SilverWook said:

I wasn't aware Joel Goldsmith had died. It certainly didn't get the media coverage his father's passing did.

It was on JWfan and FSM (Film Score Monthly) thats enough media coverage for me ;)

I think it is important to remember that nobody including John Williams has ever matched John Williams from 1975-1984.  Every single score he did was brilliant-even for throwaway movies like Dracula and Jaws 2.  That was his creative peak and all 3 of the original SW movies fit into that time period. 

That said, I did think Ep. I was excellent.  Think of Duel of the Fates, The Flag Parade, Anakin's theme.  It was a very good score.  I think not nearly as much effort went into Ep. 2 and 3, but can we blame him? 

I thought "War Horse" had some welcome energy in it- I wholeheartedly believe that if JW is presented with an outstanding movie, he will rise to the occasion. 

I think SW 2 and would have been better (in terms of score) had Ben Burtt not forced his "musical sound effects" trash into the end battle.

I mean, On The Conveyor belt is a great cue, but with the addition of the ridiculous "Headless Threepio Subplot", was replaced with tracked music.

Then there is the very misplaced tracked statements of the Emperor's theme in the Anakin's Confession to Padme.

Jonno said:

 but I'd agree that they use chorus much more effectively that the prequel scores (where CHOIR simply denotes EPIC).

What about TOD?

The same language (Sanskrit) used for TOD's chants, was the same language used for DOTF (which in the original intended score, was used much less, and only in instrumental guises, except for a short bit in the very middle of the duel, and the end credits/concert suite)

And he also put enough effort to actually write lyrics with meaning instead of "Oooh" and "Aaah"

DOTF's lyrics were from Battle of the Trees ("Under the tounge root, a fight most dread, while another rages in the head")

BOTH's lyrics are translated to "Greivous are the crimes of the Empire"

Sanskrit translations of Gaelic as I recall?

Bingowings said:

Sanskrit translations of Gaelic as I recall?

Celtic/Gaelic to english, to Sanskrit

Burdokva said:

 can't remember anything good and truly memorable from ROTS...

I'll help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyqjcoYImVg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UPRhRrcMfw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meTY7hMzpZk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIHI5aouffE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ1HAWv8qy8

Burdokva said:

Thanks, fishmanlee !

I admit I have not heard some of these but they seem to have been released with various accompanying media, mostly games, rather than in the movie soundtrack itself.

Still, as it was presented in the movie, the soundtrack was mostly forgettable and did not have any strong themes. Be they bombastic and loud as the Imperial March, or something more restrained and emotional, as Leia's or Yoda's themes.

Williams is by far the best thing to happen to the prequels and he still did a fantastic job, especially considering (if this is true) that he was forced to cut and re-arrange his music due to Lucas re-shooting and re-editing scenes. But I still feel that AOTC and ROTS were not his best efforts.

Just my humble opinion, of course. Wouldn't mind him at all scoring any future movie, to the contrary.

The music in those videos is exactly the same, as it was presented in the movie. Maybe it's time to refresh the memory and watch ROTS again :).

Personally, I consider ROTS and ROTJ the best soundtracks from all SW movies. Never was a fan of ESB music (neither did I like the Imperial March) and I also didnt like TPM music (except for Dual of the Fates).

SW movies NEED JW as a music writer. I heard KOTOR and The Clone Wars music and although the KOTOR had few good themes, TCW was pretty forgetable.

I'd be shocked if it were anyone other than Williams or Giacchino.  I'd be fine with either, with a nod toward Giacchino.  I love his work on Super 8 and thought he did a very nice job on Star Trek.  I think it helps (or can, at least) to have new ideas for an established franchise.

Regarding the comment that Williams was at his best from 1975 to 1985; That may have been his most prolific, but I think his work on Memoirs Of A Geisha may be his finest hour.

John Williams writing with Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma performing = When Worlds Collide.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPOq4HiCeTw

you guys are forgetting John Debney!

Also, if it were me, I'd go for someone who has no track record in bug-budget modern movie scores, but I think would do absolutely spot-on - such as Christopher Lennertz. The movies he scores may be less-than-satisfactory, but his scores are always far, far too good for them.

Danny Elfman!!!

nuff said!!

Someone else I think would be nearly perfect is John Ottman. His Superman Returns score was most excellent.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0653211/

thorr said:

It's still no LAAAAA LAAAAAAAAAAA...  LAA LAAAAAAA LAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! :-)

ESB and ROTJ are closer to LAA LAAAA, than TPM (its Korah Ratamah, etc.)


and lets not forget this ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9COlq2blTg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zb3ML6YqJU

fishmanlee said:

thorr said:

It's still no LAAAAA LAAAAAAAAAAA...  LAA LAAAAAAA LAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! :-)

ESB and ROTJ are closer to LAA LAAAA, than TPM (its Korah Ratamah, etc.)

or "Corn On The Cob" for the Mondegreen lovers. :)

god damn it will never unhear and will now hear it every time... :(

bkev said:

god damn it will never unhear and will now hear it every time... :(

you're welcome :)

[muhahahaha]

People are allowed to be John Williams fans and hate the scores for Episode star wars prequels 1-3 and INDY IV.  I find them to be totally forgettable if not outright bore fests.

1-3 required some actual effort though, i thought INDY IV was phoned in.

Would be great if the films and the music charted new territory.  Bring in the star trek and lost guy.

I thought his score for trek 2009 was good enough on its own, he could do his own interpretation of Williams opening theme and compose the other music.