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I hate it when JNH comes accross like that. I usually like him because he's a composer that doesn't sound like Zimmer, but every so often something like Blood Diamond comes along.

I watched the 1964 version of THE KILLERS last night, a double dealing heist movie with Lee ( I was born under a wanderin' star ) Marvin, Ronald ( the future US President ) Reagan, John ( The Fury ) Casavettes and Angie ( one time wife of Burt Bacharach ) Dickinson. Extremely cheesy with bad dialogue it's a lot of fun that all ends unhappily for the cast.

The score was by JOHNNY ( one hip cat ) WILLIAMS

A long loooooonnnnnng way off the composer we know today though there are plenty of touches that show a style in the making, I wouldn't rush to own this on CD as anything other than a curio.

On the whole, yes!

Ask yourself again in five minutes.

I disagree, if anything it's Zimmer who refers to JNH's rhythmic sensiblities at times (in moments similar to Waterworld's Deacon's Speech - appears in King Arthur and Samurai). JNH was always much more complex rhythmically than Zimmer. Any similarities may come from the fact that both have rock background.

That's the one

It does foreshadow his film scores, especially Days of Thunder

Try This!

Over the weekend there was a two-parter in ITV - Flood.

Goodness, it was BAD!! I know that I do like some tripe on TV but even I thought that this was terrible. I wouldn't know where to begin in trying to substantiate my opinion...so I won't.

I know that Debbie Wiseman's score is not well thought of here, but I've thought that some of the thematic material is quite listenable. Unfortunately, it just gets repeated over and over again on the CD. Hayley Westenra's vocals on the CD is, in it's way, effective as a standalone piece in terms of stirring the emotions. But hearing it and seeing how it was used in the movie has ruined that standalone listening experience - the use of that music in the film was (IMO) terrible. It seemed to actually force the viewer into feeling sorry for the victim at that moment.

I quite disliked the American version, which is the first (and only) one I could get hold of.
While Burr tries very hard to imbue every scene with earnestness, it does come off indeed quite humorously...which detracts from the not-bad drama (even though Godzilla is a lot scarier and more believable in many of the sequels, even the ones directly following).

I gather though that the Japanese cut is now available on DVD as well, so when money allows I'll be getting that for comparison's sake!

I indeed liked the ending a lot, even though I was rather shocked at the monster's demise (keeping the number of sequels in mind). Apparently the sixties and seventies simply ignored the end, while the Toho reboot of the late eighties pays hommage to it, suggesting there could be more than one Godzilla (referencing "Godzilla-type" monsters).
But of course we fans know there is, and can only ever be, ONE true Big G.!

RV: finally cathcing up on the fourth series of Doctor Who
David Tennant indeed looking a bit older, worn down even, as nicely referenced to by Donna, played by an almost subdued Catherine Tate, who apparently has been smacked around the head a couple of times to keep her hysterics down. And to good effect! I still don't like the character much, but at least I don't hate her as I did before (heaven help me, I even think she's a step up from starry-eyed lapdog Martha...maybe the most thankless, poorliest written compagnon to date... poor Freeyma )

Just finished part 1 (Partners In Crime) and 2 (The Fires Of Pompeii) and even though there was a slow scene here and there in either, was quite impressed with both.
Partners In Crime has a fast-moving, light-weight plot that is never frightening, but by its pace and direction very enjoyable. Donna and the Doctor meeting again and their subsequent "conversation" actually had me laughing out loud! Nice little pop-culture references (loved the villain's "Wile E. Coyote" ending!) and an overall sense of fun and adventure made this a proper and enjoyable entry and start of the new season.
And the ending... What.The.Fuck.
I mean, seriously, WHAT THE FUCK!!!!
My jaw was on the table!!!
I actually rewound the scene three times to see if there were any additional microscopically small clues I was missing...

The Fires Of Pompeii had some of the VERY best set pieces and special effects in ANY Doctor Who episode. I gather they could make use of some of leftovers from HBO's Rome? Well, whatever. It looks brilliant, has some fantastic villains, some good, old-fashioned moral dilemma...Nothing too big or earth-shattering (uh...well. Except for, like, earth-shattering volcanoes and earthquakes. Well. You know what I mean), but just good fun!
Me like!!

