Search - John Barry :: John Barry Moviola II: Action And Adventure (Film Score Re-recording Compilation)

There's much more to John Barry than James Bond

Robert J. Conway | Illinois USA | 07/24/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"John Barry composes music that is rich, moving, often breathtakingly beautiful, and usually quite memorable. Moviola and Moviola II are compilations that at the very least showcase Barry's big-screen talent and introduce the neophyte fan to more than just the obvious "hits" (or maybe highlights is a better word) from his lengthy film catalog. I have been a big fan of John Barry for a long time. Out of Africa, Chaplin, Body Heat were highlights from Moviola taken from movie soundtracks that I love. I was thrilled when Moviola II was released because Moviola always left me longing for more--and I knew there was plenty more. My favorite John Barry soundtrack dates back to my vinyl days--King Kong. To this day I still have the LP but search the Web often in hope that someday this title will be issued on CD. I was thrilled to discover that at least a small piece of the wonderful and overlooked King Kong Soundtrack was included on Moviola II. I still anticipate someday that Moviola III will be compiled and released, and can only guess or fantasize what might be included. I highly recommend this CD as a companion to the first Moviola. The Dances with Wolves Suite is as stirring as ever, never failing to take me back to the strong emotional setting of the film. The James Bond Suite is interesting in that these themes are somewhat more lush and mellow than the original movie soundtrack versions in order to tie into the moody, evocative thread that runs through Barry's later work. It works beautifully here."

Moviola II is a winner!

mnsdgal | Florida | 06/08/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you are an avid John Barry fan, this is definitely for your collection. It is just as great as Moviola I. It is a very unique compilation that includes suites from James Bond and Dances With Wolves among other fine compositions. If you love Dances With Wolves like I do, it includes all the beautiful, emotionally-charged scores that define the essence of the movie. "King Kong", "Zulu" and "The Specialist" are quite nice, but it is "Until September" that is unbelieveably smooth & sensual. I find myself listening to this gem over & over. It is quite amazing how Mr. Barry can put a few notes together and end up stirring one's emotions. A truly talented composer."

Good music....but BOND FANS might be disappointed

Kendrik Lau | New York City | 07/27/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The main attraction of this CD, no doubt, especially to JamesBond fans, is the James Bond suite that opens this CD...withre-interpretations of the themes from various Bond films that Barry scored. As much as I like Barry's music, some portions of the Bond suite seem to lack something which made the originals so great. For example, Goldfinger sounded goofy, with the original famous three note opening split into four. Thunderball is servicable, but lack the ethereal underwater quality of the insturmental version on the original soundtrack. You Only Live Twice lacked the lush, romantic, and even nostalgic feel of the original. The two standout from the suite are Diamonds Are Forever and All Time High...even then, it is not saying much. After the Bond suite, are the themes for other movies. Now I haven't heard the original soundtracks to these movies, so my impressions of these re-recording will not so critical and predjucicial as oppose to the Bond suite. Until September tell us once again why John Barry is the best in his field. IT is becoming one of my favorite Barry compositions. It is beautiful and romantic and could have been easily inserted into a Bond film without anyone noticing (incidentally, a piece of music from Until Septmber was used in A View To A Kill, during the Eiffel Tower's opening scene). The rest of the CD is typical Barry, which means, this man can't write a piece of bad music, even if he tried. If it wasn't for the Bond suite, I would have rated this CD higher. And for you Bond fans out there, you might be disappointed if you buy it for the Bond suite alone."