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Author	Topic: The Phantom Menace Sndtrk....is it growing on anyone else?

Captain Howdy Oscar® Winner	When I first bought Williams' new Star Wars score, I was a little dissapointed. It seemed to be missing something that the others had. I finally figured out what it was...the lack of repeated listens that I had of the others! Once all the intricate themes and new motifs came together for me, the score grew on my very quickly. I love all of the militaristic-sounding marches (Flag Parade, Droid Invasion) and the great fanfares (Arrival at Naboo, Panaka and the Queens Protectors). Anakins theme is great and gets better with each listen. Most of the action cues are pulse-pounding and exciting (Droid Battle, Qui-Gons Noble End) and the choral work is amazing! One thing that I wont forget again about Williams is that his music is not easily accessable like Horner or Goldsmith. I bought Goldsmiths "The Mummy" the same day I bought the "Phantom Menace". After listening to Menace once, I found myself repeaditly listening to Mummy. Now, Goldsmiths themes from Mummy have become shallow and pretty repetitive and Williams' Menace is finding itself in my CD player almost all the time. Once Williams' complex themes and motifs get implanted in your mind and you get accustomed to them, theres almost nothing better. Does anyone else feel the same way? NP: The Phantom Menace (*****)
posted 05-27-1999 11:43 PM PT (US)

Matthew Oscar® Winner	I'd have to agree with you.With multiple listens I have come to enjoy it far more than I did than when I first bought the cd or saw the film.Although I still really love THE MUMMY very much,probably as much as THE PHANTOM MENACE.They have both been getting played the hell out of on my cd players at home and in the car.Those are two wonderful scores by two of the best composers out there. NP: Music For a Darkened Theatre Vol. 2 (Danny Elfman) (****) [This message has been edited by Matthew (edited 05-28-99).]
posted 05-28-1999 12:58 AM PT (US)

Ed Coleman Oscar® Winner	Yes I agree it has grown on me also. Except for a short lull after the "Flag Parade", this is a great score. NP - "Cleopatra" - Trevor Jones
posted 05-28-1999 05:29 AM PT (US)

Audacity Oscar® Winner	When I first heard the single DUAL OF THE FATES I thought THE PHANTOM MENACE score would be disappointing. I kind of liked the DOTF song by itself but I thought that besides some trumpets about 3 minutes 25 seconds in that it sounded nothing like the first Star Wars movies. Don't get me wrong I didn't want them to sound exactly the same, but I just felt that DOTF didn't have that "Star Wars" sound. When I saw the movie I absolutely loved the score. It had a lot of the old themes in it, which I didn't think that it was going to after hearing DOTF. Not only that but Williams used the main theme from DOTF so good throughout the whole score that now I think of DOTF as a main Star Wars theme, and I can't stop listening to it. Audacity N.P. The Phantom Menace (John Williams)*****
posted 05-29-1999 08:38 AM PT (US)

Crono/Kyp Oscar® Winner	I still love it, and, I always will Oh I herd from my boss that the "movie" yes the MOVIE is coming out this Nov!! Let's hope it's true --Crono/Kyp Writer/Director/Producer [This message has been edited by Crono/Kyp (edited 05-29-99).]
posted 05-29-1999 11:26 AM PT (US)

SFT Oscar® Winner	I just bought the score today, so it has´nt gotten a chance to grow on me yet, but so far it´s great! SFT NP: Dolores Claiborne (Personal Composers Edition), Danny Elfman
posted 05-29-1999 02:41 PM PT (US)

James Oscar® Winner	I decided a while back to force myself to refrain from listening to any Phantom Menace music until I was watching the movie. I ended up feeling the same way about the score as I felt about the movie: I loved every minute of it except for most of Jar Jar's scenes. (If Lucas hadn't made him so incredibly cartoonish, he wouldn't have been so annoying...but at least it was just him and not his entire race). Thus, I loved the Phantom Menace from the start, and ergo the only part that has a chance to grow on me is Jar Jar's music. And it hasn't grown on me yet. But to agree with you, I'll say that I don't think I would have liked The Phantom Menace score initially if I had listened to it before I saw the film. James NP - On The Beautiful Blue Danube (Strauss) ***** - I know it's not film music, but it's what's now playing
posted 05-29-1999 03:43 PM PT (US)

Aaron Collins Oscar® Winner	The first time I listened to it, I thought it was great! After about the seventh listen, I consider it to be a masterpiece. There are actually a bunch of motifs in this score. It takes a lot of listening to finally here them all. People complained that it lacked the old themes. But after seeing the movie, we all know that those themes are evident. There is also some great cues that I love in the movie that aren't on this cd. Duel of the Fates wasn't awesome, until I saw it in the movie. It fits in perfect and will be regarded as one of the great choral works of film music. This music has grown on me immensley and I cannot wait for the next two. NP: The Phantom Menace
posted 05-29-1999 05:04 PM PT (US)

