not enough Courage?

[RobertScorpio]

I loved the new music to the new Star Trek movie, even the opening sequence (Enterprising fellows)...but at the end, when they played the old Alexander Courage music, I wondered...why not use this for the theme song of the movie?

Some might say its because they (JJ and his team) wanted to put their stamp on the movie, which is cool..and I get that. But I remember reading elsewhere that JJ (not to mention Rick Berman in the past) saying that the old TOS theme song was from another time and wouldn't go with a modern movie...

And then I heard the closing march, using TOS's theme, and I wondered, as the crowd began to clap at the original music, what were they talking about? I thought it sounded it great, and it could have worked just fine as the MAIN theme...

So..what do you think? Should the TOS theme song have been the theme? Or was it better to go with a new sound?

Rob

 

[MvRojo]

I thought they used it correctly. I don't think it would have worked well as the main theme since it is so iconic, you can't change it around too much for variations. The main theme they used worked better in that sense.

 

[RobertScorpio]

I thought they used it correctly. I don't think it would have worked well as the main theme since it is so iconic, you can't change it around too much for variations. The main theme they used worked better in that sense.

I kind of agree..HOWEVER!!!

If in the next movie they get back to 'exploring strange new worlds', I think the 'wonder' of the TOS theme song would do much better than a pounding march...TOS's theme does evoke a SPACE THE FINAL FRONTIER kind of feel to it..

Rob

 

[MvRojo]

I thought they used it correctly. I don't think it would have worked well as the main theme since it is so iconic, you can't change it around too much for variations. The main theme they used worked better in that sense.

I kind of agree..HOWEVER!!!

If in the next movie they get back to 'exploring strange new worlds', I think the 'wonder' of the TOS theme song would do much better than a pounding march...TOS's theme does evoke a SPACE THE FINAL FRONTIER kind of feel to it..

Rob

Perhaps. But that's assuming they do a exploration movie, which isn't likely.

 

[RobertScorpio]

I thought they used it correctly. I don't think it would have worked well as the main theme since it is so iconic, you can't change it around too much for variations. The main theme they used worked better in that sense.

I kind of agree..HOWEVER!!!

If in the next movie they get back to 'exploring strange new worlds', I think the 'wonder' of the TOS theme song would do much better than a pounding march...TOS's theme does evoke a SPACE THE FINAL FRONTIER kind of feel to it..

Rob

Perhaps. But that's assuming they do a exploration movie, which isn't likely.

Agreed...agreed.

Rob

 

[Unimatrix_0]

I think that they should have used the A. Courage theme in the new flick. Or they might have had a good result with using an updated motion picture/TNG theme. The new music sounded too generic, and frankly it invoked a Star Wars prequel theme, which might be what Abrams was aiming for.

 

[cooleddie74]

I think they should have used the Courage fanfare one or two times more often in the film, but as-is the TREK XI soundtrack remains sufficiently kickass.

 

[diftorhehsmusma]

as someone who has studied music, both academically and just as a daily obsession, i have to say that the new score served its purpose, and nothing more. it was a good adventure movie score. it didn't make me listen to it when i should have been watching the actors which, in my view, is a plus. maybe this is because i am younger, but the original TOS theme just sounds campy and 1960s to me. i really hate to say it, especially since i always thought the rest of the music from the series was golden. on the other hand, most other details have been updated, maybe any of the original music would just been distracting and have taken us out of our suspension of disbelief.... more than the lens flares, that is.
.... what's with that, anyway? camera shake, i can dig that. if one were standing, say, on top of the romulan drill, things would be shaking and that's how it would look. but lens flare? are we to be kept in constant mind that we are looking at all this through a camera? doesn't that sort of defeat the whole idea of any film that isn't supposed to be a documentary?

 

[diftorhehsmusma]

apologies, my internet is acting up and i posted that last comment twice.

 

[number6]

I think the familiar TOS theme is best served at the end, because it is only then with all the characters in place, that Star Trek as we know it really begins.

I think the score itself works.

 

[DaveyNY]

I voted for More...

I really liked the music during the movie, but since buying the CD, I've found that as just a listening experience without the visuals of the movie, it's not that good.

I'm a bit disappointed in it actually... a first for me..., as I love (and own) all the other Trek Movie Soundtrack CD's (even Nem-e-Mess).

 

[Rackon]

I think the familiar TOS theme is best served at the end, because it is only then with all the characters in place, that Star Trek as we know it really begins.

I think the score itself works.

I agree 100% - the full theme at the end, with key characters in place, ready to launch on their 5 year mission - THAT was the appropriate place for the original theme. At that point XI has fully earned the right to be Trek.

BTW, there were a couple little places in the film where bits and snippets of the introductory notes were used very briefly and subtlely, e.g. when Kirck and Spock are beamed back from the Narada. You have to listen carefull for them (they're often in the underscoring) but they're there.

