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Topic: Ben Hur, a great epic score.
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Mark Olivarez
Oscar® Winner
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This Saturday my friend and I were listening to Rhino's 2 disc Ben Hur and I made the comment about how it was a shame that these grand epic scores are rarely heard or made anymore. He agreed with me you really don't see the long grand scores anymore. I mean what more could you ask for, no synths or sound effects, just an orchestra playing traditional instruments, for the most part. Sure there are some like Star Wars and Hook or Dances with Wolves (perhaps), but with the age of loud bombastic films and the loud bombastic scores producers want it's a shame that only a few select composers can still write or have the clout to write good old fashion scores and not fill them with mindless noises. I can just imagine how some films could be improved (slightly I might add) by a majestic score. I guess I'm a little sentimental with the up comming release of Cleopatra. I miss the good old days of large epics and grand scores. I can only hope that Spartacus is to follow shortly.
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posted 03-05-2001 10:49 AM PT (US) ip
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Eric Paddon
Oscar® Winner
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I couldn't agree with your assessment more. Ben-Hur for me is the greatest score ever composed, and it amazes me that in the last decade we've gotten away completely from the style of epic score composition that during the 70s and 80s thanks to Star Wars still seemed alive and vibrant. Time was you could see a lousy movie with a fantastic epic style score (Raise The Titanic comes to mind). Now, all the hit movies have the most unmemorable scores possible or become hits only when tied to a nauseating pop song (Titanic).
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posted 03-05-2001 11:20 AM PT (US) ip
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Nicolai P. Zwar
Oscar® Winner
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I certainly agree with you two guys in that Ben Hur is just one incredibly lush and wonderful film score -- one of my favorites too -- but I would have to say that this type of film score only befits comparatively few types of movies.
Still, it is sad indeed that even those movies that indeed could utilize grand film scores have often nothing more than musical wallpaper fill in the voids. Those directors with a vision and feel for what a potent component a well written film score can be seem to be a tiny minority these days. (Though they always were a minority.) But not enough that the quality of many of today's film scores is highly questionable, most movies these days are overscored, too. Film music, for the most part, is just a tapestry to be plastered wherever some music editor thinks it needs to be splashed. But hey, just savor the gems. They were always rare, yet they still come along once in a while.NP: Lalo Schifrin Enter The Dragon (Expanded and Remastered Warner Release) [Message edited by Nicolai P. Zwar on 03-05-2001]
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posted 03-05-2001 12:31 PM PT (US) ip
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JJH
Oscar® Winner
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thinking about Ben-Hur only makes me think what a great movie Gladiator could have been.
NP -- A Celtic Symphony, Sir Granville Bantock *****!
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posted 03-05-2001 02:06 PM PT (US) ip
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Gae
Oscar® Winner
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Did you know Rozsa was allowed a whole year to compose this score....and doesn't it show? What a masterpiece! I dont think a score like this will ever be equalled again! Gae
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posted 03-05-2001 02:27 PM PT (US) ip
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Hector J. Guzman
Oscar® Winner
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I was just going to post something about this score. I just saw the movie this weekend. I want to get this score but I've never seen it in stores.NP. Toy Story 2
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posted 03-05-2001 02:52 PM PT (US) ip
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Marian Schedenig
Oscar® Winner
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One of the very best, without a doubt. You can call a collection without Ben Hur anything you like, but not a film score collection.
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posted 03-05-2001 02:56 PM PT (US) ip
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Chris Kinsinger
Oscar® Winner
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That wonderful Rhino 2-CD set of BEN-HUR is the canon by which all film score releases should be measured.Every film score CD should receive such grand treatment! (In my dreams!)  Gladiator is a perfect example of a modern-day film that would have been even better with just such a score. Tell me REALLY...when you look at society today, and measure it against the recent past...can anybody really believe that things are getting BETTER?
