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YES, IT’S “KHAAAAN!!!” – JAMES HORNER’S COMPLETE STAR TREK II ON CD AT LAST

Film Score Monthly goes warp factor 10 to bring out every note of the famous film composer’s beloved score to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Linden, VA – July 20, 2009 – “I have been...and always shall be your...DREAM SOUNDTRACK CD!”

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) is beloved as arguably the finest Star Trek feature film. Directed by Nicholas Meyer (Time After Time), the film features the death of Spock, one of William Shatner's finest performances as Kirk, and an iconic villain in Ricardo Montalban as Khan. After the special effects-laden Star Trek: The Motion Picture, it was Star Trek II that set the franchise back on its feet with a rich, weighty narrative of youth-and-age and life-and-death that continues to be the yardstick against which future films are measured – it is the quintessential example of mining the series for all the drama it possesses while staying true to its essential themes and characterizations.

The film benefits enormously from a rich, sweeping symphonic score by a composer at the time virtually unknown, but who has since become one of the giants of the field: James Horner. Then 28 – with only a few films under his belt – Horner was personally selected by Meyer and his colleagues when the budget prohibited the hiring of a veteran like Jerry Goldsmith (who had done such a sensational score for the first film). Working closely with Meyer, Horner crafted flowing, nautical-sounding melodies for Kirk and the Enterprise that recalled the spirit of Captain Horatio Hornblower, one of creator Gene Roddenberry's inspirations for the series. Horner contrasted sweeping themes for the heroes against shorter, warlike music for the archvillain Khan – creating dynamic and memorable battle music for the film's WWII submarine-style spaceship confrontations. But it was the film's core story of the friendship between Kirk and Spock – and the separation of that bond at the story's end – that received Horner's most heart-tugging and emotional scoring.

Star Trek II was released on LP by Atlantic Records in a 45-minute program issued on CD by GNP/Crescendo (now long out of print). Although the album program featured the score's highlights, fans have long clamored for a complete-score presentation – adding such important cues as the mind-control sequences involving Chekov and Capt. Terrell being possessed by alien eels, the revelation of the Genesis Cave, the final battle between the Enterprise and Reliant, and Spock's death and funeral ("Amazing Grace").

In cooperation with Rhino Entertainment (who administer the Atlantic Records catalog) and Paramount Pictures (owners of the Star Trek film franchise), FSM delivers a remastering of the complete score from Dan Wallin's 1982 three-track film mixes, stored in the Paramount vaults in sterling sound quality. The 28-page CD booklet features commentary and track-by-track breakdowns including new and historical interview quotes by Horner, Meyer and others involved in the production – as well as our customary art direction by Joe Sikoryak featuring stills, rare artwork and behind-the-scenes photos.

To borrow a quote from a completely different movie – American Beauty – here at FSM we feel about this CD like Kevin Spacey when asked about the hotrod in his driveway: "It is the car I've always wanted and now it is mine."

Bless you, Scotty – go Sulu!

This dream-come-true CD is available now from Screen Archives Entertainment at www.screenarchives.com.

Check it out at http://www.screenarchives.com/title_detail.cfm?ID=12699

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Ok, Peter, I eagerly await the order possibility from here...

(And it's showing up five days before my burthday this year- this may just be the coolest present I get myself!).

EDIT: As an aside, I watched the movie a couple weeks back for the first time..the music is given some of the best treatment on screen I could imagine. Great stuff!

Eh, okay. I'll think about it.

*shits pants*!!!!

WOW! I never thought FSM would be able to release a complete version of Star Trek II, from the sound clips things sound better than the OST! This is sooooo mine! I've all ready placed an order for it.

If they have it at Comic-Con, they just pre-sold a copy.

If not, I'll order it online and hope they printed enough copies.

Just ordered one for me and one for my brother, from the link. MM.com store is okeedokee with me.

---- Mark

This is perhaps one of the best scores of the Star Trek franchise, and at the time, it catapulted James Horner into the A-List, along with Jerry Goldsmith and John Williams.

It is a fantastic score by any standard, and is quite the thrill ride.

This and TMP are the pedigree to which all of the other Star Trek movie scores aspire to reach, yet none have reached.

correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think this is a limited edition?

Jason, SAE is FSM's distributor and online store. All other stores must wait to get their CDs to sell since the distributor doesn't mention or ship before the release date like most distributors. They should be here next week, thanks for your patience!

Peter

It's definitely NOT a limited edition. So if people can't afford it now but in a couple of months, they can easily get it then.

Edit: You and me both sean! Hopefully in due time the others follow suit.

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Originally posted by BigT1981:
Edit: You and me both sean! Hopefully in due time the others follow suit.

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Jeron hasn't weighed in on this yet.

Believe me I'm a really big Trekkie, especially when it comes to the music and I'm absolutely over joyed at this.

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Originally posted by Kevin:
All in all, this must not be a very big release for the die hard Trek music fans. And I have incontrovertible proof...

Jeron hasn't weighed in on this yet.

Kevin

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BiigT, he's a bigger Trekkie then you. And just remember, you were putting down Abrams new "Trek" because of ship design, so, your street cred needs some work

--Brian

Yes, I am A Busy Man and haven't had a chance to read Moviemusic.com this week. As Brian so accurately represented, I am stoked. I hope this paves the way for more complete releases of Star Trek III and V, as Sean suggested.

Jeron

Actually, jeron can because I'm usually in the closet about liking Trek. People seem to dog it, even after the hyper popularity of the recent film.

Quite frankly, that was the most hilarious post EVER written on this post, Jeron!

I already have my 3 disc Blu Ray set on pre order with my crew at Amazon...hmmm, can't wait to see that action in full 1080p glory!

People's "assurances" mean nothing to me. I must hear/read if from the source.

now did any of you "youngsters" actually see STII:TWOK in the theaters during it's initial run? On opening day? First showing? And could you recite the dialog by the third time you saw it in the theater?

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Originally posted by Kevin:
Well, now that Jeron has spoken, I guess I can think about purchasing this CD.

People's "assurances" mean nothing to me. I must hear/read if from the source.

now did any of you "youngsters" actually see STII:TWOK in the theaters during it's initial run? On opening day? First showing? And could you recite the dialog by the third time you saw it in the theater?

Kevin
NP: The rain outside.

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I was born in 81 so I did not see it in theaters. However growing up I watched it many times over on VHS. I practically have the whole film memorized, and once I get the score no doubt the scenes for each cue will be playing in my mind.

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Originally posted by Crono/Kyp:
Yes he's happy about it, yes he's stoked.

BiigT, he's a bigger Trekkie then you. And just remember, you were putting down Abrams new "Trek" because of ship design, so, your street cred needs some work

--Brian

[Message edited by Crono/Kyp on 07-22-2009]

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It wasn't just the ship design I was putting down Brian, it was the whole look and feel of the film itself. However, you know my opinion changed once I saw the movie. Also once I got the Playmates toy of the new Enterprise, the design has really grown on me since, because I needed a physical deal of the ship in person to study it.

--Brian

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Originally posted by BigT1981:
Also once I got the Playmates toy of the new Enterprise, the design has really grown on me since, because I needed a physical deal of the ship in person to study it.

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