STAR WARS: The Majesty of John Williams

I know this won't be the most popular choice, but the Attack of the Clones soundtrack stands out for me. Across the Stars is my favorite piece of music in the series, and the way Williams amps it up as Anakin and Padmé are carted out into the arena... it catches my breath every time I see it.

Best cue: The Asteroid Field or Yoda and the Force
Best Soundtrack: EMPIRE

Basically, I feel JW is, along with Lucas, the one most responsible for the success of the movies. His music adds another level emotionally, and really gives it a jolt. Hell, Across the Stars went some way towards filling in the emotional gaps George had left in AOTC.

I'm thankful he's delivered in big ways with ROTS.

I love each of them in their own way, but the score to Episode IV is just transcendent throughout. Truly one of the great scores of all-time, for any film, in any genre.

I haven't gotten the ROTS soundtrack yet. so I'm partial to Empire but I voted for TPM for one reason only: Duel of the Fates. This song made the 3way duel 50x better.

I think my favorite piece is the brief music played in ROTJ when Vader and Luke go nuts...right after Vader mentions "sister".

Seconded. One of the most rousing compositions I've heard. It definitely saved TPM from being completely lifeless.

Williams work has been erratic of late..some of his scores he seems to have been phoning in...but he always does good work when it comes to a "Star Wars' film.
His score for TPM is one of the very few things about that film I really liked.
I will go with the vast majority though and vote for "Empire " as his best Star Wars score. I would go for "Schindler's List" as his best work overall though.
BTW It's a tie between "THe Imperial March" and "The Asteroid Field" as his best cue.

It's funny how the strangest moments in cinema are the ones that have the most effect on you...

After thinking of all the movies I've seen in my life, the greatest movie moment I can recall is when the Millennium Falcon revs up its engines in "Empire Strikes Back" while being masked by space debris, and seeing it fly off to the outside of the frame, only to have Slave One start up and follow right behind.

That is the pinnacle Star Wars moment. That short, 10-second shot, which to me says so much about what made Empire so great, and even the trilogy in general - their majestic, sweeping quality, their balls-to-the-wall pacing, their vitality and energy. But what's strange is that I never really knew why I liked this moment so much at first; no matter how many times I watched it, I couldn't pinpoint what was contained in those 10 seconds that made it so enthralling.

It was because of the music.

EDIT: I believe it's a version of Williams' Love Theme that plays during that segment, if you were wondering. I think that's what it's called, anyways... outside of Herrmann's Vertigo, that's probably the most passionate composition ever set to a moving picture.

esb

but rots is very very close.

SW:TESB is my vote. Asteroid Field and the Special Edition CD release cut of Rescue from Cloud City/Hyperspace are my favorites.

SW:ANH is a very close second.

Haven't heard the new one yet, but Empire is friggin' great. Although, mind that the track titles on the CD do not necessarily match the way the music is used in the film. Some cue that's supposed to be in Dagobah or something is actually used when the snow speeders take off, and the track called 'snow speeders take flight' or something is not the music playing there. I guess this happens all over the place? I'm not a film score fan by any account.

You can fuck to EMPIRE.

Yes, you can.

I went with Empire, since its the most consistent.

TPM: Overall, a decent score, although I think I may be the only person on the planet who doesn't really care for Duel of the Fates. I prefer the little moments in this score, like Qui Gon's theme, Qui Gon and Obi Wan Rescue the Queen, The Racer Roars to Life, Qui Gon and Darth Maul Meet, War Plans, The Tide Turns. Unfortunately most of the best cues can only be found on The Ultimate Edition, which is easily the worst album release of all the films.

AOTC: Really dig Across the Stars and Zam the Assassin/Chase Through Coruscant, although I still don't know what's up with that electric guitar. The album kinda loses me in the middle, and I feel alot of the Obi/Jango stuff is underwhelming. I really wish Williams had quoted The Asteroid Field for the film's asteroid chase, but we can't have it all. The score is also butchered to death in the film, and some transitions just irk me to no end.

