Star Wars Trilogy, The (Episodes IV-VI) - Big Movie Orchestra (The)

Advantages: John Williams' score, great performance by the LSO
Disadvantages: Tracks don't follow the film's action

...to a specific movie; The Forest Battle from Return of the Jedi and Landspeeder Search from A New Hope never recurred in any other Star Wars film. On the other hand, The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme), Yoda's Theme from The Empire Strikes Back, and The Emperor's Theme are quoted in all the subsequent Episodes in various guises, since those three characters are major players in both the Prequel and Classic Star Wars trilogies. Because Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith's narrative deals with Anakin Skywalker's tragic transformation into the evil Darth Vader and the rise of the Galactic Empire, Williams' score blends music from The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones with such familiar themes from A New Hope as Luke's Theme and Princess Leia's Theme. And intertwined with the familiar motifs are new cues such as the signature Battle... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: John Williams still knows his Star Wars
Disadvantages: Not as original as you'd hope and the last film cue

...Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace was probably the most expected film of 1999. After filming episodes IV-VI between 1977 and 1983 there had been a growing demand for the earlier episodes as well. The story of how Anakin Skywalker bacame Darth Vader was one that intrigued many Star Wars fans as well as the history of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda, and after waiting for almost 20 years, George Lucas finally finished the filming of the very first episode entitled The Phantom Menace. Here we finally meet Obi-Wan's teacher Qui-Gon, we are introduced to Anakin Skywalker as a young child, and the Star Wars universe is expanded by several new planets as well. However, despite state of the art CGI effects, fast-paced action and a strong story, The Phantom Menace suffered from the same Lucas deficiencies as did Return of the Jedi, namely overtly... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Soundtrack of a classic.
Disadvantages: None.

...For a film such as Star Wars, now subtitled 'A New Hope' almost everywhere, there needed to be a a sense of the grandeur of space. John Williams captures this exactly right in a style that is remeniscient of all the old Black & White classics you used to watch as a kid. The main theme is easily recognisable and has been used in more than a few parodys of space films. When you listen to the rest of the soundtrack, you find creative genius at work. Williams uses the individual instruments in the orchestra to great effect and even has fun with 'Cantina Band'. If you liked the film then the soundtrack makes a nice reprise and you get the feeling of the film without having to concentrate too hard. Overall, very good.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful