OK, the cat is out of the bag....Mendes chose Newman over Arnold with EON's blessing. I just hope that Mendes (a self avowed Bond fan/geek) remembers the great scores of those classic Bond films he loves and can push Newman to find his inner Barry. Looking on the bright side, maybe Newman is just itching to get the opportunity to do a nice big action score. His father, Alfred and uncle Lionel sure knew how to score an action film.
Well, tbf, not sure if inner Barry is always needed. Most people kind of liked TSWLM and so on, even LALD score matches the film. Some Barry scores I like, one or two I don't. Golden Gun does nothing for me, ditto TLD and even OHMSS (a minority view I know).
I can't understand that after years of Bond Producers keeping control of their "Product", they casually hand over all decisions to a Third party, First M forster and now S Mendes. What director given full control of a project wouldn't bring in his own team.
I remember several interviews of actors who had worked on older Bond films saying that although they where Big movies they felt like smaller independent Movies as everyone had worked together.
As for the Music from all I've read "Skyfall" is going to follown on from QOS in the sence of being "Dark and Moody" given that, Thomas Newman will be perfect, Lots of soft piano background Music, to mirror the inner turmoil of Bond. I'm not expecting any big Bond Brass or pounding Theme over an action sequence.
I'm surprised they didn't give Michel Legrand a Call. )
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
SeanConnery007The Bond Archive - London, EngPosts: 169MI6 Agent
I am, for one, disappoint that Arnold is not involved in the score for SF.
I have always like his Bond scores, I think he did a great job of modernising the Bond film sound. If nothing else, I think he did a fantastic job on the last two considering he wasn't allowed to use the Bond theme.
In regards to Newman, I shall reserve judgement as such, he might pull-out a grand Bond score fitting for the 50th anniversary - I think he will definately need the Bond theme back to do this though.
I've not been overly excited by what I've heard of Newman's scores, though I would offer his work on the film 'The Debt' as a taste of what might could be expected of his 'Bond' score.
It seems to me that Newman is yet another example of EON 'selling-up' and forming a bland and generic Bond film that, other than the main character's namesake, is losing everything that makes it a 'Bond' :007) film.
M'eh -- his scores are contemporary and professional but not especially original nor memorable . . . that doesn't mean he won't do a good job, but while I can hum any number of works by Barry, Zimmer, Williams, Goldsmith, or Poledouris, I can't do the same for Newman even though I have seen some of his films.
Not even the theme for American Beauty ? Surely one of recent Cinema's most iconic refrains. It has found it's way into a number of diverse areas from it's use in Dance Music to countless homage/copy's in numerous adverts.
I vaguely do remember it . . . but I'm of that unusual minority that was unimpressed with American Beauty, in part because it somehow managed to put every cliche about American suburban life into one film.
I just listened to a few tracks . . . I recognize it, but it didn't really stay with me . . . suited the mopey nature of the film just fine . . . the funny thing is I just watched How the West Was Won, which has one of the greatest and most bombastic opening themes of any film, and I love that music. Maybe Newman has the genes to do something more memorable like his relatives, but there's a kind of somber Muzak quality to his movie music.
What does Thomas Newman mean for a Bond theme? Arnold has extensive experience working on pop songs and with modern artists; I hoped he would be involved in the title song (he seemed to get every other theme to work on i.e. TWINE, CR...). Newman seems more of a classical artist with less involvement in songs.
Obviously the best scenario is a composer working with a great artist to produce a score and theme that work together.
No thanks, we don't want that lazy hack anywhere near Bond, inflicting the 100th reworking of his Crimson Tide and Thin Red Line scores on us.
Speak yourself pal. I don't think he is right for Bond but he has done some truly wonderful scores; Gladiator is my personal favourite. To say that he is a hack and that he has re-worked 1 score over and again is ridiculous. His music has it's own sound and feel to it that lends some similarity between projects, but the same can be said for most musicians.
Having said that, I really dislike the Inception score. Although it is probably the best thing about the film.
