Author
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Topic: xXx- Review of movie and score
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Spicy Ramen
Goldmember
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Just came back from watching Vin Diesel in xXx.One of those movies you hope gets better farther along in the series. Not to say that this is a bad film. A rather enjoyable flick on the contrary. Vin Diesel's Xander plays a counter-Bond, taking the oppurtunity to blurt out everything that comes to his mind at anyone. Pretty insane action sequences, along the lines of what seems like an Evil-Kaneavel movie. Anything that allows Xander to get some airtime, he will do. (Spoiler)
Jumps out of plane snowboarding down avalanche Grab air over an exploding building Roll of Lamborghini as it falls off bridge
Scorewise, a pretty suprising effort by Randy Edelman to emulate Arnold's Bond scores, alas without the recognizable theme. A pickup.
Enjoyable movie, enjoyable score.
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posted 08-09-2002 07:31 AM PT (US) ip
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jeffy
Goldmember
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I was surprised at Vin Diesel's performance. I thought it would get lost in all that ear-piercing noise. I thoroughly enjoyed watching him on screen, and Samuel L. didn't disappoint either.I'm sure there's going to be sequels. Please, God, don't let Rob Cohen direct! I think there was potential for a theme in there, Ramen. But it wasn't developed enough until the end when he's on the "boat."
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posted 08-09-2002 09:42 AM PT (US) ip
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scoreguy16
Goldmember
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quote:
Originally posted by jeffy:
Please, God, don't let Rob Cohen direct!
What's wrong with Rob Cohen??? Clayton
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posted 08-09-2002 03:50 PM PT (US) ip
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jeffy
Goldmember
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He's like George Lucas....he prefers sound blasting over acting.....I think it was just luck that the actors in XXX not only look the part but they can actually act above the noise.And judging from the smart-but-overbearing sound design of The Fast and the Furious, he won't be changing his ways any time soon.
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posted 08-09-2002 04:48 PM PT (US) ip
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monkey
Goldmember
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Wow, sounds cool. And what I`ve heard so far of Edleman`s score....well....I`ll have to eat my own shorties....sounds very cool....very orchestral....very Zimmerish even.... And that is good!!
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posted 08-09-2002 05:39 PM PT (US) ip
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TimT
Goldmember
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I haven't seen all of the movie, but I agree with Monkey, the score sounded like a MV kinda thing. Especially during his escape from the helicopters with the motocycle.
And I'll give a dollar to anyone who do that jump between the barbwire fence!  Then agian I've never heard Edelman do an all out action score before, other than Anaconda, and that sounded wierd because he was using orchestrations some synths common in the video games at that time.
[Message edited by TimT on 08-09-2002]
[Message edited by TimT on 08-09-2002]
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posted 08-09-2002 05:43 PM PT (US) ip
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MarkA
Goldmember
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Is there a planned score release?
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posted 08-09-2002 06:56 PM PT (US) ip
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Shaun Rutherford
Goldmember
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The only word I can describe Rob Cohen with is this:Poon. Has anyone ever listened to one of his commentaries? Talk about patting yourself on the back........ Shaun
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posted 08-09-2002 07:16 PM PT (US) ip
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OHMSS76
Goldmember
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Mmmmmmmmmmm......poon......mmmmmmmmmmmmSean
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posted 08-09-2002 07:26 PM PT (US) ip
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Jack
Goldmember
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Is the movie family friendly (not much cussing or nudity)?I did a Yahoo search for XXX and came up with a large number of hits.I checked a couple of sites, but I don't think they would allow what was pictured in a PG-13 movie.
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posted 08-09-2002 08:02 PM PT (US) ip
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TimT
Goldmember
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quote:
Originally posted by Jack:
Is the movie family friendly (not much cussing or nudity)?I did a Yahoo search for XXX and came up with a large number of hits.I checked a couple of sites, but I don't think they would allow what was pictured in a PG-13 movie.
Well you know today's jacked up society. A movie isn't cool unless it has a couple of 4 letter words, you know, just for the kids.
