Age of Ultron Avengers: Orchestra Assemble! Composer Thread

[Saint]

It's unfortunate that there doesn't seem to be any interest in retaining memorable musical cues from film to film. Iron Man had a great, distinctive theme in his first film--one that was inexplicably abandoned in sequels.

Cap and Cap 2 saw something similar happen, but in that instance I was quite comfortable with the change due to the dramatic shift in the tone of the second film.

I enjoyed Silvestri's theme for Avengers, and feel that Tyler's scores for IM3 and Thor 2 were largely forgettable, so him scoring the film is somewhat disappointing. His comments about the direction he's taking, though ("Star Wars" and "Superman") is encouraging, though.

 

[Quasimod0]

I'd love to see Tyler bring back the Avengers theme from the first film. The one that plays when they do the 360 shot around the team. Man that gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.

 

[Lightsplasher]

It's unfortunate that there doesn't seem to be any interest in retaining memorable musical cues from film to film. Iron Man had a great, distinctive theme in his first film--one that was inexplicably abandoned in sequels.

Cap and Cap 2 saw something similar happen, but in that instance I was quite comfortable with the change due to the dramatic shift in the tone of the second film.

I enjoyed Silvestri's theme for Avengers, and feel that Tyler's scores for IM3 and Thor 2 were largely forgettable, so him scoring the film is somewhat disappointing. His comments about the direction he's taking, though ("Star Wars" and "Superman") is encouraging, though.

I totally agree with you , the first Iron Man movie had an amazing theme which was really refreshing from all the symphonic superhero themes and I think that the fact that Zimmer produced the score had to do with the very techno-electronic feel the score had .

For TFA&TWS , I agree once again , the change of direction and the ambition to make a "political-thriller" CBM justified that and I think that Jackman has done a truly amazing job to add emotions for the more intimate scenes , add tension to the action scenes and composing the Winter Soldier theme which is one of the most heaviest , loudest and crushing themes I've ever heard ! Given that Tony and a few other Avengers will probably be in CIVIL WAR , I hope he'll bring back the IM1 theme or at least compose one for Tony as good as it was .

Apparently , Silvestri doesn't like movie sequels and it's probably why he didn't return for AoU and even if IM3 and TDW had a few nice tracks (New Beginning & Can You Dig It for IM3 and TDW theme & Into Eternity for TDW) Brian Tyler is capable of MUCH better because when you listen to his score for AC : Black Flag , it perfectly fits with the main character , this brand new "pirate-assassin" concept and the more exotics locations and characters so I'm expecting from Brian Tyler to be able to mix both Symphonic and Orchestral music with more-modern electro-technologic music and sounds .

I'd love to see Tyler bring back the Avengers theme from the first film. The one that plays when they do the 360 shot around the team. Man that gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.

Given that we had a few notes of Silvestri's score for TFA in both TDW&TWS and based from what Tyler said , I guess we'd be right to expect to hear the theme in the movie ! t:

 

[Dark Raven]

Alan Silvestri doesn't like sequels? He did the Back to the Future trilogy though, which is probably more memorable than any of the Marvel movies. He also did the Father of the Bride, Grumpy Old Men, Stuart Little, GI Joe and the Night at the Museum movies. So if he doesn't like movie sequels, he's picked a heck of a time to suddenly not like them. That sounds more like an excuse.

 

[Lightsplasher]

Alan Silvestri doesn't like sequels? He did the Back to the Future trilogy though, which is probably more memorable than any of the Marvel movies. He also did the Father of the Bride, Grumpy Old Men, Stuart Little, GI Joe and the Night at the Museum movies. So if he doesn't like movie sequels, he's picked a heck of a time to suddenly not like them. That sounds more like an excuse.

My bad ! Sorry , I totally forgot to say this : I read that on reddit and the reason he returned for those movie was probably because he had more fun with them (especially with the Night at The Museum apparently)

 

[Dark Raven]

He didn't like Captain America or the Avengers? What wasn't fun about those?

