68 replies to this topic

[bebopfoot]

I think it's terribly underrated. It is not classic Bond like David Arnold would do, but i think it's great nonetheless. The interesting avante garde tunes are all memorable, and the lvoe theme and the one from the Archives and Cradle, the tension building one, is spectacular. I thought the Experience of Loving was even a good way to end the film, which I know is opposed to many people's ideas, I think the music is a good deal why the film gelled so perfectly for me and many other. Also, I liked the music beibng played during the casino scene, though some complained it was distracting, I thought it enhanced the scene for all those like me who never get the gambling scenes anyway (even when I read them in the Fleming books. For instance, I still felt tense during the game in Moonraker, it's a tribute to Fleming) But anyway, I wondered if anyone else liked it.

[Dunph]

I think this belongs in the Music section!

I'm not opposed to it at all, it's an interesting interpretation of Bond music, however The Experience Of Love is a terrible song, and it ends the film on a strange note, for the first time a film in the series doesn't feel like Bond.

I think his music for GoldenEye is atmospheric, dark and martial, there is the occasional duff track (the aforementioned Experience Of Love, Ladies First and the scene where the radar dish is being uncovered strays into the cliched 50's B Movie score territory are the worst offenders)
But The GoldenEye Overture, Run Shoot and Jump and A Pleasant Drive... are all superb tracks.

A little odd, but still and interesting addition to the genre.

[zencat]

I admit it's starting to grow on me. Like LALD, TSWLM, and FYEO...GE has a "sound" all its own and it's Serra. I love the music in the pre-titles sequence. Always have.

[BONDFINESSE 007]

its like the red headed step child who gets no respect, we talk of TND, TWINE, AND DAD but over look the goldeneye score and its very good i like it a lot and would like to get another by serra

[gkgyver]

Is it enough if I just say that I could cry when I listen to GoldenEye...?

[BONDFINESSE 007]

Originally posted by gkgyver
Is it enough if I just say that I could cry when I listen to GoldenEye...?

because you are moved by the great music???

[Doubleshot]

IMO, GoldenEye is the worst score in the series.

[Dunph]

Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say that Serra should do another, because he shoudn't IMHO, but just because it isn't the typical Bond-sound as lauded by the traditionalists, doesn't mean it should be slated, it's a good piece of work, and as I've said above, it has it's faults (too many to be top ranking), but it still is good

[freemo]

I admit it's starting to grow on me. Like LALD, TSWLM, and FYEO...GE has a "sound" all its own and it's Serra

I concur with the Cat, I really like the ones that have a "sound of their own". They're a little different, the TSWLM and FYEO ones in particular a bit of a mixed bag, but none of them are "bad" or anything close to "bad" in my opinon, and they all have their moments.

[Kingdom Come]

I knew yis would come round to my thinking in the end..... ahhhhh!!!!

[Kingdom Come]

GoldenEye's score is one of the best of the series - period. It did what Barry did in the sixties and that is; re-invent the wheel. The Bond scores were always [up until 97] about taking the listener into another world and give them music they had never heard 'that way' before. Serra did this to perfection. Christ, his opening theme for the pre-titles is DEEP. It really grabs you by the scruff of the neck. Such invention in regards to Serra's choice of instruments. If only Arnold was as inventive. He does seem to be trying to go down the Serra road in the DAD score - but boy he just doesn't have it.

[gkgyver]

@ Bondfinesse

No, not because I find it so beautiful... the Goldeneye Overture is acceptable, but after this, the score becomes awfully dull.

[homerjbond]

Serra's score is......mehhh

[scaramanga]

IMO Serra's score, whilst unique, marred GoldenEye (a great film) for me. It just didn't fit in. It felt like a rehash of Leon. The gunbarrel was bad, really bad - the Bond theme is unrecognisable. Mind you, the Bond theme by Parody & Fairs more than made up for it! I love that theme!

[Icephoenix]

I LOVE the GE Gunbarrel theme! And the score, sure, not as much as DAD and TND, but I think it's right for the movies theme. I dont like all of the score, mainly just the pre-titles and the finale, Run shoot and Jump etc...The only part I cringe at is the Bond and Xenia race music *has a fit* I think Serra really gave it that Cold War feeling, the banging pipes and what-not gives it that Russian industrial theme.

[Genrewriter]

I think it's an interesting score that is out of place in a Bond film.

[Gogol]

I really think the music made the movie. Very dark, stylish, cold-war, Russian themes throughout the soundtrack really help to make Goldeneye the intense movie that it is.

