Doug's capsule review of "Eragon"

kipling71 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 13, 2006 4:48 pm

All very scholarly and musically literate, as usual, but.... did you LIKE it? I've got a ratty old broom at home that "sweeps" but I don't necessarily wanna listen to that. :wink:

I was left mildly aghast when you expressed disappointment with Doyle's work of the last ten years some time ago. You REALLY don't like "East-West"? Sure, it'd be great if everything he did sounded like "Henry V" but I'm even more of a fan of his gentler stuff. I'm playing "Wah Wah" a lot since that showed up in my mailbox last week and find it utterly charming.

Horseraces. Tchah!

Guest · **Posted:** Wed Dec 13, 2006 7:47 pm

EAST-WEST is such a spirited score, I really think it's terribly underrated. It only aims to entertain (like the film does, in its melodramatic way). The really great thing about EAST-WEST, is that it's the first score of Doyle's that was released since he was out of commission with his illness, and it was so great to hear him come roaring back like that in bravura fashion.

WAH-WAH is also getting lost in the shuffle, I'm afraid. Another allegedly "little" score like MRS. WINTERBOURNE that is actually very big in its emotions. He does something rather neat in WAH-WAH as well, which is to turn a stiff-upper-lip British anthem into something really passionate and heart on its sleeve (which is the whole gist of the movie's setting and plot).

kipling71 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 13, 2006 7:57 pm

Ellen!!!!! A voice crying in the wilderness! :wink:

Now that you remind me when "East-West" came out, I remember sneaking out of the office, running along to the Virgin Megastore in Burbank on the day it came out, popping the CD in for the return trip, driving S L O W L Y back to work, and being delighted that Doyle was gloriously back on form. It's one of my favorites of his.

That march trick in "Wah-Wah" IS rather keen, isn't it? Reminds me of the way Jerry Goldsmith would manipulate his themes in all kinds of ways when he was really on top of his game. Anyone seen the movie?

Guest · **Posted:** Wed Dec 13, 2006 8:13 pm

I got it the minute it came out in France (I'm in the U.S.) Cost was no object!

The movie EAST-WEST is one of Regis Wargnier's better efforts (of course, he hasn't made many films). I can see why Doyle likes working with him, as Wargnier always makes sure to have at least one big scene where the story is only told with images and music and editing.

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kipling71 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 15, 2006 5:40 pm

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Doug's capsule review of "Eragon"

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