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Author	Topic: Michael Kamen

Alexborn007 Standard Userer	Hello, I recently got Mr. Kamen's score for "The Iron Giant" and am very curious in checking out some of his other works. What are some good titles of his? I've seen that he wrote a few concertos which get a lot of critical praise. Here's what I have already: Die Hard Die Hard 2 Lethal Weapon Mr. Holland's Opus Band of Brothers The Iron Giant Thanks for the help!
posted 03-03-2005 09:40 PM PT (US)

PeterK FishChip	First thing you should get without any sort of hesitation is his Robin Hood score ("Prince of Thieves") and Don Juan de Marco scores... these are readily available. As for the unavailables, Shining Through is awesome (better in the movie, though... this one needs the expanded/remaster treatment), and Circle of Friends, a sweet intimate little score. Dead Zone is good too.
posted 03-03-2005 09:49 PM PT (US)

James Standard Userer	Brazil is absolutely his best work, though the album does leave quite a bit to be desired. It could really use some special edition love, but I doubt that'll happen in the near future. And if you can find it (it's out of print), The Adventures of Baron Munchausen is astoundingly good as well. It's a shame his collaboration with Terry Gilliam ended after these two films; he seemed perfectly attuned to the director's sensibilities. Kirk
posted 03-04-2005 12:58 AM PT (US)

Lancelot Standard Userer	He did some original music for Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, did he not?
posted 03-04-2005 07:39 AM PT (US)

James Standard Userer	No one seems to know for sure. He is given "special thanks" in the end credits, and that was enough to convince IMDb, but in Gilliam's DVD commentary he only gives credit to Ray Cooper and Tomoyasu Hotei for original music.
posted 03-04-2005 09:13 AM PT (US)

Ron Pulliam Standard Userer	And check out "Brazil," too. Wonderful score!
posted 03-04-2005 09:27 AM PT (US)

Lancelot Standard Userer	Probably enough to convince me that he did not merely "sever" collaborative ties with Gilliam, merely stepped aside for that particular outing.
posted 03-04-2005 11:21 AM PT (US)

Southall Standard Userer	He told me that he'd "worked on" the music for Fear & Loathing, but I never did ask what exactly that meant.
posted 03-04-2005 01:47 PM PT (US)

James Standard Userer	I think we're examining the semantics of my statements a little too deeply. I didn't mean to imply that they had some sort of Herrmann/Hitchcock split and never spoke to each other again. All I meant to suggest is that Brazil and Munchausen are amazing works (Kamen's best ever, in my opinion) and that I find it unfortunate their collaborations didn't yield any additional equally outstanding music. And just to allay in advance any examination of the hidden connotations of that comment, allow me to assure everyone right away that I mean no disrespect to George Fenton's work on The Fisher King or Paul Buckmaster's on 12 Monkeys. Both scores are quite good. Alex, just to reiterate in case my original point has been lost: Brazil and Munchausen are both highly recommended. Kirk
posted 03-04-2005 07:55 PM PT (US)

Graham Watt Standard Userer	Seems an appropriate time to ask the following - I've seen a CD compilation in the local grocer's shop, amongst the crates of lettuce again, of some Kamen thing going for the price of a kilo of beans. Can't remember the name of it. It might be "Michael Kamen's Opus", but I'm not sure (wasn't on my veg list). It has a picture of his hairy face on the cover, and the track titles list concert versions ( conducted by Kamen himself) of many of his most well-known pieces, plus some less well-known ones. Do you know what I'm talking about? Worth the price of the beans?
posted 03-05-2005 03:12 PM PT (US)

PeterK FishChip	Actually, yep: http://www.moviemusic.com/soundtrack/michaelkamen.html It's a good appetizer for those readying a big meal of Kamen music. Many tracks (all of them? can't remember) are not the original recordings, but still... the essence is right there.
posted 03-05-2005 05:20 PM PT (US)

Alexborn007 Standard Userer	Thanks so much for the suggestions Here's what I ended up deciding on... Robin Hood Don Juan DeMarco New Moon in the Old Moon's Arms Concerto for Saxophone and Concerto for Electric Guitar I really wanted to get Dead Zone and the Highlander release, but it'll have to wait until next month
posted 03-06-2005 02:32 PM PT (US)

Scorro Standard Userer	I really didn't care much for Kamen's 'Robin Hood' score (tried to like, but traded it) and found his 'The Three Musketeers' a much more enjoyable listen.
posted 03-07-2005 04:57 PM PT (US)

Hector J. Guzman Standard Userer	I heard The Three Musketeers a looong time ago, and I liked it. I don't have it anymore. I had always been impressed with his Robin Hood music, I absolutely loved his theme and the song, which served as the love theme, but when I finally got the CD, I didn't like the score much. The theme is great, though.
posted 03-07-2005 05:01 PM PT (US)

HadrianD Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by Alexborn007: Concerto for Electric Guitar Where were you able to get this CD?
posted 03-08-2005 01:02 PM PT (US)

Alexborn007 Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by HadrianD: <BLOCKQUOTE><font size=1 face=arial>quote:</font><HR size=1>Originally posted by Alexborn007: [b] Concerto for Electric Guitar <HR size=1></BLOCKQUOTE> Where were you able to get this CD? [/B] Amazon Japan has it in stock
posted 03-08-2005 01:33 PM PT (US)

franz_conrad Standard Userer	I love Kamen's Robin Hood. Probably my favorite album of his next to The New Moon in the Old Moon's Arms.
posted 03-08-2005 01:52 PM PT (US)

BigT1981 Standard Userer	Kamen's X-Men score is good...having the full score helps though.
posted 03-08-2005 11:19 PM PT (US)

AaronR1074 Standard Userer	Also check out his Three Musketeers score and the James Bond film License to Kill. His rendition of the bond theme mixed in with the great action cues is great.
posted 03-19-2005 04:30 AM PT (US)

Rommel Non-Standard Userer	Michael Kamen's two greatest scores... or my personal favorites are... Robin Hood Prince of Theives The Three Musketeers
posted 03-29-2005 02:00 PM PT (US)

benefactor Non-Standard Userer	The 20 minutes of Highlander score on Highlander trilogy is really great. The score itself is sure masterpiece. Shamefully unreleased. Brazil, Robin Hood and The Three Musketeers are also very good. [Message edited by benefactor on 03-31-2005]
posted 03-31-2005 06:10 PM PT (US)

Valere Standard Userer	Brazil needs the FULL treatment!
posted 04-03-2005 07:02 PM PT (US)

Philipp Standard Userer	Peter mentioned the great SHINING THROUGH. I have this score too, and this is by far my favorite Michael Kamen score. The cd was released by Milan, so maybe with a little bit of luck, this is also included in their recent re-issue-cds like A RIVER RUNS THROUGHT IT and A WALK IN THE CLOUDS... Philipp
posted 04-04-2005 12:39 PM PT (US)

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