Should John Williams quit before Eps 8 & 9?

John Willams scores are amazing, even his last one that has been so criticized; it's not an immediate easy listening but it's great. And Rey's theme is very studied, very descriptive of her... and of her connection with the force and of her parentage... (that she is Darth Vader's granddaughter... ) . But i believe Alexandre Desplat will be a great substitute, I love his "The curious case of Benjamin Button" score and his final Harry Potter movie score (the Snape's memory theme... perfect!)

 

No.

 

Only a fool would replace Williams. And if he does have to quit at one moment or another due to health reasons, let him pick his own successor.

 

Before hearing TFA soundtrack I would have said John Williams only for Star wars movies. However now he has approached the music in a different way to something that for me isn't completely and intrinsically Star Wars I've had to reevaluate my thoughts about it. On reflection in some ways I feel it would be terrible if he didn't do anymore music for Star Wars. He after all has always been the composer for Star Wars music. His work on TFA is by no means bad in fact in some ways I think it's fantastic. Even though the prequels weren't to everyone's tastes including mine I can appreciate like the TFA soundtrack there were some good things about them. Lucas got to a point where people knew he wasn't going to top the original trilogy and like George I feel maybe Williams should let go and pass the baton on to someone else too. On the other hand other people love the soundtrack and his music in general and I would feel bad for people that want John Williams to stay. Like different people directing star wars movies it's risky to see what other people could bring to the table. There is a chance however that a different composer could bring something fresh, original, unique and totally Star Wars (just like the original trilogy music) so it wouldn't necessarily be a bad idea. I'm not opposed to the idea of a different composer and it might just be the breath of fresh air the franchise needs.

 

The Force Awakens score is the most fresh and new Star Wars score since The Phantom Menace.

To complain about it is total ignorance.

Listen to this cover of Rey's theme:

 

Great! It's like the Hong Kong style Rey's theme.

 

It's a great piece of music. Like how the cover version adds an old theme to heighten the piece. I noticed for the first time with this cover that the theme sounds very much like it could be from a Japanese video game like final fantasy. Also another example of how people seem to all gravitate in particular to this one piece.

 

People always gravitate towards the main theme. Non different in 1977, no different in 1999, no different now. At least, Kylo Ren's Theme, March of the Resistance and Jedi Steps are increasingly popular. There are a number of covers on the web.

 

I don't know what you mean by the main theme? I didn't know Rey's theme was the main theme. People gravitate towards the strongest melodic piece and in 1977 there were many including the title main star wars theme which was created in 1977 and at the start of every star wars movie since.

 

Williams' score wasn't the problem.

It's was JJ's chaotic, ultra fast-paced shooting style.

This threw me off, and I'm over half Williams' age.

Imagine what it did to him.

 

Hahahaha I don't know if that was meant to be funny but that was quite funny. Yes I agree to a point. JJ wanted to squeeze quite alot into that movie and so he didn't have alot of time spent on each part of the movie. The pacing could definitely have been better. They could have got rid of at least 2 characters maybe one or two more and let the characters breathe more. I would have liked to have seen a more fleshed out General Hux as a character for instance and see that power struggle I read about between kylo ren and him play out more fully but that's another story. Forgive me if I'm wrong but I don't believe John Williams had very long to write the score and neither did JJ and Kasdan to write the script. This could be the main problem for both. I got the impression that initially they had time to write a fantastic script but it had been through a few hands and many drafts had been written before Kasdan and JJ had to start from scratch. And by that time they didn't have relatively long to write it. I have more faith in the writing for episode 8. Rian Johnson has had the benefit of working closely to JJ and has had alot more time to write it. I think it will show (I hope and pray).

 

I don't know if this is true, but I read somewhere that John Williams don't saw much of the movie.
Allegedly J.J. explained TFA to John Williams, so he got a impression about the movie and how to score for it.

 

yeah I meant not "Main Theme" but the main theme of the score. Duel of The Fates, Across the Stars, Duel of the Fates, The Force Theme, Imperial March, Luke and Leia, Rey's Theme

 

Wow if that's true that makes alot of sense. Also if it's true I have even more admiration for John Williams than I already did.

 

I suppose you hit the nail on his head with this sentence.
They don't had much time, no doubt, Disney wanted to put out the movie as soon as possible.
That's why Michael Arndt the original script writer got released in the first place.
I think that John Williams did the best he could. (I read that he was ill too)

 

Yeah cool. My favourites so far are rey's theme and jedi steps.

--- Double Post Merged, Jan 18, 2016, Original Post Date: Jan 18, 2016 ---

This all makes alot of sense. I'm not surprised about Williams, the poor guy is so old now. Yes I agree Disney wanted there product out there as soon as to see a return on their investment. Never mind we have been waiting 30 years for that movie for something truly spectacular. They get hold of it and want to rush it! I know many won't agree with that but that's my opinion.

 

No way, keep him on as long as possible. I myself was underwhelmed the first time I saw the film, but really appreciated the score by my third viewing! Can't imagine a Star Wars score without him.

 

Not a very memorable soundtrack, but if something stands out, I would mention both tracks too.

Rey's theme at the beginning reminds me of Ennio Morricone's "The man with no name"