SFT Oscar® Winner	Aaron Collins, I can certainly say this much about Duel of the Fates: It is a very thrilling piece of music...but: Saying that "it will be regarded as one of the great choral works of filmmusic", is jumping to conclusions. What about Jerry Goldsmith´s The Omen or Danny Elfman´s Edward Scissorhands? In my opinion no other composer uses choir in his scores better than Elfman... So far I have listened to The Phantom Menace three times, and I am very happy with it;it is a fine score...but it is´nt a masterpiece or any of that sort. SFT [This message has been edited by SFT (edited 05-30-99).]
posted 05-30-1999 01:38 AM PT (US)

Gae Oscar® Winner	I would say to anyone making rash judgements about Phantom Menace to be a bit more patient. Not everything "great" is easily accesible or can be appreciated quickly, like a fine wine it takes time and improves with age. I remember it took me ages to appreciate what a masterpiece "Star Wars" was. I bought it age 12 and it took a few years of critical listening until I loved it and appreciated its complexity...also I grew to love the music more, the more times I watched the movie and I still listen to it 22 years later. Having not had the luxury of seeing Phantom Menace yet here in the U.K. the music does'nt have the visual significance to me as much as the other Trilogy music does. Whenever I listen to any of the earlier scores I can see each scene of the movie playing in my mind and relate to the exact emotional content of that moment of the score...that is very powerful...having that direct connection. At the moment The Phantom Menace is a great sounding score and I'm starting to recognize more and more subtleties to it above The Duel of the Fates or Anakin's Theme (both of which are wonderful). Who knows....maybe in a few months/years when I have got to understand and appreciate Menace as it is meant to be, over the passage of time and after seeing the movie maybe half a dozen times, then I will feel justifiable in calling it another "masterpiece"....I'm sure I will!!! Gae
posted 05-30-1999 05:02 PM PT (US)

Dan Brecher Oscar® Winner	Weeeeeeeel I've loved it from day one, had no bad thoughts about it at all, it;s wonderful stuff, BUT, I just got back from New York where I saw the movie, I loved the movie, and loved the score even more, but having heard what's not available to use on the score release I now hate Sony to death. Some of the best stuff is NOT on the damn CD, arghhhhhhh. Gimmie the emmotional Shimi/Anakin bits, more of the Emperor Theme, more Pod Race music, the Jedi Duel music!!!!!!! arffffff, Gimmie the movie versions of some of the tracks heard on the score! Petition time anyone? Dan (UK) PS: Currently Now Playing my way is an MP3 of a tune lifted from the Ep1 "Racer" game on the PC by a member of this forum. You can find the thread of where to get it elswhere here, and it is a track from the movie and not on the score release (wonderful duel of fates bit, then THE FORCE THEME!!!!!). I was wondering, anyone know how this track of the game was made into an MP3? A great way to get more unreleased music would be to sample it from The Phantom Menace computer game on the PC, I dunno how to do that, any ideas? Cheers!
posted 06-02-1999 09:22 AM PT (US)

Aaron Collins Oscar® Winner	SFT, I said it will be up there with the other great choral works of film. I love the Omen and Edward Scissorhands. Those are both great pieces up there with Duel of Fates. I think Duel of Fates is a tour de force and is awesome! Not to start an argument, but I believe John Williams writes just as good or better choral music than Danny Elfman. There are many composers that write some great stuff for chorus like Goldsmith, Doyle, Elfman, and Poledouris. Aaron NP: Raiders of the Lost Ark
posted 06-02-1999 11:55 AM PT (US)

Bradley Oscar® Winner	When I first heard Duel of the Fates, I thought it was great. And when I listened to the CD for the first time, it was by far my favorite track on the CD. But after numerous listenings to the CD, it has quite a few notches. Oh yes, it took a few listenings for the CD to grow on me but it has grown like a bad weed. My favorite track now is Anakin's theme. Followed by The Sith Spacecraft, Augie's Great Municipal Band (I don't care what anybody else says it's a GREAT track ), The Flag Parade, Qui-Gon's Noble End and Duel of the Fates. Hmmm, from first to sixth, yeah I'd say the rest of the CD has grown on me!!!
posted 06-02-1999 12:30 PM PT (US)

Captain Howdy Oscar® Winner	About Augies Great Municipal Band: I too love it! Its not really Star Wars music, but it becomes very good to listen to after you've seen the movie. As your listening too it, you can just see the resoulution and celebration happening. Its very upbeat, happy music and would be good for cheering you up when a depressed mood hits you.
posted 06-02-1999 02:41 PM PT (US)

