Superman Returns anyone?

[dcoscina]

It's interesting that Singer made Ottman use Williams' seminal theme from the original film. Although the story picks up after Superman 2 so I believe this is consistent. however, hearing the music under the scenes that I've watched reveals a HUGE disparity in the style and technique between the composers'. Williams score was one of his best from the '70s with tons of thematic development and amazingly virtuosic string runs that perfectly underscored the speed of Superman.

I'm hoping Ottman's score (in its entirety) does congeal better with Williams' material in the film context than what is offered in the trailers and online scenes though.

I wonder how Bruce Boughton would have done with this project....probably amazingly!

[Manip]

I've got mixed feelings about this... I loved the original Superman fanfare from the 1978 film, but feel that it is a little dated. Not in terms of its style, but it feels a little holo... Like it could use more musical depth... And with modern mixing and instruments you could add that depth without having to re-record the entire thing. It is more like a feeling I get, than an actual critism... Like there is something missing from it but I'm not completely sure what that is.

Thus I would like to hear a modern day re-recording of it... And separately I would like to hear someone attempt to re-mix it in their own style to see what we get. Maybe that would scratch my musical itch... I'm not sure.

I keep checking to see if the Superman Returns soundtrack is on iTunes yet... I will be checking out those samples as soon as I can and plan on purchasing it if it is any good.

I don't mind if they go in a different direction... In my view it is far better to go your own, albeit wrong, direction than it is to follow in someone else's footsteps.

[shnurgle]

it could use more musical depth... And with modern mixing and instruments you could add that depth without having to re-record the entire thing.
I would like to hear someone attempt to re-mix it in their own style to see what we get
Just to clarify, "modern mixing and instruments" don't give a composition musical depth; the writing does. Are you suggesting someone rewrite the piece, changing the voicings and orchestration Williams used? I think what you mean is that you feel the 70's recording sounds like a 70's recording, and not like a 120 piece orchestra supplemented with sample libraries, digital reverb, and dynamics processing (which isn't necessarily a bad thing).

[Manip]

I would just like to see a brushed up version... John Williams is a genius but not all of his music is perfect. There are places in the Superman main/fanfare theme that I have always felt could use some 'lift.'

I'm not suggesting I can sit down and write an outstandingly better version, but would like to hear some people make an attempt. Look at what they did for Mission Impossible 2. The original theme is amazing, but for the second film they did something refreshingly original with it. Of course it was not to everyone's taste, but it was great to hear it.

Technology has moved on a lot since 1978, and you can really hear it. Most of the improvements have allowed the audience to hear exactly what the conductor hears in the concert hall... You can clearly hear that the Superman theme, as with other music from that period that the music has been chopped by the recording equipment.

[dcoscina]

... John Williams is a genius but not all of his music is perfect. There are places in the Superman main/fanfare theme that I have always felt could use some 'lift.'



I don't mean to insult anyone here but this statement sounds like a very musically naive proclamation. I think Shnurg is more accurate when he says that the theme sounds like a '70s recording. Perhaps Williams should re-record his seminal work with the London Symphony using today's technology. I know that John Debney conducted/produced a 2 disc Superman set for Varese right before the Rhino expanded original came out. The tempos and arrangement were a little weird but sonically the Krypton music sounded friggin amazing.

The main Superman theme by Williams has a mind-blowing amount of activity in the violins doing that quick ascending line around the brass statement of the melody. I frankly don't hear anywhere that sounds like it needs "lift". And I would never presume to have the arrogance to think I could improve on a JOhn Williams theme such as Superman...maybe just Amistad. ;)

[chocothrax]

It needs more taiko's.

[dcoscina]

It needs more taiko's.

yeah...that's it.:D

[Jeff Hayat]

It's interesting that Singer made Ottman use Williams' seminal theme from the original film.

How do you know this?

....however, hearing the music under the scenes that I've watched....

How did you get to watch any scenes?

[Edx]

I'm not suggesting I can sit down and write an outstandingly better version, but would like to hear some people make an attempt. Look at what they did for Mission Impossible 2. The original theme is amazing, but for the second film they did something refreshingly original with it. Of course it was not to everyone's taste, but it was great to hear it.
.

Thats what I never understood with most of the complaints about Mi2s score. Its obvious they didnt like rock or the other kinds of music that were on the score cd, complaining about its lack of orchestral integrity or stuff like that, when its obvious it wasnt meant to be a orchestral score!