352 replies to this topic

[x007AceOfSpades]

I agree with you on Williams and Goldsmith as well. I would love to see Barry come out and score one last film and make it a Bond film.

[gkgyver]

Even though I really can't see Barry's sound meshing with Craig's characterisation, I would die to hear one more original Barry 007 score.
He didn't drop out with honours, it just "happened", and he deserves a proper goodbye.

If not a score, then maybe he can do the title song.

[CardShark]

Even though I really can't see Barry's sound meshing with Craig's characterisation, I would die to hear one more original Barry 007 score.
He didn't drop out with honours, it just "happened", and he deserves a proper goodbye.

If not a score, then maybe he can do the title song.

I disagree He delivered quite well with Dalton in the Living Daylights I fail to see why he wouldn't do a good job with Mr Craig.


that said I don't mind Arnold's Scores and since people like John Barry will never come back to the series whoever they pick I sadly feel will be just ok.

[gkgyver]

Dalton's and Craig's films are only twins in intention and tone. Stylistically, they are worlds apart, and today's young generation of film score listeners would react rather estranged to a Barry score I'm sure.

[The Shark]

Even though I really can't see Barry's sound meshing with Craig's characterisation,

Not sure about that. He could do brutal with far more panache and skill than Arnold's ever shown us.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZQTPT4SnKc&feature=related#t=1m19s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfjB8Q0vdfE

Sure, none of them sound anything like a modern action score, but I consider that a plus.

[x007AceOfSpades]

I've always enjoyed Barry and The Living Daylights was perfect for Dalton's Bond so I think he do a Craig Film very well and do it better than Arnold.

[WhatMeWorry?]

I have enjoyed David Arnold's bond scores and wanted him to return, but I recently changed by thinking. I have been listening to the Human Target television soundtrack by Bear McCreary. I feel his music would be PERFECT for a Bond film. Bear McCreary's Human Target score conveys great emotion and action that fits great for Bond. If you have never heard his music I highly recommend it.

[x007AceOfSpades]

I like some of the scores Brian Tyler has done, but I really enjoy Harry Gregson-Williams. His score for Gone Baby Gone is just absolutely amazing.

[quantumofsolace]

I've always enjoyed Barry and The Living Daylights was perfect for Dalton's Bond so I think he do a Craig Film very well and do it better than Arnold.

But he is now in his late 70's and hasn't done any movie music in a decade. I would be interested in hearing a new Barry Bond score but fear it would be poor compared with his past brilliance.
Stay with Arnold. He started well and keeps getting better.

[Satorious]

To answer the original title of this thread:
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Moving on, who would I like to see? John Barry naturally - even if i) it will never happen and ii) his style would be totally at odds with the film. However in light of recent developments - I would be elated to see Arnold replaced by Mendes' long time composing collaborator Thomas Newman (Revolutionary Road, Jarhead, Road To Perdition, American Beauty). Of course, I bet he is forced to take the safe option by EON or the studio.

Edited by Satorious, 12 January 2011 - 02:02 PM.

[FredJB007]

I would love to hear Barry give it one more shot.........no one scores a Bond like Barry.

[gkgyver]

I feel Arnold will be on board for a while.

EoN is really looking for a steady composer to maintain a certain style of the Bond films, and they wouldn't squeeze Arnold out of Bond 23 only because Newman is Mendez' usual composer, unless they want Newman on board permanently, which I can't see.

If they're going to replace Arnold, which won't happen for a long while since he has Barry's personal approval, it will be a well-considered decision, and not a quick shot.

[The Shark]

I have enjoyed David Arnold's bond scores and wanted him to return, but I recently changed by thinking. I have been listening to the Human Target television soundtrack by Bear McCreary. I feel his music would be PERFECT for a Bond film. Bear McCreary's Human Target score conveys great emotion and action that fits great for Bond. If you have never heard his music I highly recommend it.

For all their positives, Bear McGreary's scores (I'm talking Human Target and The Cape) are far too in the bland Marco Beltrami mode of modern action scoring. Too derivative.

[SecretAgentFan]

Don´t mistake McCreary´s intentions. HUMAN TARGET definitely was meant to emulate Goldsmith (the composer said so himself). And his BSG scores are nothing but original. I believe McCreary is one of the finest new film composers working today. He surely could deliver a great Bond score.

Also, let´s not forget: any Bond composer will not only be compared to Barry but also encouraged (by the producers) to use Barry-isms and scorned (by some audience members) for doing just that.

[The Shark]

Don´t mistake McCreary´s intentions. HUMAN TARGET definitely was meant to emulate Goldsmith (the composer said so himself).

