[Closed] Now Playing XXXV

James Newton Howard - Defiance

Except all the Shyamalan stuff, this is some of very best James Newton Howard material in last decade, I think. Very moving score and a beautiful theme. The action music, if it appears, is not too shabby either, though not as desperate as JNH can be.

"Emporer of the North" / "Caprice"
(Frank DeVol)

The nifty sold out Intrada limited edition.

One of the best in its genre.

n.p. HANS ZIMMER - matchstick men

I forgot how good this was!

That score is stunning, and from what it seems, it will outshine all other 2 scores of the franchise, by far.

Tim, which do you prefer - the re-recording or Barry's original? I've heard that Barry's biggest fans somehow don't like McNeely's re-recording?

I am a huge fan of Debney's version of Somewhere in Time, though I also adore the original.

Speaking as the second biggest Barry fan on the forum, I personally think the McNeely recording is vastly preferable to the original recording - there's something really odd with the mixing on that, I think. Whether it's inherent in the recording itself or something to do with the CD mastering, I'm not clever enough to know.

Pawel, I agree with James. I've read somewhere that Barry wasn't happy with the mix John Lasseter put out, perhaps one day we'll get a deluxe remixed treatment.

NP:Domestic Disturbance (Mancina)

I love this mix of Broken Arrow and basic Instinct.

Mancina came up with some really nice scores.

"Bitter Suite" is really cool.

A huge fan I know tells me about the perfection of the sax performance on the original recording.

NP: The Ghost Writer - Alexandre Desplat

Not bad... but nothing really extraordinary with the exception of the fabulous open track and "Chase on a Ferry." This sounds more like a quirky Elfman however the Desplat signature style is indeed all over this score. The score probably works wonders in the movie but as a stand alone listen I can do without it.

-Erik-

No I haven't... but I want to. I really like the quirky main theme! And "The Truth About Ruth" is a fantastic closer! Great slow building cue where Desplat, for only a few minutes, finally comes out of his shell and lets loose! Very nice... but it still doesn't make up for the rest of the score... but it's not as bad as some others that I've heard.

EDIT - Now that I'm done with it, I REALLY want to see the film to hear the score in context! That could be the deal breaker right there because this one is actually teetering on the edge of me tossing it or giving it a few more spins to soak in.

-Erik-

It's a good movie, with interesting performances by the lead duo. Politically very up-to date and caustic as well.

I overlooked it when it came out too; i found it pleasant but passable, but recently i revisited it and there's very interesting music in there indeed.

Papillon - Jerry Goldsmith

It's lovely indeed, thanks the absolutely wonderful main theme. But I don't hold it in the highest esteem as some other people. Jerry wrote much worse, but also much better scores. It's very good, but I'd never take it to an island if I could pick 20 Goldsmith scores.