[trs007]

I, too, am of the opinion that it sucked and ruined what could have been a totally great film. And, let's face it, someone from within must have felt some of it sucked as well to go so far as to replace the tank chase with a more traditional and Bondian-score. Listen to the tank track on the CD with all the techno-noise, now, would it have really fit with the great action of the scene. I don't think so.

Think back to the great music Barry gave us in OHMSS when Bond is in the Aston. Now, tell me what is so great about that synthesized noise when Bond and Onatopp are racing the cars?

The ending song--to this day GE remains the only 007 movie I will not watch thru the credits' end. Horrible, poorly sung and totally inappropriate for a Bond film.

To me, both as a Bond fan and score fan, a Bond soundtrack should not have to "grow on you", as some of you stated. It should grab you by the **** and never let up until the ride is over.

Of course, Serra has his fans and that's why Baskin Robbins offers 31 flavors, but I for one, hope EON never ask Serra to do anything Bondian again.

[DanMan]

I think Serra did a good job and the music fit in with the gritty tone of the movie. My only complaint is that after such a long absence from the big screen, we should of been hearing the Bond theme A LOT.

[Genrewriter]

Yes, if we got as much of it in Goldeneye as we did in Tomorrow Never Dies it would have really improved the film. This wasn't some third-rate spy film, it was the return of James Bond!

[gkgyver]

Exactly! The Return Of James Bond!
And what did Serra think? The Bond Theme is outdated. My god, why did they let this kind of composer touch Bond?

[DanMan]

A few moments when the movie could of really used the Bond theme...

1. The plane emerging from behind the mountain after Bond struggles to regain control.
2. Certain parts of the race with Xenia.
3. Bond easily defeating the lackey on the boat with a towel.
4. The fight with Xenia in the steam room.
5. Bond killing Xenia.
6. Bond jumping onto the helicopter.
7. The end credits.

[Jazzy Bond]

The part I can't stand is the closing song, can you imagine any other score composer singing his own song in a movie? has that ever happened before? Plus the song sucks!! besides that the score is not bad it's just not Bondian enough!! There are no hum along themes that stick with you like in the Barry and Arnold scores. I find myself humming the Cuban and hovercraft themes in DAD everynow and then!

[Kingdom Come]

The hovercraft themes u can humm???? !!! its all noise to me.

[Genrewriter]

The song at the end is sort of a guilty pleasure for me. It's quite bad and totally wrong for a Bond film but for some reason I find it utterly listenable.

[DanMan]

I know what you mean, Genrewriter. It's the same with me.

[Bond111]

GoldenEye certainly isn't the best Bond score, and it certainly isn't the worst. I thought it fit in well with the movie. It's not traditional no, but the score shouldn't be the same over and over for every movie. And I don't care what anybody says, "The Experience of Love" is, IMO, a great song.

[Rich Douglas]

You all most likely know my opinion of this horrid score. I do however find the Goldeneye Overture track to be a welcome change (LOVE those timpani drums doing the bond theme!), but after that the score goes down hill. Take a look from a technical view, Serra NEVER uses counterpoint (motifs under motifs), its always very plain stuff and a bit to atmospheric im my opinion for a bond score. His scores for 5th element and the Professional worked well though. I admit, aspects of the score do work well with the film but on its own it just isnt fun to listen to. On top of that some of the best cues were left off the score release like the St Pete Airport arrival and when bond is on the boat in the south of france (good tension builder).

Rich

[Jmart007]

I just watched Goldeneye for the first time in awhile last night and I have changed my opinion about the music. I think his score in this movie, has the perfect fit to this ONE movie. I have said before along with many others, how come the James Bond theme couldn't be used more in this movie? Looking at the movie again, how many times besides the Tank Chase could they have used the theme? I liked the Tank Chase theme, but my favorite is still the theme used when Trevelyan and Bond are chasing after one another (i'm not sure what the title of that theme is called, hopefully you guys know what I am talking about). The music is good for what it is in this movie, but I am glad that he didn't come back for Tomorrow Never Dies. David Arnold's score for Tomorrow Never Dies is much better than Goldeneye, but I still like the music in Goldeneye for what it is.

[Jmart007]

Originally posted by DanMan
A few moments when the movie could of really used the Bond theme...

1. The plane emerging from behind the mountain after Bond struggles to regain control.
2. Certain parts of the race with Xenia.
3. Bond easily defeating the lackey on the boat with a towel.
4. The fight with Xenia in the steam room.
5. Bond killing Xenia.
6. Bond jumping onto the helicopter.
7. The end credits.

6 and 7, yes. 1-5 no.

BTW, I think the Bond theme could've been used slightly when Bond and Natalya eject from the helicopter just when its about to explode.