Very disappointed Thomas Newman is doing the Spectre score
osris
Posts: 558MI6 Agent
He’s a good film score composer in general, but his score for Skyfall was very un-Bond-like, with no hint of the John Barry tradition here and there, like David Arnold used to do.
Why was Arnold ditched anyway?
Why was Arnold ditched anyway?
Comments
It depends what the criteria is. It might be as an action film score, but is it a Bond score? By that I mean taking on board Barry’s contribution to the way we perceive a Bond score.
While I enjoy the Berry score, Bond is always changing. Also, Skyfall was a bit of a rebirth/in a funk time for Bond. Perhaps, that is why the PTS had lots of brass and that Berry sound and most of the rest of the film didn't.
True, but the brass sound is not the only Barry element. There are flutes, oboes, piano, and harp elements that he used as well. More languid and eerie sounds too, as in the underwater sequences in TB and in parts of DAF.
The Skyfall soundtrack sets the right moods, but it completely lacks progression and common themes, except for a couple undeveloped motifs. It mostly just sounds like generic action music. Arnold understands the Bond sound, and he's great at writing themes. He also knows how to use themes in his scores. His Night at the Opera track is a brilliant piece of music, not only for the film but also just as music on its own. Plus, Arnold uses that theme in other parts of the score, which helps give the film a musical identity. Newman's score lacks this complexity.
It's not just about sounding like Barry, but a good score helps tell the story through the music. Newman mostly just writes background music that could fit almost anything.
I thought Newman did a great job.
That's pretty much it. Very generic. But I'm a musician and composer, so I have higher standards.
Same here Matt! I had no idea you were a musician like myself!
I'm not a musician professionally in general, but I've done a lot of music in my life. Many people have told me I should have gone into it as a profession.
"Better make that two."
I would definitely have preferred to have David Arnold back for Spectre. I much prefer his approach, which involves developing thematic ideas throughout the score, often incorporating the title song where possible.
have two ears ( most of us anyway) we all know what we like
when we hear it, and what we dislike.
If you dislike the score, thete's no need to explain .
Yes, that one was also in the back of my mind, but I couldn't recall if it was developed or repeated over several cues or if it just appeared once.
That being said, if and when Arnold comes back we will appreciate him twice as much. Or is that TWINE?
"The very words I live by."
There are occasional Bond vibes, but no amount of Bond vibes could make up for the lack of musicality in the score. I'd rather have a well composed score without Bond vibes, like LALD or FYEO, than a score that just sounds like Bond without any substance.
Even when Thomas Newman writes themes, they are never memorable. You won't find a janitor whistling a Thomas Newman theme.