Customer Reviews

John Barry Moviola II: Action And Adventure (Film Score Re-recording Compilation)

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

 

 

John Barry composes music that is rich, moving, often breathtakingly beautiful, and usually quite memorable. Moviola and Moviola II are compilations that at the very least showcase Barry's big-screen talent and introduce the neophyte fan to more than just the obvious "hits" (or maybe highlights is a better word) from his lengthy film catalog. I have been a big fan of John Barry for a long time. Out of Africa, Chaplin, Body Heat were highlights from Moviola taken from movie soundtracks that I love. I was thrilled when Moviola II was released because Moviola always left me longing for more--and I knew there was plenty more. My favorite John Barry soundtrack dates back to my vinyl days--King Kong. To this day I still have the LP but search the Web often in hope that someday this title will be issued on CD. I was thrilled to discover that at least a small piece of the wonderful and overlooked King Kong Soundtrack was included on Moviola II. I still anticipate someday that Moviola III will be compiled and released, and can only guess or fantasize what might be included. I highly recommend this CD as a companion to the first Moviola. The Dances with Wolves Suite is as stirring as ever, never failing to take me back to the strong emotional setting of the film. The James Bond Suite is interesting in that these themes are somewhat more lush and mellow than the original movie soundtrack versions in order to tie into the moody, evocative thread that runs through Barry's later work. It works beautifully here.

If you are an avid John Barry fan, this is definitely for your collection. It is just as great as Moviola I. It is a very unique compilation that includes suites from James Bond and Dances With Wolves among other fine compositions. If you love Dances With Wolves like I do, it includes all the beautiful, emotionally-charged scores that define the essence of the movie. "King Kong", "Zulu" and "The Specialist" are quite nice, but it is "Until September" that is unbelieveably smooth & sensual. I find myself listening to this gem over & over. It is quite amazing how Mr. Barry can put a few notes together and end up stirring one's emotions. A truly talented composer.

The main attraction of this CD, no doubt, especially to JamesBond fans, is the James Bond suite that opens this CD...withre-interpretations of the themes from various Bond films that Barry scored. As much as I like Barry's music, some portions of the Bond suite seem to lack something which made the originals so great. For example, Goldfinger sounded goofy, with the original famous three note opening split into four. Thunderball is servicable, but lack the ethereal underwater quality of the insturmental version on the original soundtrack. You Only Live Twice lacked the lush, romantic, and even nostalgic feel of the original. The two standout from the suite are Diamonds Are Forever and All Time High...even then, it is not saying much. After the Bond suite, are the themes for other movies. Now I haven't heard the original soundtracks to these movies, so my impressions of these re-recording will not so critical and predjucicial as oppose to the Bond suite. Until September tell us once again why John Barry is the best in his field. IT is becoming one of my favorite Barry compositions. It is beautiful and romantic and could have been easily inserted into a Bond film without anyone noticing (incidentally, a piece of music from Until Septmber was used in A View To A Kill, during the Eiffel Tower's opening scene). The rest of the CD is typical Barry, which means, this man can't write a piece of bad music, even if he tried. If it wasn't for the Bond suite, I would have rated this CD higher. And for you Bond fans out there, you might be disappointed if you buy it for the Bond suite alone.

This CD, along with 1992's Moviola I, is an essential collection for fans of classic film scores in general and, specifically, those composed by 5-time Academy Award winner John Barry. The subtitle, "Action and Adventure" may be a bit misleading as Barry's "action" music has never been composed in the style of say a John Williams ("Star Wars", "Raiders of the Lost Ark", etc.). For the scores that Barry created for the James Bond series, for example, he often portrayed danger with brooding, minor-key themes, although there are some moments of excitement as well. Even more upbeat themes such as the instrumentals "007" and "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" are played slower than you may be accustomed to, but it works and makes for a nicely arranged 20-minute suite of nine "Bond" tracks that seamlessly flow from one to the next. (Note: "We Have All the Time in the World", also from "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", is included on the first "Moviola" CD.) This suite makes this disc a must have for "Bond" fans as well.

Another highlight is the 20-minute suite from the Oscar-winning score for "Dances With Wolves". Again danger and adventure are expressed in ominous, minor-key scoring and it works. The music is stunning, very effective in bringing to mind the western vistas filmed so beautifully in the movie, and a major factor in the success of the epic film.

The rest of the disc contains selections from Barry's score to Dino De Laurentiis' 1976 remake "King Kong": the excellent score for this less than excellent film is out of print. Also included is the instantly recognizable main theme from "Zulu", a beautiful cut "Until September" (a film I am unfamiliar with), and two tracks from "The Specialist" (just because the film wasn't great doesn't mean the score wasn't).

Barry arranged all the tracks and conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in beautiful performances. The sound is rich, detailed, and beautifully recorded. Pick up this out-of-print CD from one of Amazon's marketplace sellers while you still can. While you are here, grab the first "Moviala" CD directly from Amazon too. With selections from "Out of Africa", "Body Heat", "Somewhere in Time", "Chaplin", and others, it is a must have, especially at the price.

For you "Bond" lovers who want to hear the themes as presented during the opening credits of each film you need Best Of Bond... James Bond, The (CD), but don't pass on this excellent orchestral recording.