John Murphy/The Score & Composer Thread

[titansupes]

if he does what John Ottman did for "Returns" where he also used WIlliams stuff but added his own take to it like when Superman saved the shuttle and jet.

Ottman's original material in that soundtrack is so underrated.

 

[Dave McFly]

Ottman's original material in that soundtrack is so underrated.

Specially the theme he did for Lex Luthor.

 

[Superark]

I love Ottoman's score so much. He Incorporated William's score masterfully and contains some truly beautiful original moments in that score.

I think his flight with Lois and Superman recharging in the sun are absolutely gorgeous and some of the best Superman music we've gotten on film.

 

[Sawyer]

Honestly maybe the most Superman-y piece of music that ever came out of a film that has nothing to do with Superman:



Give me these vibes, please, Murphy.

 

[Sawyer]

 

[Gu3ree]

Having listened to a new clip from the score at the Manila premiere, I'm not sure I'm loving the soundtrack. I get trying to rewrite or give it a metal or electric guitar sound to the original John Williams' theme, but I don't feel the full theme in the new score.

 

[TheScarecrow]

Gunn has confirmed there’s no music in the movie other than the score.

 

[Gamma Goliath]

Gunn has confirmed there’s no music in the movie other than the score.

In the latest DC podcast he did say there are other songs but its primarily the score. If I remember correctly.

 

[Nemeres]

In the latest DC podcast he did say there are other songs but its primarily the score. If I remember correctly.

I hope so. One directorial asset of Gunn's that's a 10/10 is soundtrack selection. Even if it's just 1 or 2 songs, I'd welcome that skill here too.

 

[Gamma Goliath]

I hope so. One directorial asset of Gunn's that's a 10/10 is soundtrack selection. Even if it's just 1 or 2 songs, I'd welcome that skill here too.

I'm certain he said there's some songs in it.

 

[donuts]

He did. A couple of songs. Mostly score.

 

[J.Drangal]

I wasn't particularly familiar with John Murphy's work outside of the 28 Days Later theme and his Addagio, but I've just realized that I actually have several of his tunes suggested to me by Spotify, and therefore close to other things I listen to. I've also just rediscovered the 28 Weeks Later soundtrack, which is very atmospheric and aerial and which was actualy in my listening loop for a while, back in 2008. I really love this kind of stuff.
I'm less familiar with his work with Gunn on GOTG - these are films I've only seen once - and I understand that others weren't entouthiastic about his arrival on Superman... But honestly, I think he could have brought something really fresh and new, in the more electronica register.

I say “could” because he obviously went in a completely different direction with a variation on Williams' theme. To each his own, but I'm surprised that so many people hang on to it.
For my part, I feel it less like a tribute than a facility, and re-listening to it, I still can't shake off that “we didn't get the rights to the original theme” feeling.

Perhaps watching the film will put all this into perspective...

 

[Gu3ree]

Can't say I feel the full spirit of the John Williams' original Superman theme. Maybe there will be more in the film. As always, the build-up to the fanfare revealing the S in the opening credits is the greatest bit in the original theme. I don't think it would be bad if we just got a more formal approach to the original theme by John Williams, and a less alternate approach.

Whenever I watch the Superman: The Movie re-release 2001 Special Edition trailer, it gives me the Superman spirit perfectly, particularly because of the John Williams score. With the taglines, "His strength is incredible" and "His name is legendary"...that theme...*chills* (One of the greatest trailers ever made btw)

Thus far, in the trailers and TV spots for Superman 2025 (except I have refrained myself from watching the latest spots) you can hear homages to the John Williams theme, yet it doesn't feel quite complete. For me, when I listen to it, it just builds up but only goes halfway and then you hear a different theme altogether. Personally I'm not a fan of the Top Gun inspiration to the theme. Additionally, I've found various rock or heavy metal covers of the Superman theme on YouTube to actually sound better by comparison.

 

[GreenKToo]

Oh I love it. It screams "Superman" to me.

 

[Elayis]

While I'm not opposed to bringing back the Williams theme or giving it a rock aesthetic, the thing I'm bumping up against is the tempo being slowed down, which makes it sound cheap. There's also a faux epicness to it that just sounds like run of the mill trailer music.

I'll wait and see how it sounds in the movie itself, but there's also the fact that another composer has been brought on for unknown reasons. Usually this happens when test screenings are less than positive, and a new score is one of the only things that can be changed this far into post production. But since Murphy's version of the theme is still being used and his work hasn't been jettisoned whole cloth there's obviously something else going on. Maybe he's unavailable or unwilling to return after changes to the edit. Maybe Gunn or other executives felt a different composer was necessary to punch up certain scenes that Murphy was having difficulty with. It's just odd, especially since he was one of the first hires on the film.

 

[Dave McFly]

I wonder why they are leaving John Williams out of the credits on the posters and stuff at least in Superman Returns it said "superman theme by John Williams" for it.

 

[Lily Adler]

So should we give John Murphy props here when it seems like he's recycling Williams like Ottomon did for SR.

 

[Dave McFly]

yeah I DO like his take on it the using of an electric guitar for the parts of the theme in the trailers is pretty inspired if you ask me

 

[GreenKToo]

I'm gonna guess the opening credits will be an updated version of what donner did, or pages of a comic turning showing what Superman has been up to in the years we didn't see him.
All to the guitar playing the Williams theme.

 

[Elayis]

I think there's a good chance Gunn might use this theme somewhere:

 

[GreenKToo]

I think there's a good chance Gunn might use this theme somewhere:

It's very possible. I think we will see krypton either in flashback or by hologram in the FOS with jor-el narrating krypton's history, With this playing.
It's possible Lex activates the AI and hologram jor-el tells Lex everything again, thinking it's superman.