1894 replies to this topic

[Satorious]

Oh, I'll be the first to agree Newton Howard's work was definitely sub-par compared next to John Powell's originals. So much so that it actually *hurt* the movie for me. Too much music, most of it unmemorable ambience/percussive throbbing. Everything I hope Thomas Newman's SkyFall score won't be. I only enjoyed the build up on that small segment (0:50-2:15) above - just that small segment (which to be fair is really not representative of the rest of the Bourne Legacy score at all).

[MattofSteel]

I was reading a review of one of Newman's scores on another site, and the writer referred to his music as "all texture, no melody." While I don't think that's necessarily black-and-white accurate, I found it an apt description and a succinct reason for why I'm legitimately concerned ahead of Skyfall. I just wish I could hear some of it and shake this feeling. A composer's talent can't necessarily save a score if the talent vs. content match isn't there to begin with. On paper, Newman doing a Bond score makes about as much sense to me as Hans Zimmer doing the score for American Beauty. I hope it's just my ignorance getting in the way.

[SecretAgentFan]

It´s not ignorance - but maybe bias based on a lot of Newman´s work which definitely is more interested in texture. But if you listen to scores like "The Shawshank Redemption" or "Road to Perdition" or "The Good German" you will know that he is more than capable of composing strong themes and melodies.

It all depends on the film and the director/producer, of course.

I imagine that Mendes wants (and needs) SKYFALL to succeed BIG TIME. So even if he were interested in a more unconventional score he nevertheless will agree to something not that unconvential. And EON, having problems with the unconventional Serra score, certainly don´t want to repeat that experience. They will push for a traditional Bond score, freshened up with the new perspective by a new composer. I would be very surprised if the score did not feature the James Bond theme a lot.

[MattofSteel]

I'm hoping I'm wrong. And I think Mendes himself is the proper analogy. All the same things I was worried about re: Newman, I we was were previously worried about with Sam - and look how foolish that evidently was!

American Beauty. Road to Perdition. Wonderful, acclaimed, films. But the exact sort of library that would make one think - "What's he done that makes him right for Bond? Nothing?" And judging by what we've seen, we might just have ended up with the best Bond director since the Youngs and Hamilton. And I say that begrudgingly, given that I'm the biggest Martin Campbell fan around.

I'm hoping Newman's work is analogous. A sort of "Wow, that really is definitively Bond" type approach that just leaves me wondering why I ever doubted him.

[SecretAgentFan]

Since some press outlets will have to see the film in September if they can run reviews in their November issues the film AND the score should be close to ready now...

[MattofSteel]

I doubt that. Newman's likely written a significant portion of it, but I'd doubt they're near recording yet. That usually happens in late September, no?

[The Dove]

No, I'd think the score is probably being recorded right now, Matt... I would suspect that everything has to be completely finished up by mid to late September so that there will be time to get the vast number of prints of the film made and then shipped to thousands of cinemas around the world.

[zencat]

Is it unusual that the Skyfall soundtrack CD has not yet appeared on Amazon?

[Loomis]

Dunno. But it can't possibly be long until we learn who's doing the theme song. After all, we're just a couple of days away from being able to say that we'll be seeing SKYFALL next month.

[quantumofsolace]

Since some press outlets will have to see the film in September if they can run reviews in their November issues the film AND the score should be close to ready now...

It will be nowhere near ready if recent Bond films are to go by. It comes out end Oct they will be tinkering with it till mid.

[MattofSteel]

Is it unusual that the Skyfall soundtrack CD has not yet appeared on Amazon?

Don't think so. Seems a bit early.

Unless...oh God, maybe it's such un-Bond-like ambient score featuring exclusively synth atmosphere backing a Newman-esque piano solo that they're not even going to release an album!

[seawolfnyy]

Maybe there is NO score. Saying Thomas Newman was scoring it was just misdirection. It would explain why the title singer hasn't been announced....

[Shrublands]

Since some press outlets will have to see the film in September if they can run reviews in their November issues the film AND the score should be close to ready now...

That's not the way Bond works, usually the first press screenings are just days before the premiere.

I'd say that the royal world premiere will be on 23rd Oct, with the first press screenings around 19th. Last time, they unveiled QoS to the press at the Odeon Leicester Sq on a Friday night with it opening the next week.

