The Music Of Revenge Of The Sith

[CoGro]

The score for ROTS is significant not only because it has to enhance the on screen drama, but because it needs to bridge the trilogies thematically through music.

Sure, there will be the imperial march and the force themes, but a piece of music I think that will be thrown around, particularly towards the end of the film, will be the Empire's theme from ANH.

For me at least, the score is one of my most anticipated aspects of ROTS - I was kind of let down by the AOTC score (which I fault Mattt Wood for more than JW), and I'm expecting big things from JW's possible last outing with the SW universe.

[Sick Boy]

Both of the prequel scores feel mangled in the final cut, but the music itself is excellent.

But nothing would say trilogy-bridge like a disco-inspired track, either by some modern house producer, or just bring Meco in.

[MannyOrtez]

I'm not who sure Matt Wood is, but I agree w what you said. I just ripped on EII editing in another thread. I will continue here. They botched the music editing.

WHy on Earth do Burtt (and or Lucas) assume that they can take music from another film (TPM in every instance I think) and put it in AOTC assuming that it fits the mood? Why wouldn't they let the master, John Williams, decide what music fits the mood.

Two tracks are specifically cut out of the AOTC film. Music for the beginning of the arena battle and the music for the droid factory sequence. Both clips are great, in fact, the little tidbit they left in at the end of the droid factor sequence (when Anakin is getting his saber chopped and trying not to get the rest of him chopped) is marvelous. So marvelous they used it for all the TV shorts, yet they did not like it enough to keep it in the film I guess....

(IMO, that was the best piece of new music in SW in since ROTJ)


The music for the Arena and Clone War battle that has just been ripped from TPM and placed into AOTC is COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE@!@#@! Just for fun, do this:
1) Mute your Episode II DVD.
2) Grab your discman.
3) Put in the Episode II sountrack.
4) Cue up Across the Stars, fast forward to the dramatic, rousing part.
5) Watch the epic Clone Wars battle.

It is much more effective!!

[CoGro]

Matt Wood is to blame for that.

He was supervising sound editor on Episode 2. Lucas and Burtt did not mix the music themselves nor did they chop it up and import Episode 1 music. They cut the film visually, and the sound editor mixes the score and sound effects with the visuals. Obviously, when Episode 2's music didnt match the action from the final cut, Wood needed to use music from the other episodes, and since OT music would stick out like a sore thumb, episode 1 battle music was substituted.

Of course, Lucas has the final word, but this process takes time, and the completion of the film (music and effects included) occurs right down to the wire (late april at the earliest). Even if GL wanted he wouldn't have time to re-edit the music to make it flow, and he definately wouldn't have time to have JW rescore those scenes. This is one of the big reasons why JW will be scoring the picture later than he usually does, after the final FINAL cut has been assembled so the music can flow seamlessly.

[kremzike]

I personally would love to hear the Death Star motif used at least twice in ROTS, especially since they did not replace it in ANH with the Imperial March for the DVDs like the rumors said they might have done. It'd be a nice way to excuse ANH for not having the Imperial March in it without making a change to that movie. Just put it in ROTS so it makes sense to hear it in ANH. That'd be killer.

[Vanda]

Both of the prequel scores feel mangled in the final cut, but the music itself is excellent.

I concur. AOTC the film was a let down for me on many fronts. One being that I had read the script and knew every scene and every line going in and was therefore pissed at good scenes being taken out or chopped to hell. The other was that I had the soundtrack and had listened to it a ton and loved it - only to find the entire arena score taken out, among other bad changes.

I know that both are my fault and if I went in cold I probably would've loved it. But that came cloes to ruining the film for me. That's one of the reasons why I'm really hoping the ROTS script doesn't leak, and if it does, I ain't touching it.

[MannyOrtez]

Do NOT read the script ahead of time!! After a few years of film school, I think I finally understand how different the medium of film and of paper are. The script will never ever be translated into the film as is.

