MovieMusic.com Message Boards: War of the Worlds By John Williams

Message Boards

Movie Soundtracks

War of the Worlds By John Williams

Archive of old forum. No more postings.

Please visit our new forum, The MovieMusic Lobby, to post new topics.

Author	Topic: War of the Worlds By John Williams

Vladimir Standard Userer	I know this is an old topic, however I picked up this cd lastnight and i was not impressed. Should I be? There were to many tracks that just sounded like loud noise. I only listened to it once, however it has always taken me one listen to a Williams cd to like it. This score however so far i am not impressed with. is it just me or do you all have the same opinion? Thanks
posted 08-18-2005 08:08 AM PT (US)

Justin Standard Userer	First off, have you seen the movie?
posted 08-18-2005 10:01 AM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Standard Userer	Should you impressed? I say yes. This score has some of the best timpani writing in the history of film music, that alone should make it interesting enough. As far as I'm concerned, seeing the movie doesn't have that much to do with it as, sadly, the best moments of the score are barely audible there.
posted 08-18-2005 11:07 AM PT (US)

Mark Olivarez Standard Userer	Williams delivered a solid effort and I wouldn't classify this CD as noise, there are plenty of current composers putting out noise these days. To be honest you may need to give this a few more listens and see the film.
posted 08-18-2005 11:44 AM PT (US)

Luc Standard Userer	Noise!
posted 08-18-2005 04:15 PM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by Luc: Noise! It's getting increasingly hard for me not to post in that Nibelungen movie/score thread... NP: The Hallelujah Trail (Elmer Bernstein)
posted 08-18-2005 04:31 PM PT (US)

Luc Standard Userer	Uh Oh! Nah. Still noise . OK, well arranged noise. Feel better. I was impressed with ROTS and then came this score. I know it's completely a different type of score but still. Every composers make noises occasionally and this is his.
posted 08-18-2005 05:04 PM PT (US)

franz_conrad Standard Userer	I wish there was more noise like this out there.
posted 08-18-2005 05:10 PM PT (US)

Kyriacos S Standard Userer	I think you might need to listen to it a few more times. I happen to find that this score is an assortment of beautiful "noises." There is nothing wrong with an atonal form of music for film music. I actually believe that John Williams has such an incredible ear that he manages to convey many aspects of the way the films looks, feels etc with such unique colors. There is really nothing wrong with a crushing interval of a minor 2nd for example-or many other elements that we often are so quick at judging as noise, because they seem not as pleasant in the ears. It's actually a beautiful sound (it DOES something, it's got a certain life to it, not only beautiful harmonic melodies do) and i undoubtedly believe that Williams has gone out of his usual way with this one because he felt the NEED to lend these colors to the film. And i agree with Marian on the great use of timpani. I love the antiphonal sections! Kyri.
posted 08-19-2005 06:53 AM PT (US)

Alexborn007 Standard Userer	I was also a little disappointed the first time I listened to WOTW. After listening a lot more, it's become my favorite score of the summer. There's so much complexity to it that something else exciting rears its head at every listen. Much credit is due to Williams for taking such an atonally based score and making something that's still accesible (eventually haha) on album.
posted 08-19-2005 11:30 AM PT (US)

Quill Standard Userer	Ah yes...another instance of "even the Maestro's excrement smells like roses." Such is the power of a soundtrack message board...where the loathed are reviled and debased at every turn and the beloved are idolized and even their flatulence could be recorded on a CD and be applauded. Sorry for the cynicism...its a crappy Monday morning.
posted 08-22-2005 10:55 AM PT (US)

PeterK FishChip	Aw, Quill! I am sad no one's going super crazy over VALIANT. I love this thing. Fenton does Fenton, Williams, Horner, David Newman, Powell and Herrmann* in this swirling piece of fist-pumping action music! *all in the first track, a mere 2:30 long
posted 08-22-2005 11:31 AM PT (US)

Quill Standard Userer	OK..I'm better now...but my point still rings true (at least in the bizarre world of my mind.) I guess I'm content enough to say that I love RoTS and feel it is the best score of the year (so far) and in the same breath be vastly underwhelmed by WotW and find it nothing more than a disingenuous orgy of sound masquerading as something more substantial. Peter--you have sparked my interest in Valiant...must know more. I am also keen on Brothers Grimm and The Cave (both 70+ minutes to boot!)
posted 08-22-2005 09:56 PM PT (US)

PeterK FishChip	Brothers Grimm is pretty cool. Never heard a Terry Gilliam soundtrack I didn't like (except for Brazil, but it's the presentation of the music on CD that sucks, not the score.... an expanded/remastered/whatever of Brazil soundtrack would be excellent). The Cave is... well... not something I can recommend. I don't know why Klimek and Heil keep getting more projects. To me, their music is just slightly above "tomandandy" in the synth world. Sonic wallpaper little interest, just mood. 70+ minutes is way too long. Just like tomandandy, I struggle to understand why it takes two people to make this kind of score? Only one person should be able to do this!
posted 08-23-2005 09:23 AM PT (US)

