Yup. That's right.

I just spent a good two hours sewing my viking costume together (for a dance next weekend) and I plopped the mp3s on. Since sewing requires next to zero concentration I could give the score a great listen.

[minor, score related SPOILERS]

My conclusions:

1. Across the Stars is heartbreaking stuff. Great use throughout, especially just before the end credits roll.

2. The ending should be great. I purposely have no clue about plot, but at least there's no child-chorus-driven celebration at the end.

3. The Imperial March use is superb. Restrained but more than enough. Can't wait to see that on screen.

4. I'm not too keen on certain bits of the action, but overall each track keeps you interested.

5. Knowing you're on Tattooine before you read the track titles feels just great. The power of music.

6. I am much much more anxious to see the film and buy the score now. I am determined to keep my hopes down, but am still lookiong forward to the whole Star Wars moviegoing experience again.

7. My costume is cool, too.

NP: Viking music!!!

quote:

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Originally posted by Camillu:
3. The Imperial March use is superb. Restrained but more than enough. Can't wait to see that on screen.

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Well, unlike Anakin's Theme, which used a nice subtle "touch" of the Imperial March, I found the full-on rendition of the theme to be a bit bold, if you ask me. Of course, I have no idea what's going on in the film at the time, but I always associated the theme with Vader. And, well, Anakin's not Vader yet. Not until the next film. So.... I suppose if I just think of the theme as for the Empire, and not for Vader, then it might work - but i still think it should have been a bit more "subtle".

(kinda like the subtlety of that electric guitar. eeshh....)

The quick use of Anakin's theme at a certain point is great.

About the Imperial March - I would not associate it with the Emprie at this point, but rather with the evil side of Anakin. I guess the theme shows that at that point the darker side (Vader) is already beginning to show...

The apperance in track 11 (which is essentially a big spoiler cue if you know your star wars themes well) is Anakin related. It's grand apperance in 13 is most likely to signal the formation of the Empire at the end of the movie, or so I assume. This would of course be a nod to the fact that the Empire will bee seen in full form in Ep3 unleashing hell upon the galaxy and the Jedi.

Dan

quote:

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Originally posted by dgoldwas:

Well, unlike Anakin's Theme, which used a nice subtle "touch" of the Imperial March, I found the full-on rendition of the theme to be a bit bold, if you ask me. Of course, I have no idea what's going on in the film at the time, but I always associated the theme with Vader.

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Exactly the salient point, I think. I have also always associated it with Vader specifically, rather than the Empire. I could be wrong about that, of course.

My guess is that Anakin turns, finally, at the end of Episode 2, and Darth Vader is 'born', ergo not only the use of the theme, but the veritable brandishing of it. If you look at the previews, it seems that a deliberate mirroring of the other trilogy is here in spades, meaning that this one has to end all dark and hopeless.

If you listen to track 13, the music seems to shift back and forth between the march and events elsewhere (likely with Anakin and Padme on Naboo) before finally going into Across the Stars and the end titles. This would seem to indicate the finale as a scene will shift between the formation of the Empire and the naboo stuff. The music is fitting to a montage of sorts.

Listen to this moment if you will, and picture the Emperor fleeing, clone troopers marching, fleets of the early incarnations of Star Destroyers seen in the trailer spreading across the Galaxy. This needs to be seen to establish the Empire's might in Episode III...
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Dan