Reading the script ahead of time can only lead to disappointment. Seriously. You get attached to certain things and the way they are...and they just aren't going to be that way.

That being said...EII's editing was pretty poor and the story was better constructed in the screenplay.

Still, I love the movie and it works pretty well despite all these issues.

[foxbatkllr]

The AOTC soundtrack is good, but the music that was supposed to be for the clone war/arena battle just doesn't match up well at all. I've tried the "put in AOTC CD while watching the DVD" thing and it just doesn't work for me. I like the use of TPM music better.

[Benovite]

Anyone know when John Williams is going to be at Abbey Road recording the score? Maybe it's already begun or is it early next year? Anyway, if I were in London around St. Johns Wood I'd try to infiltrate!

What I would do to be a fly on the studio wall....Abbey Road is where the real magic takes place, not at ILM.

[pjvader]

ill see what i can do but last time the studios were closed whilst the recording and the rehersals took place! if u werent part of it u werent allowed in, they even told mccartney to piss off

[buzzfunk]

After watching the OT on DVD i realized that the music in the PT so far doesnt even come close.

I'd say its a bit of both words. With all the editing possibilities today sometimes having too many choices isnt good. (check out the ANH dvd edition. The mix is just horrible) And yes, williams latest SW scores lack themes.

I think ANH and ESB are really perfect in terms of musical themes and placement.

Hopefully williams will pull out all the stops for the last SW movie.....

[Thundercracker]

Anyone know when John Williams is going to be at Abbey Road recording the score?

According to the newest Insider, JW is currently writing the score for the film and recording will start in February.

[MannyOrtez]

IMO, there are more powerful moments in the OT, thus the music seems more powerful. The music for the PTs has been quite beautiful so far, its just the movies haven't been as dramatic or powerful. Yet. Not to knock the PT either, it's just the originals are more a little more dramatic thus far.

[Agrippa]

i'd be most interested in seeing what williams does with the Duel...if the scene is not intercut with other sequences, then it should make for some powerful stuff....

[MannyOrtez]

Hmm, perhaps you're right...I dunno tho, when I think about the musical moments that move me most in the OT, they all coincide w a very great moment in the film as well. Film and the visuals are symbiotic, to jack a TPM theme.

[Kalla]

Hmm, perhaps you're right...I dunno tho, when I think about the musical moments that move me most in the OT, they all coincide w a very great moment in the film as well. Film and the visuals are symbiotic, to jack a TPM theme.

I always felt that at the end of EPII when you see Palps on that balcony with the clones boarding the star destroyers... that the imperial march just didn't have enough humpf to it? Does that make any sense? I figured theyd play it eventually in some sort of context but with a darker tone to it.

[MannyOrtez]

I'd have to listen to the end of AOTC again...perhaps you are right, it could be a toned down version. I do think that the final sequence in AOTC is one of the most powerful in all of the saga...Lucas really should be a silent movie maker. His most compelling stuff always comes when people are keeping their mouths shut. But I guess it's like that a lot in cinema.

[Antiriad]

can i play with madness Fatboy? pleeeease?

im sure the slowed down version of the Imperial March at the end of AOTC was quite intentional in that its the beginnings of the Empire not its full blown incarnation as per the OT.

[Tim Lehrbach]

I'll agree with you people on the AOTC soundtrack, but the TPM soundtrack is very good IMO...I thought it was a inspired score considering how flat the movie is.

A couple things about it:

1.Lucas implied in TPM DVD doc, that "Duel of the Fates" would be used in ROTS, if he sticks to his plan it should be incorporated into the "Final Duel"...big stretch there.

2.I would have liked to have seen duel of the fates without the chorus, to see if it made any difference.

3. I always think of a Spielberg movie when the "adventure" type theme is used when the Naboo and Anakin's fighters leave the hanger.

[Forcechoke]

Anybody wanna bet that we get a very similar "Duel of the Fates" cue when Anakin turns around with his Sith eyes, just like when the doors open and Darth Maul is standing there ready to get it on...?