ROTS: Still getting to know this one. So far, I prefer Battle of the Heroes over Duel of the Fates, and I really love the new territory he explores in tracks like Palpatine's Teachings and Padme's Ruminations. I will admit that alot of the score reminds me of earlier stuff, for example Grievous Speaks to Sidious sounds awfully similar to Belly of the Steel Beast, and alot of the Grievous tracks have moments recalling Jurassic Park (and consequently JFK) and Harry Potter (Hook.) Still, I like it, and anxiously look forward to getting some visual associations to go along with the score.

ANH: The one that started it all, nuff said. Great all around.

Empire: This saw the arrival of my favorite two Star Wars cues of all time, Yoda's Theme and The Asteroid Field, and therefore this is probably my favourite (I did vote for it after all.) Too many favorite moments to mention. Love this score.

Jedi: Pretty hit or miss, and although there is a lot of stuff I love in this score (Sail Barge Assault, Alliance Assembly, The Emperor's theme, Into the Trap, the Dark Side Beckons) there is also alot of stuff I don't (Forest Battle, Ewok Themes, Luke and Leia.) I'm not even going to mention Jedi Rocks (Lapti Nek forever!)

This is a funny thread because I remember a thread from last year where basically Devin argues against the world that John Williams is a hack. I wonder if any of that will flesh out again.

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Taxihunter, you mentioned my exact faves. Weird. The Asteroid Field is one of the most original tracks I've ever heard in all of film orchestration. And Hyperspace is just really awesome with its beats and the way other themes work into it.

What I love about the Special Edition OT scores is that you can picture the movies in your head as you listen. I voted ESB for the whole thing, from the Battle of Hoth, through the Asteroid Field, Yoda, and the Rescue. No movie music has affected me as much.

The only piece from the prequels I really like is Duel of the Fates, which plays a BIG part in making the duel a standout. Haven't heard the ROTS score yet, is DOTF used in it at all?

I voted for TESB, but this poll may be a bit premature. However, it will be interesting to do another 3-4 months from now when the dust settles from SITH. I'm quite sure that score would get its fair share of votes.

Yeah, I agree. I'm not familiar enough with the ROTS score yet, and of course have no clue how it works in the context of the film. Plus the fact that not everyone has heard it yet is a definate factor in it not getting any votes so far.

I have to say that I know even a jaded SW fan like myself will get giddy when I hear the opening theme play with ROTS.

That giddiness will most likely dissipate at the word "WAR!"

I voted for Empire, but I think Sith will move up to be a close favorite for me...

I'm hoping that they release a full soundtrack of the film's music down the road... As much as I love the full tracks of all the films, what stands out for me are those brief pieces of music that so define a moment...

From TPM: the jaunty rendition of the fanfare as Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan appear from the poison filled room to attack the destroyer droids - then the cue as Oui-Gon plunges his light saber into the blast door...

AOTC: This soundtrack left me cold. It didn't have a decent flow, very choppy - would like to see an extended edition to find out how much Williams had to change and remove... Jango v.s. Obi-Wan, and the Conveyor Belt tracks were the best parts for me...

ROTS: Love the soundtrack and for my money, there's not a bum track on it...

I'm with Fett on that astroid song in Empire. One of my favorites.

I've always loved every cue in the BATTLE OF HOTH medley. To this day, just by listening to it, I can tell what is happening on screen.

"K-1 4-0! FALL BACK!"

So you bought it? Hell, I downloaded it free off the internet like a lot of people here did!

I had the SE editions of the soudtrack for a while, but became disenfranchised after some reflection on the SE concept as a whole. I sold those to a second hand CD shop. What I have had since high school, however (and will never sell), is the four-disc Star Wars Soundtrack Anthology. It came in an awesome elongated box with a 60-page booklet where every single track got its own paragraph of coverage and explanation. The fourth disc was all alternate tracks and such. Utterly Awesome collection.

I don't know if this is good or bad for the audiophiles out there, but when listening to these discs, I can actually hear the pages being turned by either Williams or the orchestra members. To me, this is super fucking cool. Love, love, love.

