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John B: Re your "(BTW: should anyone be interested, JNH is also scoring the new M.Night Shyamalan film, AFTER EARTH, which I will go see, because I have liked many of his previous films, and have loved most of JNH's scores for them.)"
This goes back a year and a half but I just wanted to write that I've long felt that M. Night was one of the most over-rated writer/directors in the business. I had guessed the big twist of "The Sixth Sense" barely halfway through the movie; I was so angry that I bought "Signs" that I sold it to a friend for a big discount; just hated "The Village," and ... well, I could go on and on, although I was glad I bought "Unbreakable," though I've only watched it twice. (But I DO enjoy his 2010 "Devil" tale in the elevator, more for the acting than the story.)
As for the main subject here, I've long loved the music of James Newton Howard and look forward to what he gives us for "Maleficent."
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The movie ad gives Maleficent more personality. The animated version had yellowish eyes, with black lenses. The whole look of Disney's SLEEPING BEAUTY was pretty flat, all things considered, a deliberate approach on the part of the designers, who apparently wanted to recreate the look of Medieval tapestries. The only moment of multiple movement in the whole thing is the beginning of the parade in honor of Aurora's birthday, with great use of their patented Multiplane camera, showing all kinds of people on their way to the festivities.
Apart from that, though, the backgrounds, designed by very stylized artist Eyvind Earle maintain the flat look. (The trees in those forest scenes are gorgeous, an Earle specialty, but did you ever, ever see a forest with no underbrush?) But even the characters are likewise drawn flat, with lines, not shadowing, indicating facial expression.
So, already, the look of Ms. Jolie in this live-action MALEFICENT, has more depth than anything in the animated original. I mean, just look at those mesmerizing eyes!
What I fear is the same ol'/same ol' tale of dysfunctional childhood, leading poor, misunderstood Mallie, or whatever nickname they saddle her with, to retreat emotionally, hating all those mean kids for making fun of her horns, and taking it out on all and sundry. (Sounds like the Broadway "Wicked?" Sounds like the plot of "Frozen?" Sound familiar?)
I always look forward to JNH scores, and buy all the ones I hear of. But, unlike others on this thread, I believe his best work has been for the woebegone M.Night Shyamalan. I finally did catch up with AFTER EARTH, which was, to put it simply, just boring, with a whiny performance from Will Smith's pouty son. The music had some skill, but not enough to make up for the tedium of the rest of it. (Can't believe they'd spend so much money on special effects for such an essentially unappealing story.)
Oh well. I still get all of JNH's scores.
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John:
Re: "Can't believe they'd spend so much money on special effects for such an essentially unappealing story." I couldn't even get through "After Earth" -- found Will Smith's son sooooooooo annoying.
Still waiting for you to see Joseph Kosinsky's "Oblivion," which, as I keep saying and writing, is science-fiction with a heart and almost always brings me to tears at the end. The next time I see you, after you get back from NYC, I'm going to insist you borrow the Blu-ray so you can watch the terrific behind the scenes specials!
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I don't like the cover simply because it reminds me of the horror of "Star Trek: Nemesis".
As for the horns, that seems a non-issue to me. Who here doesn't know she has horns?
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Wow, I can hardly believe this kind of tunes can still happen in the age of all-things-apocalyptic. Absolutely fantastic!
Me too. What a lovely sense of detail and restraint from Howard. Reminds me of his earlier days like Unbreakable. I listened through the clips and they all knocked me out with their melodicism. Forget Godzilla or Xmen, this will be the best score of the summer by far!
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Don't forget: Director Robert Stromberg is the brother of our very own William Stromberg. He is a man who knows his film music....in fact, he had more than a little to do with the artwork for at least some of the Tribute albums.
I met Bob Stromberg at the GSPO Halloween concert William Stromberg conducted. He introduced himself as "Bill's brother." He seemed genuinely surprised that I knew who he was...an Oscar winning production designer for little pictures like "Avatar" and "Alice in Wonderland."
Wonder if Bill had any say in hiring JHN? Or conducting the sessions?
I guess he couldn't have suggested Bill for the gig.
The clips sound really amazing. Been ages since music for film really spoke to me... Okay so Banos' Evil Dead just came out last year but you get the gist.
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Amazing!
I was hoping that JNH would come back. But these samples really are exciting, promising vintage JNH, full of life, melody and a rich orchestral sound.
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