[SecretAgentFan]

Since some press outlets will have to see the film in September if they can run reviews in their November issues the film AND the score should be close to ready now...

That's not the way Bond works, usually the first press screenings are just days before the premiere.

I'd say that the royal world premiere will be on 23rd Oct, with the first press screenings around 19th. Last time, they unveiled QoS to the press at the Odeon Leicester Sq on a Friday night with it opening the next week.

Okay, but wasn´t the whole QOS production pressed for time and therefore only ready very shortly before its premiere?

I would be astonished if the first wave of possible press coverage in November would not be taken advantage of. And since "SKYFALL" did not suffer any major delays there is no reason why they would tinker with it up to the last minute.

Of course, I don´t know anything about the details of this production. Just my two cents.

[Shrublands]

Since some press outlets will have to see the film in September if they can run reviews in their November issues the film AND the score should be close to ready now...

That's not the way Bond works, usually the first press screenings are just days before the premiere.

I'd say that the royal world premiere will be on 23rd Oct, with the first press screenings around 19th. Last time, they unveiled QoS to the press at the Odeon Leicester Sq on a Friday night with it opening the next week.

Okay, but wasn´t the whole QOS production pressed for time and therefore only ready very shortly before its premiere?
.

I've been following the making of the Bond films for many years (since FYEO) and it always plays out the same.
Before the days of the internet, the London Evening Standard would rush to get out the world's first review, and it was always just a few days before the premiere.

[MattofSteel]

Following an interesting series of Tweets from Tony Lewis (music editor). They're recording Skyfall's score right now, and have been since August 28th. He claims not to be able to reveal much (beyond the fact that two of his 'ideas' have made it into the film), but says Newman's work is "ace".

https://twitter.com/MusicEditorcouk

[The Shark]

Glad it's being recorded at Abbey Road. Much better acoustics than Air Lyndhurst Studios (the one that Arnold and Dodd used) IMHO.

[DamnCoffee]

Nice! I hope we get a video blog soon! The soundtrack has always been one of the most exciting aspects about Bond to me.

[Matt_13]

We haven't had a production blog in quite some time, so hopefully we get one soon.

[MattofSteel]

No doubt they're shooting one for the scoring sessions right now. The soundtrack blog is typically one of the final ones to come out, I'd say mid-October.

[marktmurphy]

Following an interesting series of Tweets from Tony Lewis (music editor). They're recording Skyfall's score right now, and have been since August 28th. He claims not to be able to reveal much (beyond the fact that two of his 'ideas' have made it into the film), but says Newman's work is "ace".

I suppose there wouldn't be much to reveal short of whistling a tune from it!

[killkenny kid]

Nice! I hope we get a video blog soon! The soundtrack has always been one of the most exciting aspects about Bond to me.

Same here, hoping we get a great one.

[thecasinoroyale]

I'm excited to find out / hear some snippets and also, for some reason, the artwork and what it will be.

AND, call me a sucker for the classics like in hoping the gunbarrel is back at the beginning, but also if we get any James Bond-fuelled music with the actual theme this time!

[SecretAgentFan]

Oh, yes, some snippets of the music... that would be nice. But it´s only two more months until the premiere. We will be showered with Bond goodies in the coming weeks (the books, more news, the final poster, maybe a final trailer, the song and the score, the first review...)

[Shrublands]

Oh, yes, some snippets of the music... that would be nice. But it´s only two more months until the premiere. We will be showered with Bond goodies in the coming weeks (the books, more news, the final poster, maybe a final trailer, the song and the score, the first review...)

Yep, and we in the UK have only 46 days to the London/world premiere.

So all of that will happen in the next month and a half.

[Shrublands]

Thomas Newman’s Skyfall score to be released on October 22


http://www.amazon.co...46968650&sr=8-1

[S K Y F A L L]

That is great news, thanks Shrublands! So until then we can expect a title song and music video?

[MattofSteel]

Thomas Newman’s Skyfall score to be released on October 22


http://www.amazon.co...46968650&sr=8-1

And perhaps pirated weeks in advance, if the QOS timeline was any indication!

[DamnCoffee]

Thanks Shrublands, added to the main page!

Not too long for a track listing then! And Soundtrack previews!

[Matt_13]

"...expectations are at an all time high."

Well done Harkers.