 

[Lightsplasher]

He didn't like Captain America or the Avengers? What wasn't fun about those?

I dunno but it'd be great if one of the movie scores' websites interviews could ask him
EDIT : But it also could be anything like the direction of the movies like for Carter Burwell

 

[Ghostcrow13]

I keep hoping they step up their scores for the films. Right now I'd say the only songs I remember is the Avengers theme and Caps theme from TFA which I believe was used again in TWS. Even then they don't exactly transcend the film they obviously can't be held in the same breath as any of the great film themes.

It's strange because pretty much any major film or at least any kind of film that becomes a cultural phenomenon like the marvel films all have at least an amazing theme if not an amazing soundtrack.

And a score really cam improve a film and make it more memorable so they should really try and put more effort into creating some memorable songs. I mean come on how hasn't like Thor had some sort of badass theme that plays when he arrives into a scene.

 

[Dark Raven]

Silvestri has done some great themes in the past. But one of his most memorable is Back to the Future. If he had done something as great as that for the Avengers then it would be truly iconic. Avengers wasn't bad, but it definitely isn't on the same level as BTTF, which actually has more nods to John Williams, which is seemingly the direction they're wanting to take the theme for Avengers 2.

Also, with these other franchises, the theme is used more than once so that it becomes the signature tune. You didn't get a theme for BTTF, and then a different one for BTTF 2 and 3. Likewise, John Williams didn't compose a theme for Superman the movie, Star Wars or Raiders of the Lost Ark, and then there was a different one for the subsequent films. That's part of why the Marvel themes don't become as iconic.

People talk about the Superman theme. What is the Iron Man theme though? There isn't one. Nothing instantly recognisable. If they used "Driving with the Top Down" in all the movies, that could've become Iron Man's theme, but it hasn't.

 

[MahvelBaby!]

Hope vision gets a cool theme

 

[Norek]

Cheers to everyone who liked the score of the first Iron Man:

[YT]I9PhfUsFvj0[/YT]

So awesome, even to this day it gives me chills. I wish they sticked to that in the sequels. Tyler's score from IM3 wasn't bad, but in my opinion wasn't as good as the IM1 one.

 

[Dark Raven]

Cheers to everyone who liked the score of the first Iron Man:

[YT]I9PhfUsFvj0[/YT]

So awesome, even to this day it gives me chills. I wish they sticked to that in the sequels. Tyler's score from IM3 wasn't bad, but in my opinion wasn't as good as the IM1 one.

I agree. I think it's not only the actual melody of the theme itself but also the scenes with which it's associated with. Are any of the scenes in IM2 or IM3 as memorable when used with their respective scores as the scenes where Driving With The Top Down is used in IM1?

What does DWTTD remind you of? For me, it instantly conjures up the image of Iron Man's maiden test flight and the sheer exhilaration he feels when flying for the first time. Or suiting up with the robots assisting him. Or going into battle in Gulmera leading to the dog fight with the planes. Since IM1 is easily considered the best of the IM films and also one of the best MCU movies, DWTTD should be the default IM theme since it's associated with the most memorable IM movie.

The only thing I think that comes close is the suitcase armor scene in IM2. The rest of the scores for IM2 and IM3 don't really have as many universally loved scenes associated with them.

 

[Norek]

What does DWTTD remind you of? For me, it instantly conjures up the image of Iron Man's maiden test flight and the sheer exhilaration he feels when flying for the first time. Or suiting up with the robots assisting him. Or going into battle in Gulmera leading to the dog fight with the planes.

All of this, yes; and all of it was awesome! I was a fan of IM long before the movie came out, and when I first saw these scenes I thought: "Holy ****! ****ing Iron Man!". The whole dogfight sequence was so cool, with Rhodey talking to Tony on the phone while he's trying not to get shot from the sky... And the music definitely plays a huge part of it. It's a shame they completely dropped it after the first movie.

 

[MahvelBaby!]

