Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker - Discussion * SPOILER THREAD * — Page 129

Did you like it? Seems like people who’ve listened to it think it’s the best of the trilogy.

I may have listened to it as well. Too early to say if it’s the best one, I really like the previous ones.

There were two new themes that stood out to me, one of which might be a friendship theme for the main gang, and another one that sounds like a triumphant theme with a bit of a romantic vibe. Also many uses of the emperor’s theme, although I think this selection focuses on the music that isn’t based on earlier work (because of Oscar Academy rules).

The last song is curious, it’s called A New Home (a nod to A New Hope, I assume), but it’s not cosy music for a happy ending or epic music for a twin sunset shot, it has a subdued and mysterious vibe. I don’t think it’s the actual last music in the film though, this selection leaves out the credits music and the lead up to it.

I just listened to it as well.

It’s fine, but it’s pretty anemic when it comes to new thematic material with a couple of exceptions (both of which Sir Ridley mentioned). I know this isn’t a complete soundtrack, but as-is it has the least to offer of all three sequel trilogy soundtracks. It either spends a lot of time playing with different colors or weaving quickly in and out of motifs we’re already familiar with. I know John Williams is very old now and I honestly wonder how much involvement he really had in scoring this movie. Much of this soundtrack sounds like it might have been delegated to one of his proteges.

Cobra Kai said:

pleasehello said:

I just listened to it as well.

It’s fine, but it’s pretty anemic when it comes to new thematic material with a couple of exceptions (both of which Sir Ridley mentioned). I know this isn’t a complete soundtrack, but as-is it has the least to offer of all three sequel trilogy soundtracks. It either spends a lot of time playing with different colors or weaving quickly in and out of motifs we’re already familiar with. I know John Williams is very old now and I honestly wonder how much involvement he really had in scoring this movie. Much of this soundtrack sounds like it might have been delegated to one of his proteges.

Also keep in mind, most of Williams’ scores that he’s composed over the course of his career were written AFTER the final cuts of the movies were finished. That is no longer the case as modern big budget movies are now cut and re-cut right up until the release, so composers no longer have such luxury. As a result the final scores end up being cut up and patched together by the music editor to match the final edit.
This is one reason why thematic scores in general are mostly a thing of the past; modern scores are no longer linked to the movie structure, but are just relegated to simply being appropriate moments for individual scenes.

So yes, Williams is very old now, but it’s also not really fair to compare his modern scores with his old classics where he was completely free to work his magic.

Yes, that’s true. But not being able to score the final cut doesn’t preclude a composer from writing compelling thematic material for the individual scenes you mention. Comparing this score to OT or PT scores is unfair and not something I would do, but even when comparing it to TFA, this score has a lot less meat.

At Johnny’s age it’s almost a certainty he had collaborators who contributed musical material to this score, so it’s not so much a question of if he had help, but rather how much help he had. And honestly that’s fine. I love John Williams and I’d rather he contributed only 50% of the score than if he didn’t contribute at all. It’s a fine score and it’s no less than I expected.

pleasehello said:

Cobra Kai said:

pleasehello said:

I just listened to it as well.

It’s fine, but it’s pretty anemic when it comes to new thematic material with a couple of exceptions (both of which Sir Ridley mentioned). I know this isn’t a complete soundtrack, but as-is it has the least to offer of all three sequel trilogy soundtracks. It either spends a lot of time playing with different colors or weaving quickly in and out of motifs we’re already familiar with. I know John Williams is very old now and I honestly wonder how much involvement he really had in scoring this movie. Much of this soundtrack sounds like it might have been delegated to one of his proteges.

Also keep in mind, most of Williams’ scores that he’s composed over the course of his career were written AFTER the final cuts of the movies were finished. That is no longer the case as modern big budget movies are now cut and re-cut right up until the release, so composers no longer have such luxury. As a result the final scores end up being cut up and patched together by the music editor to match the final edit.
This is one reason why thematic scores in general are mostly a thing of the past; modern scores are no longer linked to the movie structure, but are just relegated to simply being appropriate moments for individual scenes.

So yes, Williams is very old now, but it’s also not really fair to compare his modern scores with his old classics where he was completely free to work his magic.

Yes, that’s true. But not being able to score the final cut doesn’t preclude a composer from writing compelling thematic material for the individual scenes you mention. Comparing this score to OT or PT scores is unfair and not something I would do, but even when comparing it to TFA, this score has a lot less meat.

At Johnny’s age it’s almost a certainty he had collaborators who contributed musical material to this score, so it’s not so much a question of if he had help, but rather how much help he had. And honestly that’s fine. I love John Williams and I’d rather he contributed only 50% of the score than if he didn’t contribute at all. It’s a fine score and it’s no less than I expected.

I don’t think he needs help, unless you have some proof that he has ever used ghost writers I’ll assume that’s not the case. And I believe he had access to a rough cut of the film when he started composing, and he could make changes and record new versions until very late in the post production. He started recording in June and finished just 20 days ago. That’s at least five months, so I’m sure he’s had time to do his best.

Also, here’s a new amazing and spoilery clip:
https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWarsLeaks/comments/e9s5uy/new_the_rise_of_skywalker_clip/

SPOILER

It confirms that Palpatine talked to Kylo as Snoke and Vader (through the burned helmet).

Dude, Ian McDiarmid’s still got it! I feel like a lot (not all) of skeptical fans will let go of their apprehension as soon as they see/hear the Emperor. The Emperor is tied to our childhoods, regardless if you are an OT kid or a PT kid, and seeing him, back from the dead, will feel scary and thrilling. I think reading leaks vs the feeling of those characters on screen will lead to different opinions.

I was sort of skeptical about them bringing back Palpatine, but hearing him talk to Kylo Ren, it feels so right to me. Hard to explain.

that exogol/kylo clip was the first thing to really win me over for this film. wish they’d released that much earlier to garner some fanbase confidence. actually hype now.

You don’t see him in the trailer!

Yeah…but you do hear him, and he’s very good at…impressions

orchidal said:

that exogol/kylo clip was the first thing to really win me over for this film. wish they’d released that much earlier to garner some fanbase confidence. actually hype now.

My feelings exactly!

This is all so incredible! Great interviews and the BTS is so so cool. Man, John Williams looks like this wise, old wizard, infusing magic into this story he has help tell over the last 40 years. Pretty amazing.

When the FYC soundtrack leaked the other day, I listened to it in fits and starts in a browser window without an auto play function in the twitter app on my phone with one burnt-out earbud, and I didn’t love it. I’m listening again now to a mirror I found on reddit, on actual speakers in the comfort of my apartment, and I’m enjoying it a whole lot more. It’s a good stylistic mix of all three trilogies. Love those ANH timpani drums. There’s more than a little Indy in there, too. The lack of big new themes is disappointing, but I think this might have the best texture of the ST scores.

I’m going to wait a few days until after the premiere to read the plot summary on Wikipedia.

I don’t trust J.J. Abrams.

fmalover said:

I’m going to wait a few days until after the premiere to read the plot summary on Wikipedia.

I don’t trust J.J. Abrams.

This will be how we all consume film in 50 years. The film’s success will then be determined by the number of upvotes the plot summary receives. Nice to see you’ve already embraced our dystopian future.

I don’t trust him. But I’ll let you know sometime Saturday. Until then, adiós.