Customer Reviews

Midway: Original Motion Picture Score (1998 Re-recording)

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

 

 

The musicians who recorded this CD are skilled. There can be no doubt of that. But this is not the original soundtrack as seen in the motion picture, "MIDWAY", conducted by John Williams. This is, frankly, a "cover" album.

The original score was brash and bold. This recording is timid and weak by comparison. The opening title sequence, among others, is almost unrecognizable here.

I am highly disappointed. I would prefer they followed the original to a "T" or released it instead of this.

John Williams always pleases, that much is true. I was very excited to grab a copy of this sountrack a few months back. Overall, this is a very good reproduction and Robert Townson should be applauded for his direction. However, since I am such a HUGE Williams fan, I know his style quite well (especially for this particular movie) and this soundtrack reproduction *almost* gets it right. The main 'disappointment' for me (although that word is too strong) was the main title cut. Townson slowed it down and it lacks the bass and string "oomph" that the original movie track did. But this isn't the London Symphony's reproduction either, so neither Townson nor the Royal Scottish National Orchestra is to be blamed here. Still, the majority of cuts are done very well and definitely have that Williams' style which Townson does a very good job of bringing out. I just wish the pacing of the individual cuts themselves was a wee bit quicker. Still, highly recommended.

This is not the original soundtrack, it has never been released as it states that in the liner notes. This is performed by Rick Wentworth and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. All that aside,cd sounds clear and music has a nice flow from track to track. The orchestration is nicely done. Cd comes in case with nice artwork and liner notes.

I have waited for a long time to add the "Midway" soundtrack to my collection. I am pleased to see that the "Men of the Yorktown" was included along with the "Midway March." I have always wanted to know why the "Men of the Yorktown" was dropped from the movie and the "Midway March" was added. The sections where the brass builds before the battle scenes is very typical of Williams most noted film scores "Star Wars" for example. Once again this soundtrack proves why John Williams is the "King" of film scoring. I am pleased to see his earlier and not so well know recordings being re-released with the beauty of CD quality. Any John Williams collection would not be complete if the owner does not have "Midway."

Never have I heard such a lively combination that captures all of the moments of the battle

Not only did John Williams have to compete with the noise and fury of the Pacific War in this project but in the original film release the jarring SENSURROUND gimmick was also booming in the theatres. Williams created a series of transitional cues to tie the many battle scenes together. In addition to his great action scoring (fans of "Jaws" will be most interested), there are the two terrific main set pieces at the end of the CD: "The Midway March" and the theme for the "Yorktown." This disc has about 25 minutes of previously unavailable music. This re-recording is faithful to the original.

"~My main reason for purchasing this CD was so that I could hear the "Men of the Yorktown March." The end title, "Midway March" is also quite enjoyable. While I'm glad that Varese Sarabande did a complete re-recording of this score, I really don't care about hearing the 47 second clip "Missing the Flatlands" or the 37 seconds worth of "Ensign Gay Afloat.""~ ears very well at all...

Once again Varese Sarabande Records has given us something to treasure for now and years to come. The long awaited complete score of "Midway", wth additional music is a film score collectors dream. Williams proves he knows what the film needs and gives it his all, with brass building and drums setting the pace for this all out classic extravaganza.

The entire album is thrilling, with two stand outs - MIDWAY MARCH and MEN OF THE YORKTOWN MARCH this is Williams at his finest hour. A standing ovation for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Rick Wentworth, capturing the mood and moment of this truly awesome score.

Total Time: 35:46 on 23 Tracks/ Varese Sarabande - VSD 5940 (1998)

I am glad that they decided to release the soundtrack from Midway because it is my second fav war movie and i think that John Williams creates a collection of scores that capture the moments of Drama and action the sound quality is great and is worth checking out. The two best tracks are the Midway march and the Men of the yorktown march. A beautiful cd that will be a fav of mine for a long time to come.

This album, it turns out, was merely a practice session for the film's main title, "Midway." The finest performance of that piece followed a few years later when the Fightin Texas Aggie Band added the tune to its martial repertoire, blasting "Midway" forth in an unforgetful fashion during Kyle Field halftime performances. Ensign George Gay, sole survivor of Torpron 18, was himself a Fightin Texas Aggie, thus the song's inclusion in his alma mater's musical catalogue is eminently appropriate.