Best ever: "Empire" without question.

My favorite track, though, is the relatively obscure "City in the Clouds" cut, esp. the cue for Leia and Han landing at Bespin. Absolutely beautiful and transcendent.

Oh, that "Duel of the Fates" is some classic shit, though. Can't wait for "ROTS".

I've always been partial to Jedi's operatic closing tracks. Even the Ewok theme is a pretty catchy piece of music.

I don't know a lot of the track titles like many....I just know scenes.

Most ofthe goods have been mentioned (Especially the asteroid track in Empire)....

For me, though. one of the underrated tracks it seems, is the one that plays during the Yoda/Dooku fight in AOTC. That scene walks a thin line between being badass and being just silly (like a certain "Who da man" commercial almost made it into)....the score is a large part of it landing on the positive side of that line.

Also, I've said my piece about the ROTS score in the music forum....but I'll make a definite stand on this now.....Grievous Speaks to Sidious aside, the last half of that album is some of Williams' best work in years.

Lastly, for the person who was asking before....nope, no Duel of the Fates on the ROTS score. The fact that I love that track something fierce and yet don't miss it here should tell you something.

I voted for Return of the Jedi. "Luke and Leia" is my favorite Williams piece to date.

I have that boxset also, awesome, awesome work...and a set i'm never going to give up

As my ipod would siggest from it's top 25 playcount [before I had to restore it and clear the play count] the end credits and love theme from ESB are the best, the credits simply for it's post imperial march cue where it it rises into a celebritory ending which makes you just WANT to see the next epiosde and the love theme for it's beauty..

The Phantom Menace: Duel of the Fates because it made the duel cooler, and when I saw a sneak preview of TPM at age 13, it made the duel the best part of the film easily [The part where Maul jumps into the giant generator room specifially],. Say what you want of the film but that was a nice moment for me at age 13

Attack of the Clones: the kamino theme that played throughout was a nice touch and Across the Stars is great but i love the Jango vs. Obi-Wan cue. I can play that scene in my head from it.

Revenge of the Sith: Battle of the Heroes is great as is the anakin vs. Obi-Wan track..........hell yeah that chewer is right the Grievous theme is like a warped version of the joker.........and when the opening crawl shifts into the military version of the force theme I get the feeling the two heroes are wishing each other luck on their attack run.......also thelast two tracks are amazing, Padmes fate is a even grander version of the Qui-Gon burial theme and the finale with the force theme and the end credit and the throne room, it's great.

A New Hope: It's the basics and I don't listen to it as often as I should but I just don't listen to the Cantina band on the bus, the death star stuff and Twin sunsets rule though.

Empire: The love theme is awesome and plays great with the engine room scene [The way Ford says "Sure Leia" is great!] and the imperial march which makes its way into every scene because the empire is on the heroes ass the whole film. It's the best score.

Return of the Jedi: Don't listen to it much, the new stuff like Jabbas stuff, the Ewok theme, and other small cues don't really do it for me, though the emperors theme is great and the SE finale is better then the original.

Edit: My post says I like empire the best but I can't vote until I see Revenge of the Sith.

Its hard to choose, but EMPIRE is the most consistent.

ANH my favorite is the Binary sunset and the Throne room piece. A friend of mine had this played at the his wedding.

ESB I love the asteroid field, Yoda's theme and the Imperial March.

ROTJ- Love the new ending, the music that plays during Vader/Luke's duel.

TPM- Duel of the fates of course. Love that cue when Maul appears. The closing music is awesome too, an ironic twist considering the bad guys actually won.

AOTC- Across the Stars is cool, but this is the weakest of all of the soundtracks. Still some good stuff in there though.

ROTS- Battle of Heroes is fantastic! The closing cue, A New Hope, with Luke/ Leia's theme along with the force theme. great stuff! Anakin's dream is very sad. Anakin's Dark Deeds makes me goosey-pimply and the Immolation cue could make for a quesy viewing.

