New Line Cinema to Merge with Warner

A few weeks ago, I made the news of the two upcoming Lord of the Ring's prequels as the TOP NEWS of 2007. Well, this news could certainly qualify for one of 2008's Bottom News stories of the year.

New Line Cinema is being folded into Warner Brothers. It's not being dissolved completely, but "merged." This action was taken as a part of some major cost-cutting decisions by Time Warner's CEO, Jeffrey Bawkes. Oddly enough the news comes simultaneous with the release of New Line's latest release SEMI-PRO.

How could it be that a 40 year old company that just made 3 billion dollars from one franchise (that would be the Lord of the Rings franchise) only a few years ago be in such disrepair? Too many box-office-bombs - that's how. The latest bomb being the highly touted THE GOLDEN COMPASS. There were a lot of eggs in that there basket...and most of them go pretty well smooshed.

Both top execs, Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne are getting the axe as well as potentially hundreds of New Line Staff.

While a handful are worried about the future of THE GOLDEN COMPASS sequels, the bigger worry are THE HOBBIT and its sequel. It's highly unlikely that this move by Warner is going to make either of those films happen any faster...and let's not even dare to think that they may not happen at all now.


You can read more of the details here.

The Golden Compass (Soundtrack) by Alexandre Desplat

Desplat's Materials
Review by Christopher Coleman

Of all the film's of the 2007 holiday season, THE GOLDEN COMPASS has probably had the highest expectation heaped upon it. Called the "anti-Chroncles of Narnia," Phillip Pullman's book series has garnered a large following of devoted fans since its debut in 1996. Then in 2002, New Line Studios announced that it would had obtained the rights to make a film-adaptation. With the success of New Line's LORD OF THE RING TRILOGY, the moderate success of Disney/Walden's THE LION, THE WITCH and THE WARDROBE, and, of course, the HARRY POTTER franchise, it seemed that New Line was betting the farm on the apparent voracious appetite of moviegoers for such films. With a massive production and marketing budget, New Line was also betting that the box office returns would enable them to churn out the two sequels as well.

One of the great things about the fantasy genre is that regardless of the quality of the overall film, there is always great potential for a solid score. Certainly the films listed above feature some of the better film music since the turn of the century and the hope was that THE GOLDEN COMPASS and its potential sequels would be no different. In an interesting move to say the least, one of Hollywood's busiest composers of late, ALEXANDRE DESPLAT, was brought on to score the film. While duly respected for his work for films such as SYRIANA, THE GIRL WITH THE PEARL EARRING, and THE PAINTED VEIL, Desplat's minimalist style didn't seem like the most natural choice for this material...but of course, Howard Shore didn't seem like one for THE LORD OF THE RINGS either. That choice worked out pretty well, but how about this one?

READ THE FULL REVIEW

The Golden Compass by Alexandre Desplat - First Impressions

THE GOLDEN COMPASS has been one of the most anticipated films of the year. For New Line, it has been heavily invested in and so has huge expectations attached to it. Same goes for fans of the books.

For that band of film music folk, there has been a little trepidation in awaiting ALEXANDER DESPLAT's score. He has excelled with his minimalist style for films like THE PAINTED VEIL or THE GIRL WITH THE PEARL EARRING, and, along with AARON ZIGMAN delivered an exemplorary effort for MR. MAGORIUM'S WONDER EMPORIUM, but just how would he do for a big, fantasy flick?

Yes...I heard a spattering of the score here and there prior to seeing the film, but now that I have experienced Desplat's music in context...I'll just come out and say it. I'm disappointed...and in a major way. It certainly doesn't help that the movie was only "ok" at best. Don't get me wrong. The first half of the film is a visual feast, but once we hit the "north," things really take a turn for the worst. It's at times like these that a score can come to the rescue of a mediocre film...but it just doesn't happen in THE GOLDEN COMPASS.

Truthfully, what I have heard of JAMIE CHRISTOPHERSON's score for THE GOLDEN COMPASS game engages me much more. Christopherson may have utilized themes from Desplat's music (I didn't immediately recognize any though), but if so, somehow, they are more interesting via his arrangements.

