Is John Williams up to the task?

So I was listening to this week's Forcecast, which discussed the intricate awesomeness of Williams' scores for the OT. A good discussion. Then over the weekend, since my wife and oldest daughter were out of town, had the opportunity to watch the Indy Trilogy. And for fun, I watched Jaws and about half of Close Encounters.

John Williams is a genius. The film themes he composed are, I think, some of the most resilient in music. As in, music as an all-encompassing term. Just just film scores. Music.

But I'd be lying if I wasn't a little worried that maybe he's too far beyond his prime to return the epic score this film needs. Star Wars is more than the sum of its parts. That's why it's so great, because its component parts are ALL amazing. The special effects. The sound effects (Ben Burtt is a GOD). The costuming. The score. A great film is like a Formula 1 car - every single piece down to the tiniest screw has to be perfection. In film, each component has to be spectacular in order for the film to transcend. That's sort of how all films work, regardless of genre. I don't think there's a truly great film that you have to make an excuse for something.

Personally, I think the scores for the PT were a significant reason people didn't love them as much as the OT (although, certainly not THE reason). Granted, I've only seen those films a fraction of the number of times I've watched the OT, but the only music that truly stands out as being unforgettably awesome is Duel of the Fates from Episode I. If the scores had been better, would people have fonder perspectives on the PT? And were the scores not as great because the films themselves weren't as good?

Maybe. But in recent years, the only music from Williams that comes to mind as especially memorable is the Harry Potter theme. His work with Spielberg has also been good. Saving Private Ryan comes to mind, mainly that plaintive trumpet solo from the beginning sequence. Minority Report had a cool score. I can't hum any of the themes, but I've only seen it a few times. To my sensibilities, the last truly great score he composed was Jurassic Park. Which was 22 years ago.

This isn't meant to be a takedown of John Williams or an attack on a film that NO ONE HAS SEEN. Like I said, I consider him one of the great composers of all-time. Full stop. No caveats or disclaimers. I also of course get the desire to have some thread of continuity that clearly bridges all of the films. But I also do think his best work is behind him, regardless of his legacy, and that if they're bringing in all of this young blood and fresh ideas for the new films, why not also do so with the score? Will this be the real of the spinoff films?

Whatever your opinion, I'd love to discuss John Williams, and his significance to cinema and symphonic music.

 

OK, so the somewhat dissonant choral buildup and the BLAT were badass. Reminded me abit of 2001. I also LOOOOVE the second low brass BLAT when Kylo appears on screen. So ominous. Sort of Hans Zimmer, although I think in reality he's going for more of a heavy, Wagner-esque tone. I'm really hoping he relies on the low end of the orchestra. The last film score I truly adored was Howard Shores work on Lord of the Rings, which had a lot of great low end presence. I'm a bassist and trombonist by the way, which is why I favor low, heavy, rumbly tones.

That's another score that helped elevate what was on the screen to a different level. The Fellowship of the Ring on opening day is still the best filmgoing experience of my life, mainly because I had no idea what I was going to see, even having read the book numerous times. So much of that film is the amazing music. The hobbit's theme, the main fellowship theme, the ringwraith's theme... all great music. In fact... (putting it on now - God bless iTunes match)

 

Again, I'm predicting some really dramatic Wagner-esque weight to his theme. Lots of low blatting low brass.

 

Hans Zimmer. He writes cool scores that really ramp up the mood, but the melodies and themes are missing. He's too new school. Too digital. At least for my tastes. I MUCh prefer Elfman's music for Burton's Batman than Zimmer's for Nolan's. Although I prefer Burton's Batman to Nolan's in general. The first one, at least.