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Danny Elfman on scoring Justice League, Return of His Theme and Williams' Superman
- Thread starter Penguin
- Start date
Inferno313
Banned
MisterHero
Super Member
But my Zimmer/Junkie XL cinematic universe continuity!! ;(
MrRudiMentary
Member
Elfman is completely right. I hate studios insistence on ignoring musical history when they'll still make dozens of visual and lore references to previous works. Nobody complained when the 60s Spider-Man theme was used in any of the Spider-Man movies. Marvel has this problem even worse where they refuse to use the same themes movie to sequel let alone over reboots.
pixelation
Member
Gotta love Elfman's work!
Fancyarcher
Member
I'd take Williams Superman over 99% of the modern "so-called" themes that are featured in blockbusters these days. Most of them are way too RC heavy for my tastes.
Team Filler
Member
This quote of Joss Whedon might be my new favorite thing.
Super hyped about this, really looking forward to hearing Elfman get to play around with the Williams themes.
We're getting John Williams Superman theme and return of Elfman's Bat theme?
If this movie wasn't following MoS and BvS i would be jizzing in my pants right now reading this. I love John Williams Superman theme.
Thanks for posting that. What a fun way to spend 5 minutes.
After Wonder Woman, I'm almost mentally deciding that the DC movie universe starts with that film. Anything before it was an alternate universe fever dream or something.
Sort of like how Deadpool's appearance in Wolverine: Origins is all but ignored these days.
George Oscar Bluth II
Banned
I'm so glad Silvestri is returning for Infinity Wars and Avengers 4.
Discotheque
Banned
It would be really easy to mould the Zimmer and Williams themes together tbh. Since the Zimmer one kind of sounds like it's riffing off the GOAT a bit, and leading up to it.
I love the elfman Batman theme but I don't want to hear that again in this. I'd mark out more if I heard the Nolan Batman theme tbh. But either way I want a new theme composed for batman
I love the elfman Batman theme but I don't want to hear that again in this. I'd mark out more if I heard the Nolan Batman theme tbh. But either way I want a new theme composed for batman
LastGamer84
Member
Superman theme?
Movie possibly redeemed...
Movie possibly redeemed...
Jeffolation
Banned
That's pretty disappointing to hear, haven't been a fan of anything Elfman's really done since The Kingdom? His Spiderman work was just woof.
Fancyarcher
Member
Yeah, at least there's some continuity. Though I know he won't be asked to use any other themes, especially not Elfman's great rendition of The Avengers theme, but maybe will hear his his Captain America theme again, that would be cool.
I haven't really liked Silvestri's work in quite some time but I'd still take him over the rest of the RC crew.
Freeza Under The Shower
Member
I don't see the Williams music fitting the tone of Snyder's Superman, but I understand the logic of using it to sell the movie anyway.
The Batman theme does make some sense with it though.
The Batman theme does make some sense with it though.
TheContact
Member
Whenever I hear about Danny Elfman I cant help but think of
https://youtu.be/ppjHWa_9OeE
https://youtu.be/ppjHWa_9OeE
Vestal
Junior Member
Simply cause.. ITS GOAT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9vrfEoc8_g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9vrfEoc8_g
Fancyarcher
Member
His score for Cosmos was damn good, but he probably wasn't restricted by film demands there.
Disagree. The music in the DC films isn't all that much better then Marvel's. Wonder Woman's music was fine for what it was, but it felt fairly obviously derivative, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The MCU has had solid scores in the past too, as well.
Krappadizzle
Member
Zimmer's them tops Williams theme for me. I've spent untold hours listening to the Man of Steel soundtrack.
Elfman is an excellent composer and has done wonderful work in the super hero genre, Spiderman 1+2 were very good and Batman still holds up well.
It'll be exciting to hear how this comes out.
Elfman is an excellent composer and has done wonderful work in the super hero genre, Spiderman 1+2 were very good and Batman still holds up well.
It'll be exciting to hear how this comes out.
Yeah, Cosmos was alright, although 4 CDs of it was probably a bit much. I need to take the time to distill that down to a sixty minute highlight reel.
I'm not expecting Elfman's score to sound like Batman or even Spiderman, given DC's musical history but hopefully he can find a comfortable middle ground between his style and the RC template.
I dont know about it being better than Williams, but its better than any other super hero theme of the past 10 years.
Paracelsus
Member
Williams' theme was ruined by Half in the Bag for me, forever. Worst part is, they're absolutely right, so I hope JL cuts the depressing realistic bullshit completely.
Discotheque
Banned
Zimmer/Newton Howard theme for Batman predates 10 years so.....this is correct 😁
If you ask me tho. James Newton Howard's Unbreakable and Mr. Glass themes are the best of the century.
Marvel music is whatever. Only elfman Spider-Man and ottmans xmen work belongs in the convo
I disagree
Aside from Suicide Squad have had clear distinct themes that at least stick with me beyond leaving the theater.
