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I am a new John Powell Fan what scores should I buy??

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Author	Topic: I am a new John Powell Fan what scores should I buy??

Vladimir Standard Userer	All of a sudden John Powell has gotten my attention even more than Zimmer himself. I currently own none of Powell's cd's however i am going to pick up Italian Job any day now. having said that what else should I consider?? PS Also your thoughts on Newman's score Pleasantville?? I love the opening theme is it worth getting??
posted 11-20-2003 07:24 PM PT (US)

DavidOC Standard Userer	Hey Vladimir, haven't heard Pleasantville, but I've also become a big John Powell fan in the last year. The Italian Job is a real standout and the best action score he has written so far. My personal favourite is I Am Sam - a wonderfully diverse, melodic score which is just addictive - you have to find this one before anything else. Evolution and The Bourne Identity are also fine scores, as are Two Weeks Notice and Gigli, written for smaller ensembles. Powell is developing a very unique voice - he is easily the best composer to emerge out of the MV factory. And don't forget the brilliant trio of Antz, Shrek and Chicken Run - 3 incredibly entertaining scores co-written with Harry Gregson-Williams.
posted 11-20-2003 07:46 PM PT (US)

sean Standard Userer	Pleasantville caught my attention when I first saw the film, and so I bought the song CD with the Randy Newman suite at the end of the soundtrack (there's a full score disc on Varese). The compilation of the score on the songtrack is good. To be honest, though, you should give Edward Scissorhands (Danny Elfman) a listen, too, since Randy Newman's score appears to be heavilt inspired by it. But, IMO, they're both worth owning. You should get Hans Zimmer's score for The Thin Red Line. There's a very effective piece ("Beam") on it by John Powell, where he employs the use of the "cosmic beam"—sorta like Goldsmith's "blaster beam" from Star Trek: The Motion Picture—with full orchestra backing it up; very nice! Powell is an excellent choice for John Woo's new film, Paycheck, especially after his impressive score for The Italian Job. NP: Master and Commander—The Far Side of the World ***/*** [Message edited by sean on 11-20-2003]
posted 11-20-2003 08:16 PM PT (US)

scoreguy16 Standard Userer	Here's my personal favorites of Powell: 1. Face/Off (very MVish) 2. Evolution (great fun!) 3. I Am Sam (Very emotional but SEE THE MOVIE FIRST) 4. The Italian Job (fun action music with a serious side) 5. Antz & Shrek (fun with Harry Gregson-Williams) 6. The Bourne Identity (some great tracks, but overall dissapointed with the presentation of the score) Beam is a great piece of music. Deffinately, DEFFINATELY, get The Thin Red Line. Clayton
posted 11-20-2003 08:43 PM PT (US)

Justin Standard Userer	Was going to suggest all the scores Clayton did, but he beat me to it. All great stuff and definitely be sure to pickup Shrek! I need to take that out and give it a listen again. As a matter of fact.... <<goes to grab CD>>
posted 11-20-2003 08:54 PM PT (US)

justin boggan Standard Userer	Forces Of Nature has a good Main Title. The rest of the score is ify at times. There was something else, but I don't see it on the imdb listing and I could swear he scored it. Wish I could remember. The CD is availiable overseas.
posted 11-21-2003 02:27 PM PT (US)

Jeff78 Standard Userer	Face/Off, Shrek and Evolution. Jeff
posted 11-21-2003 02:30 PM PT (US)

rkeaveney Standard Userer	Sadly one of Powell's best, if not his most fun score, PLUTO NASH, remains unreleased. Helluva lotta fun. Ryan
posted 11-21-2003 05:14 PM PT (US)

HadrianD Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by justin boggan: The CD is availiable overseas. That's a really nice recommendation. I'd recommend you seek out Detox/Eye See You. It's an interesting score that fits in quite nicely between the MV Face/Off and the Evolution/Pluto Nash stylistics.... Kinda....
posted 11-22-2003 12:02 AM PT (US)

