Cool News
And The Composer For HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX Is...Who??
The casting of Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange in HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX is, expectedly, getting a lot of play across the Net.
Interestingly, the same press release that announced her casting yesterday also confirmed the film's composer - the same composer which this site rumored back in April. What's noteworthy here is that most of us probably haven't heard of him....
His name is Nicholas Hooper. He's an accomplished composer from Britain who has a long association with PHOENIX director David Yates. His filmography is both extensive and award winning, although this represents his first foray into large-scale, mainstream production.
You can learn more about Hooper HERE. I checked amazon UK, where I found one Hooper soundtrack listed...LAND OF THE TIGER. Multiple sample clips of his work an be heard there, it's melodic, rich, and ecclectic. You can jump to that listing HERE.
I know Patrick Doyle's score for HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE wasn't a fan fave, but I rather liked Doyle's work in that film and thought his general approach to the music was dead on. I'm really curious to see how this new guy shakes out...
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Hell yeah!
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I like the fact that each director has taken a different approach to the films - Columbus took a more literal approach, Cuaron actually told a proper story and Newell nailed the adolescence of the characters (and it was the funniest of the four), so Yates bringing in his own collaboraters to help with his version of the Potter universe is by means not a bad thing...for a film series this long, nothing wrong with a fresh approach rather than hiring Williams again.
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First of all, even if Doyle DID do a good job scoring 'GoF' -- which, for the most part, I don't think he did -- I would prefer to see Williams build onto and add themes that he already created in the first three movies ("Hedwig's Theme," "Double Trouble," "A Window to the Past," etc.) than have these directors keep hiring long-time collaborators because they're more comfortable with them. I mean, I can understand it, but I personally would prefer Williams to compose the series. And Doyle's work was good in some parts of 'Goblet,' but in others he really dropped the ball, in my opinion -- like with the atrocious Durmstrang/Viktor Krum theme that was used TWICE, and with the blaring, cacophonous trumpets that played over Cedric's death. Then again, I was probably predisposed to not like him simply because I missed Williams' presence. I have no doubt that Nicholas Hooper is a talented and competent composer, just as Patrick Doyle was, but they're not the people I'd like to see in charge of the Harry Potter scores.
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He sounds like zimmer with more brass. And while that might have suited the film, which was just as unlovingly pieced together out of scenes from the book, that is NOT what the franchise deserves. I really have high hopes for this one, which I personally thought to be the best book, and I really miss Williams' quirkiness. Hopefully the new guy can deliver that. Also, it would be nice to at least get Williamks back for the final film.
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...once Columbus left. The first film looked dated and ho-hum when it was released. Once they got Cuaron things improved.
www.Alternative007.co.uk -
did little but beat you over the head with a few themes over and over and over. And over. In every scene. I actually preferred the music in Goblet of Fire to that in the first two, but I think Cuaron had it best, keeping the familiar themes without beating you senseless with them.
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in a theater.
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Will someone please make this series interesting? I mean besides all the cool background special effects and stuff. That's all good. But man alive is this boring sci fi.
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actors seem to have no direction, and the plotline is chaotic and rushed. Gambon acts like a lunatic hippy on crack. The third film was the best by far. I just hope this fifth one doesn't suck to terribly, but it probably will...
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I'm not a fan of Harry Potter. saw the first movie and I think its the only film ive ever fallen asleep too when at the cinema.
www.obsessedwithfilm.com -
Helena Bonham Carter is going to rock your socks off with her evil.
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At least Ottman knows how to incorporate John Williams' work into his own compositions. His SUPERMAN RETURNS score was easily the best Superman film score since Williams' original.
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...which admittedly isn't saying much. But I like ottman; he has the kind of playfulness that suits the series.
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LOL! ScoreKeeper is around...he's always around. He's totally fine; he's simply been a bit been preoccupied for the last several weeks. Good kind of things. He'll be back.
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Damn, I wonder what kinds of movies you've seen in a lifetime! The last time I fell asleep at a theatre was June 28, 2006...
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Nice blog...I actually like the title "Live Free or Die Hard" but time (and TBers) will tell ^_^
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I almost dozed off during the middle of Miami Vice as well. Farrell was so damned boring.
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but dear God, someone slap Shyamalan and make him stop advertising for the rights to book 7. TOO SOON.
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So you fell asleep during Supes? heh.
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Damn Mike Newell for wasting Miranda Richardson as Rita Skeeter! Richardson would have been delightfully evil as Bellatrix. Bonham-Carter will merely be a petulant brat, as always. As for the score, as long as it's not Hans Zimmer, there's a chance I won't vomit upon hearing it.
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The fuck are you babbling about? Oh and for a minute I thought Warner Bros. was going to have some balls and bring in Danny Elfman, but silly me.