Norman McCay Oscar® Winner	I can't believe I am actually saying this, but the Phantom Menace has topped Silvestri's Forrest Gump as my all-time favorite film score. I know to many this may sound like a flash in the pan, but it isn't. To be truthful, the first time I listened to it, I fell asleep by the fourth track. Literally. But I was tired anyway and it was late. Then somehow, the Star Wars hype swept me over and I went back to listen to it again, and I sensed something different, something intriguing. Then as I watched all the trailers over, I became engrossed in this tale of good vs. evil and how the music was so...perfect in complementing the moods/characters. Now, I have become to love it. Never before have I become so immersed in movie themes. (Duel of the Fates, Anakin's Theme, Flag Parade, Qui-Gon's NE, Augie's Municipal Band) I hum them all day long and all night long, both in my head and through my mouth. Not only because was the music great by itself, but it was EVEN MUCH BETTER when I saw the movie. Favorite moments in the movie included Darth Maul's appearance and the beginning cue of Duel of the Fates, Qui-Gon's NE and the end celebration of Naboo marked the terrific and eccentric/unique Augie's Municipal Band theme. I felt like I was truly experiencing the joy of millions who were freed from Federation control. The image of Amidala in the white outfit near the end has me seeing angels, and the foreshadowing "We will be watching your young career with great interest, young Skywalker" was just too much for me.... This is the most fun I have ever had in a movie theater. Basically, this movie overwhelmed my senses!
posted 06-02-1999 03:19 PM PT (US)

Sean Bires Oscar® Winner	That usually happens to me when I buy a CD... I don't like it when I first get it, but I begin to like and appreciate it when I listen to it more and more. I like the Phantom Menace soundtrack better than I like the other Star Wars soundtracks. The Phantom Menace seems a bit more quiet-er for some reason. The CD is full of soft, fantasy music for your mind to wander in (Anakin's Theme, for example), and it also contains everybody's favorite Darth Maul's theme, which is used in tracks like Qui-Gon's Noble End and Duel of the Fates. I also like the funny little song, Augie's Great Municipal Band played at the end. The movie itself was great too. People take Star Wars for granted now, especially when I hear people complain that the film didn't have enough "charactor development", or other things that aren't relevent to Star Wars. Star Wars is about these vast, grand visions (like the underwater city or the senetorial sphere) to blow the audience's mind away... Star Wars is a children's epic, not a film about human relationships.
posted 06-07-1999 09:50 AM PT (US)

Norman McCay Oscar® Winner	Well, I don't necessarily agree that Star Wars is a children's epic, more like for anyone who's ever had a dream and wished to make that dream come true. I am sure that deep down inside each of us, there is that child that we have long forgotten and left behind. This movies brings out that "child" in us. It did for me. What really defined this movie for me was when Anakin says, "Mom, you said the biggest problem in the universe is that nobody helps each other....." This IS what I loved so much about the movie. The heart, the inspiration, the magic, the innocence, and the dreams. Queen Amidala's deep devotion to the safety of her people, Obi-Wan's rebellious ways with Qui-Gon, Qui-Gon's noble means despite rather failing outcomes. All of these things made the movie great. Not to mention top-notch work by John Williams, and the visual effects crew, and of course, the actors themselves. Sure, many Star Wars fans complained about the lack of character development. But I know I found what I was looking for.
posted 06-07-1999 10:47 AM PT (US)

Dan Brecher Oscar® Winner	Erm, is it me or does Qui Gons noble end NOT accompany his noble end in the movie? I just recall DOTF pumping constantly, though I remember a bit from the scores track 15 in the pod race sequence... Dan (UK)
posted 06-07-1999 01:57 PM PT (US)

S Smith unregistered	Actually, the only reason Obi-Wan is sort of rebelling agains Qui-Gon is because Qui-Gon is usually going against the Jedi Council (which Obi-Wan doesn't approve of). But that's another topic entirely.
posted 06-07-1999 03:32 PM PT (US)

Sean Bires Oscar® Winner	(Continueing the conversation...) The Star Wars series is childrens epic of space & spaceships, sword-fights, aliens, good and evil, alien gansters, and super-powers coming from The Force. It has such epic visions of exotic worlds, grand space fleets, armies of aliens and robots, incredible lightsaber duels, massive space battles... screw "charactor development", it's not what the film's about. You have to be the most shallow-minded person in the world to bitch about charactor development in Star Wars. The critics who say it's a bad film are terrible critics. At least Roger Ebert and Michael Wilmington gave it great reviews. The Phantom Menace becomes a bit more sophisticated because it throws in some politics in the middle of the film... but it still remains a children's epic at the end. The Phantom Menace is my favorite of the three Star Wars films. NP - The Phantom Menace - John Williams (Great soundtrack... also my favorite of the series) [This message has been edited by Sean Bires (edited 06-07-99).]
posted 06-07-1999 05:53 PM PT (US)