Jeff78 Standard Userer	Agent Cody Banks is a great score if you can find the promotional cd. Jeff
posted 11-22-2003 12:51 AM PT (US)

MillsSomerset Standard Userer	I'm surprised nobody mentioned ENDURANCE. I have a Powell promo with cuts from that, ANTZ and FORCES OF NATURE. There are two cuts from ANTZ and FORCES each that I play all the time. As for ENDURANCE, it may be a bit too "ethnic" for some, but it's a beautiful score overall IMO and about the best thing Powell's ever done, at least in terms of something that lives beyond its main theme (i.e. while i like the opening of FACE/OFF the rest of the score was just sonic wallpaper for me; many of his scores also fall into this category).
posted 11-22-2003 11:10 AM PT (US)

HadrianD Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by MillsSomerset: I'm surprised nobody mentioned ENDURANCE. I have a Powell promo with cuts from that, ANTZ and FORCES OF NATURE. There are two cuts from ANTZ and FORCES each that I play all the time. As for ENDURANCE, it may be a bit too "ethnic" for some, but it's a beautiful score overall IMO and about the best thing Powell's ever done, at least in terms of something that lives beyond its main theme (i.e. while i like the opening of FACE/OFF the rest of the score was just sonic wallpaper for me; many of his scores also fall into this category). I got this CD a long time ago and it is truly an enjoyable listening experience. It is ethnic for sure but that's a plus to John Powell for maintaining such a coherent style throughout. There's some very melodic stuff that you've come to know John for. And can anyone hook me up with a copy of Forces Of Nature? It's the one score of John that I've been trying to get my hands on.
posted 11-22-2003 12:51 PM PT (US)

Richard Street Standard Userer	Powell's score album for RAT RACE is a good one as well. NP: LETHAL WEAPON (Michael Kamen)
posted 11-22-2003 01:36 PM PT (US)

justin boggan Standard Userer	I seem to recall a post dangoldwas said Elmer Bernstein had written and recorded a full score for the movie. Anyone heard it? I got like 15 rejected scores myself and it is always intersting to hear something that was never used.
posted 11-22-2003 06:35 PM PT (US)

InsaneThayne Non-Standard Userer	ENDURANCE was the John Powell score that originally got me interested in his stuff, and it remains my favorite of his output. It's a very emotional score! However, my absolute favorite Powell cue is "The Fire Truck" from EVOLUTION (which is also used in the latest "Peter Pan" trailer.) Great composer...
posted 11-23-2003 08:42 AM PT (US)

joan hue Standard Userer	I also love The Fire Truck cue from Evolution. He does a similar great cue in The Road To El Dorado.
posted 11-23-2003 11:14 AM PT (US)

InsaneThayne Non-Standard Userer	Thanks for the info, Joan. I really need to pick up that EL DORADO score. Another great Powell cue is "Treadstone Assassins" from BOURNE IDENTITY. I found it to be addictive for many months after I first purchased the score. I'm so glad there are more ENDURANCE fans out there. It's a superlative effort, really. Especially "The Final Race," an unforgettable cue which perfectly encapsulated the agony and victory of what this man endured on the track.
posted 11-23-2003 12:48 PM PT (US)

justin boggan Standard Userer	I remember now! And it wasn't John Powell. The score was Ned Kelly and it was by Klaus Badelt. I listened to the main title and it sounded really good. Saw "Evolution" a number of days ago. The score? Nothing special. Infact, it seemed more like a score that would have been rejected. Seemed more like a Elmer Bernstein thing. Maybe that's because it was cowritten by people involved in "Ghostbusters". The movie had a feel reminisant of Ghostbusters, but just didn't deliver. Thought the solution to the world's problems in that movie sound like something that might have been done in "Ghostbusters".
posted 12-06-2003 11:55 PM PT (US)

InsaneThayne Non-Standard Userer	Yeah. Taken as a whole, "Evolution" isn't Powell's best score. However, the "Fire Truck" and "Mall Chase" cues alone made the CD well worth the purchase. It's a superb action theme, really...
posted 12-07-2003 08:44 AM PT (US)

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