A Discussion of John Williams

POSTED BY: khambilo
UPDATED: Monday, November 30, 2009 09:20
VIEWED: 4881
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KHAMBILO

Thursday, November 19, 2009 11:20 PM

I've just allocated a couple of John William's soundtracks and I'm curious. Like his work? Hate it? If you like it, what's your favorite John Williams soundtrack? Or if you don't like him, do you have a favorite film composer?

Just curious.

Personally, my favorites would be his work in Star Wars (everything except episode III really) and the Memoirs of a Geisha soundtrack.

CHRISISALL

Thursday, November 19, 2009 11:34 PM

Loved the dude since Lost In Space (Johhny Williams), and his scores for The Fury, Superman, Star Wars, & Temple Of Doom are my favourites.

The laughing Chrisisall

KAREL

Friday, November 20, 2009 12:02 AM

http://www.moosebutter.com/lyrics.php/star-wars?videos

*snort*

"Whatever is wrong with you is so right for me." -- Marillion.

KHAMBILO

Friday, November 20, 2009 12:05 AM

Good picks. I also forgot to add the Raiders March from Indiana Jones to my list of favorite, but everything else from Indy (for me) is okay, but not standout. I think his work in War of the Worlds also deserves some mention.

BYTEMITE

Friday, November 20, 2009 1:19 AM

Probably one of the better composers of our time. His pieces with classical inspiration are his best.

THESOMNAMBULIST

Friday, November 20, 2009 2:14 AM

Great Topic!!!

Well I'd have to go with JAWS because let's face it the music IS the shark. I don't think I've ever gone swimming since and not had that theme resonante through my head when I've poke around a shadowy area of water... It just is so perfect.

Raiders of the Lost Ark theme is wonderful also and is sure to stir you up when you hear it. The only thing I'd say and I don't think this John Williams' fault but he obviously is asked to score very similar sounding themes.

Catch Me If You Can was a surprisingly 'different' sound for him and it was a great score.

Let's face it if you were a kid in the 80's and ouy went to the cinema there's a good chance you came out humming one of his many scores as you left. He just manages to hit the right chords.

Other great composers:

Bernard Herrmann - He did a lot of Hitchcocks films and often Hitch's best films are just that because of Hermann's scores North By Northwest, Vertigo, Psycho...

Danny Elfman has been a long time favourite of mine. Very flambouyant and orchestral and dark. Storyteller with his music. Edward Scissorhands is the standout as well as the Batman theme. Wow was that good!

Recently Marco Beltrami has climbed the ranks of the greats too. His score for iRobot was genius. He was given 17 days to come up with that and it's an incredible arrangement of sounds. He's working on 'V' at the moment. I hope he continues for a while yet on that show because it needs help.

Also Michael Giacchinoo. He's more commonly known for LOST but he actually does some brilliant themes for the Pixar films. He seems able to blend orchestral and 20's 30's jazz/swing into his compositions. wonderful stuff.

CHRISISALL

Friday, November 20, 2009 2:41 AM

AND, Jerry Goldsmth, legend.
Twilight Zone, Man From U.N.C.L.E., Shamus, Planet Of The Apes, Logan's Run, Star Trek TMP, OMG this dude did more stuff than I have time to list!!

The laughing Chrisisall

KHAMBILO

Friday, November 20, 2009 4:44 AM

Bernard Herman is definitely worth mentioning. I love the opening overture to psycho - just the frenzied and psychotic nature of it, it's almost as suspenseful as the actual film.

Michael Giacchino is good, too. His work in the new Star Trek movie was amazing!

And while on the subject of composers, (though not necessarily for film), I've always enjoyed Nobuo Uemastu's work on the Final Fantasy series. Also, Tommy Tallarico's score for Advent Rising was arguable the best part of the game (besides the story written by Orson Scott Card).

LWAVES

Friday, November 20, 2009 10:30 PM

I would have to say that there are many great composers for film music out there, some of whom have been mentioned.
But for a piece (especially main themes) that is so instantly recognisable to just about anyone, even those that aren't necessarily fans of the films there can be none better than Mr Williams. His collaborations with Spielberg alone put him at the top.
When you hear his music you are instantly transported to that film and his film list comprises some of the great and classic films. I can say that I find that his music is as much a part of the film as any actor or director or writer could be.
His extensive, earlier TV work speaks for itself but I have to say that I don't know most of it as I wasn't around then.

To name my faves in no order:

The Star Wars Saga
Close Encounters
Jaws
Superman
The Indiana Jones Trilogy
E.T.
Saving Private Ryan
Jurassic Park
Harry Potter movies
Far And Away (okay the film's not great but the music is)
Schindler's List

I hope he continues for many years.

"I don't believe in suicide, but if you'd like to try it it might cheer me up to watch."

PIZMOBEACH

Friday, November 20, 2009 11:17 PM

Yeah, in a way he was like Speilberg was for film, they sort of grew up in the business together. The only knock on him might be that he has been a bit over used and no matter how versatile someone is there's still "that sound." I was glad when the Harry Potter franchise gave someone else a try.

Others have mentioned some great choices - Steve Jablonsky & Bear McCreary of Island/Transformers and BattleStar Galactica are 2 others doing pretty good works.

Scifi movie music + Firefly dialogue clips, 24 hours a day - http://www.scifiradio.com

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