Superman Returns Ya know... John Ottman has gone ignored but damn his score for SR grew on me

[\S/JcDc\S/]

Watching it again last night on DVD. WOW, I never really paid attention to just how good of a job John did on the score.

http://www.johnottman.com/projects/features/supermanreturns/



Also where he does use Williams theme, he builds to it brilliantly. For example the build he executed on this scene with the music is just great.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPih6ptqNl4&mode=related&search=

Different build for a different mood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRDZxSTlZ1c&mode=related&search=

NICE

 

[batman44]

I agree, John did a wonderful job. One my favorites pieces from the film was the moment when Clark is watching Lois going up in the elevator, the music in the scene was beautiful and really grabbed me. If I have one small gripe it would be his slight revision of "Can you read my mind".

 

[bgshw44]

i loved the score except for that awful music cue for the first shirt rip

 

[daywalker2007]

it was ok, but nothing special

it was no where near as good as john williams work or even Ken Thorne's on part 3.

Find a piece of score from Returns that matches the epic score in Part 3's superman junkyard battle.

it just sounded bland and generic at most times.

I wanted to hear something amazing, like in the Donner cut superman 2 scene where Clark receives his powers back

there was nothing like that in superman returns

and the "can you read my mind" score was done awfully by john ottmann, reducing it to a standstill, unlike John Williams original.

ottmans plane rescue theme was awful, so bland and generic.

We want memorable scores, even someone like Craig Safan who made one of the best non williams scores of the 80s (The last starfighter) would have done a better job

 

[bosef982]

it was ok, but nothing special

it was no where near as good as john williams work or even Ken Thorne's on part 3.

Find a piece of score from Returns that matches the epic score in Part 3's superman junkyard battle.

it just sounded bland and generic at most times.

I wanted to hear something amazing, like in the Donner cut superman 2 scene where Clark receives his powers back

there was nothing like that in superman returns

and the "can you read my mind" score was done awfully by john ottmann, reducing it to a standstill, unlike John Williams original.

ottmans plane rescue theme was awful, so bland and generic.

We want memorable scores, even someone like Craig Safan who made one of the best non williams scores of the 80s (The last starfighter) would have done a better job

You are a textbook example of a hater. And you really can't prove any of what you said. It's all a lot of hyperbole. I'm wondering, what is your background in music?

"Rough Flight" is amazing and a great mix of emotion, theme, class, and action in its music. Many, many respected musicans have noted this score as being quite beautiful and well-done.


I'd have to say my favorite portion of Ottman's score is when he takes Lois up, and their rising, and then the music diesk. and then the piano comes in as he asks her what she hears...that music is amazing and it follows all the way through as they fly over the water and see her home.

So Long Superman, played as he's getting beaten, is also a great piece of music.

 

[Catman]

I agree that Ottman did a good job. Even though Ottman is a Danny Elfman-wannabe he's still a really good composer.

 

[Prognosticator]

It's true, the music and the effects propped the movie up for me.

And Catman, where have you been this week?!?

 

[Catman]

And Catman, where have you been this week?!?

 

[Prognosticator]

...I don't know, I just don't remember seeing you in as many forums.

 

[Mister J]

I really enjoyed Ottman's score. There was a good mix between homages/improvisations to the Williams' material (not just the main theme, but also The Planet Krypton, The Fortress of Solitude, The Big Rescue and others) as well as an inclusion of original stuff. It's a nice complement to the original score, as a number of subtleties come to light when you compare both works.

The Daily Planet, Superman Returns (during the applause after the plane rescue), Who to Save and Out to Sea/Not Like the Train Set are all favorites.

 

[dark_b]

i can not belive that this is the same guy who made the score for F4.

i really like hes msic. it has this energy. i like rought flight and saving the world the best.

 

[Catman]

i can not belive that this is the same guy who made the score for F4.

He also did The Usual Suspects and X2: X-Men United

 

[Crooklyn]

He did pretty good, but I think there were way too many moments where they played the Superman theme.

Wonder what Williams would've done, shame he declined scoring the film for a somewhat shallow reason.

 

[El Payaso]

Thew score is simply wonderful.

 

[PSU442]

it is a really good score.... i didn't think he had it in him. The new Superman/Kal-el theme is incredible.... my only complaint is that he never used the slow version of the superman theme nor used it fully in the movie (like when Supes chases the missles in STM.)

 

[dude stannis]

He did pretty good, but I think there were way too many moments where they played the Superman theme.

Wonder what Williams would've done, shame he declined scoring the film for a somewhat shallow reason.

I always throught Singer went with Ottman right off the bat. Why did Williams say no?

 

[Super Kal]

eh, it was... okay... I still prefer JW's original score and Ken Thorne's Superman II score much more.

 

[dark_b]

i liked very much ottmans score but like others here i would really like to know what would williams do. the musicin revenge of the sith was perfect.

 

[Super Kal]

I feel he really overused the choir feel to it... using a choir is okay, but not for the entire movie.

 

[dark_b]

I feel he really overused the choir feel to it... using a choir is okay, but not for the entire movie.

i wanted the whole main theme to be with choir t:

 

[Super Kal]

no thanks... that would be just awful.

 

[Pickle-El]

The soundtrack is one of the things that distinguishes the movie from the 'less hokey' comic book films....keeps with the overall serious theme Singer was going for. I agree with Jc, there are some amazing pieces in the soundtrack. I personally love the use of choirs. That flight was Lois was a great example of this.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

The score for SR was simply brilliant, one of THE best CB movie scores IMO. Not just for the Williams parts either, Ottman's original work in brilliant as well.

Flying away from Lois' house, floating in space, flying over Metropolis with Lois (specifically the "what do you hear?" and flying past Lois' house scene's), the beating scene on NK, the leaving the plane scene to re-charge in the sun (my favourite scene altogether probably), the lifting of NK and the subsequent fall from space and Lois leaving the hospital are all fantastic IMO.

 

[bunk]

I personally like all 58 tracks. Obviously the JW stuff is classic but I thought Ottman added solid material, some of it just as good in a more subtle way.

 

[fabman]

John Ottman did indeed a very good job on 'Superman Returns.' But he really didn't impress me with his 'X2' score which I thought was minimalistic and didn't really have much of an important part in the film.