1- On Her Majesty's Secret Service 2- Casino Royale 3- Licence To Kill 4- Goldeneye 5- From Russia With Love
Speak yourself pal. I don't think he is right for Bond but he has done some truly wonderful scores; Gladiator is my personal favourite. To say that he is a hack and that he has re-worked 1 score over and again is ridiculous. His music has it's own sound and feel to it that lends some similarity between projects, but the same can be said for most musicians.
I wasn't speaking for myself, just relaying what most in the film score fan community think about Hans Zimmer. He certainly is guilty of the worst kind of plagiarism and self-plagiarism, that's without question. Are you aware that the Holst Foundation took him to court over his blatant rip-off of 'Mars' from The Planets in his Gladiator score? Now Gladiator is a fun and effective score, no doubt about that, but the rip-offs featured within it are so cheeky it should never be truly valued.
Still, the Zimmer sound is wrong for Bond. It's become far too generic in any case. I'm not sold on Newman being up to the task, but it's a far more interesting prospect.
I wasn't speaking for myself, just relaying what most in the film score fan community think about Hans Zimmer. He certainly is guilty of the worst kind of plagiarism and self-plagiarism, that's without question. Are you aware that the Holst Foundation took him to court over his blatant rip-off of 'Mars' from The Planets in his Gladiator score? Now Gladiator is a fun and effective score, no doubt about that, but the rip-offs featured within it are so cheeky it should never be truly valued.
Still, the Zimmer sound is wrong for Bond. It's become far too generic in any case. I'm not sold on Newman being up to the task, but it's a far more interesting prospect.
Yes, I'm aware that they sued for alleged 'plagiarism' of a certain piece of music. The fact is though that many pieces of classical music are 'ripped-off' in many film scores. I'm sure you can find similar instances of 'rip-offs' in a lot of film composers' back catalogues, does that make them hacks too? Or is it just newer, popular composers that get the brunt of accusation?
What I don't know however is how the case ended.
1- On Her Majesty's Secret Service 2- Casino Royale 3- Licence To Kill 4- Goldeneye 5- From Russia With Love
Can any of you "inside track" gents tell us if what we're hearing in the video blogs is a taste of Newman's score? I don't recognize the music in the Istanbul videoblog from any previous entry.
Yep, sounds like new Newman music in the Turkey video...some very interesting hints in there.
And with the likes of Shawshank and Road to perdition...l really can't wait to hear this score.
BIG TAMWrexham, North Wales, UK.Posts: 773MI6 Agent
Thomas Newman has written some great music but I worry the action requirements of this film will force him to go generic. I recently watched THE DEBT. A good thriller but Newman's music was a bit monotonous, with too much emphasis on that pulsing beat thing composers do to accompany suspense these days. Hopefully Mendes will guide him accordingly.
Just listened to the samples of three cuts. "Severine' was by far the best. Beautiful haunting melody, definately Bond worthy. The other two were just ok...and hard to judge without the context of the scenes in the film. The music from the pre-titles sequence was very good however and really captures the "Bond" action sound. So far, based upon a very limited sampling, it looks promising. Too bad Newman didn't have a hand in composing the title song. IMO, it makes for a better score when the melody from the title song is incorporated in the score.
Doesn't sound awfully Bondian, initially it reminds me of The Saint soundtrack from the 1997 movie, bits of Bourne and even Lord of The Rings in there. Just realised my analysis is a bit like describing a fine wine... )
BIG TAMWrexham, North Wales, UK.Posts: 773MI6 Agent
Yes, difficult to judge. I suppose the problem for us as fans is we associate a certain sound & style of orchestration with Bond that is simply impossible for anybody else to come close to it. John Barry's skill was in writing themes & melodies for mood music. Others haven't always been able to emulate this.
Thomas Newman does have a distinct sound & his orchestrations, particularly on 'Severine' show off his SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION stylings. Whether he can dispel the ghost of Barry remains to be seen. It's doubtful. The most we can hope for is that he goes the Marvin Hamlisch route of just writing a catchy score.
