[Closed] Now Playing - Part XV

NP: Kung Fu Panda - Hans Zimmer & John Powell

Personally I divide my scores into two types - ones with depth and for deep listening (like LoTR) and the others for light (or HEAVY ) listening with "let ur hair down" feel (RC type scores) and this is one great score for Rockin' and Rollin' to, thanks to Powell's great percussion, along with great ethnic stuff.

I listened to this score a few days ago and it is simply superb. I'd like to hear more of this in modern day film music.

-Erik-

Miraz Crowned is definitely one of the best villain tracks I've heard lately, along with Davy Jones from PoTC 2 and Durza from Eragon. I like most of the score from PC a lot

NP: Hunchback Of Notre Dame - Alan Menken

I just LOVE the choir! Tracks like Paris Burning, And He Shall Smite The Wicked and Sanctuary! are just epic. A real masterpiece by Menken!!

Well... ooooooookaaaaay.

-Erik-

There is. Try Adrian Johnston and Mark McKenzie.

I've never heard Johnston. I love McKenzie, but I don't think he quite comes to the level of Rombi. Maybe with the right budget he could? Most of his scores seem to sound like very small ensembles.

Firewall Alexandre Desplat

The only two things I really enjoyed about this film was of course Harrison Ford and this score. Desplat has a knack for keeping you interested in the less-than-interesting films with his very tense music. Quite brilliant film music!

Saying that though, I think there are few composers who can pull off overly sentimental music so stylishly as Horner. Sentimental music of this type tends to have a negative connotation, particularly on this board, but sometimes it's nice to listen to a score that purposefully tries to explode your heart... and Horner's the composer I think of first if I'm in the mood for an emotional heart attack. (For others, probably the older members, it's Delerue. )

I wasn't questioning which score you like. That's your preference and your own personal opinion. What I was wondering is why you feel Sith sounds more like a Star Wars score than The Phantom Menace.

-Erik-

Wow, I was planning on listening to that next.

NP: Hancock - John Powell
People have mentioned "Hollywood Blvd", but I can't believe no one is talking about "The Moon and the Superhero"...that's got to be one of the greatest uses of the Zimmer "power anthem" concept I have ever heard...and the most epic, heroic thing I've ever heard from John Powell.

I prefer Phoenix Rises from X-Men III. (Besides trying to make a point, I prefer most things over Hancock.)

"Phoenix Rises" is what I would call epic and dark, as opposed to epic and heroic. "The Moon and the Superhero" is almost joyful in a way that most modern film music definitely isn't.

Demetris, I don't think any particular section of the CD is boring. I think there are some really boring individual cues, but they are mixed in with some pretty interesting mood music and small action pieces. It could have made a really tight 30-minute album, but I think the "boring" cues give it room to breath, and I like that.

On a lighter note... NP: Jeux d'Enfants for the third time ever and it is lovely. I actually prefer the English title, "Love Me If You Dare." I have all the track titles translated too. For some reason, some of these French films have English alternate titles that are completely different than the literal translation of the French title. Jeux d'Enfants = 'Childs Play' in english. Another one is "Un Hirondelle etc.." i forget the exact french title, but it translates to "One Swallow Brought Spring." But the English title is "A Girl From Paris."

HA! Wait 'till you hear the Greek translations:

NO RESERVATIONS (2007) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0481141/ translated in Greek, got this title: "Have you reserved your table?"

DON.T.JUST.DON.T.ASK

I haven't been playing a lot recently, due to exams and the week after. But finally it's coming back, and Wall-E is a score I listened to the most recently. It's not as good as Finding Nemo (it's not as catchy) but again, it's full of lovely cues combined with oddities that, like Tom said, make you smile all the way. Fine and larger orchestrations than Finding Nemo. Perhaps not so unique as other Newman's but definitely one of the better listens this year.