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"Van Helsing" - It's out! EVERYONE BUY IT! (Page 1)

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Author	Topic: "Van Helsing" - It's out! EVERYONE BUY IT!

Crono/Kyp Standard Userer	Well, we've all been waiting for months and weeks...the disc is out! BUY IT! --Brian NP: Final Fantasy IX
posted 05-04-2004 12:51 AM PT (US)

John Zimmer Standard Userer	Just woke up man give me a few minutes! Jz
posted 05-04-2004 05:26 AM PT (US)

Indysolo Standard Userer	Just out? I bought it last week! Neil
posted 05-04-2004 06:42 AM PT (US)

Crono/Kyp Standard Userer	lol, I mean on CD Neil --Brian
posted 05-04-2004 09:34 AM PT (US)

Alexborn007 Standard Userer	Picked it up today. My poor head NP- Van Helsing
posted 05-04-2004 02:33 PM PT (US)

lancer Standard Userer	bought it earlier today, I am only about half way through at the moment, so far its every thing I expected it to be, and then some, pulse pounding, adrenalin rushing, and epic. so far burn it down, and attacking brides is my fav. seriousely if you like action scores, do not pass this one up. its a gem.
posted 05-04-2004 03:12 PM PT (US)

johnmullin Non-Standard Userer	I've been listening to VAN HESLING for about a week and I must say I'm not terribly impressed. I love Alan Silvestri, but this CD just lacks the memorable cues that MUMMY RETURNS or even TOMB RAIDER 2 had.
posted 05-04-2004 07:42 PM PT (US)

TimT Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by johnmullin: I've been listening to VAN HESLING for about a week and I must say I'm not terribly impressed. I love Alan Silvestri, but this CD just lacks the memorable cues that MUMMY RETURNS or even TOMB RAIDER 2 had. I agree, I don't plan to buy this either. Its also badly produced soundtrack. np- Hitman 3:Contracts - Jesper Kyd /***
posted 05-04-2004 09:23 PM PT (US)

BMikeJ Standard Userer	Tim, why is it badly produced?
posted 05-04-2004 10:58 PM PT (US)

Crono/Kyp Standard Userer	Tim always has to bitch about something. --Brian
posted 05-05-2004 12:12 AM PT (US)

Steve Hughes Standard Userer	I saw the film last night... Wow. I haven't laughed that much in ages. It's hilarious...unfortunately, the laughs mostly come from unintentional humour. The whole audience was hysterical at the dialogue and acting. Wait until you hear the accents! They all sound like The Count from Seseame Street. As expected, there are waaaaay too many visual effects. Characters all seem to be able to run up walls and make impossible leaps (whilst turning into bendy blurry CGI men). And how LOUD is it??? It's deafening! It's the LOUDEST movie I have ever heard. And wait til you see the ending...nothing can prepare you for this... Hugh Jackman was fine, Kate Beckinsale looked gorgeous but her acting was terrible, and the rest of the performances (and I know this isn't a "performance movie") were so over the top, it was incredible! Richard Roxburgh, playing Dracula, gives one of the funniest OTT performances ever. I'm not sure that's what he was going for, though. And pity the poor frustrated thesp playing Frankenstein's Monster. He gets the biggest laughs...this monster doesn't moan and wail like the traditional character, this fella annunciates (sp?) and has this really well spoken voice. Maybe he's part Shakespearian actor? As for Big Alan's score, it's was okay. Some people did laugh at the contemporary-ish Van Helsing theme. It's the like movie, too loud and without light and shade. I suppose the audience did get some kind of peverse enjoyment out of it, but I wouldn't be surprised if it bombs after a big opening. Blame Stephen Sommers... [Message edited by Steve Hughes on 05-05-2004]
posted 05-05-2004 12:53 AM PT (US)

Timmer Standard Userer	Seeing the trailor full of CGI was enough to put me off. I'll wait to hire it on DVD.
posted 05-05-2004 05:37 AM PT (US)

