Superman

REVIEW: John Williams – Boston Pops – Pops In Space (1980 cassette)

JOHN WILLIAMS – BOSTON POPS ORCHESTRA – Pops In Space (1980 Phillips)

January, 1980.  John Williams succeeds Arthur Fiedler as the conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra.  Fiedler passed in July of 1979.  Williams had received 14 Academy Awards nominations, 8 Grammies, and had conducted over 50 movie scores.  Later that year, Phillips released Williams’ first recording with the Pops:  a selection of his science fiction “greatest hits” so to speak.  The audible differences between these and the original cinematic recordings are minor, but there for the diehard fan to enjoy.  If not, the casual fan will be able to hear some of the best bits from Williams’ beloved scores to date.  The Empire Strikes Back was a new release, and three cuts were recorded for this release.

1978’s Superman: The Movie truly made us believe that a man could fly, kids and adults alike.  The Superman main theme is one of Williams’ greatest refrains in his long storied career.  Triumphant, strong, and bright, it glows with the power of our yellow sun.  You can envision Christopher Reeve (the greatest Superman) smiling and waving as he casually swooped across the silver screen.  Williams’ music embodied Superman, and the optimistic spirit that the film represented.  It bears similarities to other familiar themes, such as Indiana Jones, which was in production.  It is a Williams “trademark” theme if you will; instantly identifiable and unmistakable.  It has highs, lows and an incredible outro.  This is followed by Lois Lane’s love theme, which we liked even as impatient kids who hated romance in our superhero movies.  Some of Superman’s theme has a soft reprise here, but the piece is its own.

The brand new Empire Strikes Back is represented by three classic pieces:  the action packed “Asteroid Field”, Yoda’s jaunty theme, and of course, “The Imperial March”, already on its way to becoming a thumbprint anthem for scum and villainy.  There is not much to add here, because words are not sufficient to describe the sheer momentum of “The Asteroid Field”!  Or the joyful playfulness of “Yoda’s Theme”.  Or the symphonic metal majesty of “The Imperial March”, as we watch those monolithic, grey Star Destroyers cruising menacingly through space.

More Star Wars on side two, with the film Star Wars (not yet known as A New Hope – that happened in April 1981).  The two themes included are the main title theme, and Leia’s theme.  I noticed the most difference on the main title – the third note of the opening “bah bah bah…” part is held just a little longer.  As for Leia’s theme, it is softer of course, but the violin strain is so memorable.  So plaintive, yet beautiful.  It grows in power towards the lush end, which is magnificent.  Perfect for our princess in distress, though her reputation for kicking butt was starting to form!

The final piece included is a “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” suite, including the extended ending, added to the special edition.  This 10 minute suite is a rollercoaster, as we recall scenes of awe and wonder.  A bit of “When You Wish Upon A Star” plays, some piano tinkles, and we are swept away with Roy Neary on that starship, whether we wanted to see the inside or not.

As a “greatest hits” of Williams early science fiction music, Pops In Space is a treat to play.  A concise treat, representing a small slice of Williams’ work, yet that little slice has some of his most indelible music.

If anything, fans of physical media need to get this album on any format, just for the cool cover art.  The orchestra can be seen playing on a floating platform…in the vacuum of space!  Far out.

5/5 stars

MOVIE REVIEW: Man Of Steel (IMAX 3D)

MAN OF STEEL

Directed by Zack Snyder, 2013 Warner Bros.

I’m a child of the 70’s, therefore a long time Superman fan.  I’m also a fan of Zack Snyder’s The Watchmen.  I wasn’t sure if those two worlds should ever meet, and to be honest, after seeing a preview screening of Man of Steel, I’m still not sure.

The Good:

Michael Shannon as General Zod.  Rather than copy Terrance Stamp’s Zod, Shannon’s is grittier, more passionate.  His motivations are different.  Rather than revenge, this version of Zod seeks only what is best for the Kryptonian people.  As a general, he was born, bred, and trained for nothing but the betterment of his people.  Unfortunately, this is at odds with the interests of Earth.

Also great was Henry Cavill as Kal-El.  Nobody will ever forget Christopher Reeve, but Cavill’s talent, chiseled looks and physique will certainly have people forgetting Brandon Routh.  Cavill’s Superman was 100% flawless.

And finally, Russell Crowe as Jor-El.  I’m a not a Russell Crowe fan, not in the slightest, but he was great.  His Jor-El had a much larger role than the Marlon Brando incarnation had.  Jor-El is the architect of everything that unfolds.

The Bad:

I have problems with the wanton destruction.  Kal-El’s prime motivation is always the safety of others.  Yet he, Zod, and Zod’s henchmen pretty much destroy all of Metropolis and reduce it to dust.  Even though Zod seeks and needs Kal-El, our hero doesn’t use this to his advantage.  He doesn’t, say, fly to the Pacific Ocean to battle Zod.  Or Antarctica.  He stays right in the middle of Metropolis and is a party to damn near every building coming down!

I also didn’t like the look of the Kryptonian technology.  It was too monochrome and Cybertronian for my tastes.  (Yet, somehow Kal-El ends up with the only blue, red and gold suit on the planet?)

The Ugly:

I left the theater with a booming headache.  I don’t know if it was the 3D or the overly loud sound mix, but my head hurts.  To sum up the experience, the last hour of the film had too many missiles, airplanes, spaceships and carnage flying around.  The brain can’t process that much information.  I didn’t feel that the 3D really enhanced my experience.  (My brother in law Martin said the movie felt like a Michael Bay film, with all that crap blowing up.)

