It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
^ Back to Top
The MI6 Community is unofficial and in no way associated or linked with EON Productions, MGM, Sony Pictures, Activision or Ian Fleming Publications. Any views expressed on this website are of the individual members and do not necessarily reflect those of the Community owners. Any video or images displayed in topics on MI6 Community are embedded by users from third party sites and as such MI6 Community and its owners take no responsibility for this material.
James Bond News • James Bond Articles • James Bond Magazine
Comments
I completely agree.Can't believe there is so much negativity about Dave Arnold. Don't these people not remember how Eric " I wish I was Sting" Serra butchered Goldeneye ( the only bad thing about that film IMO). The only thing DA can be accused of is collaborating with Madonna to murder the theme to DAD, and even then I guess he was forced to by the studio. If he can bring a touch of KD Lang class ala Surrender in TND to SF then I'll be chuffed to bits.
Cant think of anyone better to be honest. As long as they dont go the Goldeneye route and try and re-invent the wheel I don't think it can go too far wrong. 99.9 % of the cinema going public couildnt really care less as long as the Bond theme is used
I am sure that DaltonCraig007 - as the grown-up he probably is - somehow can provide proof of Barry critizising Arnold. He hasn't yet! DaltonCraig007.Please refrain from using such terms about another member. There's no reason to bring up such immature expressions.
Have a nice day.
"Finally: A Successor to John Barry
In due course, EON employed the services of the young British film composer David Arnold and, from this point in time through the present, the Arnold/Bond romance continues to prosper. Arnold had gained his reputation from his already impressive résumé which included two Oscars, one being for the award-winning, 1996 film Independence Day. He had also worked successfully on the television drama Stargate SG-1.
From the very first electric gun-barrel cue in Tomorrow Never Dies, to the very sexy “Going Down Together” track in Die Another Day, Bond music-lovers could tell this young composer had something special to offer the series’, already celebrated music style. That first gun-barrel cue closely rivals the Barry gun-barrels of The Man With The Golden Gun, Moonraker, Octopussy, A View To A Kill and finally, The Living Daylights.
Arnold’s ability to vary the style of his work from one action film, to the next action film is a credit to his talent and marks clear comparisons with that of his idol John Barry, whose equal capability to vary his style was first rate.
Like Barry, Arnold continues to win awards for his musical scores and although he hasn’t quite reached the twelfth-Oscar status his idol has reached, he is well on the way. John Barry created the Bond sound that “signature sound,” as Arnold calls it, but the current Bond composer says as long as he is doing the job, the Bond sound will stay Barrysque and we say Arnold is the best man for the job."
http://www.universalexports.net/editorials/davidarnold.shtml
Can't you fight your own battles?
If you "don't need consensus" why on earth are you asking if "that's the best" I got?
I think I have provided enough of my own arguments here for the reason why I love David Arnold. You may disagree because of a different taste in music. I respect that!
"Tomorrow Never Dies
A must for any Bond fan. Responding to audience backlash against Serra's highly synthesized score to GoldenEye, the Bond producers recruited David Arnold (Stargate, Last Of The Dogmen, Independence Day) for "Bond 18". What has resulted is easily one of the best Bond scores ever to be recorded."
http://www.klast.net/bond/soundtr.html
"Casino Royale. Soundtrack review:
Arnold's music is prominently featured in the film, contributing to much of the romanticism associated with the film's various locations. There is no doubt that he has redeemed himself in his ability to provide fresh ideas for the franchise, which is especially important for him given the fact that his Bond scores represent by far his most substantive output these days. His only obstacle will be fans who expect fewer conversational and darkly dramatic underscore cues, but these more impatient listeners are bound to happen."
