Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Doyle must have been seriously uninspired when he wrote Goblet of Fire. If his themes had been anything like those of Henry V or A Little Princess, we would have forgotten all about Williams's.

 

Although I would have rather had a Williams score, I'm going to have to defend Doyle here. I thought his music for the dragon section was quite good. It's not as complex as most of Williams' action music, but it's just a different type of scoring. I particularly like the part at around 3:00 (track 10 - Golden Egg) on the cd. I also think that, in terms of music, this scene and a few others were badly mixed - the sound effects are just too loud.

The action music in the Black Lake scene is quite interesting as well and probably my favorite from the film.

 

While I agree with most of your assessment, Timo, I have to also disagree with the Dragon scene. Actually, regarding action music in general, I'm not sure that Williams has written a good action cue since "Last Crusade", with the possible exception of DotF.

 

Actually, regarding action music in general, I'm not sure that Williams has written a good action cue since "Last Crusade", with the possible exception of DotF.

Is that a joke? I could list off 50 cues!

 

The Land Race, Blowing Off Steam, Fighting For Dough, The Ultimate War, Intersection Scene, Escape from the City, Everybody Runs, Fighting the Basilisk, Quidditch Year 3, Martin Vs. Tavington, To the Plaza, Presto!, The Boys Continue.

 

First cues that came to mind were "Rescuing Sarah," "The Raptors Appear," and "Visitor in San Diego." What fantastic action music.

 

Heh, key words being "I'm not sure". There are plenty of recent Williams scores that I haven't heard. I will say, though, that all the Potter cues listed by Indiana I thought were horrible. Especially "Fighting the Basilisk". Just random mish-mashings of chromatic winds and blaring brass and percussion. Anyone could write that stuff.

 

And there are no good action cues in the prequels? I think the music as the Queen's ship escapes from Naboo in TPM is pretty great, as is Jango's Escape.

 

True, I'd forgotten about the Naboo escape music. Actually most of the action in TPM is good, especially the Naboo scenes. I suppose I could claim that comes under the "Except DOFT" heading. But Jango's Escape, and the rest of the AOTC action I can't give you. It's pretty middling.

 

So really, your statement was either scores you haven't heard or ones you forgot about.

 

Perhaps. But I think it is true to say that since the late 80s, Williams' action cues, with a few notable exceptions, have become much weaker.

 

I only listed two Potter cues.

 

I don't agree with that at all. And anyway, Williams' weakest action cue ever is better than anything Doyle did on GOF.

 

Whoa, whoa. I'd rather have "The Black Lake" than "The Attack on the Car."

 

Not me.

 

I'd take almost anything from GOF over anything from COS or AOTC.

 

Across the Stars and Fawkes' Theme seriously own Doyle's world.

 

Wow! A lot of argueing here. Can't you just except they are two differnt composers with differnt styles. I like all of Williams and what I have heard of Doyle. I just hope the new guy for OOTP is as good.

 

Sure I can accept that. What I cannot except is a score for Harry Potter that is weak and uninteresting in places.

 

wow my spelling above was bad!!!

and lucky for us all the harry potter scores are all interesting!

 

I would rank them as such:

1. Sorceror's Stone (The one that started it all, set the tone and originated a TON of themes)
2. Prisoner of Azkaban (Easier the most enjoyable, listenable score, without the repetativeness of the first two)

Noticeable decrease

3. Chamber of Secrets (Very inconsistant. New material was brilliant, rehashed stuff from SS really hurt this score.)

Very noticable decrease

4. Goblet of Fire (New composer, weak themes and lack of usage of existing themes by Williams)

 

It's gotta be:

1. Prisoner of Azkaban
2. Goblet of Fire
2. Philosopher's Stone
4. Chamber of Secrets

 

The new Goblet of Fire themes were NOT weak!!!!!!

 

It is:

1. Prisoner of Azkaban
2. Philosopher's Stone (I still can't get used to calling it that.)
3. Chamber of Secrets
4. Goblet of Fire

And the themes were weak, in my opinion.

 

The new GOF themes were Dennis McCarthy weak.