Just listened to the sample -- it all sounded fairly contemporary generic, and in this and tone reminded me a lot of the soundtrack for Goldeneye. There's nothing offensive in the music, and it will probably grow on me, but perhaps except for the last "action track" on the sample, there wasn't anything that seemed particularly memorable. David Arnold's scores aren't a whole lot better, but Newman's scores always seem burdened by a heaviness that some may consider dramatic but seems moribund and lethargic to me.
so, some recurring Bond theme, and some recurring Severine Theme..
and sounds like some epic bits in there...reminds me sometimes of Spy who loved me...as well as some real Newman in there...almost Finding Nemo at times.
very much looking forward to this soundtrack for first time with Bond in a long time.
Comments
Roger Moore 1927-2017
I remember several interviews of actors who had worked on older Bond films saying that although they where Big movies they felt like smaller independent Movies as everyone had worked together.
As for the Music from all I've read "Skyfall" is going to follown on from QOS in the sence of being "Dark and Moody" given that, Thomas Newman will be perfect, Lots of soft piano background Music, to mirror the inner turmoil of Bond. I'm not expecting any big Bond Brass or pounding Theme over an action sequence.
I'm surprised they didn't give Michel Legrand a Call.
I have always like his Bond scores, I think he did a great job of modernising the Bond film sound. If nothing else, I think he did a fantastic job on the last two considering he wasn't allowed to use the Bond theme.
In regards to Newman, I shall reserve judgement as such, he might pull-out a grand Bond score fitting for the 50th anniversary - I think he will definately need the Bond theme back to do this though.
I've not been overly excited by what I've heard of Newman's scores, though I would offer his work on the film 'The Debt' as a taste of what might could be expected of his 'Bond' score.
It seems to me that Newman is yet another example of EON 'selling-up' and forming a bland and generic Bond film that, other than the main character's namesake, is losing everything that makes it a 'Bond' :007) film.
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
Me too....I loved his work on Inception as well...
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
Obviously the best scenario is a composer working with a great artist to produce a score and theme that work together.
@merseytart
Speak yourself pal. I don't think he is right for Bond but he has done some truly wonderful scores; Gladiator is my personal favourite. To say that he is a hack and that he has re-worked 1 score over and again is ridiculous. His music has it's own sound and feel to it that lends some similarity between projects, but the same can be said for most musicians.
Having said that, I really dislike the Inception score. Although it is probably the best thing about the film.
Still, the Zimmer sound is wrong for Bond. It's become far too generic in any case. I'm not sold on Newman being up to the task, but it's a far more interesting prospect.
Yes, I'm aware that they sued for alleged 'plagiarism' of a certain piece of music. The fact is though that many pieces of classical music are 'ripped-off' in many film scores. I'm sure you can find similar instances of 'rip-offs' in a lot of film composers' back catalogues, does that make them hacks too? Or is it just newer, popular composers that get the brunt of accusation?
What I don't know however is how the case ended.
And with the likes of Shawshank and Road to perdition...l really can't wait to hear this score.
but very bloody exciting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mtFEITbTk8&feature=player_embedded#!
classy
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8mtFEITbTk8
Doesn't sound awfully Bondian, initially it reminds me of The Saint soundtrack from the 1997 movie, bits of Bourne and even Lord of The Rings in there. Just realised my analysis is a bit like describing a fine wine...
Thomas Newman does have a distinct sound & his orchestrations, particularly on 'Severine' show off his SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION stylings. Whether he can dispel the ghost of Barry remains to be seen. It's doubtful. The most we can hope for is that he goes the Marvin Hamlisch route of just writing a catchy score.
Newman's stuff on that link sounds more than competent. I like Arnold a lot though, he mimicked Barry well enough for me.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
so if you dont want to listen just yet...then dont!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rStdJlpcXKY
and sounds like some epic bits in there...reminds me sometimes of Spy who loved me...as well as some real Newman in there...almost Finding Nemo at times.
very much looking forward to this soundtrack for first time with Bond in a long time.