NP: Mysterious Island Herrmann
[Message edited by Chris Kinsinger on 03-05-2001]
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posted 03-05-2001 09:29 PM PT (US) ip
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A.G
Oscar® Winner
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Guys, I have the one disc edition of Ben Hur, would it be worth upgrading to the 2-Disc set or should I just stick with what I've got?[Message edited by A.G on 03-06-2001]
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posted 03-06-2001 03:02 AM PT (US) ip
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JJH
Oscar® Winner
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you ought to upgrade.the 2CD set is a long listen, but at least you have everything. For me, it's a must-have for purely historical reasons, nevermind that I think it's just the greatest score written.
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posted 03-06-2001 09:08 AM PT (US) ip
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SEBULBA
Oscar® Winner
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I noticed that the Ben Hur dvd has an iso score. Does the 2 cd set have everything? Or does it have alternates or unused material which would not be on the dvd?
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posted 03-06-2001 09:17 AM PT (US) ip
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JJH
Oscar® Winner
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I don't think it has quite everything, but there are a few alternates and outtakes if I remember correctly. I think everything from the movie is in it. Either way, it's a hefty release.
I don't think I'm gonna get the DVD. I've only got a 15-inch computer monitor here, and Ben-Hur in letterbox on this small a screen just ain't happenin'. I still have the videotapes anyway.
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posted 03-06-2001 09:23 AM PT (US) ip
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Marian Schedenig
Oscar® Winner
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Iso score? Wow!  JJ, you have 3 possibilities:
- Watch the film on VHS in a Pan&Scan version. I'm absolutely certain this ruins the film.
- Watch it on VHS in a letterboxed version, like the one I taped from TNT. VHS resolution is much too low, it looks horrible.
- Watch it on DVD, with full resolution.
 NP: Gustav Mahler: Symphony #3 (Agnes Baltsa, Vienna Philharmonic, Lorin Maazel)
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posted 03-06-2001 09:55 AM PT (US) ip
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JJH
Oscar® Winner
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Pan & Scan Ben-Hur! Perish the thought!
I have the VHS version in letterbox, and for now, I can actually see the movie on a bigger TV set than what I have on my computer.
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posted 03-06-2001 10:11 AM PT (US) ip
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SEBULBA
Oscar® Winner
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By the way, the Ben Hur dvd comes out next Tuesday. Go here for info. It's loaded.
http://www.express.com/consumer/products_movies_fr.asp?PRODUCTNUMBER=1266 [Message edited by SEBULBA on 03-06-2001]
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posted 03-06-2001 10:47 AM PT (US) ip
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Marian Schedenig
Oscar® Winner
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quote:
Originally posted by JJH:
I have the VHS version in letterbox, and for now, I can actually see the movie on a bigger TV set than what I have on my computer.
Ok, that's a different story. I'm still looking forward to getting the DVD though. Letterboxed VHS tapes never look too good, but I think the chariots in the race aren't more than a few dots. But I know how uncomfortable it can be to watch movies on your computer monitor - I did that for years when I couldn't afford (and didn't want to) a TV set. You can hear the score though. That's most important. NP: Koyaanisqatsi (Philip Glass)
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posted 03-06-2001 12:00 PM PT (US) ip
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Gae
Oscar® Winner
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Does anyone know if the DVD will have the isolated score on region 2? I've got about 2/3rds of the music on various different albums but there is more music in the movie I believe...about two to two and a half hours isn't it? Anyone confirm the amount in the film itself? Thanks. Gae
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posted 03-06-2001 02:39 PM PT (US) ip
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joan hue
Oscar® Winner
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When I was growing up, it seemed that each year one or two EPICS
graced our movie screens. From Rogers and Hammerstein musicals
to Roman Epics, I looked forward to a grand movie and spectacular
filmscore. I’m a progressive, forward looking person, but I do miss
true movie EVENTS like Ben Hur and Rozsa’s awe inspiring score.NP Ben Hur sounds like a great idea.
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posted 03-06-2001 03:46 PM PT (US) ip
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