Indeed!
http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/casino_royale.html
there are 285 comments so far:
- A total of 43 user have commented
- A total of 10 users are NEGATIVE towards Arnold (DaltonCraig007, Luds, Thegiantcookie, forgotmyusername, shark, MajorDSmythe, thelordflasheart GeorgeLazenby, SaintMark, boldfinger)
- A total of 22 users are POSITIVE towards Arnold (Mr_Sterling, BAIN123, saunders H007MER, AgentJamesBond007, WillardWhyte, sheriouslysean, haserot, quantumofsolace, LiveAndEatPie, SharkBait, imranbecks, SJK91, Monsieur_Aubergine , nethegauner, Benny, shadowonthesun, JWESTBROOK, Zekidk, SirHenryLeeChaChing, echo, LeChiffre)
- A total of 11 users are neither negative or positive (from what I can read, I might have misread a couple) - (PanchitoPistoles, Samuel001, St_George Gaz, 1961jaguar007, connerybond, DarthDimi, xolani, SirHenryLeeChaChing, lechero, HMBFF)
Might have missed one or two!
So, judging from this thread, and looking at the facts, the supporters of Arnold are the majority here! Guess that would make that "uphill battle" a lot easier!
Just let it go guy ... don't get yourself demonized over this issue
And I'm still waiting for some sort of documentation or link, to support your claim, that John Barry has "bashed" David Arnold.
Are you up for the challenge?
Haserot: I don't mind being "demonized" because I express my personal opinions - here about my passion for David Arnold. If some people have a problem with my views - then it's their problem, not mine!
If that's the case, I apologize. If not: keep digging!
Next.
And I DO dispute what you are writing. Of course I don't find him either "lazy" or "lacking in musical knowledge." Arnold WAS the composer responsible for creating many of those great melodies from the past 5 Bond-movies. Are you disputing that he wasn't the guy in charge for creating those?
And DaltonCraig007. Your personal opinions (about him being "lazy" fx) are not necesarily "facts", like it certainly isn't a "fact" that OHMSS is the best Bond-movie, or Goldeneye is the "best" titlesong, just because I say so!
Are you disputing the fact Arnold has a very limited orchestral range ? Are you disputing the fact that Arnold has always used the same limited number of instruments ? Are you disputing the fact he relies more on sound mixing than learning about new instruments to diversify his sound ? Are you disputing the fact that most of his soundtracks are very basic, simply, not complex at all ? Are you disputing the fact that only in QOS did some basic musical elements appeared in his soundtracks ? And he seemed to have learned them after 10 years of composing at the age of nearly 50 ?
;-) So to state that he is well on his way is rather bold statement but factually incorrect.
However Arnold has got a load of other prizes with his 007 work (based upon the work of another composer) where John Barry got frequently snubbed for his great work on the series. (somebody else reaps the awards I guess) Arnold hasn't got a lot of awards from original work by himself (being Independance day & Stargate).
Stop It, Its Personal Taste. TND made less money because it was up against Titanic. That is proven fact it wasn't anything to do with the composer. So STOP IT!!!
DaltonCraig007: For me - writing the melodies is the most essential thing. You need talent if you want to create memorable melodies, whereas almost anyone can learn to orchestrate given enough time and practise. I thought you knew that, since you are a musician, right?
It's like being in a band. How far can you get if all are technically brilliant on their instruments, but no one knows how to write any catchy songs? Just look at The Beatles - they weren't really that great technically. But they were fantastic songwriters.
Now... have you dug up anything on Barry criticizing Arnold?
Orchestrating is the hardest part... Everyone knows that. If writing the melodies was much easier, why are there considerably less people who orchestrates, writes&orchestrates than just writing ? Shouldn't there be more people who do the easiest part, and only the handful best who write the music ?
And you still haven't explained why Arnold's writing is very basic and simple, seriously lacking the complexity of Barry.
And again, @quantumofsolace : Arnold is one of the few who relies the most on his orchestrator, thus a big part of his work or sound isn't from him. Arnold just writes the music, the big work of orchestrating is from Dodd. And besides, Arnold also has one of the most limited orchestral range in the film music business...
So yes the state of film music is in a very bad state, but can we atleast pick someone with a bit more range/diversity ?