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Posted: |
Dec 5, 2018 - 10:24 AM
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By: |
CCW1970
(Member)
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Jaws had an Oscar-winning mono sound mix, and the 5.1 mix was done in 2000 with completely changed sound effects. And in my opinion the music doesn't sound good in it. I can only watch the film with the original mono track. Jaws 2 was also a mono film and the same kind of thing would need to be done to make it stereo. But in the case of Dracula it was a Dolby Stereo film to begin with and there is a 4-track print master that could be re-purposed for 5.1 easily, but the DVD and Blu-Ray only offer 2.0.
Have to agree with Mr. Matessino on Jaws. The mono sound mix is damn near flawless, and the 5.1 just sounds forced and odd to me.
Dracula, on the other hand, would likely benefit from a 5.1 mix, even if it just expanded the soundstage and provided some atmosphere to the rear channels. Oh, well.
Back to the soundtrack, prior to this lovely release, I can't count how many times I've gone back and listened to the original Varese CD, loving the music as I do, and tried to guess at what detail I was missing in the muddy sounding disc.
One of the revelations of this new expanded CD is the amount of orchestral detail present. The LSO's playing is of course phenomenal. But, I find the quieter passages are of particular interest - the space between notes, or phrases - are places I love exploring (sitting in my music room, in a comfy chair and a pint of good ale).
It's great to hear the wonderful low end of the Main Title without the distortion. The new remastering gives my sound system a good work out.The Van Helsing music if a treasured discovery. Yes, you can hear some of it in the film. However, that's nothing like hearing it on this CD.
I also think this score is worthy of a high ranking, and deserves a place among so many of the maestros classic scores from the period. In fact, the contrast in style of this and The Fury is one of my favorite aspects of the music. Both scores are rich, and darkly romantic. They're gothic without being cliched.
Dracula tips its hat to the broad sound of horror, while beautifully emphasizing the Lothario nature of Langella's approach to the character.
I still have a soft spot for the film, with such great turns by pros Olivier and Pleasence, and think Badham did a fine job approaching the subject matter with respect, adapting the unique and yet classic genre style of Edward Gorey's stage designs (although I do wish he'd left Gilbert Taylor's work alone when supervising the DVD transfer).
Williams' score elevates all of the above to great heights. Wonderful!
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DRACULA may not be one of Williams's best but if it came out this week it would be hands down the best score of the year.
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DRACULA is one of Williams's best and if it came out this week it would be hands down the best score of the year.
Fixed that for you. 
Yavar
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danbeck: I think some C&C for newer films can be tiring when movies are scored wall to wall, with some filler material. But in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s most movies were carefully spotted, with music only were it mattered, therefore less ‘filler’ material. That’s why from this era I do find most C&Cs presentations essential while albums tended to miss fundamental tracks and be only a sampling of the scores.
I think you're spot on there, dan.
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People who complain this score is too repetitive have apparently never listened to Empire Strikes Back.
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Posted: |
Dec 5, 2018 - 10:59 PM
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By: |
Zoragoth
(Member)
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You liked the Jaws 5.1 remix?
That's a new one.
Jaws had an Oscar-winning mono sound mix, and the 5.1 mix was done in 2000 with completely changed sound effects. And in my opinion the music doesn't sound good in it. I can only watch the film with the original mono track. Jaws 2 was also a mono film and the same kind of thing would need to be done to make it stereo. But in the case of Dracula it was a Dolby Stereo film to begin with and there is a 4-track print master that could be re-purposed for 5.1 easily, but the DVD and Blu-Ray only offer 2.0.
Okay, color me clueless - I have a pretty good home theater sound, incl a Marantz receiver. I did find JAWS on DVD sounded horribly over the top, as many films did at that time when they repurposed for 5.1, but I thought they had fixed it for blu-ray ...? I've only seen the blu once, and that was several years ago now. My memory was that it sounded quite good ....
The 5.1 doesn't have the same oomph or 'bite' the mono had [Blu ray or DVD]. The JAWS recording itself was carefully done to sound more effective and upfront in mono. Thus to my ears the mono version sounds even more powerful and effective on a powerful amp like Marantz or Denon AVR (as in my case)
Okeedoke, then - next time I rent this puppy, I'll play it in mono!
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Posted: |
Dec 5, 2018 - 11:20 PM
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By: |
Zoragoth
(Member)
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Just for grins, here's a review of the audio from Blu-ray.com, which fairly reflects my recollection of hearing the soundtrack in 5.1:
"Jaws was released originally with a thrillingly effective mono track (which to Universal's credit is also provided on this Blu-ray courtesy of a DTS 2.0 mix), and I worried about how "tarting up" the original mix would potentially distract from the audio presentation. I needn't have worried. This is very smart repurposing, and if anything tends to be on the cautious side, which is how I personally prefer these repurposed surround mixes. There are certainly wonderful moments of immersion, especially in some of the panicked crowd scenes, but perhaps even more tellingly, in some relatively quieter moments when individual ambient environmental sounds are smartly placed around the sound field. Fidelity is superb and John Williams' towering score sounds magnificent. There's also a new clarity and precision to some of the foley effects (as Spielberg himself points out in the restoration featurette, you can now clearly hear the "dinosaur roar" as the shark meets its fate toward the end of the film)."
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I dunno, I've never liked the surround remix for Jaws from when I first heard it premiered on the DTS DVD. The balance on the score is a mess, the new effects sound jarringly out-of-place, and the remix changes the effect of many scenes — one of the things that always bothered me is how the cathartic line, “Smile, you son of a bitch!!!” gets swallowed by the sound effects in the 5.1 mix.
The original mono mix (which, as has been pointed out, won an Oscar), when played on a good sound system, has more punch and is just better at emphasizing the story.
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