Darth Vile said:
but for my money it's a much more solid and layered piece than the TOD score (although I still liked that one too).
KOTCS a more solid and layered piece than ToD? Really?
I know ToD is your least favorite movie out of the bunch, so are you sure it's not your view of the movie that shapes your view of the score? JW was in his absolute prime in 1984. Could not be touched.
But like you said. To each their own I guess.
Darth Vile said:
Also, your point about "uninspired movies"... I don't think the process really works that way. I think composers very rarely get to compose to a completed movie i.e. directors will talk through the tone, themes or specific scenes with the composer and write the main themes in advance of seeing the whole thing. For example, I'm pretty sure the Raiders March was written before Williams had seen a finished cut of the movie (same with the main themes for Star Wars, ET and Superman). So perhaps it's more that your view of the movie shapes your view of the score???
Sure the process works that way. He watched it and scored it. 2008, far from the JW in 1984. The final two acts of the film were uninspired and lackluster. The music followed suit.
The first third of the movie contains the best music, which again, was the best part of the movie, IMO.
I will say though, that the themes/concert arrangements that JW came up with for Mutt, Spalko and the Crystal Skull are FANTASTIC. So in that respect, he wasn't really uninspired. But as far as scoring the film, it's just sort of filler sounding at times.
The best stuff from this score is officially unreleased, which is a shame.
But back to my original point, there are just not many parts in the score I eagerly await to hear. "The Departure" is one I can think of, and the very last bit of the end credits with Indy and Mutt's theme sort of mixed.