Man_of_Steel_37095Man of Steel had a decent story, that begins where Superman and Superman II did, but then goes in its own direction.  In many regards this movie is Superman:  First Contact.  It’s funny how often we forget that perhaps the most remarkable thing about Superman, is that he’s an alien!  Living among us!  Plotwise, the McGuffin here is something called the Codex, which contains the genetic blueprints for an entire generation of new Kryptonians.  As Krypton’s last defender, Zod wants it.  But his interests and Kal-El’s are at odds, since Zod plans to exterminate humanity and move in here!

I have to admit I’m surprised that Snyder got such great performances out of this cast.  Not that the cast are a bunch of hacks; they’re not.  Amy Adams was fine, and so was Diane Lane.  But let’s face it…we’ve seen other directors in the past get wooden performances out of Lawrence Fishburn and Kevin Costner.  Fishburn amounts to little more than a background character, but Costner’s role as Jonathan Kent is much more important than the version in Superman.  He filled the role appropriately.  My mother always said that Costner is best when he’s playing a farmer.

Much like The Watchmen, Snyder tells stories in multiple timelines simultaneously via flashbacks.  In Man of Steel, these flashbacks are all critical moments of character development.  This was done very well, with Cavill playing Clark Kent’s evolution perfectly.  At the same time, I’m surprised Snyder didn’t use more popular and classic rock music.  He did use a little bit, but certainly not on the scale of The Watchmen or even Suckerpunch.

I noticed two Battlestar Galactica alumni:  Tahmoh Penikett had probably 1 second screen time, but Alessandro Juliani had a bit more.  Why were they in it?  Because Man of Steel was partly filmed in Canada!

Although I will probably buy Man of Steel on blu-ray to “have the whole collection”, I don’t have an immediate craving to see it again.

Man of Steel opens today.  Time for an Advil.

3.5/5 stars

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REVIEW: Europe – The Final Countdown (1986)

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EUROPE – The Final Countdown (1986, 2001 Epic remaster)

I remember back in 1986/1987, all the rock magazines were playing on the same angle: Who’s better, Europe or Bon Jovi? Hard to believe that the two bands were once considered on the same playing field, now that Bon Jovi are permanent megastars. Not to mention their music sounds nothing alike!

Everybody knows “The Final Countdown” which received a new life thanks to TV shows shows like Arrested Development. (Gob Bluth uses it as his theme song during his ill-fated magic acts.)  What you may not know is that this album had three other classic singles (“Rock the Night”, “Carrie”, “Cherokee”) and 6 great album tracks with no duds. As an added bonus, this remaster also includes three live tracks from 1987’s Final Countdown World Tour.  These may in fact be the same tracks as the Extended Versions release, but I don’t have that one to verify.

The synth-y title track kicks off the proceedings, its regal anthemic melody setting the mood. A science fiction themed song, the people of Earth have departed for Venus (let’s ignore that Venus is 460 °C). The lyrics…not super great on this album, but let’s not forget that English was their second language and they were still kids at the time. Regardless, “The Final Countdown” is a complete success as a song, from insanely catchy verses to chorus to intricate guitar solo courtesy of John Norum.

“Rock The Night” follows, another catchy song, this time with the guitar handling the meat of the tune. Then, the hit ballad “Carrie”. It’s a bit soft by today’s standards but is still a well written keyboard ballad with a great melody. This is followed by another great rock song, “Danger on the Track”. Vocalist Joey Tempest tells us of a journey followed by “strangers on my back”.  (See, because “back” rhymes with “track”.)  Again, not a great lyric, but it is a great song. Side One of the original LP was finished with the fantastic “Ninja”, which in my own personal world was a single in its own right. The lyrics: “If I were a noble ancient knight, I’d stand by your side to rule and fight.” OK then.

PHANTOM ZONE

Apparently the phantom zone wasn’t just for General Zod.

Side Two kicked off with a riff and a smile, and probably the best tune: “Cherokee”.  The lyrics here are not bad, a tale of the demise of the American Indian. However it is the riff that holds the song down, a typical Norum burner of great integrity. Still can’t tell what that voice says at the beginning of the song, though! The next track is “Time Has Come”, a mid-tempo soft one that I considered filler back then but like quite a lot now. “Heart Of Stone” has a bit more meat to it. This is followed by the fastest and heaviest song on the album, “On The Loose”, which has some of Norum’s best playing. In fact it was this song that brought Norum to my attention as a monster shredder in the first place. After hearing this song, I continued to watch his career with great interest, from solo albums to Don Dokken back to Europe. The album closed with another mid-tempo soft song, “Love Chaser”, which has a keyboard melody reminiscent of “The Final Countdown” itself, bringing us full circle. It is another great tune with killer melody and vocals from Joey Tempest.

The three bonus tracks are live takes of “The Final Countdown,” “Danger on the Track” and “Carrie”. Clearly, Europe could always cut it live.  These are from the Hammersmith Odeon in 1987, and feature Norum’s replacement Kee Marcello on guitar.  Marcello is no slouch, and had a different style to Norum’s, therefore adding another element to the songs.

The Final Countdown is the kind of album that I think should be owned, rather than just pick up a hits disc. You won’t go wrong with any of these ten tracks. The live stuff is just an added bonus.

5/5 stars