it than simply lack of time.

I've heard from some that Jedi was very much a rushed score. And I prefer his original "Return of the Jedi" to the revised one that was used in the movie.

You're playing right into Lucas' myth that these new films are truly Star Wars prequels. They're not. The story may precede Episodes IV-VI, but every other aspect of the production screams "sequel," especially the music. Episode III will definitely be a finale of sorts.

If any respect is shown towards the "later" films this would not be the case. It's the middle. The finale of this series has teddy bears dancing around a campfire. Deal with it. On reflection, that movie doesn't deserve any respect. But still, to think of ROTS as any sort of finale is really bizarre. In a 6 part story, part 3 is clearly the middle. Even using Lucas' new math that you suggest cannot hide this simple fact.

I recently read an analysis of Attack of the Clones concluding that only eleven minutes of Menace music were used.

But in that case it was completely hacked and tracked into the movie, not even re-recorded.

Neil

[Henry B 49]

If any respect is shown towards the "later" films this would not be the case. It's the middle. The finale of this series has teddy bears dancing around a campfire. Deal with it. On reflection, that movie doesn't deserve any respect. But still, to think of ROTS as any sort of finale is really bizarre. In a 6 part story, part 3 is clearly the middle. Even using Lucas' new math that you suggest cannot hide this simple fact.

First of all, Revenge of the Sith will probably be the closest thing to a finale other than the actual finale, Return of the Jedi, because it is the last movie, and because there is a large gap between it and A New Hope - 20 years. Episode III is when everything "settles down," Episode IV is when it starts to rise up again.

Second of all, we are talking about the music, and so far John Williams has not treated these films like prequels. If he did, the Force Theme and Yoda's Theme would be introduced in full in The Phantom Menace, and hinted at or revisited in the Trilogy. Same goes for the Main Theme, Jabba's Theme, and others.

You mentioned that the finale of Return of the Jedi is "teddy bears dancing around the fire," and the music certainly reflects that (although the new "Victory Celebration" is a big improvement). There's little chance for something like this in Revenge of the Sith, however. We'll almost certainly get a full-blown orchestral finale like in Attack of the Clones and The Empire Strikes Back.

So basically, the Episode III score has a lot of "finale" potential.

[John Crichton 4]

It's the last Star Wars score to be made. That means something that has nothing to do with narrative or the fact that IV-VI were made before I-III.

Not if they want to maintain the integrity of the story, or doesn't that matter? I can't believe I'm more concerned about this than someone who genuinely likes these films.

We must be having a breakdown in communication here. I don't get where you're getting all this stuff about narrative and story integrity from. Of course I'm concerned about that, and I know it won't be a problem. But it has nothing to do with what I was talking about.

Ep. III will be the LAST SW score ever. It will be the last time that a SW score will be new. The last time that we hear one for the first time. That fact alone makes it special outside of anything else, that alone is what I meant by "grand finale", and that has been my point all along.

And I too prefer the original Sail Barge Assault cue to the re-scored version, but the re-scored one is still good.

[Lurker 5]

Ep. III will be the LAST SW score ever. It will be the last time that a SW score will be new. The last time that we hear one for the first time. That fact alone makes it special outside of anything else, that alone is what I meant by "grand finale", and that has been my point all along.

But that goes against everything. Why should the fact that it's the last Star Wars score mean anything? Williams is there to score a movie, not to pull out all the stops just for the fans because it's the last Star Wars movie. He's there to service a movie and that's it.

Neil

[Mr. Breathmask 480]

But surely, Williams himself wants to go out with a bang?

[John Crichton 4]

But that goes against everything.  Why should the fact that it's the last Star Wars score mean anything?  Williams is there to score a movie, not to pull out all the stops just for the fans because it's the last Star Wars movie.  He's there to service a movie and that's it.

It means something to me because I'm a fan. I don't excpect or want Williams to obsess over what the fans think. I just want him to be his usual brilliant self, which is the standard I'm sure he holds himself too.

[King Mark 2,924]

Right now,I have vibes telling me Williams WILL score GoF after all,no matter what his orchestrators say.

K.M.Who thinks Williams can definately handle 3 scores in a year.

PS.I got the vibes before reading the main page,now this news sort of cancels the first report of him not doing it....YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!

[Ray Barnsbury 8]

Yes, well that was posted yesterday morning and commented on in the Potterdom thread. I have a feeling it was just an assuming program writer, but I'd love to be wrong.

Ray Barnsbury-still cautiously optimistic

[John Crichton 4]

As I also said in the Potterdom thread, I strongly caution against too much excitement and echo Ray in that I think the program writer assumed a bit much.

But I hope it turns out he's psychic or something.

John- also cautiously optimistic

[TIEfighter 0]

What if Williams read the program and said it was correct?

[Luke Skywalker 1,284]

     

Ep. III, War of the Worlds, Goblet of Fire, all in scored by JW in one glorious year? It could happen!  

What a dream year that would be...If this happens Williams has my blessings to retire from bluckbuster scoring.

K.M.

That would mean that he would not make the three Potter scores left yet. And i dont think you want that happening?

[John Crichton 4]

What if Williams read the program and said it was correct?

Then we PARTY!