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I may as well have said July...same snooze, different month ^_^
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Still wish Kate Winslett would have been cast as Tonks.
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I would like to state that I was the original robo-god. That is all.
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While the books aren't the greatest literature around, I'm curious as to how the movies are going to resolve all the details being left out that have a bearing on later books (assuming those bits aren't re-inserted on DvD as was done with the LOTR discs). For example, the GOF tale was supposed to have Harry winning a cash prize that the Weasley twins use to found a joke shop, and so on.
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the most powerful. He beat down Ice-Vision Monarch on the Venture Bros. What has RoboGanesh ever done?
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and i'm usually a big fan of Doyle's stuff: Henry V, Great Expectations, Carlito's Way, Sense and Sensibility, Donnie Brasco. fo sho, Williams's score for Prisoner of Azkaban was a hard act to follow but it's still hard to understand why Doyle's score sucked so very badly. at least pray that Hooper can't do any worse...
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The twins getting the money for the jokeshop can easily be taken care of with a throwaway line in the next movie...
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The man gave 3 full scores for 3 full feature films over 3 films. The man is the kind of talent who likes to work on varied projects. Personally, I hope the new score makes only seldom references to Williams theme. Not that I have any issues, but I'm sick of hollywood forcing composers to 'be' John Williams while he's unavailable. Kudo's to John Ottman with Superman Returns, btw.
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And The Composer For HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX Is...WHO GIVES A SHIT!!
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John Williams had help with "Chamber of Secrets." Somebody named William Ross largely scored that movie using Williams themes. Then Williams was back on the clock full-time for "Prisoner of Azkaban," which I happen to believe is one of the man's best scores in years.
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I'm sure y'all are thinking of the Bruckheimer scores (altho I'll admit to digging The Rock and King Arthur, yeah they all sound about the same) but have u heard his beautiful Thin Red Line score? i'll honestly use the cliched word "haunting" to describe it. also his Ring is very effective, and who the hell doesn't love Gladiator?
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http://tinyurl.com/nd432
http://tinyurl.com/f84zx
I thought this was old news, but eh. It seems I must appease the techno-deities. -
Harry Potter films are boring as bat shit!
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I fully agree about Williams score for the third. It was like all the best work he'd written for star wars, Angeles ashes (you know, the fantasy and the serious) all rolled into a really bold version which I've not heard the man deliver before. Plus he absolutely nailed the 'tune' for the time travel. Clicking clocks and reversed strings. Genius!
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is that they move as fast as converbelt machine in factory. SO first of all they are stripped off any long pieces. they are dumped. In fairness to the casting people they have got all the potter casts 100% right. I have just finished reading Book 6. All I will say is that the Character whose initials are SS becomes hugely important as it explains why SS hates Harry potter SO much. In book 4 Snapes Odiousness in the clasroom was obvious. yet in the movie rickman got two scenes. SS becomes a hugely important character and he is the dominant figure in Book, so there will hell to pay if Ricksmans Scenes are watered down or thrown out. Which I fear they maybe, I blame Steve Kloves. I am going to kicked for saying this but I think Jackson should have been offered to direct at least potter film and bring on board his wife and Phillipa Boyens. They at least would have adpted the books properly unlike kloves who is a WB tool. The reason i hated the first two movies was the all star cast kept wizzing buy. Another Dominat character in book 5 Mrs Weasly yet all walters, who is a fine actress, did was say her lines and disappear and you never saw her again untill the next movie. I sincerely Hope that WB give Yates a chance and that we the audience get a very well acted movie. And not something that is dumbed down for the audience. His cast seems good. I welcome HBC. But i fear that she will be down-potterised. I have the same worry regarding Imelda Staunton, another Fine actress, Dolores umbridge dominates Book 5.
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That's the problem. Very few composers these days create memorable scores. Only Williams and a hand full of others do. Williams dropped the ball on, 'War of the Worlds', though. Pretending to be a modern composer and writing a score. That's both barely heard in the movie and just plain forgetable. Williams 'Azkaban' score on the other hand was amazing. It's my fav HP movie. It stands out from the other HP films, like the way it fads to black when it cuts to a new scene. No other HP movie does that. But mostly I love the story and the score. Anyway, times sure have changed, not only in movies, but video games as well. The score used to be so important, now we're in an age of forgetable scores. What happened to those whimsical scores of the 70's and 80s? The magic is gone. For me the score is 70% of the movie. A good score can move you. Can make you happy or sad or give the film a classic tone. A good example of how a film is changed or just plain ruined by removing the score is 'The Outsiders' SE DVD. Most of the score replaced by rock n' roll tunes. The film takes on a bland feeling. Granted it's not the best film ever, but the original score made the film seem haunting and moving. You remember it and it envokes a classic feeling, like a movie from the 30's or 40's. It's all about the score people! It can make or break a film.