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posted 08-09-2002 08:52 PM PT (US) ip
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HadrianD
Goldmember
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FUN FUN flick! Very exciting to watch. It's loud but not so much. I like what Edelman did. He emulated the sounds of Zimmer's Peacmaker VERY WELL. Especially in the latter part of the movie. I even heard some emulation of Rabin's style (drum patch, chord progression and long melody) and that was surprising.
I was skeptical of him being able to score this movie well, but he did a good thing following the temp track pretty well. I was afraid that the score would only hold up in the movie and not as a listening experience, but as it moves through the movie, I found that it'd be pretty much one of his best work ever.Any chance for a score release? The 2cd song album doesn't seems so enticing to me 
Unless the score is in one of those CDs.....
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posted 08-09-2002 09:30 PM PT (US) ip
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monkey
Goldmember
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Hey,
Thanks Hadrian for that description, but I`d still like some more specifics as the film doesn`t come out here for awhile. For example: does it compare with Edelman`s previous works (ie. loads of synth masquarading as orchestra and not being convincing at all) or was the music in the clips that I saw left-overs from a MV scoring session. No, but seriously, I did love the music in the clips and if that was indeed Edelman....well....apologies all around....So, could you give me a few a few details in regards to the sound of the music....i think i heard a bit of choir in there as well. And please don`t point me to Edelman`s website....the fact that I can see him standing in front of an orchestra doesn`t convince me that he`s actually ever been in front of one....
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posted 08-10-2002 06:40 PM PT (US) ip
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TimT
Goldmember
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His score is a combo of The Peacemaker (with one direct lift) and David Arnold's James Bond scores.
He still uses lots synths, but it sounds like he updated his sample library finally.
"xXx" sounds nothing like whats he's done before, and its because he's tried to sound like someone else.[Message edited by TimT on 08-10-2002]
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posted 08-10-2002 08:12 PM PT (US) ip
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rkeaveney
Goldmember
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Anyone as bored with this film as I was? This is just a stupid movie. Who cares about plot, story or acting. I can give those to filmmakers as bad as Rob Cohen. But just little idiocies like 1 guard protecting the entryway to the most secret section of the baddie's lair? Toxic gas that is neutralized by water? Is that boat carrying the toxic payload self-guiding? And why are Czechs so greasy?Randy Edelman's score is like PEACEMAKER-lite. Only it's not as good as PEACEMAKER, because it's bloody horrible. The entire climax sequence is a rip-off of "Devoes Revenge" (my memory is fading, but it's one of the 4 tracks on the PM OST). Not the kind of score to trumpet your return. BT, where are you? Ryan
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posted 08-10-2002 09:55 PM PT (US) ip
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HadrianD
Goldmember
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LOL  I never thought of it as Zimmer-lite, but it was VERY odd to hear a soo correct Zimmer imitation from someone who doesn't even have any relation with MediaVenture. I always thought that the only person who would copy Zimmer good is Nick Glennie-Smith  
Edelman's samples/orchestra did a good job with replicating the orchestrations and dynamics of Zimmer's own...
The tracks used from Peacemaker is "Train" using the russian theme for the General to underscore the Submarine, supposedly made by Czech(?). And selected portion from "Chase". I don't think Devoe's Revenge was in the temp....The choir was a giveaway...I like the massive pounding drum transitions. Don't know where that came from
BT would have been a very interesting choice.Ryan, there are only two way you'll judge this movie, one is that it's a fun, exciting, popcorn flick with over the top stunt and maximum fun, and two, that it's a ridiculous waste of time. Did you actually like the trailer? If you didn't then you shouldn't have gone to see it. If you did, you would have enjoyed it. The trailer told everyone what the movie was about.
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posted 08-11-2002 12:19 AM PT (US) ip
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TimT
Goldmember
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Whats the deal on that soundtrack release?? Its freaking 2 CDs without even a Paul Okenfold remix of theme.Hey is it a stupid a idea to always release a 2CD soundtrack? One CD with the Songs and the Other with the score. That way everyone who wants the Song CD will be forced to pay for the score. Thereby raising the sales of film music. Is this really any different from a person buying a song soundtrack just so they can get the one score track? [Message edited by TimT on 08-11-2002]
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posted 08-11-2002 09:21 PM PT (US) ip
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