TV's Frank Standard Userer	Well, at least I can love this score! The album is certainly top-heavy on the action, but it's only a 40 minute album and Silvestri action is always listenable to my ears. In 2001, as soon as I heard the 1st track on MUMMY RETURNS I knew it would be a favorite of mine at year's end and I predict VAN HELSING might share the same distinction. It's exactly the score I have been hoping to hear this year. It's like a great album by your favorite rock band - full of catchy hooks, intensity, virtuoso playing and lots of thematic material. So I give it thumbs up!
posted 05-05-2004 06:54 AM PT (US)

Joseph W. Bat Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by johnmullin: I've been listening to VAN HESLING for about a week and I must say I'm not terribly impressed. I love Alan Silvestri, but this CD just lacks the memorable cues that MUMMY RETURNS or even TOMB RAIDER 2 had. This might be because both MUMMY RETURNS and TOMB RAIDER 2 had over 60 minute releases. "Badly produced" doesn't seem like a fair comment. Best regards, Joe
posted 05-05-2004 06:57 AM PT (US)

Widescreen Standard Userer	I don't know about anybody else, but I had hell trying to get this CD- it took calling three different Best Buys before having one held, and then having to drive that distance. So far, I can say it's worth it- but I'm not opening it up and listening to it until I see the movie. It's just my way. My better instincts tell me I'm going to enjoy whether I wait or not.
posted 05-05-2004 07:57 AM PT (US)

TimT Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by BMikeJ: Tim, why is it badly produced? Well I just mean it sounds like something that was just thrown together without much thought. Basically just highlighting random action cues and drag and droping them into the cue and calling it a day. To me it just doesn't sound like an album. Its just soundclips of what is hopefully a better work as a whole. The music itself, sounds fitting but doesn't break any new ground for Alan Silvestri. I liked The Mummy Returns better.
posted 05-05-2004 12:52 PM PT (US)

TimT Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by Crono/Kyp: Tim always has to bitch about something. --Brian Well if I have to pay for it, then why not!?
posted 05-05-2004 12:56 PM PT (US)

Dinko Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by TimT: Well if I have to pay for it, then why not!? Because Ford A. Thaxton forbids you to. It doesn't matter if you pay for it, when you complain about a CD "you are miss the point": the composer got what he wanted from the album. HE decides how it should be, not YOU. Life's a bitch, fanboy - learn to live with it!
posted 05-05-2004 01:02 PM PT (US)

VaultComplex Standard Userer	I bought the soundtrack on iTunes last week, so I don't have this information. Can anyone who has the CD tell me who the recording engineer was, and where it was recorded? I wish this stuff was available on iTunes.
posted 05-05-2004 05:09 PM PT (US)

Joseph W. Bat Standard Userer	<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=1 face=arial>quote:</font><HR size=1>Originally posted by VaultComplex: I bought the soundtrack on iTunes last week, so I don't have this information. Can anyone who has the CD tell me who the recording engineer was, and where it was recorded? I wish this stuff was available on iTunes.<HR size=1></BLOCKQUOTE> Gladly, Recorded at: Sony Pictures Scoring Stage Music recorded and mixed by: Dennis Sands Mastering by: Patrica Sullivan Fourstar Recordist: Adam Michalek Stage engineer: Pat Weber Best regards, Joe [Message edited by Joseph W. Bat on 05-05-2004]
posted 05-05-2004 06:45 PM PT (US)

Quill Standard Userer	Well...I love the score. Great energy...memorable cues... Is it recycled Silvestri...sure...I hear Lilo and Stitch, Judge Dredd and others...but...don't care. Top to bottom its a fun listen and worth the cost. I won't discount Steve's review of the film...but knowing Sommer's campy style this film will not be for everyone. CGI and all, I'm still looking forward to it.
posted 05-06-2004 05:19 PM PT (US)

Kris Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by Quill: Well...I love the score. Great energy...memorable cues... Is it recycled Silvestri...sure...I hear Lilo and Stitch, Judge Dredd and others...but...don't care. Top to bottom its a fun listen and worth the cost. I won't discount Steve's review of the film...but knowing Sommer's campy style this film will not be for everyone. CGI and all, I'm still looking forward to it. Well said. That's what I need to hear.
posted 05-07-2004 07:23 AM PT (US)

lancer Standard Userer	I will be going to the movie tonight, despite some of the bad reviews I've been looking forward to this movie for some time now. I liked both the mummy, and returns, and if its anything like them I'm sure I will like it. I still stick by the score, true thiers not hardly any melodies here, but it's a fun action score, I love it.
posted 05-07-2004 11:00 AM PT (US)