As for the music: I think I'm in love with Murray Gold's overhaul of the Dr. Who theme.
It's a twist that echoes the change from the old 1963-type theme to the more energetic one of the seventies. It's way more subtle than that, but there's a definite suggestion of 'progression'.
And it's interesting how the "Boe" segment keeps on getting stronger and stronger as a theme for the Doctor... hmmm...
But is it me, or does the music seem to be poorly mixed? It seems it drowns out the dialogue at several occasions. While I love the score (will certainly get this when it's released) I *do* think it's too much in-your-face right now, which could be easily remedied by simply toning it down just a notch.

Anyway, two thumbs-up so far!

I don't like the newest version of the main theme. For me, it's just too far removed from the original. Gold certainly got the balance right with the first couple of series.

As for poor mixing of the music. I think that there is a certain amount of poor mixing but I'm finding that the dialogue just isn't very clear. I'm finding it really difficult to make out what Catherine Tate is saying sometimes.

As for Season 4 in general, I think that the stories so far are a bit sub-par and I'm hoping that they are going to improve soon. David, my son, wanted to watch "Blink" at the weekend. Now there's an episode I could watch over-and-over again.

On a related note: I have been thinking on that.
I see your point and your reference (even though I don't know Astroboy and have never seen it), but I've been wondering why it is that such characters or monsters meeting their end always hits me so hard emotionally?
I remember a discussion with Aaryk back on the "other board" (Hi Andy! ), where this became one of the main points of discussion: wether we felt more sorry for the monster of Frankenstein or for King Kong.
I came out for the latter, but I only now start to realize that the reason may be different from what I stated before.

It hit me when I tried to correlate my reaction to King Kong, Godzilla, the Iron Giant and a dying whale... it's to do with SIZE! There is something in my mind that has difficulty accepting that anything THAT big, might actually DIE. It's like they're not SUPPOSED to: they're so big, they're epic, and hence spared from mortal consideration.
That they DO die is a complete negation of that feeling. It's the fairy castle that crumbles, Snow White and the prince not living happily ever after, Dorothy not getting home. It's like a measure of safety is taken away.

Of course it makes no sense on any cognitive level.
But emotionally this suddenly explained a lot to me (mostly I guess about me; no idea if anyone can relate to this. Which makes sense. We all have our own correlations, our own references and our own demons to conquer.).

Anyway, perhaps food for thought and discussion in a whole other topic (or maybe not. Like I said, this might well be completely personal, and have no meaning to anyone but me), but it seemed to fit the flow of thought here at this time.




I don't mind. The original is 45 years old! the melody is still the same, and it surely references [i[my[/i] (and David Tennant's, did ya see the Children In Need special "Time Shift"? Excellent!) doctor (the fifth one, Peter Davison). So I'm happy.
But fair do's. I see your point.



Yeah, she doesn't excel at diction or elocution at the best of times.
Yet another strike not in her favour.



Oh... That might mean the three I have still lined up should be real stinkers, as I honestly did enjoy the first two (even though the sense of wonder has now been pretty much used up). Hmmm...well. We'll see.

Well, I've caught up now, adn I have to say I strongly disagree!
I like the stories a lot so far.
The acting is very good, the dialogue better than ever, the pacing just right!
And the special effects seem to have made quantum leaps forward!
I'm massively enjoying the series so far!

The only thing I could possibly find to criticize is that the series tends to steer towards sentimentalism...but I don't mind. In fact, especially when it's well acted (and it is! Bernard Cribbins (Gramps) is very good!), I'm an absolute sucker for sentiment. I blub at the drop of a hat.

Good to see the Ood again (I did feel a bit left in the lurch about their fate after series two), and the Sontaran episodes were just fantastic: action, adventure and brilliant villains. I especially liked the interaction between UNIT and the Doctor, which was far more three-dimensional than ever before.

I'm dying to see how the 'Rose' mystery plays out, but in keeping with the rest of the series, I'm quite resigned to the fact that it'll probably be an utter anti-climax in the Bad Wolf vein, involving some hideous explanation on why bees are disappearing. Oh well.
Until that time, roll on timewaves!
EXTERMINAAAATEEEE!

I see that "Roar" has appeared on iTunes in the UK....yours for only £7.99!!

http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/board/p … ;archive=0

OR you can download it for free.