Duel of the Fates Update
by Lukas Kendall
More on the Phantom Menace single... it turns out this is a concert
version of the theme from the movie, and is not actually IN the movie per
se. Instead, it was recorded for...
VH1 Presents "Phantom Menace" Video
VH1 will premiere the first video from "Star Wars: The Phantom
Menace" Monday, May 3 during the net's 2 p.m. music hour. The video
features images from the film set the instrumental song "Duel of the
Fates" from soundtrack composer John Williams conducting the London
Symphony. "Phantom Menace" opens in theaters May 19.
Also, the single, while not available commercially, is being given away
through the official Star Wars website
with online purchases of $40 or more.
Here are some initial thoughts from readers, on whether or not they
will be able to wait to hear the music in the film, or just devour the
album:
From: Jonathan Warren <jqwarren@aristotle.net>
I have the willpower!!! It will be hard, but I want to have the
encompassing experience of the entire movie at once. I feel that if I know
the music already, I will feel as if I know part of the movie before I
see it.
From: samotcirtap@webtv.net
I have always tried to purchase the movie music before i see the
movie, not because I know what is about to happen, NO! So that I can hum
along in my mind as the scene goes on before my eyes.
Now with The Phantom Menace due out May 4, I will purchase the music
and know at least part of the score, not all since Lucas and Williams are
not releaseing everything this time around, we have to wait for "Back
to The Phantom Menace" in a couple of months!!!!!!!
From: "Martin Höch" <MartinHoech@CSI.Com>
You could just as well ask me "Who has the willpower not to
breathe until they see the movie". Of course I'll grab the CD and
give it a few spins on my player as soon as I can lay my hands upon it.
Sometimes I can even enjoy a movie more when I'm already a bit into the
score. Anyway - I can't wait to hear it.
From: "Robert Cooper" <r-cooper@ihug.co.nz>
It was said on the site 'who has the willpower not to listen to
The Phantom Menace until they see the movie?' what i want to know is who
had the willpower to avoid looking at the track titles. I foolishly looked
at them only to find those evil people had titled a track with a MAJOR
spoiler. Doesn't Lucas look at and approve the cd ? i would have thought
he'd have some control over aspects like these. I have to say i am extremly
annoyed at now knowing the fact revealed prior to the movies release !!
From: TNurn@aol.com
I certainly won't have the willpower not to listen to John Williams'
soundtrack until the movie comes out. I love Star Wars, but I'm looking
forward to the soundtrack the most. On May 4th, the Star Wars, Episode
I: The Phantom Menace will be blasting from my stereo!
From: "Eric W." <miawemfam@worldnet.att.net>
This will be the biggest struggle of life, having that CD sitting
there in my face and trying not to listen to it until AFTER I see the movie.
I'll give it my most valiant effort!!!!-
From: "Chris Tilton" <Chris46@email.msn.com>
Well I don't have the will power to wait for the movie. I'm buying
the soundtrack and listening to it to my hearts content the day it comes
out!! Also, I downloaded the mp3 of Duel of the Fates before the RIAA made
everyone take it down. I put it on my website for my friend to download
so it's there, I just didn't provide a link obviously. If you want to hear
it feel free to. The link is http://chris46.simplenet.com/Duel_of_the_Fates.mp3
Please oh please don't show this link to anyone else besides your staff!!!
From: Timothy Kurkoski <kurkoskt@oit.edu>
I have been fervently avoiding detailed information about the film
as much as possible, at least as far as the contents of the picture go.
I have allowed myself to look at things like production reports on the
website, but I don't even want to know anything as simple as the new characters'
names. It's been awfully difficult, but I think I have preserved the experience
of seeing an entirely NEW film for myself, and I will wait to hear Williams's
score in the context it was meant to be heard- with the film.
From: KUBRICK70@aol.com
I don't have any WILL POWER at all to wait and see the film first.
I am happy enough that I work at a THX theatre and that we will be able
to see the film a day ahead of the release date. I myself try to seperate
myself from the hype, so I can enjoy the film even more when it is released.
From: JJ Hinrichs <jhinrichs@door.net>
I don't have the willpower for one reason only:
A good 3/4ths of my scores CDs I bought without having seen the
film. I don'[t have enough money to see every film and buy all the CDs.
Many times, the music outweighs the film itself. I buy many CDs on recommendations,
and/or my liking of a certain composer, like Williams and Doyle. I buy
all the Williams and Doyle scores I can when they become available, and
money permits. Why should the Phantom Menace be any different? Just because
it's Star Wars? I anticipate it with bated breath as much as anyone, but
let's be real: it's just a movie.
Duel of the Fates sounds more like Needful Things than anything
else, but that's me.
From: "Erdy, Bryan (NBC)" <Bryan.Erdy@nbc.com>
In response to your question about having "the will-power to
avoid listening to the Phantom Menace CD until the movie premiere"...
count me out. After waiting sixteen years for a new album of original Star
Wars music (not counting the new ending of Jedi and the strange 'Shadows'
thing), the temptation is simply too much. I can probably avoid reading
the novel, but monday night at 11:59pm, I'll be in line at Media Play.
I remeber listening to the Empire Strikes Back albums before seeing the
movie and my imagination running wild as I imagined the wonderous visuals
that I would eventually be seeing. I know I sound like Doug Henning, but
I was 11 at the time.
Oh yeah. In case you're interested, here's a real audio file of Duel
of the Fates! You'll need the latest version of Real Audio to play
it.
MailBag@filmscoremonthly.com
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