Avengers Score : Singular, Or Multiple Composer?

Well BTTF was 27 years ago. So he's pretty much evolved from that approach to writing music. Though I can hear elements from BTTF (heck even Predator and Judge Dredd) in some of his scores today from time to time. His action scores from the past few years (except The Mummy Returns and Van Helsing) follow his Tomb Raider:Cradle of Life approach to scoring. Which is a shame. I agree The Avengers should've been as "iconic" and "distinctive" as BTTF was then and still is today. I guess TPTB didn't want something "iconic" or "distinctive". I still believe they should've went with Giachinno instead. I'm sure he would've delivered the goods.

 

I can't see any disadvantage to having something iconic. It only helps make the film more memorable because the soundtrack is so catchy, in the same way that everyone knows the themes from BTTF or films like Star Wars, Superman, Indiana Jones etc. Everything in the Avengers sounds mostly incidental and like background music. The only reason I remember it is because I've listened to the score many times, but one shouldn't have to do that to remember a score. It should be instantly catchy when you hear it in the movie.

What would the skateboard chase in BTTF have been without the theme, especially in these triumphant moments such as when he runs over the top of Biff's car just before it crashes in the manure truck?

 

I don't know why everyone says the theme isn't iconic. Its still stuck in my head. The rest of the score isn't great but the main theme just screams SUPERHERO.

 

While I originally wanted Giacchino to score The Avengers, I was very satisfied with what Silvestri gave us. I'm sure Giacchino would have given us something similar.

 

I have to agree. The circular shot with that song in the background is just perfect. I got goosebumps every time.
It so well edited together, that scene just... works.

 

Especially considering Joss probably had something in mind for the score and conveyed that to Silvestri, which is what got put in the movie. If Joss hadn't liked the score at all or didn't feel it fit with what he was trying to convey on-screen, then he would have had it changed.

 

Just b/c the theme is stuck in your head doesn't mean it's "iconic". You're right about the main theme though screaming SUPERHERO. It's screams typical superhero theme and typical heroic Silvestri theme, imo. It's basically a variation of his GI Joe theme, his A-team theme, and Judge Dredd theme. It was nothing special. What makes Williams' Superman score, Elfman's Batman scores and Spider-man scores great , imo, isn't because the main themes stay in my head but b/c the whole score is great . It leaves a strong impression and captures the heart of the films and characters. Not just the theme like The Avengers score is to you. Going off your opinion it's fine if the score is mostly filler (unnecessary fat) as long as the theme is hummable. It must be sad to buy a 76 minute album containing 18 tracks just for 5-10 min or 2 - 3 tracks just hear the theme. Or download the album for 2 or 3 tracks out of 18 tracks just to hear the theme.

I'm happy that you enjoyed what Silvestri composed. That's good that he pleased somebody. To me Silvestri just wrote something that's not much different from his GI Joe and A-team scores. He didn't even try to make it sound unique from any of his action scores (especially his current ones). I don't want to hear GI Joe or A-team when listening to The Avengers. Seriously if you switch the themes around from those movies it wouldn't make any difference, imo. Oh and I doubt Giacchino would've wrote something like Silvestri wrote for The Avengers score or theme. If you mean something as good as what Silvestri wrote (which was nothing special to me) well we'll never know. But I doubt it.

Btw I don't hate the score. Eventhough it's a letdown to me it had some pretty good moments. I think the main reason I can enjoy the score b/c of how familiar I am with the movie itself. The movie had a lot of great and memorable moments in it. The score didn't have much to do with that though. And he really didn't get out of his comfort zone for this one. If he did the score could've been much more than what he gave us. He wanted to stay in familiar territory and kept in the vein of his current action scores which aren't that great, imo. It's always nice when a composer tries new things (he sort of did with the first minute of "A Promise" which takes place at the end of the film) Yeah it's servicable in the film but a huge missed opportunity. It's basically leftovers of Tomb Raider 2, GI Joe:ROC, and A-team. In the end that's why it's a letdown to me. Also Silvestri needs a break from action movies for a while, imo.

 

Lovin' BOTH cds. lol
Tho I added ALL the rock from trailers and Movies to my player list of Avengers Assemble inspired by

 

Anyone think that the intro to the Avengers theme sounds a bit like the start of Kashmir by Led Zeppelin?

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Or maybe Kashmir sounds like a rocked-up version of the Avengers theme. t:

 

The former. It definitely contributes a little bit to why I like it so much.

 

Does anyone know which track has the score from when Thor picks up the hammer in the field, and the Avengers "suit up"?

 

Performance Issues

 

Do you guys think that silvestri, after the avengers, will continue with marvel in the same way Shirley walker continued for the DCAU?

 

I'm inclined to think that Marvel will hire Silvestri for The Avengers sequels, barring any scheduling conflicts. When they chose him to score TA, that was on the strength of his work on Captain America. They wanted and got the same sort of sweeping, orchestral score as the one for CA:TFA to emphasize the epic scope of the film. The sequels will have that same large scale, so the scores should as well. Keeping Silvestri on board would thematically tie the series together.

 

If that's the case, then I expect him to score the CA sequels too. Which would be nice.

 

Agreed.

I'm usually not all that wild about scores, but the Avengers theme is amazing. I'm like you, I always have it in my head. When I watch it, hearing the horns blare gives me the chills.

 

Even with Smulders' less-than-stellar performance, I feel the worst part of the movie is the score. It's so underwhelming, mediocre and forgettable that it's almost a joke. A big tentpole movie should have a worthy score. I simply think Silvestri isn't up to the task anymore. He's been out of form for a long time now, way before The Avengers. Therefore it was a major (negative) surprise when it was announced he would score TA. TA's score is the worst of both worlds: it isn't particularly "out-of-the-box"/creative, nor is it particularly catchy and bombastic. It just kind of is there, barely doing anything of note. That's not good enough.

They need to get either the maestro himself (JW) on board or choose a bit more creative composer. Silvestri brought absolutely nothing to the table (but will probably get out of jail because of the only semi-good piece of his score, the Avengers theme).