Well, it doesn't sound anything like the classic Goldsmith I love. More the last decade or so Goldsmith's career (mid 90s onwards), which wasn't as high a standard as his past work.

And his BSG scores are nothing but original.

Sorry, can't see that. His use of ethnic instruments isn't particularly new, and at times sounds a lot like sample library demos. Nor is his approach to action and drama.

Don't get me wrong though, he does have talent. But I think saying that he's should score the next Bond film is a bit much. I'd rather David Arnold for the 40 years.

Also, let´s not forget: any Bond composer will not only be compared to Barry but also encouraged (by the producers) to use Barry-isms and scorned (by some audience members) for doing just that.

I don't have scorn Arnold for using Barryisms. I scorn for him not having his style, his own personality.

[Harry Fawkes]

I want Arnold back myself but, and there's a big but here cause my first pref is him of course, I wouldn't mind seeing composer Michael Giacchino take over. I think he would capture the Bond flavor beautifully in fact. Just listen to The Incredible's soundtyrack and see if you can't spot the Barry-isms there. ( big-band jazz and a healthy dose of 1960s-era rock and the recall of such works of such legendary composers as Elmer Bernstein, Henry Mancini, and Lalo Schifrin).

So to recap, should Mr Arnold throw in the hat, I'd love him to take over.

If I may:

[Donovan Mayne-Nicholls]

If these forums had been around in '85, we'd have had a lot of people suggesting in their wisdom to replace John Barry because his score for AVTAK was repetitive. Quite frankly, Arnold has gone from less to more and grown as the series composer and I'd like to see him develop even more. If QoS feels at all like a Bond movie is because of his work. It's pretty much the only recognisable Bondian element in a film otherwise identical to the Bournes in which virtually every Bond craftsman was replaced by some Hollywood hack. Speaking of which, all these suggestions are so bleeding Hollywood. If it were for what's written down here as advice for the Broccolis, the Bonds would be shot in some cheap US backlot with a cast of American A list actors (yikes!).
Michael Giacchino? His work on Incredibles simply clones Barry's. Listen to his score for Ratatouille and there's nothing special composition-wise, just bland muzak. For that matter George S Clinton's Austin Powers scores are more imaginative in plagiarising Barry's but then again they're older and it's the flavour of the month that counts.
Bond movies used to be crafted by the same group of pros film in and film out and real fans used to rejoice at the veterans coming back for another one. If you want Bourne, go see the next one instead of wisely suggesting Bond becomes more Bourne. Why does LALD looks so cheesy retrospectively? Because they went too far making it look like the competition. QoS won't be aging that well, believe me.

[The Shark]

If these forums had been around in '85, we'd have had a lot of people suggesting in their wisdom to replace John Barry because his score for AVTAK was repetitive.

The key difference is that Arnold hasn't had a respectable, near-perfect history with Bond, with his own distinct, fully developed identity, and an ability to give each film and score it's own voice.

Personally I don't find AVTAK repetitive in the slightest, and considerate it to be one of his strongest. Where has Arnold produced a cue as poignant as when Bond hanging on the blimp's mooring rope, or spine chilling as the built up to Tibbett's murder in the car wash, as a anthemic as Bond carrying Stacey down the ladder from San Francisco City Hall, as stately as Bond being chauffeured into Zorin's Château, as stirring as 'Snow Job,' or as stirring as 'Wine with Stacey?'

I can go with superlatives, but the reality is that he hasn't. At his best he's only given us pale pastiches of Barry and other superior composers.

I agree that QOS is possibly Arnold's finest Bond score to date. But how much is that down to Forster's influence? We know that he had quite a large say in the kind of he wanted. Who's to say that he won't revert to his TWINE/DAD/CR style without Forster?

[00Twelve]

In Twelve's utopia, they'd hand the reigns over to Lalo Schifrin to end his spy-scoring career on a high note with the biggest franchise of them all.

Being that this isn't Twelve's utopia (because Sam Elliott isn't President), I'll be fine if Arnold returns. There are better composers, for sure, but at least there would likely be more thematic continuity from the Craig films thus far. I'm looking at you, Night At The Opera.

[Harry Fawkes]

Michael Giacchino? His work on Incredibles simply clones Barry's.

Duh, that was his intention, like, you know, hellloo

It's what is known as a homage. To pay tribute to.

As I said, he even recalled works by Elmer Bernstein, Henry Mancini, and Lalo Schifrin.

Arnold is great, don't get me wrong, but he'll have to come up with something terribly good if he wants to stay on.

[Sir James Moloney]

Personally I like Arnold, as what he is...a Bond fan, like us, nothing else. I really wish they´d bring someone/something different to Bond 23. Arnold´s tunes are getting boring, for me that is. That said, I´d love it if Barry returned.