Norman McCay Oscar® Winner	To reply the bit about Qui-Gon's Noble End: Track 15 does indeed have the cue when Qui-Gon is ****** by Darth Maul, even if the rest of the track does not comply with what we saw on the screen.
posted 06-07-1999 06:35 PM PT (US)

Hector J. Guzman Oscar® Winner	John Williams is the composer of the late 20th and early 21st century. He's the best!! NP. Star Wars: the Phantom Menace(Johnny)***** [This message has been edited by Hector J. Guzman (edited 06-07-99).]
posted 06-07-1999 06:41 PM PT (US)

Dan Brecher Oscar® Winner	Thanks Norman. Never really noticed it...... Dan (UK)
posted 06-08-1999 01:58 AM PT (US)

Maestro Sartori Oscar® Winner	I saw the movie again and the first part of Qui-Gon's Noble End is the music where Artoo rescues the Naboo Nubian ship.
posted 06-08-1999 02:52 AM PT (US)

Scott Oscar® Winner	There is no score I listened to more in 99 than this one. Scott
posted 01-15-2000 10:00 PM PT (US)

Ricard L. Befan Oscar® Winner	How interesting to read back a thread that started 8 months ago... Things have changed so much since then... [This message has been edited by Ricard L. Befan (edited 16 January 2000).]
posted 01-16-2000 07:20 AM PT (US)

Vladimir Oscar® Winner	I agree with u guys at first i had to get use to Williams new themes but i was hooked after a few days and still am.As far as the Mummy is is a great piece of work by Goldsmith and I am hooked too as i was on the phantom menace
posted 01-16-2000 07:40 AM PT (US)

Captain Howdy Oscar® Winner	Wow. I've never seen a post revisited after this long. You must have been digging WAY back, Scott. Still feel the same way about the score though. My favorite of '99. NP: American Beauty ****.5/5
posted 01-16-2000 12:21 PM PT (US)

Scott Oscar® Winner	Yeah Captain Howdy, since I came sort of late to this board I decided to go back and see if there were any posts I would have responded to had I'd been here at the time. Expect some more in the future. Scott
posted 01-16-2000 09:14 PM PT (US)

sabbey Oscar® Winner	Well let me put it this way, I loved it since day one! I bought it the day it was up for advance order at CDNOW, and since getting it I never understood why some dislike it so much. I understand it is not an complete soundtrack, but just how many are these days? It's great IMO, and I rate it 4 1/2 stars. Actually 5 stars. Though the originals are 5 stars in my mind, so no offense to John Williams, but to me, there was no way he could top the original trilogy. However I do think he got pretty darn close to doing so. And to be perfectly honest it passed my expectations at least in part. Than again this is coming from someone who rates the film 5 stars as well. Sean Robert Abbey [This message has been edited by sabbey (edited 16 January 2000).]
posted 01-16-2000 10:33 PM PT (US)

KyleS Oscar® Winner	I loved 'The Phantom Menace!' I think it's brilliant! And Williams' score is the awesome! But I do feel that the actual album release was, shall we say, misguided. I rarely listen to the album as it was released. I converted to the whole album to MP3 and then split it up and added those "unreleased" tracks that were on the net a few months back. With the added tracks, and it being in chronological order, it is amazing! Duel of the Fates is fantastic and Qui-Gon's theme is wonderful. My favorite que is when Anakin destroys the control ship's reactor and races out of the hangar. That performance of the "Star Wars Theme" is most rousing ever. Unfortuneatly the MP3 I have of it abruptly stops at about a minute into it so it really doesn't have proper closer on that track. But I love listening to it anyway. Hopefully we'll see an expanded release sometime this decade. There were a lot of places in the film where the music was tracked in the a different sequence than it should of been and it bothered me. If the "Anakin Defeats Sebulba" track was actually in the Pod race it would have been spectacular. But instead it's at the end during the ground battle. Strange.
posted 01-17-2000 08:43 AM PT (US)

Ricard L. Befan Oscar® Winner	Don't worry, the mp3s are still there. The only problem is that my site(s) have been closed several times since last june when I first made them available, so they're now on a separate site. To get the files go to my site JohnWilliams.com (http://johnwilliams.com-us.com), then click on 'TPM Unreleased' on the right column (Selected Links - Star Wars Music). The files have a different extension (html), so you have to change it before dowloading the tracks. Please email me if you have any problem. I'm currently looking for a good space to upload (for the third time) my version of the Expanded Score (over 100 minutes of music edited and mixed as it appears in the film). I hope this time it will last longer, we'll see.
posted 01-17-2000 10:48 AM PT (US)

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