A. Howarth: Lost Empire/Retribution Original Soundtracks

Advantages: Probably even better than the original score.
Disadvantages: You need to turn it up loud!

...This is one of John Williams' most exciting scores, I rate it higher than the original Star Wars. It seems to exude even more excitement and wonder than that famous score, while still managing to be humourous and romantic as well. The Asteroid Field is one of my very favourite Williams pieces, it raises my hackles every time, close your eyes and you are hurtling through those huge chunks of rock at the helm of the Falcon. It's a breathtaking piece of music. The Empire March is also superb, full of power and menace, the same theme used brilliantly in the scene where the Falcon is caught by the Death Star's tractor field - also the love theme is lyrical though not quite as memorable as the original Princess Leia's theme. Of course we have the original title track in there too and in all a magnificent movie score.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average off topic

Advantages: The perfect continuation of a popular score with a lot more drama thrown in
Disadvantages: If you never bought into any aspect of the Star Wars saga, then you probably won't like it

...another Oscar nomination for Williams. Though it lost to Michael Gore's musical Fame (another moment of "what the hell" in Oscar history), there is no dispute that The Empire Strikes Back was one of the best scores of the year (if not the best) and far superior to its predecessor. The album presentations of this score have much in common with that of the other two in the trilogy. The original album, released on May 16, 1980, five days before the film's premiere, was a 75-minute double LP. However, with the appearance of CDs, the LP format became obsolete and the soundtrack was re-released in 1985 in CD form. Ironically The Empire Strikes Back was the first Star Wars score released in CD form, a year ahead of either Star Wars or Return of the Jedi had even been committed on disc, but on the whole missed a lot of remarkable music from the film... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: none-its an album.
Disadvantages: none

...this is the firt album- raw, powerfull , and politically blunt. kicking of with bombtracks soothing start (making you turn up the stereo to hear it) and BAM it explodes. then it goes into such classics as killing in the name and know your enemy- not to mention fistfull of steel and take the power back. yes-evil empire is good but they will never repeat the pure brutality of that first album....a tragedy for the whole music industry and for all the fans who will never hear the original ratm at any gig they play or in any album they produce.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful