JOHN POWELL

I think I agree with this generally. Powell's animation scores are OK, but enough already. Would be nice for someone else do it and for him to work on something more stretching.

More live action adventure stuff please.

Having just watched How To Train Your Dragon for the first time (and already in love with the score beforehand) I can honestly say that John Powell is far from being in a Brian Tyler loop or any similar notion. Both film and score are wonderful, best thing Dreamworks has ever made, and I'd even go as far as saying this is Powell's best score for an animation. I've never seen a better marriage of music to film from a Powell animation score, except perhaps for Chicken Run. But what wins me over in 'Dragon' is the emotion, and as great as Chicken Run is, it pales in comparison to 'Dragon' in terms of emotion. Sure, it won't be remembered for its originality relative to Powell's other scores, but who cares when it works so well? I certainly don't. I just know that I love it. (The irony being I was a little lukewarm towards it when I first heard it. Quite ashamed of that actually.)

Seems to me whatever a composer does, someone will complain from the comfort of their computer chair to a bunch of other people on their computer chairs. Perhaps this is why I've been less-than-active on the forum for some time, and perhaps for other reasons. But if it's a case of being biased and unable to see reality, then I'm proud to admit I'm biased and unable to see reality. Obnoxiously proud.

I haven't seen the film yet (will get the DVD as soon as I can find it), but the score of HTTYD, for me, has more raw emotion and dramatic power than a majority of the live-action scores these days. The cue Forbidden Friendship alone is one of the most heart-warming pieces I've heard in recent times and I sincerely hope JP gets an Oscar nod at least. A sequel is most welcome by me and I'm greatly looking forward to it.

There's nothing wrong with liking something and nobody is saying anybody else is wrong if they like it. People are only expressing their opinion. And in this case people (only two people) are saying that while they like Powell's animation scores, they'd rather he did something else instead. If you really do only want to read that everyone likes everything then I can certainly understand why you wouldn't want to browse the forum, but I don't think that's what you really meant (nor do I know what you did really mean).

I could also say that while I'd be pleased if I heard that George Lucas was doing another Star Wars this year and John Williams was scoring, I'd much rather he did another score like Sleepers.

W-e-e-e-e-e-l-l...I kinda understand where Steven is coming from.
It's not about differing opinions, I think. It's about statements being made as fact or even science or even obvious truth, where they are indeed no more than opinions.

Whatever anyone more or less in the public eye does will have its detractors.
And many of them will offer their opinion more often than not in most absolute and unmitigated terms.

And of course with the advent of the internet, it's quite logical that these discussions (or venting of opinions) will take place rather more in cyberspace than in real life. Don't know about you guys, but there is positively no one in my direct surroundings I could have any kind of meaningful discussion on film music about!

Yet this strange, new interaction where we discuss without the added benefit of other communication essentials like body language, direct interaction, tone, inflection (and drinks!), compells us often to make our points within the confines of our own direct physical surroundings (which are a comfort zone!) and -logically- from a comfort zone state of mind. Which makes many points we make sometimes more read like an Absolute Truth rather than "just another" opinion.

That said, critics tend to find fault.
That's their job (whether ina professional or amateur fashion): to find fault.
So as much of the negative as the gushing is only to be expected.

The objective observation, or personal emotional experience are indeed generally gems in a chest of plastic baubles...but all the more valued for that!

So from what physial location do you make the better part of your posts, Matt?

That wasn't really the crux of what I was trying to say: we know the points made by most of the regulars here are opinions, and certainly do not need an "in my opinion" prefacing every single post!

My point was rather more the sometimes abolutist tone that might dilute the message.
Especially when it comes to posts with a more negative content.

I'm not making any judgement calls.
It's just something I pick up from Steven's post as something meaningful.
Who knows, I might completely misinterpret.

I don't think you misinterpret at all.

http://www.goear.com/listen/e36adc4/cat … ohn-powell

So, if you lived and worked in the Gaza Strip, would you still call home and work a "comfort zone"?

You can't assume that home and work are comfort zones for everyone.

Which is not to say that you don't have a good point. You have a very good point.

It's just not entirely true for me. And yes, I am exaggerating to make a point.

What if the basic condition of your everyday life is not being in control, and what if your everyday state of mind has nothing to do with comfort?

just for the sake of argument

bwahahahahaha

Also, John Powell is awesome.

John woo

James Horner