Posted 10 December 2002 - 06:08 PM
Williams is a good composer... just not for a bond film.
Goldsmith has always been one of my favorites and i have no doubt he could do a bond film (listen to his newest... "sum of all fears", I think you'll agree). He would definately tone down the electronics which would be good for the series. Goldsmith is (for the most part) an orchestral man with a few electronics (not beats) backing the orchestra or answering it.
Hans Zimmer might be a fun choice (he is my favorite composer), BUT... I would fear we would get a score like what he did for MI:2 with a guitar quartet. Not that it would be a bad thing, but i just dont think it would be the right direction for the next bond film. But damn, it would be some of the best action music of the series (just listen to "The Chase" from Zimmer's "Peacemaker" score and you'll know what i mean).
David Holmes... ahhhhh yes.. Mr. Holmes. This guy gets better every time he does a film. I got my hands on a "for your consideration" academy promo score from "Oceans 11" which is the complete score with no dialogue. I must say, i was very impressed, while the music wasn't bondish for the most part, it was VERY smooth and cool (although it all sounds the same by the end of the album). Holmes would add an interesting aspect to the series.... but he isn't very good at counterpoint or developing themes, his themes are very simplistic. On top of that, I haven't heard him do one action cue yet, that could also be bad. The action scenes might just get a fair dose of techno beats with very little (if any) orchestra. For those of you who may not know.. Holmes actually did his own version of the James Bond Theme which is available on his album "Lets Get Killed", the track is called "Radio 7". Go and download the song or check the album out, it's a good listen, and it would show you where he would take the series, i don't think it is somewhere the series needs to go just yet. Also, his version on that album was supposed to be the new version for 97 (backed with a larger orchestra of course), but Moby got the job.
David Arnold - WOW!! He has done so well thus far, I say let the man continue on until he doesnt want to do Bond anymore. He knows music, bond music, and has a passion for bond films which i think is important.
John Barry - Last... but certainly not least! Mr. Barry's health is failing.. or so i hear. I say let him have one more go at a bond film, besides, he has stated that he would love to do another one! I would love to hear his flowing strings once again, and some of his wonderfully subtle action cues.
Rich