The Dark Knight - Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard

NO Bregt! You will sit there and you will listen! And you will either LOVE it or HATE it! There shall be no middle ground so help me god!

YES! Pleeeeease do. At the very least, I'll be able to show my mum what I've been trying to tell her all these years about those scores (and other people too). She's a big fan of them (which is fine, so am I - apart from the first one), but she's never believed me when I've said these films needed a more traditional approach to film scoring.

DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!

I just re-watched the original version of the Tumbler Chase with Zimmer and JNH's score and the one thing that REALLY irritates me about the music written for that scene is that it's not scene specific. There are no sync hits. It's just a pulsating synth beat with a few statements of the Batman theme and that's basically it. There are no changes in tempo. It seems like trailer music thrown underneath the scene. Personally, it doesn't add any intensity to the chase... it just there, not doing much of anything. And you know, the scene could have easily worked without any music.

I'm not saying the MY approach was the right one but where I think I topped the original is with the music right at the end of the chase. Rachel is dying and Batman has to get her to the Batcave was fast as possible to administer the antidote but the cops are holding him up. I wanted to give those last few moments just before the jump through the waterfall and Batman screaming "RACHEL!" way more suspence and intensity then there is in the original. IMHO, both the Elfman and the Young versions do that where Zimmer and JNH's failed.

-Erik-

There's your answer right there. It's fun! Plus, it sparks some debate.

-Erik-

Don't see the point? Well apart from being very interesting to hear different music in a film, it also proves that when you have a better score, it makes a film/scene better.

It's a great idea actually, this is a FILM MUSIC forum after all!

Fun not funny! And I can do it with a Williams score as well.

-Erik-

There are a moment where the note is played a little longer and then a crescendo

it's eficient enough.

anyway I agree, I think "molossus" is cool, but like many other Zimmer action tracks, they don't follow the scene (From King Artur to Tears of the Sun). That's why i like Peamaker or At world's End, they are more scores than single compositions .

Wow, the whole thing just gotten more loud and annoying. There's a whole lot of notes to just assault the ears. Note that I really like the pieces that you've chosen. They worked really well in the movies that was made for them, but they barely functional here. You've really redefined the whole sonic wallpaper issue that you've so railed against. You've created some forward motion, yet, by adding more orchestral chaos, which then has to compete with the sound effects and audio and visual, you've over-exaggerated the whole thing to almost near camp. But as long as you're happy with the result

No doubt!



Well, it's FAR from a proper mix.



Again, not a proper mix and of course the music isn't composed for this scene specifically, timing it all out took some time and it's far from perfect but it's far from sonic wallpaper. Sonic wallaper is music that is there but as absolutely no meaning whatsoever. IMHO, Zimmer and JNH's original cue is sonic wallpaper. Read James' post above yours.



I don't do these videos just to satisfy my own curiosities. It's here to spark some sort of friendly, intelligent debate.

-Erik-

Oh grow up! Have some fun will ya.

-Erik-

^ What he said!

-Erik-

That's not the point. There's no point to have so many notes just to have to dial it all down in the end. The scene did need more tension, and Hans's cue didn't absolutely deliver it, but an upfront minimalistic approach still worked better (or rather functioned better) than a dialed down cue of orchestral bombast such as the one you were proposing.



Am I not friendly? Am I Not Merciful? I understand that many people would like something more orchestral, but only you have been able to articulate that need so clear with the videos. Yet both time, the only impression I could get from those videos is that even if the music is overwrought and bombastic to the point o inappropriateness, people would still want it because it's not a Hans Zimmer cue.

Way ahead of you, pal.



According to you... which is just fine and dandy!



No, because Zimmer is more than capable of delivering the goods. The real problem here is the director and his wants. If he gave Zimmer and JNH some more creative freedom I think that they could have done something remarkable.... something more than an ordinary, plain, functional score that plays in the movie.

-Erik-

And you are doing the exact something labeling anyone who doesn't like a Zimmer score or his music in general bitchy.

-Erik-