BMikeJ Standard Userer	I actually dozed off at one point while I was watching this movie... and how could that be possible with the sound mix so loud? I liked the first half of the movie but didn't have enough invested in any of the characters to care about what happened to them in the second half of the movie. I did enjoy Silvestri's score. It's the kind of writing we've heard from him before but that's what got him hired in the first place. I think the album needs a little editing but that certainly won't keep me from enjoying it.
posted 05-07-2004 06:13 PM PT (US)

nightwing Standard Userer	The movie was...meh. I was looking forward to it and wanted it to be good, it was ok. I agree the sound was loud, and the score was especially loud. On the CD, it sounds great, but not in the movie. I just thought there was too much in the movie. It just didn't hit me like I thought it would. Oh well.
posted 05-07-2004 10:40 PM PT (US)

Dylan Standard Userer	This is a great score. Personally, I like it a lot better than "Mummy Returns" (even though I must say that "My First Bus Ride" is Silvestri's finest piece). The hero theme is wonderful and gets a lot of incredible, full, rousing statements. The Dracula theme is very campy in it's brutalness, but it's a good theme. And the biggest shocker was "All Hallow's Eve Ball," which had me in awe. I loved it, beautiful how it goes from that harpscicord/orchestral dance to that incredible choral-laden waltz. Had the entire score had been like that cue, then this would've been, for me, one of the finest scores of the past 10 years. Why couldn't the main theme for this score have been that waltz? How wonderful it was though, I'd love to hear the other ballroom music that is apparently not on the album. The final track, "Reunited," is very beautiful, a perfect, romantic way to end this score. One thing though. As much as I often do enjoy the use of synth in scores, the techno synth for "Van Helsing" does seem out of place, but that doesn't distract it too much (though the "All Hallow's Eve Ball" shouldn't have seuged into a techno-action piece, though strangely I didn't mind too much). Techno does add some riveting action to this score, even though it still seems out of place. Also, the album is too short, I'm sure there is a ton of music in the film that's not here, and that's unfortunate. With that aside, I think this might be my favorite Silvestri score, from the ones I've heard. Dylan NP: Van Helsing [Message edited by Dylan on 05-08-2004]
posted 05-08-2004 09:31 AM PT (US)

Joseph W. Bat Standard Userer	Not sure if you've seen the film, but in my opinion, the little techno parts for Van Helsing's theme work very well in the film. Lots of great music is missing from the official release. Best regards, Joe
posted 05-08-2004 10:12 AM PT (US)

lancer Standard Userer	as i said I checked out the movie last night, it wasnt all that bad in my opinion. I pretty much liked everything with the exception of some of the performances, hugh, and kate did alright, but the rest of them were probably along the same lines as your basic starwars performance. Also I have to admit the one stunt that really took me out of the movie was the horses jumping over that cliff. The rest of the movie was pretty good though, I like my movies loud, so that was definitely not a prob. I give it 3 out of 5 stars.
posted 05-08-2004 12:29 PM PT (US)

La La Land Records Standard Userer	This comes from Garth Franklin of Dark Horizons.com: "Sommers is like a kid who's just discovered masturbation, he just cannot control himself and has to keep doing things bigger, wilder and ultimately dumber - long past the point of reason or madness." Hits the nail right on the head! A good score to a horrendous film. MV
posted 05-08-2004 03:53 PM PT (US)

Dylan Standard Userer	I have no doubt that the techno elements work well in the film, but I haven't seen the film yet and I don't intend to; from the clips I've seen and the trailer, it's not even remotely my cup of tea. However, I have always liked Alan Silvestri. It seems that the only good thing, for me, about films like this is that the material can inspire some incredible scores. Lets hope a more complete version arises so we can hear the rest of Silvestri's score. MV, that quote is hilarious indeed. Dylan NP: Van Helsing
posted 05-08-2004 04:47 PM PT (US)