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I don't think they got the cast right in a lot of different places. First of all, Gambon is a horrible Dumbledore, Krum was not like his character was described, Gleeson's Mad-Eye-Moody was played way too crazy/chaotic. I agree that they do not use the talented cast to their ability. Rickman is amazing and is glossed over. The Weasly twins could be amazing if they were used. They left so many plot lines out and they are fairly important to book 5. Especially the HUGE fact that the ministry is now again Dumbledore, the whole reason they introduce Umbridge.
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In the next film someone mentions the ministry is now again Dumbledore. problem solved. Introduce Umbridge.
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I'm the new school bitch! Vanquishing all old guards. I'm the reality at Comic Toast! So Kiss It!
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or what?
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then you'd have something worth that five dollar matinee ticket.
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There is way too much content in the books to be turned into a well made, cohesive movie series. It might have done well as an animated television series, or just not at all. The books aren't even all written yet, for crying out loud!
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having said that, I agree with the above poster that John Williams' score really overwhelmed the first HP and just hit you over the head. But it dropped the ball when it should have really been an emotional moment with the 1st mirror of Erised scene (though the score was only partially to blame). The one exception is that distinctive glockenspiel (?) sound that I now associate with the Potter films. That sound is right on as far as invoking magic and childhood delight. I have high hopes for Order of the Phoenix, because I absolutely loved Yates' HBO movie, The Girl in the Cafe, with Bill Nighy and Kelly Macdonald: it had really nicely shot dialogue scenes, lighting, and composition, and included an amazing use of a Sigur Ros song. In fact, they should do a whole Harry Potter soundtrack. They'd be perfect. Check out Glosoli on the Children of Men trailer.
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I though Gleeson was perfect as Mad-Eye because he WAS so crazy, and remember we never see the real Mad-Eye until the end of that movie, so Gleeson was playing Barty Jr. that whole time. I bet we'll see something toned down in Part 5. As for Gambon, he doesn't have that twinkly quality that Richard Harris had, but his is a Dumbledore that I could see kicking some serious ass in the next two movies. If his throwdown with Voldemort in OotP isn't one for the ages, I'll be disappointed.
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Dumbledore commanded authority, not by yelling and shaking students, but with a quiet power. He knew his stuff, so he was always calm because he knew he could deal with anything. Gambon as Dumbledore had to shout to gain attention, and seemed frightened at times. There is no calming quality with Gambon. Gambon has no idea who Dumbledore is, he even said in an interview that he has never read a book and just plays Dumbledore as himself. He has no clue as to what his character should be. But I guess that is not entirely his fault, I mean, it is the director's fault for not correcting him. Or at least telling him that he sucks and to just calm the hell down.
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...to say HBC as Bellatrix. When I was reading the books I just imagined her in the role....
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the whole thing from beginning to end was boring..score, directing, acting (good call on Gambon overacting...wasn't O'Toole rumored to take that before Gambon, now that would have been interesting)...I wish they would have given Curoen whatever he wanted to finish the series, he took (my personal fav but can be argued) the weakest book and turned it into the best movie. I will say again and again and again that Joe Johnston is the best director for HP movies (or Narnia though Adamson surprised me to no end). He's got Spielberg sensiablities (being mentored by him) has worked with young actors to great performances (Oct. Sky) and can work with sfx (JP3). Get rid of these made for tv british directors (GoF's got his start that way, and OotP same) and bring in Johnston
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Azkaban took a moment now and then to appreciate the magic of the Harry Potter world, while Goblet just feverishly struggled to move from plot point to plot point. Granted, Goblet was a huge book, but its movie gave me whiplash. Very little style to it. Bring back Cuaron, and John Williams, for Half-Blood Prince.
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I always thought that score seemed kind of out of place. Sounds good on it's own, but in the film itself, it always seemed a bit too modern.
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All these celebs have been coming to Tom Cruises aid; Jada Pinkett Smith, King of Queens Wife, Penelope Curz, The Travoltas...it's just plain creepy!
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Parts of Goblet of Fire were EXCELLENT, with Brendan Gleeson being beyond right for Moody, and Dan Radcliffe's acting improving with each flick, not to mention the CG which was flawless. However, the length of the Goblet book made the movie feel rushed, even though they cut out most of the extraneous material. Prisoner had the best direction, music and overall performances of the series so far. Gambon was much better in Prisoner. He felt like Dumbledore then. He needs to be that Dumbledore again in Order of the Phoenix. Sadly, the only person that was PERFECT for Dumbledore already played Gandalf, so they were never going to ask him and it's unlikely that he would have taken the role.
