David Fleming & John Murphy/The Score & Composer Thread

[BatLobster]

My ideal choice would've been either John Powell or James Newton Howard. They're the modern day successors to John Williams, and have proven capable of adapting existing material into their own original work. Christopher Young would also be a great pick, or Nicholas Britell.

But I also like seeing relatively unknown composers get a chance at a big canvas like this. Joe Kraemer hasn't had much mainstream work since Rogue Nation, and he definitely has the chops for something like Superman. Debbie Wiseman has been writing in TV for decades, but has never done a big Hollywood movie before.

There's also several video game composers that have the potential to really shine on the big screen, people like Olivier Deriviere, Gareth Coker, Jessica Curry or Austin Wintory.

There were just so many better options than what we got, but I wonder if any composer could've delivered something truly great within Gunn's restrictions. Not a single one of his films has a noteworthy or memorable score, and I'm not sure he's capable of fostering a creative environment that is conducive to one.

This is harsh, but I'm inclined to agree. Needledrops? No doubt, he is a master at that. But now that I think of it, yeah, I can't remember anything about the scores for his other films.

I think the Superman score has its moments, but it's a mixed bag for me. A lot of modern scores that quote a Williams theme run into similar issues, where the score peaks when it's referencing the theme and then it's like it just trails off into more generic stuff. Some do it more successfully than others. In Superman Returns I actually was more interested in Ottman's new themes, which is rare in that kind of situation. I didn't mind the slowed down, 'deconstructed' Williams stuff in this. There were definitely moments where that worked for me, even if it was a bit trailer-y. But I do think the score overall falls into this middle ground of being homage-y without having enough of its own memorable personality beyond that.

This score gave me a new appreciation for Zimmer's MoS score too. I still just think it's a shame though that we never got a full use of the "What Are You Going to Do..." theme beyond the ending sequence in the movie. The best use of that was in the trailer. Still a great modern Supes theme though.

 

[Deck Rickard]

MoS is a masterclass in how NOT to use a great score. Zimmer’s themes sounded beautiful in the trailers but you barely notice them in most of the movie. Snyder doesn’t know how to give anything emotional weight, even when Hans is right there handing it to him on a silver platter.

 

[GreenKToo]

I think this film could have benefited from a huge rescue scene ( unrelated to what Lex was doing ) with the score blaring. Just Superman being Superman.
Maybe show him stopping a run away train, or saving a sinking cruise ship.

 

[Herolee10]

I think this film could have benefited from a huge rescue scene ( unrelated to what Lex was doing ) with the score blaring. Just Superman being Superman.
Maybe show him stopping a run away train,or saving a sinking cruise ship.

Here you go.

 

[Lily Adler]

MoS is a masterclass in how NOT to use a great score. Zimmer’s themes sounded beautiful in the trailers but you barely notice them in most of the movie. Snyder doesn’t know how to give anything emotional weight, even when Hans is right there handing it to him on a silver platter.

We'll always have this.

 

[Dave McFly]

everything about that scene was epic and awesome

 

[donuts]

I feel like we got so many awesome scenes of Superman in action , saving people and using his powers.

I'm in triangle era seventh heaven lol

 

[Dave McFly]

after seeing it a second time the music is growing on me I still like the way they use the Williams themes from the action to the emotional stuff. I agree with others the music John Ottman did for Returns is FAR better for using not only the classic Superman themes but making all new music like a new love theme, and a new Lex Luthor theme.

 

[Superark]

I think this film could have benefited from a huge rescue scene ( unrelated to what Lex was doing ) with the score blaring. Just Superman being Superman.
Maybe show him stopping a run away train, or saving a sinking cruise ship.

Superman just performing random heroics is something I'm a sucker for. While I loved Superman, I would have killed to see that train sequence.

It was one of my few gripes with Superman Returns. When he's performing Superman heroics and saving people, we see it as random news footage in the background. They filmed those scenes (store robbery, house fire, Eiffel Tower fall), why not let us see them in all their glory?

 

[Lily Adler]

I just find it weird no one picked up on John Murphy's score being replaced by someone else.

 

[Gamma Goliath]

They did confirm a few weeks ago the original score didn't fit the tone. Plus the music from all of trailers after the first sounded like an evolved version of what we heard. It's not like we really got to hear any more of his score than the tease, so we'd be none the wiser. But plenty of folks pointed out that they added another composer. I just wish we'd gotten to hear the original score, just for the sake of it.

 

[donuts]

I have to say, considering how the final score didn't get made under the best circumstances (it's pretty much patchwork) , I REALLY enjoy it a lot and find myself going to back to it quite often.

Both John Murphy and David Fleming have produced some banger tracks and the score as a whole is as fun as the movie and reaches some impressive emotional heights. And even when it risks going into a more generic direction, there's usually something "left field" thrown in there to shake things up.

I wouldn't mind Murphy and Fleming actually collaborating on the next movie.

 

[Superark]

I am curious what is considered to be the main Superman theme in this movie.

Was it theme in Last Son when he is flying away from the Fortress? The Williams theme? Or is it the Williams mashup in Look Up?

I think the Gunn could have done a better job defining what was intended to be the Superman theme. Various themes were sprinkled throughout in small doses but we never truly got a scene that had a long extension of the hero theme or an opening credit that clearly stated "this is your Superman theme."

I thought the score we heard in trailers was going to be the new theme, but that was clearly reworked when Fleming was brought onboard. Although it was used briefly during the flag raising scene.

 

[donuts]

Does it NEED to be clearly and narrowly defined? I don't think so.

 

[Chris B]

I am curious what is considered to be the main Superman theme in this movie.

Was it theme in Last Son when he is flying away from the Fortress? The Williams theme? Or is it the Williams mashup in Look Up?

I think the Gunn could have done a better job defining what was intended to be the Superman theme. Various themes were sprinkled throughout in small doses but we never truly got a scene that had a long extension of the hero theme or an opening credit that clearly stated "this is your Superman theme."

I thought the score we heard in trailers was going to be the new theme, but that was clearly reworked when Fleming was brought onboard. Although it was used briefly during the flag raising scene.

I am disappointed the music from the teaser last December wasn't used. That was the best part from that for me.

 

[Stringer]

I am curious what is considered to be the main Superman theme in this movie.

Was it theme in Last Son when he is flying away from the Fortress? The Williams theme? Or is it the Williams mashup in Look Up?

I think the Gunn could have done a better job defining what was intended to be the Superman theme. Various themes were sprinkled throughout in small doses but we never truly got a scene that had a long extension of the hero theme or an opening credit that clearly stated "this is your Superman theme."

I thought the score we heard in trailers was going to be the new theme, but that was clearly reworked when Fleming was brought onboard. Although it was used briefly during the flag raising scene.

Given the points they're used in the movie I feel like "Last Son" and "Look Up" represent the theme Gunn was going for with his Superman.

 

[donuts]

I am disappointed the music from the teaser last December wasn't used. That was the best part from that for me.

Isn't an adapted version of the tune used during the war scene towards the end?

 

[Chris B]

"Raising The Flag"? You're right. It being used as the movie's main theme may have been the better way for me to articulate my previous post.

 

[donuts]

"Raising The Flag"? You're right. It being used as the movie's main theme may have been the better way for me to articulate my previous post.

Yup. That's the one.