Music : Superman - The Movie: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

In association with Amazon.com

Rating:

- Definitive release of a classic film score!
Possibly the best movie score since BEN HUR (1959), John Williams' great effort is finally given its due by Rhino Records. I have listened to the 150 minutes of music several times during the past week and never tire. The new Rhino release is a great improvement over the prior, abridged CD, which reflected the LP release of 20 years ago. The sound may not be up to todays standards, but its a minor complaint. A bigger problem is Rhino's surprisingly flimsy packaging. The booklet is suberb, but overall the packaging is disappointing. Producers Nick Redmond and Michael Matessino are to congradulated for completeing this massive restoration project. Perhaps a special Grammy Award is in order? Get this release, no movie music lover should be without it.

Rating:

- superb
It clearly shows Williams peaked with Star Wars and Superman. His subsequent scores failed to equal these two Korngoldian magnum opuses. Maybe he was FORCED with inspiration when he scored these movies. Having heard Ben-Hur, Gone With The Wind and Korngold on the Rhino series, Williams in my mind cannot match the old masters. Korngold and Steiner had the well-schooled Friedhofer as orchestrator. Helped a lot! Still this latest set is a must-buy.My favourites are the Flying Sequence, the Superman march and the concert suite. The London Symphony plays its heart out and Williams is at his conducting best. The flying sequence reminds me of Waxman`s lively "Entering Peyton Place" cue from the 1957 Peyton Place (available on RCA - but Footlight said it`s not in stock right now. Luther`s Luah was anticlimatic but enjoyable source music. In all, this score has many moments to cherish and enjoy. Please, please Rhino, release more good stuff! Newman`s The Best of Everything? Can I send a wish list? Is the Warner Archive about to flood the market with its laden treasures? I dare to dream that it will happen. Many film music fans will rejoice. Can we have Korngold`s Kings Row and The Sea Hawk in their entirety ? That would be not Strike for the shores of Dover but striking gold!

Rating:

- Far and Away Williams' Best
This is simply an unbeatable score; it amazes me again every time I hear it. In the late 70s, John Williams really proved himself a master of thematic material and dynamic orchestrations, and this effort is the shining example. There are as many themes woven into this one film as there are in the entire Star Wars trilogy. The main march is a certified classic, as is the sweeping love theme. However, all of the material underscoring the sequences involving Smallville, Lex Luthor, and the planet Krypton is equally great. (The opening fanfare for Krypton is especially stunning, and the alternate version provided on this album is a real treat.) As a whole, Williams' music is a joy from start to finish, and this expanded release is the first to really do it justice. The restored music really fleshes out the continuity of the score, and the audio quality is perfectly acceptable (frankly, I think it's a small miracle that all of the original materials still exist). Definately a must-own for soundtrack collectors, and I imagine non-soundtrack-fans will find this worthwhile as well. The march alone is worth the price of the album, and there are no less that five different versions of it on there!

Rating:

- 4 Down...Three To Go!
As a kid, I used to get goose bumps when I listened to the Superman theme. Almost 20 years later, this still holds true! This is without a doubt an epic score, and best of all it is complete! I loved Star Wars, Empire, and Jedi; and Superman ranks right up there with these three. Now, please....do a Special edition for the Indiana Jones trilogy soundtracks PLEASE!

Rating:

- The Best Ever!
I have just about every John Williams score there is but this one takes the cake. It is without a doubt the best soundtrack restoration to date-for any composer. All tracks have been excellently remastered and appear in chronological order...if you didn't know any better you'd think J.W. and the L.S.O. were in your living room giving you a command performance! If you liked the Star Wars re-release three years ago, you will LOVE this one! I have had this CD since the day it was released and still can't stop listening to it. Do as you will, but if you pass this recording by, you lose!

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