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I'm in agreement that PoA, though perhaps the loosest adaptation of the books, is the best film, because Cuaron actually made the movie be ABOUT something, as opposed to just filming beats from the book with no real substance or art to it (like the other films). You know, themes and stuff? Anyway, I also agree that Gambon is a lesser Dumbledore. However (and this may be a fan wank), I think it interesting that Dumbledore becomes less calm and secure and strong as Harry gets older. When Harry's a little boy of 11, Dumbledore is a protective kindly grandfather figure, but as he gets older, this authority figure that can do no wrong suddenly has flaws. And if you've read OftP - SPOILER, this would lead to the (almost) disturbing scene of Harry flipping his shit and trashing Dumbledore's office and really letting the old guy have it (verbally, that is). I really hope they pull off that scene without Harry being too whiny and angsty, but to show the real frustration and anger that he's built up over the years.
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Sure, it was better than 1 and 2, but leagues behind Potter 3 as a watchable film.
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No seriously. Why no news on Beowulf, I heard it was at Comic Con. Feed us!
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The Harry Potter series of films have been masterfully done. Sure, I could gripe and complain about favorite scenes being left out or altered... some going so far as to see illogical. (But honestly, has a book ever been perfectly translated to film? No. And never will, either.) But, especially as far as music goes, the flow has been perfect. I still get goosebumps at the opening to Goblet of Fire... with the oh-so-familiar theme taking a clearly darker tone. Goblet of Fire is, by far, the best in the series by far - in terms of drama. (But, sadly, the least loyal to the novel.) In terms of character development, of course, you can never beat an original. So, in that sense, Sorcerer's Stone is the best. In terms of film style and technique, editing and raw acting talent, I'd say Prisoner of Azkaban is best. Overall, the series is rockin and each film leaves me equally impatient for the next.
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I agree... something need be done about him. He just isn't Dumbledore. I still hear Richard Harris's voice when I read the books. He played him in a sort of Merlin-ish way. Gambon is just simply not finding the character. (If he's even looking.) Ever notice how, on IMDb.com, Richard Harris is the first name in the credits? For Gambon, you have to click (more) to see his name and he's halfway down the list! For cryin' out loud, this is DUMBLEDORE we're talkin about. Dumbledore! Not Food Trolley Lady! (Whose name, incidentally, is even higher in the credits list than Gambon's!) That should be a sign. I hope to see a dramatic turn in his acting in the next film.
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http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/893/hawkmenrulexu3.jpg
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What kind of fee does John Williams get to score a film? I always wondered how much the top composers charged.
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about three fiddy.
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$350,000? That sounds like a bargain for what he brings to a film.
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no, i meant that's how much he charges: three dollar and fiddy cents. p.s. has anyone else noticed that the composer of star wars is about eight stories tall and is a crustacean from the plethazoic era?
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Why have a hamburger when you can have a steak? Count me amoung those who loved Goblet BECAUSE of the fast pace... Lacking that is what nearly killed 1 & 2, and three didn't have enough meat to warrant it.
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As a movie score nerd, it's great to see this kind of article on AICN. Naysayers be nayed.
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rented it for a second look; couldn't finish; SO DULL. The grimy palette actually makes it look like there's something wrong with your TV screen; and the pacing is simultaneleously frenetic and elephantine. The whole thing is suffused with a feeling of 'Oh let's get this over with." The whole sequence with the time-turner in PoA still ranks as the directorial high water mark for the Potter films. And the dimentors and that withering, icy foxglove flower shot was the single greatest image in the series.
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They've left him out of the movies too much. I've said this from the beinning when his entire motivation in the story (helping Harry because he supposedly owed Harry's father one for saving his life) was left out, and when it wasn't addressed in the third movie (when Snape tells it he way HE saw things) either. I think they've made shit choices about what info to leave out as regards Harry's elders in these movies--probably because they think the audience isn't so interested in these associations and only want visual "cinematic" concepts and scenes. To me, the books are still better than the movie. Oh yeah, and the music for PoA was the best in the series, I particularly loved the theme for...I guess it was for Harry's Patronus (hey, the meaning of which was left out of that movie since we never bothered mentioning that Harry's dad could turn into a stag). The music in the last movie was utterly forgettable, a real disappointment, but I guess that's to be expected when you follow one of John Williams's best scores. I hope this next score is better. In general I don't think white noise scores are better than ones that call attention to themselves ( there are always exceptions). I think fantasy benefits too much from having strong magical themes to just throw it away in favor of forgettable filler noise--as certain film snobs want to do.
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I had totally forgotten that in PoA they left out the whole "Moony/Prongs/Padfoot/Wormtail" thing, they just assumed we knew what was going on. That's really been the probably with the HP movies, the directiors assume we know what is going on, which most od, but they just leave things hanging
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