[The Shark]

Personally I like Arnold, as what he is...a Bond fan, like us, nothing else.

But don't you think that more is needed, than just being a Bond fan?

[Matt_13]

Personally I like Arnold, as what he is...a Bond fan, like us, nothing else.

But don't you think that more is needed, than just being a Bond fan?

Probably, but like the man said he's one of us, and just a really nice guy. I'd be sad to see him go. His scores, while less memorable than Barry's work, are perfectly satisfactory, and give the films that undisputed "Bond" feel (I know you disagree with me on this one). Thing is, Arnold being a fan is probably a good thing. How many composers would sign on to do a Bond gig just for the pay check and the resume? Arnold has always been passionate about the films so it's nice having someone on board who grew up with the classic films and doesn't view his job as a chore. I hope he stays.

[Sir James Moloney]

Personally I like Arnold, as what he is...a Bond fan, like us, nothing else.

But don't you think that more is needed, than just being a Bond fan?

Probably, but like the man said he's one of us, and just a really nice guy. I'd be sad to see him go. His scores, while less memorable than Barry's work, are perfectly satisfactory, and give the films that undisputed "Bond" feel (I know you disagree with me on this one). Thing is, Arnold being a fan is probably a good thing. How many composers would sign on to do a Bond gig just for the pay check and the resume? Arnold has always been passionate about the films so it's nice having someone on board who grew up with the classic films and doesn't view his job as a chore. I hope he stays.

Absolutely. I wouldn´t mind if someone else steped in but I would feel sad and probably guilty for wishing it.
Arnold loves it, I say let him do it.

Edited by Sir James Moloney, 31 January 2011 - 03:32 AM.

[The Shark]

Personally I like Arnold, as what he is...a Bond fan, like us, nothing else.

But don't you think that more is needed, than just being a Bond fan?

Probably, but like the man said he's one of us, and just a really nice guy. I'd be sad to see him go.

George Bush Junior was a nice easygoing guy, but that doesn't mean he was the most competent man for the job.

His scores, while less memorable than Barry's work, are perfectly satisfactory, and give the films that undisputed "Bond" feel (I know you disagree with me on this one).

I don't want a Bond feel, I want a David Arnold feel. But the truth is that he doesn't have a distinct or interesting enough personality of his own, without constantly paying tribute to Barry.

How many composers would sign on to do a Bond gig just for the pay check and the resume?

Considering how popular Bond films are, I'd say most film composers (particularly of Arnold's generation) are probably casual Bond films (like Arnold) to some degree.

But honestly, I think you need more. You need a strong musical education, and training, and a certain amount of independence. Instead, Arnold went to a Sixth Form College in Luton, and is dependent on Dodd's expertise to write orchestral film scores.

[booyeah_]

Sadly, John Barry passed away yesterday.

[Harry Fawkes]

More so than ever now. John Barry was a good friend of David (so I read) and he 'endorsed' his music.

In fact, I would like (and I'm sure David is thinking about it) to see him pay monumental tribute to John Barry by coming up with a soundtrack for Bond 23 that in itself would be a tribute to the master's own golden music repertoire.

H

[univex]

More so than ever now. John Barry was a good friend of David (so I read) and he 'endorsed' his music.

In fact, I would like (and I'm sure David is thinking about it) to see him pay monumental tribute to John Barry by coming up with a soundtrack for Bond 23 that in itself would be a tribute to the master's own golden music repertoire.

H

If he pushed himself into finding the same quality Barry embedded in is own work that would be a tribute to the master. I guess Arnold knows that and feels his own pressures on delivering a good score for the 50th anniversary/same year Barry died/3d Craig installment after a couple of years film. If I had to bet, I´d bet he´ll really pull out all the stops for this one.

Edited by univex, 03 February 2011 - 03:33 PM.

[Harry Fawkes]

More so than ever now. John Barry was a good friend of David (so I read) and he 'endorsed' his music.

In fact, I would like (and I'm sure David is thinking about it) to see him pay monumental tribute to John Barry by coming up with a soundtrack for Bond 23 that in itself would be a tribute to the master's own golden music repertoire.

H

If he pushed himself into finding the same quality Barry embedded in is own work that would be a tribute to the master. I guess Arnold knows that and feels his own pressures on delivering a good score for the 50th anniversary/same year Barry died/3d Craig installment after a couple of years film. If I had to bet, I´d bet he´ll really pull out all the stops for this one.

I agree fully Univex

[Felix_Leiter]

Arnold, yes. Purvis & Wade, NO!!!