I can't believe that there is a thread on The Adventures of Baron Munchausen and I hadn't commented in it! It's an absolute masterwork by Kamen, my favorite score of his, just brimming with melodic invention and energy. I recall reading in an interview with Kamen where he spoke about early versions of the final battle that he composed and recorded, then revised to add in the Munchausen theme more often. Hearing that there are alternates for this score make me want a deluxe version even more.
I second that. It is my favourite Kamen soundtrack by some way - inventive, mad, beautiful. It is a long time since i last viewed the film but i remember thinking most of the score was on the album.
There's a bit on the track Venus Rising (within Vulcan & Venus), before the Waltz, which is just gorgeous. I also love the melancholy feel to many tracks...sad, reflective brass/strings (and kurzweil?). I'd certainly re-buy it for any extra music, improved sound (although I remember the original sounding fine) and easier to digest track sequencing.
I then sat down with the movie for the first time in 30 years. It’s a bit of a mess but it’s charming as heck, and some of the SFX are a wonder after all these years.
I decided to watch it again the other night as well.
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen was once a favorite film of mine, but I was surprised how bad it came across today. The visuals and production value are impressive, but despite his surpassing visual faculty, Gilliam was never much of a writer, or indeed a comedian (his Python animations were cleverly designed, but always fell-back on simplistic, childish humor). While the film offers imaginative settings, none of the various sequences in Munchausen come off as particularly imaginative.
John Neville was a fine actor, but he lacks the gravitas to carry the movie. The lead required someone like Peter O'Toole or Richard Harris. The art direction and Kamen's score are the most impressive elements of the film.
And to think that Gilliam turned-down the offer to direct The Princess Bride to make Munchausen.
Munchausen and (particularly) Brazil in complete presentations have been top of my want list since I first listened to their respective albums. Can't get enough of Kamen from this period
Same here, especially in the case of Brazil where so much fine music was not included on the soundtrack. I have no complaints about the existing Munchausen and I even like the suite presentation but I’d eagerly double dip for either of Kamen’s Gilliam scores.
Nothing to do with the music, but Sarah Polley's recent book, Run Towards the Danger, is well worth reading. One chapter deals with her harrowing childhood experiences of injuries caused by poorly supervised explosive effects during the filming and her efforts to get the director to own up to his responsibility. Polley, of course, has since become a fine actor (THE SWEET HEREAFTER) and filmmaker (AWAY FROM HER). Her book shows literary talent as well.
This score is a mixed bag for me. There's some stupendous stuff here but there's also some mickey mousey music I can do without. Same with the film, amazingly entertaining at times though down right juvenile and silly other times.
This score is a mixed bag for me. There's some stupendous stuff here but there's also some mickey mousey music I can do without. Same with the film, amazingly entertaining at times though down right juvenile and silly other times.