PeterK FishChip	To relate the CDs with the subject, the only CD close to the Sith score would be Valiant, but even that one doesn't have the familiarity of Sith. It has the thrill, it's not quite as dark, Valiant's theme is good, but when up against Star Wars themes, no chances. If you think WotW is a disingenuous orgy of sound, The Cave score is too, but an all-synth version. Brothers Grimm creates a fantastic musical world, but again, when compared with Star Wars music, there's nothing familiar to pull in your nostalgia... which, admittedly, is why I liked Sith so much. But Brothers Grimm is great. It's filled with Terry Gilliam fun (as opposed to a silly Valiant kind of fun).
posted 08-23-2005 09:31 AM PT (US)

Luc Standard Userer	Let's sum up shall we? Noise best timpani writing in the history of film music solid effort Noise! well arranged noise assortment of beautiful "noises beautiful harmonic melodies beautiful sound exciting rears its head at every listen flatulence orgy of sound
posted 08-23-2005 03:44 PM PT (US)

Cole Standard Userer	hmmm - my immediate response to this thread was a tad bit pejorative, so now i have taken a moment to cool off and think about a cordial repsonse to all those who consider WotW "noise." One must not confuse noise with music. noise is a random collection of sounds that can produce irritation in the ear. The music JW created for War of the Worlds is far from random. While the overall effect and intent of his compositional approach was abrasive, scary and (well) jaw clenching; the techniques used to facilitate this effect are very carefully orchestrated and done so with considerable motive. To me this is a much more mind blowing score than RotS - even while i find the star wars score much more fun to listen to. What he has done with the orchestra in WotW is a stunning achievment in the post modern musical realm and not to be confused with or compared to random noise. It may not be the easily accesible western music theory rule abiding theme ladden 19th century style score he is all to often pidgeon holed into writing - it may indeed be grating on the ears. BUT it is nonetheless a high work of art. To paralell - Nirvana is now generally considered one of the greatest progressive musical forces in the 1990's. they are praised for their ingenuity and form even while their guitar sounds are largely abrasive in sound and the vocals are somewhat grating on the ear. Some people cannot stand to listen to it - others think it is the pinnacle of modern rock. but we all know that Nirvana made music, they played songs; those who would dispell it as mere noise we would call uneducated. Is it not the same case here with William's WotW? I can understand not wanting to listen to this score. However I find it breathtaking in its form and function. it's depth of scope and application to the film it was concieved for is at the same time large and luminous as well as very well mathced to the visual story unfolding on the screen. I could be wrong....but i doubt it =P
posted 08-24-2005 04:01 PM PT (US)

Quill Standard Userer	Wow...that's a leap. Apparently only the "educated" can fully appreciate WotW. This echoes of a thread from a few years ago in which the ridiculous organ used in Mission to Mars was defended upon the notion that the rest of us simpletons could not grasp and appreciate Master Ennio's intentions. I could be wrong.....and I probably am. Peter...thanks for the input on The Cave. I will steer clear and focus on Valiant and Grimm instead.
posted 08-24-2005 09:39 PM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Standard Userer	Well, WOTW does take some "intelligence". Just like Goldsmith's POTA does. You wouldn't listen to them just to hear nice melodies, as you can do with some other scores. And the organ in Mission to Mars is brilliant - by far the best bit of the score. NP: Damien: Omen II (Jerry Goldsmith)
posted 08-25-2005 10:41 AM PT (US)

Luc Standard Userer	Cole, a great detail response. I can see where you're coming from. However, we many of us listen to a score, we like what we hear or not. Oh, I'm sure it's complex. Some of us call it noise because we don't like it. Don't take that literally. If we study it like you did, sure we'll appreciate the work that went into it but it doesn't change the fact that we don't like it. An opinion of course so don't anyone take it personally and have a cow . quote: And the organ in Mission to Mars is brilliant - by far the best bit of the score. Agree!
posted 08-25-2005 12:26 PM PT (US)

Quill Standard Userer	Well Marian...since you consistently love anything and everything Williams I guess I will take your input with a grain of salt. And did you actually watch Mission to Mars...the organ is the most blatant example of self-serving film music that removed all tension from the scene it was supposed to support. But heh, if considering it brilliant gets me into the Enlightened Society of the Film Music Elite...sign me up! Where's Andre Lux!!!??? This talk of Mission to Mars has made me miss that old rip!
posted 08-26-2005 01:23 AM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by Quill: Well Marian...since you consistently love anything and everything Williams I guess I will take your input with a grain of salt. You may do so. Though I should add I wasn't that impressed with most of Williams latest blockbuster scores. I hardly remember Catch Me If You Can, I find Minority Report to be nothing special (except for a few cues that are probably mostly harmed by poor sound quality), and I find A.I. horribly overrated. I'm certainly biased when it comes to Williams though. quote: And did you actually watch Mission to Mars...the organ is the most blatant example of self-serving film music that removed all tension from the scene it was supposed to support. But that's my point - I've ONLY heard the score in the movie. That sequence is amazing, and in my opinion, the music supports it perfectly. The best sequence in the ok movie, I think.
posted 08-26-2005 10:21 AM PT (US)

Old Infopop Software by UBB