Jedi is the best by far. It features all of the major themes in their most powerful versions. The Imperial March, the Sith theme (introduced here), the Rebel Fanfare, and the Force theme all make their most grandiose, emotional, and truly amazing incarnations in ROTJ.

Am I the only one showing love for "Lando's Palace?"

The Sith theme is the mens choir playing when the Emperor arrives on the Death Star. It also plays whenever we see the Emperor in his throne room. I think. Unless there's some other Sith theme. And while I love the Binary Sunset track, I do have to agree it sounds better on the ROTJ score - its much more rousing.

And I am glad to hear Duel of the Fates isn't on the ROTS score - I always thought it out of place in AOTC, as if it was an attempt to make it a running theme in the prequels, which are sorely lacking in them I think.

Yeah I always saw that as the Sith theme/Emperor's theme, as it is with the Imperial March/Darth Vader's Theme.

I'd say that the Force theme at the end of JEDI is as emotional, if not more, than Binary Sunset. Binary Sunset will always have a place in my heart, but I always get more wound up by 'Light of the Force.'

I think JEDI's soundtrack has its flaws, but right now it's fourth behind 1 ESB 2 ANH 3 ROTS. I love the action cues (Sail Barge Assault, Inside the Death Star) and the double-header of 'Brother and Sister/Father and Son/The Fleet Jumps To Lightspeed' and 'The Emperor' is just amazing to listen to. And of course 'The Dark Side Beckons/The Emperor's Death' which is just amazing. And I adore the new Victory Celebration music.

It's not on the album, but it is in the score - during the duel.

That track gets me all hot.

The bass line in "Lando's Palace" was gritty. It also caused me to purchase some 70's porn from DVD Empire...again.

In the "depth" commentary on the dvd, it states in this scene: "Given that the clones' allegiance has yet to be truly depicted, the "Trade Federation march" is a bit of a red herring."

Yes, I'm a dork.

Stupid question alert: What is the "Depth" commentary?

Apparently, I'm not nerdy enough.

It's one of the StarWars.com special features (click StarWars.com on the main menu and then go to DVD.Starwars.com - I think it requires InterActual player, though).

Here's how it's described on the web site: "How well do you know Episode II? Find out trivia, hard-to-spot details, and behind-the-scenes factoids in this text commentary." The text is displayed below a small screen playing the movie.

Ugh, I need a shower.

I wish I still had my Star Wars: ANH soundtrack on 8-TRACK TAPE!! Because of recording contsraints on the tape, the Cantina theme was cut in half, half on side one and the other on side two (original album was the same).

Also, anyone else ever notice how the tracks on the ROTJ soundtrack are somewhat muted? I've been listening to the latest release of the soundtracks, and some of the tracks don't have the clarity of sound that the other CD's have. Weird.

I think Devin would be correct if he said that Williams occasionally writes like a hack. I find a lot of his scores over the past ten years to be pretty mediocre.
But Williams can still get it together and write a knock out score on occasion. He always does a good job with "Star Wars"and I am pretty sure he will do a good job with ROTS.
And he can do good but not great scores...."Harry Potter" comes to mind.
BTW theCD "Soundtrack" of a film and the actual music you hear in a film are almost always recorded seperatly, with minor changes being made to make the CD version of the music more listenable on a stand alone basis.

"I'm hoping that they release a full soundtrack of the film's music down the road... "

They did for the first four, and I believe for AOTC as well, so I would say that it's money in the bank that a complete version of the score for ROTS will happen, if not for a couple of years.

There is no expanded AOTC release. The only thing released is the 2002 one-disc edition. I can't really foresee there being one, both because of the way the music itself was treated in the film, and the incredibly bad reception the expanded TPM release got from fans (rightly so). I'd like to think Redman and Matisseno (the guys who did the 97 OT releases, as well as RAIDERS and SUPERMAN) could do some interesting stuff with it, and maybe pull out stuff that wasn't used in the movie (one has to assume Williams scored the whole thing). But it's all up to JW and LFL I guess. Williams wasn't happy with the TPM release, and it's worth noting that despite recieving a 'producer' credit on all of his albums, he rarely has any input.