Music : Superman - The Movie: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

In association with Amazon.com

Rating:

- Supermusic
Supermusic for a superhero. "Superman", Richard Donner's film version of the classic hero from the comics, still ranges as the best live action film ever made about a hero. Most of the sucess is due to the perfect score composed by John Williams, who, without a doubt, contributed enourmously to the atmosphere of the old serials. This exclusive and deluxe CD edition only enhances what once seemed just perfect. There is much more music from the film. And what a music. The "Superman Main Theme" reflects all of John's creativity and invention, giving us back the pleasure of listening the old classical orchestrations, the kind of music composed by Max Steiner, Dimitri Tyomkin and Bernard Herrmann. There was much especulation about the re-release of the "Superman" soundtrack and finally we have the chance to experience it complete and with bonus tracks. Bravo!

Rating:

- John Williams At His Best
In spite of this being one of John Willaim's earlier scores, it still remains his best. The score is faithful to John William's usual style, id est with the odd echo of Star Wars : New Hope but definately does not copy any of his other soundtracks. What makes this particular title well worth listening to is his ability to convey emotion in his music, with each character having his/her own theme and intruments. It is like listening to a musical play wherein you can actually picture the action. "Superman" simply wouldn't be the same if it were not accompanied by this stirring score.

Rating:

- The perfect music for all things Superman...
I've been a devotee of many of John Williams's acclaimed soundtrack scores, especially the STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES trilogies tracks. Out of all of them, however, my all-time favorites are his compositions for SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE. Just as he did with the scores to JAWS and the INDIANA JONES movies, John Williams succeeded beyond all expectations in composing music that perfectly and unmistakably defined the title character.

In my opinion, subsequent `Superman' movies and TV shows have made valiant efforts, but have yet to produce soundtrack music that displays and defines the character's heroism like the score from the first film. Is there a not a single 'Superman' uber-aficionado out there who doesn't silently hum the movie's Opening Titles theme to himself whenever he reads the latest issue of Action Comics, or watches the WB cartoon? I can't be the only one...

`Late...

Rating:

- You will be mesmerized
Wow, I am liking this trend. First it was the Star Wars: Special Edition Expanded Score, now it this Warner Bros Archives Complete Superman Score. The sound is phenominal, and I'm still kicking myself for buying the Varese Sarabande release of the "complete" score re-recorded...somehow this one is more complete...which means the Varese people lied :( Tis not good that they did, but they earned my money, as does rhino for making this restoration sound better than any re-recording ive heard. Kudos.

Rating:

- Wonderful and necessary reissue, but where are the strings?
Finally, someone's seen fit to release such long-overdue tracks as "The Big Rescue," "Lois and Clark," and the actual film version of the "End Title" sequence--music that's eluded frustrated orchestral-soundtrack lovers for decades.

I can't say more than what's already been said here many times over about the timelessness and bravura tour-de-force of what's widely considered the best example of John Williams'--and the London Symphony Orchestra's!--vast collection of work. "The Big Rescue," for instance, is an absolute flawless piece of composition and orchestration inextricably entwined with Richard Donner's reverent and awe-filled lensing of Superman's spectacular maiden appearance, aided immensely by Christopher Reeve's dead-on rendition of the Man of Steel.

Producers Nick Redmond and Michael Matessino are to be roundly applauded for their painstaking research and restoration efforts in the face of neglected, deteriorating source tapes and--shockingly-- disposed-of original orchestrations. (This is apparently why even John Williams currently conducts a reconstructed version that's somewhat unfaithful to the original, and a major reason John Debney's commendable re-recording with the Royal Scottish Orchestra sounds just plain different.)

However, here's the most minor of quibbles: Whatever happened to the violins? The high string section is distressingly absent or muted from the entire soundtrack. The original LP/CD release had muted strings as well, but not to the extent as on the "restored" versions. Proof of their existence rests in the original film tracks (on VHS or cable), which feature bold violin glissandos somehow lost in the transition to CD; ironically, Ken Thorne's adaptations for Superman II and III, as well as several re-recordings, likewise highlight (to a fault) the high strings. Their disappointing exclusion (in addition to several disappearances of oboe and English horn passages) spots a small blemish on an otherwise excellent and highly commendable restoration.

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