Joseph W. Bat Standard Userer	I don't think Summers intended VAN HELSING to be anything else but a pure popcorn action/adventure film. Why people are going 'philosophical' with this is beyond me. I personally enjoyed this film because I knew going into it that it wasn't going to be some kind of deep film like everyone seems to have thought it was going to be. I enjoyed nearly every aspect for what it is, I only believe the dialogue and acting needed work. And I felt Silvestri's score needed more room. I don't see much of a distinguishment from Summer's MUMMY films, really. Best regards, Joe [Message edited by Joseph W. Bat on 05-08-2004]
posted 05-08-2004 04:56 PM PT (US)

franz_conrad Standard Userer	Incredibly enjoyable film. Jackman, Wenham and especially Roxburgh make for a great set of leads. Silvestri's score was a bit of a wall of sound, though the deft mix of a strummed string instrument (mandolin? gypsy guitar?) and percussion was nice. Favorite moment: INT. Night. Dracula's Castle. Poor werewolf: I'd rather die than help you! Dracula: Don't be boring. Everyone who says that dies.
posted 05-08-2004 07:53 PM PT (US)

Camillu Standard Userer	Haven't seen the film yet but am loving the score. Incidentally, I know a lot of people said that Silvestri's rejected Pirates of the Cartibbean score resurfaced in Tomb Raider 2, but I get the impression he left something for this score too. Various cues, including the mid-section (1:45 onwards) of Track 8, would sound great in a modern pirate flick. In fact they sound like what Badelt eventually came up with.
posted 05-09-2004 06:13 AM PT (US)

Dylan Standard Userer	Silvestri said in an interview at the time his score was rejected that he will never reuse the material he composed for "Pirates of the Carribean." He said something to the effect that he "...threw away the cue sheets..." I would trust him, and believe that none of the Pirtates material surfaced in Tomb Raider II or Helsing. I have no doubt his "Pirates" score would've been fun though. Dylan
posted 05-09-2004 09:32 AM PT (US)

ESB Standard Userer	I run the Silvestri site and to set things straight, Alan Silvestri did NOT use any material from his rejected Pirates of the Caribbean score on Tomb Raider 2 or any other score. He told me he hates it when material is re-used and indeed threw away the sheet music. So whatever other people tell you they haven't slightest idea what they are talking about. It's just as silly as people were saying that Eraser resembled Mission: Impossible. Hilarious, they are totally different scores. BTW, Van Helsing is one impressive action score! Alan came up with a flood of strong themes and motifs. I LOVE the theme from "Burn It Down!". World-class action writing.
posted 05-09-2004 11:22 AM PT (US)

johnmullin Non-Standard Userer	I can confirm that none of Alan's rejected PIRATES OF THE CARRIBBEAN score made it into VAN HELSING. I was very dissapointed, however, that so much material from his rejected score for SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE wound up in the film. The fact that Silvestri did this is just shameful and unprofessional.
posted 05-09-2004 12:52 PM PT (US)

ESB Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by johnmullin: I can confirm that none of Alan's rejected PIRATES OF THE CARRIBBEAN score made it into VAN HELSING. I was very dissapointed, however, that so much material from his rejected score for SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE wound up in the film. The fact that Silvestri did this is just shameful and unprofessional. What in the world are you talking about? Do you realize that Something's Gotta Give is a soft romantic comedy? Have you heard Van Helsing?! It's a hyper energetic action score. Nothing could be more different. So you're saying that music from Van Helsing could be used in SGG? Haha, sure this is hilarious.
posted 05-10-2004 01:39 AM PT (US)

BMikeJ Standard Userer	Oh, come on... Just because he didn't use an emoticon anywhere, it doesn't mean he was being serious.
posted 05-10-2004 08:07 AM PT (US)

ESB Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by BMikeJ: Oh, come on... Just because he didn't use an emoticon anywhere, it doesn't mean he was being serious. Not very amusing then. Such "humorous" accusations can easily lead to misunderstandings. But maybe that was his idea?
posted 05-10-2004 10:08 AM PT (US)

sakman Standard Userer	Was it the print I saw, or did the music sound like it was playing back on a poor recorded wavy tape? At first I thought it was supposed to "imitate" the sound of old Universal horror films, but flutter and warble is from deterioration not the original intent. Anyone else hear this?
posted 05-10-2004 02:06 PM PT (US)

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