Customer Reviews

The Indiana Jones Trilogy (Soundtrack)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

There is no need to point out that the magnificent Indy scores by John Williams have become modern classics. Unfortunately, what certain recording studios don't realize in their pursuit of a quick buck, is that Williams's music is *not* an easy popcorn theme that anyone can perform. It's actually quite difficult and requires a skilled, experienced orchestra. The London Symphony Orchestra is up to the task - the Prague Orchestra is not. It's no big mystery among film score conneisseurs that the Prague Orchestra is not among the best ones in any parts of Europe, and that Silva chose them for this recording merely for monetary reasons. It shows immediately. The tracks, performed chronologically and starting with Raiders, suffer from uneven volume, bizarre pitch changes in the choir, and what sounds suspiciously as if some musicians were unable to keep the pace and began falling behind the rest, which resulted in strange sound fluctuations, and the listener's teeth aching. The ToD tracks are once again performed sloppily, with volume changes and tempo problems, especially evident in "Airplane Fight". This continues, and by the time the LC Finale comes, they orchestra sounds bored and sleepy, and so does its performance.

To add to the insult, the sleeve doesn't even use the Indy fonts (except for the freeware SF-Fedora), its choice of illustration is awkward at least, *and* there are no bonus tracks (except for a rehash of the bad ToD song - definitely not what the John Williams listeners want).

I own all releases of the Indy music, including the expanded 2CD versions, and I can say that even if you only own the regular 1CD releases, you should avoid this mediocre effort (I should actually call it "a tacky hacky effort") from Silva and the Prague Orchestra. If you want an introduction to the music of the Indy world, and want to buy only one CD, get the quasi-expanded Raiders instead. An Indy or JW completist will certainly buy this Trilogy anyway, but I predict that, like me, you're not likely to listen to it more than once.

The original soundtrack albums of the three Indiana Jones films have long since embedded themselves as auditory gospel between the ears of fans, which is often the case with really good movie music. Other/later interpretations run the risk of being denounced just for not being precisely the same, which of course they are usually not intended to be. So it is with this collection.

The IJ music here doesn't sound like a photocopy of the soundtracks. Rather it is Indiana Jones as you might hear it live in a concert hall setting. The pace of the pieces is designed for the audience to "taste", not for an on-screen character's actions. Thus this music gets slow and rich when it wants to, adds percussion, brass, etc. when you would enjoy more of it, and generally leaves you with a very satisfying listening-exclusively experience.

These versions of the themes would not have worked as soundtracks as well as Williams' originals, because these are their own "center stage" whereas Williams' are enhancements to screen activity.

My only complaint is that the liner-notes booklet with this CD just provides synopses of the three films, and doesn't discuss how this Prague SO version came to pass. Was it intended as a "concert collection"? Why did the conductor & orchestra make the changes they did? I think that would have been interesting to know.

Anyway, if you have the original soundtracks and are wondering whether to get this CD too, I would say do it. You'll find it a novel, pleasurable, and at times even exciting listening experience.

There is no way one can honestly call this Indiana Jones music with a clear conscience. The chords are off, and some of the songs are even missing NOTES! They slur when they aren't supposed to, they're giving John Williams THE GREAT a bad name! Indiana Jones movies are best ever in the entire world, and this "soundtrack" or "recording" or WHATEVER it's SUPPOSED TO BE, is dragging them through the mud! Horrible.

Come on, Amazon, you list this under "Soundtracks" when it clearly is but a later rerecording of the original score. A rerecordings is not a sountrack! The average customer would think something you list inder "Soundtracks" would in fact be a soundtrack and would find out it actually is but a rerecording of the score only by going over the details of these reviews. It might be great music, but a rerecording is not a soundtrack!

"Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" I believe is one one of John Williams best scores. Unfortunately, it has been out of print for some time. This album contains excerpts from all three of the Indiana Jones films. They are not the original recordings but this is a good effort and actually is quite an enjoyable listen. I have gotten alot of enjoyment from this CD. If you enjoy the compositions of John Williams or are a fan of Indiana Jones as I am , I would recommend this very much.

I used this for a student film I made based on Indiana Jones, and the music sounds like the real thing!

Good seller....item shipped just as described...not sure why it took a week to ship after paying with credit card though...

This soundtrack was a good try because this is not the London Symphony Orchestra with John Williams conducting.
They have a little to much energy on the Raiders March (if you own the original soundtrack you'll know what I mean)
Still not bad.

Since there is no album from John Williams himself who brings these great soundtracks of these 3 fantastic movies together, you may say that one is well done!
OK, it's not the Boston Pops Orchestra or the London Symphonic Orchestra, and OK, it's not the master himself who is conducting.
But Nic Raine and the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra do it very well! They have kept the spirit of the director and the soundtrack-composer. One little detail: the brass-section overdoes sometimes the rest of the instruments...
Conclusion: a must have CD, and the price is OK!
GSX

If you are a big fan of Spielberg, Lucas, John Williams or Nic Raine with The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and chorus, then my friends of "The Indiana Jones Trilogy", you've come to the right place. Get ready for action, adventure and an all around good time as we visit Doctor Indiana Jones and the film scores he has left behind.

Nic Raine has total understanding of the action cues with the thrilling counter-love-themes blending in whenever and wherever needed. John Williams is widely known for all of his film scores, this one has to rank among his best. From the memorable main theme "THE RAIDERS MARCH", to the touching "MARION'S THEME" filled with the tender meeting between Indy and Marion that will linger in our minds forever.

Spielberg and Williams collaboration is always faithful to the storytelling, thus we have the 1984 "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom", opening with a classic Cole Porter tune of "ANYTHING GOES", with a fine vocal interpretation from Helen Hobson. And who can forget the "MINE CAR CHASE", with the brass sections blaring as the percussion answers the beckon call. Let's listen to the arrangement of "FINALE & END CREDITS", from Temple of Doom The City of Prague arises to the occasion. This is where the "new digital surround sound" from Silva demonstrates quality film music from your own personal music system.

Outstanding performance in the opening "INDY'S FIRST ADVENTURE", from "The Last Crusade" gives the musicians a work out, that they must thoroughly enjoy. From this suite we hear the clarity of "FINALE & END CREDITS", over eleven minutes of of incredibly addictive film scoring---some powerhouse brass explodes from your speakers, spilling all over the room. Thus we hear action scoring at it's finest hour. Exiciting action cues with bouncy woodwinds and bold brass fanfares abound.

This album contains some of the best of selections of the series. It may not be as complete as we would have it, but this my "film-score-buffs", is the ultimate in the life and times of our hero ~ INDIANA JONES. As Silva Screen stays true to the spirit of all the fans of the cinema and the music that makes us laugh and cry, gotta love it!

Total Time: 43:03 on 16 Tracks ~ Silva America (FILMCD 365) ~ (2003)