Like love it or hate it, I mention the Wonder woman theme and folks know exactly what piece of music talking about
Vestal
Junior Member
Sorry.. When I see a superman comic or think of supes only one theme comes to mind and that is Williams theme.. I guess that has to also do with the fact that Original Superman movie eats MoS lunch and Reeves defecates all over Cavil.
Fancyarcher
Member
Almost all of the Marvel scores have clear themes with melodies, like them or not, they just don't like recurring themes in their films. There's good bits in the DC films, but most of the movies have relied on the Zimmer sound, which tends to get old after a while. Superhero music in general is subpar these days though.
That Wonder Woman theme isn't really a theme, it's more like a "catchy rhythm". It's not very usable outside of tiny action bits, which is honestly why I'd prefer if Elfman didn't use it much in his own score, unless he can somehow flesh it out, similar to what he did with The Avengers theme in Age of Ultron.
Fancyarcher
Member
It doesn't sound like he's relying too much on the RC sound if that interview is anything to go by. His bits in AOU weren't very RC-ish either, so that may be good news.
Like seriously dude, really? The theme is excellent. A out of the blue reference to it in a Half in the Bag shouldn't ruin it. It fits the "true Superman" to a t.
Boombloxer
Member
Same.
Junkie's Deadpool, Mad Max and BvS scores were legit. Zimmer sketchbook is still the blueprint.
TheRealTalker
Banned
oh wow this is a surprising treat
SpacePirate Ridley
Member
I dint even know elfman was scoring justice league, but just reading the title i was screaming like a fan girl.
While I didnt hate hans zimmer superman theme, im glad we can say goodbye forever to its fucking no melody drums in the majority of his super hero stuff. Same with junkie, i dont give a crap about his music in bvs and deadpool (i only remember the real world songs in that one).
Sad to hear they didnt jetisson also wonder womans theme, never liked that electric cello. Although i have to say, at leqst i rembember that song.
Time to bring back timeless super hero melodies and marches, even if its not in justice league, hoping is in future installments more prevalent.
Also hire Giacchino for Godzilla King of the Monsters while we are at it, he is the only I see capable right now to respect Ifukube's work like he did with Roar!. The further we get from desplats boring how he thinks a blockbuster with a giant monster should sound, the better.
Best batman theme in the elfman work is the music were he rides the batmovile with vicky vale to the batcave, Descent to Mystery so I really hope he uses something similar in the new one.
With maybe some positions changed, but yes, this 4 are my favourite super hero ost.
Walker's batman deserves all the love in the world.
While I didnt hate hans zimmer superman theme, im glad we can say goodbye forever to its fucking no melody drums in the majority of his super hero stuff. Same with junkie, i dont give a crap about his music in bvs and deadpool (i only remember the real world songs in that one).
Sad to hear they didnt jetisson also wonder womans theme, never liked that electric cello. Although i have to say, at leqst i rembember that song.
Time to bring back timeless super hero melodies and marches, even if its not in justice league, hoping is in future installments more prevalent.
Also hire Giacchino for Godzilla King of the Monsters while we are at it, he is the only I see capable right now to respect Ifukube's work like he did with Roar!. The further we get from desplats boring how he thinks a blockbuster with a giant monster should sound, the better.
Best batman theme in the elfman work is the music were he rides the batmovile with vicky vale to the batcave, Descent to Mystery so I really hope he uses something similar in the new one.
With maybe some positions changed, but yes, this 4 are my favourite super hero ost.
Walker's batman deserves all the love in the world.
Damn straight. Though, I'd put up Elfman's Hulk theme there.
UnknownSpirit
Member
Oh wow! That is awesome to hear.
Seriously though, if I am able to hear just a few notes of those themes I will lose my shit.
Especially the Superman theme, I like Elfmans Batman, but its nothing compared to Williams Superman.
Seriously though, if I am able to hear just a few notes of those themes I will lose my shit.
Especially the Superman theme, I like Elfmans Batman, but its nothing compared to Williams Superman.
shira
Member
Razgriz-Specter
Member
At the core thats what all the good hero themes are.
For example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws68JFY8qfI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge5HZuKd9Bc
can be used as simply as https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0fHBHvd7Mo
32)heavily stylized https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqRATvE-gXo
and as complex as https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-m0ehT3_mo
Zimmer makes good full tracks but his actual themes aren't the best,
Person of Interest is one of the best current examples of how it should be done https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kozXNBp4xbQ
recognizable short and sweet themes that hit quickly but can easily be expanded on based on the scene.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPA0YBcomtI
crackhead_bob
Member
William's Superman theme was great but it won't fit in this version.
Discotheque
Banned
Not entirely, sure. But it would be pretty awesome fan service to drop the familiar fanfare when superman ressurects and comes to save them
Imagine the league getting beaten down, and you see dirt slowly rise as the opening notes of this start to blare:
https://youtu.be/78N2SP6JFaI
It's an iconic part of superman. And while I would like them to stick with the Zimmer theme they also have this powerful tool at their disposal which they could use once in a while
MCu's problem is that it doesn't retain it's themes across installments; the music themes each movie has is usually good to excellent.