Im1s theme has always been my least favorite :/ I'm a fan of what debney did in 2 but it wasn't used great, particularly when Tony is suiting up the mkv

 

[coluanprime]

The only movie themes I remember are the Avengers one, the first Captain America, and Thor:The Dark World (I love to listen to that, I love its Asgard theme.).

 

[mclay18]

I also think Marvel hired Tyler because maybe they want a more uniform sound? I imagine Tyler will incorporate his themes from IM3 (very catchy and more fun than the previous films') and Thor 2 in addition to using Silvestri's Captain America and the main Avengers theme.

Pretty sure we will hear Silvestri's Avengers theme in Age of Ultron. I'll be mad if it doesn't.

 

[Dark Raven]

I also think Marvel hired Tyler because maybe they want a more uniform sound? I imagine Tyler will incorporate his themes from IM3 (very catchy and more fun than the previous films') and Thor 2 in addition to using Silvestri's Captain America and the main Avengers theme.

Pretty sure we will hear Silvestri's Avengers theme in Age of Ultron. I'll be mad if it doesn't.

But apart from Silvestri's Cap, none of them have a Star Wars/ Superman/ Indiana Jones vibe which was how they described how the score for Avengers 2 might sound.

 

[mclay18]

If Tyler is indeed going for a more old-school sound for Age of Ultron (as the Variety article suggests), that's great. I just don't want him to abandon Silvestri's "Avengers" material if he doesn't have to.

I'm re-reading the article, and it sounds like Tyler will reference his IM3 and TDW material in addition to Silvestri's Captain theme.

 

[Dark Raven]

Hulk needs a theme as well. Not the old TV series Lonely Man theme (even though that's very well known) but something more primal. The various Hulk cartoons have had some fairly decent primal themes. If Tyler could compose something like that for him, it would be great.

 

[Ghostcrow13]

No offense to Tyler, but with all Disneys and Marvels money couldn't they get a much better composer.

I mean Marvel films really are the only major franchise that don't have some sort of memorable soundtrack

 

[Dark Raven]

Shame that Jerry Goldsmith is dead. He would've been an alternative to John Williams.

 

[Urich Leeds]

I think Brian Tyler is a great choice for the composer.

There are others I would've preferred, but I think he'll do great.

 

[sabrecmc]

I liked Tyler's work for IM3. "New Beginnings" and "Iron Man 3" along with the Battle sequence are quite good. Not John Williams good, but come on. We were all spoiled for decades with Williams and the Williams-lite bunch of composers.

I thought Jackman's music worked in the movie, but it does not translate well (for me!) to just sit and listen to. I still like Avengers, but agree that it lacked a truly memorable, stand-out piece. I'm hopeful we will get something epic for this.

 

[Dark Raven]

Avengers and the MCU movies need a piece that transcends the films. Even if you didn't know what it was, it should immediately feel like a soaring and triumphant piece of music. When you listen to the John Williams compositions, even without knowing what they are, they instantly feel epic and as if they are announcing that something momentous is about to happen.

If you think about pieces like ET: The Extra Terrestrial, that brings a sense of wonder when you hear it. Spielberg even changed the flying bicycle scene to fit the score because he liked it so much. If you think about Jaws, there's immediately an ominous and foreboding sound. You could reuse that on any scene to suggest something dangerous is about to happen.

Or think about Chariots of Fire by Vangelis. That's now used for the Olympics and other sporting events. That's an example of a piece that has transcended its original use.

 

[mclay18]

Shame that Jerry Goldsmith is dead. He would've been an alternative to John Williams.

I think Goldsmith would've dug in the MCU films with relish, and I mean that in a good way. His action music is wonderful.

Shirley Walker, rest her soul, would've done something special with a Marvel Studios film too. Anyone who's watched the Timm-Dini Batman and Superman animated series knows she composed wonderful themes for the main characters and revolving list of villains.

I wouldn't say Tyler is the heir apparent to Goldsmith or Williams, but he certainly respects their musical stylings.