The big moments of the film (the ice bear fight, the end battle) all have big music...but I was left wanting much, much more than I received. In fact, even as I write this, not one single theme, not one sequence, remains in my mind. Check that. There is one thing that does remain: Kate Bush's end credit song "Lyra." A saving grace? Sorry. It's even worse than Idina Menzel's "A Hero Comes Home" from the BEOWULF soundtrack. Still with those names attached to those disappointing diddies, I'm betting they will both find there way to the land of Oscar Nom.

I almost feel sorry for fantasy-franchises these days. The genre has almost been ruined by Howard Shores seminal work for the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy. Since 2003, no other franchise has come anywhere close in terms of the film or its score. Not HARRY POTTER. Not THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA. Not THE GOLDEN COMPASS.

In the short term, I think New Line will be alright with the box office returns, but I'm not so sure about the success of sequels. Fans of the books have already made their outcry against the changes made and I'm uncertain just how many new fans the film will bring to the books. Perhaps the score will be more entertaining on its soundtrack release...I'm really hoping it will. Until then, my attention looks forward to I AM LEGEND and beyond...

4 Tracks from THE GOLDEN COMPASS: GAME by JAMIE CHRISTOPHERSON

A few days late, but HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

As you may or may not be aware, veteran game-score composer JAMIE CHRISTOPHERSON provides the musical score the the game-tie-in for the upcoming THE GOLDEN COMPASS film. Of course, this isn't the first time he has written music for a game tie-in from a New Line film. He also provided some wonder music for THE LORD OF THE RINGS: BATTLE FOR MIDDLE EARTH 2, which matched Howard Shore's established sound to a J-R-R-T.

Now you can get a glimpse into the musical textures of the game which likely are tied to ALEXANDRE DESPLAT's work for the actual film (I haven't yet confirmed this yet). There are four complete tracks available for your listening pleasure.

CHECK THE TRACKS OUT HERE

The Golden Compass Theatrical Trailer

The full, theatrical trailer for one of the holiday seasons most anticipated films, THE GOLDEN COMPASS, was recently released by New Line. The trailer is over 3 minutes long and contains some nice visuals (even beyond Ms. Kidman). The trailer contains music from Blank in the Blank by Blank Blankton Blankward (you know exactly what and who). The music for the climactic portion of the trailer, I'm not able to easily identify. If you recognize it, please post a comment here! And finally it concludes with Lisa Gerrard vocals from Gladiator. Overall...a pretty meaty trailer.

I dont' peg the prolific minimalist, ALEXANDER DESPLAT, as one for the fantasy genre, so I'm more than a little intrigued to hear his work. Definitely can't be a minimalist score for a film with visuals this big.

It seems that New Line is hoping this to be their next Lord of the Rings franchise. I have my doubts that it will be that big, but we'll see. The CG animals leave a little to be desired for starters, but good voice-actors may overcome that.


You can check it out at Yahoo Movies in both standard and high resolution versions.

The Lady in the Trailer

It absolutely amazes me. The indelible mark that James Newton Howard's recent work has left upon Hollywood is truly amazing. In particular I refer to his music for the much underappreciated film LADY IN THE WATER. Yes...I speak of the film itself as being underappreciated. James Newton Howard's score has gotten many accolades, including here at Tracksounds.

Now, odds are if have been to your local multiplex in the last few months and you might have noticed something. References to Howard's score for this film are everywhere. Recently, when I went to see STARDUST I was baptized in Howard's LADY IN THE WATER. Prior to the start of the feature film (you know... some 30 minutes prior these days?) there were two film trailers that played back-to-back (THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES, THE GOLDEN COMPASS) which featured his score. And his influence doesn't stop there. In STARDUST itself Eshkeri was, at times, clearly influenced by "the Lady" as well. Check out our full review of STARDUST for more about Eshkeri's excellent score.

And there is more. In Steve Jablonsky's D-WAR (DRAGON WARS) James Newton Howard is climbing in, out, and all around that score as well. Look for our review on that D-WAR soon. Like STARDUST, Jablonsky's score has been positively influenced by Howard's work.

Somehow it seems Mr. Howard hit the fantastic-bullseye with his score for LADY IN THE WATER. About a decade ago it was the work of Randy Edelman that seemed to crawl from trailer to trailer. Edelman's work for DRAGONHEART and DRAGON: THE BRUCE LEE STORY were everywhere. Looks as though a new Trailer King has been crowned. Next time you see a trailer for a fantasy film in the theater, download one, or catch one on TV, pay close attention as you might catch a audible glimpse of The Lady in the Trailer.