I do feel the score, while not one for the ages, was well done and appropriate to the action, never intrusive or overwhelming the scenes.
I 've also grown rather fond of the main/march theme.

I would have found the Alexander Courage theme - with all its attendant associations - intrusive in the main film. (And I don't think it's a great piece of music anyway, although I'll grant you it's certainly iconic.)

Oh, and although it doesn't make an ounce of difference either way, I'm a former classically trained musician, singer and music lover. Music in movies is a big deal to me. I hate a poor score. The one for TMP - now that was something.

 

[RobertScorpio]

I think the familiar TOS theme is best served at the end, because it is only then with all the characters in place, that Star Trek as we know it really begins.

I think the score itself works.

I agree 100% - the full theme at the end, with key characters in place, ready to launch on their 5 year mission - THAT was the appropriate place for the original theme. At that point XI has fully earned the right to be Trek.

BTW, there were a couple little places in the film where bits and snippets of the introductory notes were used very briefly and subtlely, e.g. when Kirck and Spock are beamed back from the Narada. You have to listen carefull for them (they're often in the underscoring) but they're there.

I do feel the score, while not one for the ages, was well done and appropriate to the action, never intrusive or overwhelming the scenes.
I 've also grown rather fond of the main/march theme.

I would have found the Alexander Courage theme - with all its attendant associations - intrusive in the main film. (And I don't think it's a great piece of music anyway, although I'll grant you it's certainly iconic.)

Oh, and although it doesn't make an ounce of difference either way, I'm a former classically trained musician, singer and music lover. Music in movies is a big deal to me. I hate a poor score. The one for TMP - now that was something.

I beg to differ..the TOS music is memorable which is more important than anything..

Rob

 

[number6]

TOS music is certainly memorable, but in the context of the story, it wound up not being appropriate until the end.

 

[Jeri]

BTW, there were a couple little places in the film where bits and snippets of the introductory notes were used very briefly and subtlely, e.g. when Kirck and Spock are beamed back from the Narada. You have to listen carefull for them (they're often in the underscoring) but they're there...

I noticed a little phrase of it when the academy shuttle lifted off from the shipyard.

 

[RobertScorpio]

BTW, there were a couple little places in the film where bits and snippets of the introductory notes were used very briefly and subtlely, e.g. when Kirck and Spock are beamed back from the Narada. You have to listen carefull for them (they're often in the underscoring) but they're there...

I noticed a little phrase of it when the academy shuttle lifted off from the shipyard.

I noticed it most of all when at the end of the movie, the entire theatre hummed along with when the TOS music was played upfront..and loud. I bet only a few of them (outside the star trek fans) could hum a single note from the new theme...

Sorry...the great arrangement of the TOS at the end of the movie is all the proof I need that it could have worked, and may will someday, be given its proper due; as the theme to Star Trek.

(I know..I got teary eyed when I said that last line..OH...the humanity of it all!!!)

Rob

 

[Rackon]

BTW, there were a couple little places in the film where bits and snippets of the introductory notes were used very briefly and subtlely, e.g. when Kirck and Spock are beamed back from the Narada. You have to listen carefull for them (they're often in the underscoring) but they're there...

I noticed a little phrase of it when the academy shuttle lifted off from the shipyard.

Yep, that was another one.

 

[M'Sharak]

...But I remember reading elsewhere that JJ (...) saying that the old TOS theme song was from another time and wouldn't go with a modern movie...

Leaving aside the question of whether that notion was right or wrong, do you recall where you read that?

 

[Rackon]

We shall just have to disagree. You love it, and that's OK. :-)

Robert, lol, I just find TOS theme faintly cheesy, and I did even when I was watching the show back in the 60s. I just don't think it's a great piece of music. It's evocative of TOS for sure, and it was highly enjoyable for me in its placement in XI, but I NEVER missed the complete, naked theme in the score. EVER. I hope they don't use it extensively in XII.

Cheers!

 

[Biggshow]

We shall just have to disagree. You love it, and that's OK. :-)

Robert, lol, I just find TOS theme faintly cheesy, and I did even when I was watching the show back in the 60s. I just don't think it's a great piece of music. It's evocative of TOS for sure, and it was highly enjoyable for me in its placement in XI, but I NEVER missed the complete, naked theme in the score. EVER. I hope they don't use it extensively in XII.

Cheers!

I tend to agree. The Courage music, once it gets into the main theme, is really dated. However, the four note intro and underscoring for "Space, the final frontier..." kind of still hold up which is probably the reason they have been used more consistently than the rest. I can see using the chord progression of the main theme or a complete rewoking to make it fit modern sensibilities. In fact, I did like how Giacchino wove his themes and the original together in places at the end.

What I'd really like for future scores is something more in a major key (as opposed to minor).