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Posted: |
Feb 25, 2014 - 6:30 AM
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By: |
Jim Phelps
(Member)
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Well, it's been a long, long time since I last played it, but I remember being bored by two cues that have been mentioned above (the dripping cave track and the ponderous boot cue), so they would be the first to go!
I know those cues would stay put in my benevolent film music dictatorship. Of course it's all taste and opinion, my dear Kev, but do revisit the music. Who knows, maybe you'll change your mind.
The action cues are all excellent but it's those quiet, reflective compositions that I like best. A lot of that gets lost due to the over-the-top action the franchise is known for, though I disagree about there being any jingoism, at least as far as the second film is concerned, but Rambo III has more of those reflective themes than the other two. It's a shame that isn't really well represented in the film itself, so I prefer Rambo III as a stand-alone listen over my usual preference to a score in context.
Oh, I do go on. Please forgive an old man's rambling...
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Rambo III may be my favorite of the trilogy. If I had the time I'd probably edit out a substantial few repetitive minutes of Preparations but not get rid of it entirely. Aside from that there's not a single cue I'd lose in this masterful symphonic score. Not as heavy on the action as its predecessor(s), but when there is action it's magnificent. And it's got so much else to offer. Easily more gorgeous stuff in this than any other of the trilogy. The finale/end credits track is one of the best of Goldsmith's career.
Unfortunately it's also by far the worst performed of the three scores. 
But Kev, what I think may have been holding you up is the sound quality. I didn't rate this highly at all based on a CDr I had of Intrada's original expanded release. Thankfully they produced a remastered version some time in the past 8 years or so, and it's like night and day. If you don't already have that version I hope you take a chance and pick it up!
Yavar
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The whole Rambo 3 album is a masterpiece as far as im concerned.Its my favourite out of all four Rambo scores.Both terrific lush new themes and exciting action material.The film itself is also highly underrated.Its a solid balls to the wall action flick ( The final battle in particular is spectacular ).
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Still waiting for the definitive edition of Rambo II myself, probably my favorite action score, ever!
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While there seems to be *near* 100% consensus that the remastered Intrada Rambo III sounds better than their original issue, there isn't as strong of a consensus about it being "night and day" as I said. Here are two previous threads on the topic:
"Rambo III Expanded vs. Rambo III Expanded!" from 2010:
http://filmscoremonthly.com/board/posts.cfm?threadID=74295&forumID=1&archive=0
Here are some quotes from people who agree with me:
Spymaster: "night and day better...stunning" (sorry to rip off your term, Spymaster)
scrapsly: "well worth the upgrade...sounds fantastic and easy to tell when compared"
The Mutant: "Yep. I have both versions and I can tell you the latest version is superior in sound quality. The original one was very quiet and hissy in comparison. "
Sarge: "I recently got the new version and it's a definite improvement. "
MikeJ: "...this sounds much better, in my opinion. Worth the upgrade and worth giving your old album to somebody who has never heard the music. "
And finally Dave Norris, the person who started that thread asking for advice, posted, "I on advice of my friends here,also picked up the re-mastered version over Xmas. There is a definite improvement in sound quality & I'm very pleased that I picked this up"
and an older thread from 2005, when the reissue came out:
http://filmscoremonthly.com/board/posts.cfm?threadID=25334&forumID=1&archive=1
those who agree with me say:
Moonie: "What?!! you dont notice the sound difference?
I notice it on my cheep boom box.
There is a big huge difference. I even did a cd to cd compairison.
You hear everything right down to the little smaller (for lack of a better way to put it)sounds.
Listen to it again, theres a difference."
riotengine: "I used to own the old version, I hear things in the new recording I never noticed before."
Spymaster (again): "The new RAMBO III disc is a LOT better than the old one. The sound is more "present", more powerful, more detailed, more alive (and yes, louder!)
It sounds like a Mike Ross-Trevor recording should, i.e. absolutely splendid.
I guarantee that if you upgrade you will not be disappointed sound-wise. Highly, highly recommended."
The Mutant (again): "I've always felt the sound on the old Intrada wasn't the greatest. This new version is MUCH more clear and significantly louder. Hearing "Night Fight" in all it's glory is worth the price alone. "
On the other hand, some other people in those threads, like this one, can't tell much of a difference for some reason. Maybe one's equipment makes a difference...I usually listen on ear buds. But Moonie could tell the difference on his boom box.
One final point from that early thread, made by Kenneth English: "Another thing I'd like to point out -- and, YES, I know this isn't really a reason to rebuy but it might help some of the fence-sitters -- is that the art and packaging of the new Rambo III disc is just beautiful. Lightyears ahead of the older CD. This may not mean much to others, but I enjoy the aesthetics of a well-done disc's presentation almost as much as the music itself (which is why FSM's CDs are always such a joy -- probably the best-presented soundtrack CDs on the market). "
The only disappointment for me with the reissue is that the liner notes themselves, though much more attractive looking, are the same content as their earlier release, ie. no thick booklet about the film and making of the score as with Intrada's First Blood reissue. But this came out in 2005 before Lukas had fully influenced all the other labels to compete with him with thick content-filled notes.
Yavar
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You're one of US now, Kev!
Yavar
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I love the first 1:30 of "Flaming Village". Cues like that made me such a huge fan of his. And The Game is great too.
I love all 3 scores but I would rank them as:
1.First Blood - a masterpiece
2.Rambo: First Blood Part 2 - my favorite action score of his: put the 3 cues together of Bowed Down/Pilot Over/Village Raid and Helicopter Fight together and its balls to the wall glory.
3.Rambo 3 - a robust and thundering score.
My ranking, too!
What makes them so great as action scores? The melancholic main theme. Action only works if one can relate to the inner workings of the main character. And while parts 2 and 3 turned Rambo into a comic book hero, they still featured him as a sad, disappointed and mistreated outcast.
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