Godzilla Movie

Junkie XL's GVK score may have been bad, but one thing stands out

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sonictiger

MemberGiganMay-24-2021 5:37 PM

We can all admit that Tom Holkenborg's score for Godzilla Vs. Kong was pretty disappointing, but there's one moment that stands out from the rest.  At the 10 minute 40 second mark of the final track in score (Hong Kong), we truly get to see the potential that was wasted by the otherwise not great score we saw in the majority of the film.  As in that final bit there's simply a work of art in there.  It's an emotional piece (reminiscent of Stranger Things and Marvel mashed together) that may feel out of line from the more "epic" approach that the film had been aiming for.  While Bear Mcreary's Godzilla: King of The Monsters score is the best overall score in the MonsterVerse, the last bit of Junkie's Hong Kong is better than all of it.  I know everyone may not agree with me on that, but my opinion is this one segment is MASTER quality.

That's all for now....share your thoughts in the comments if you want to!

“Calling yourself a hero make you a self-mythologizing narcissistic autocrat!”
26 Replies

sonictiger

MemberGiganMay-24-2021 5:38 PM

This is my most unpopular opinion yet, I know.

“Calling yourself a hero make you a self-mythologizing narcissistic autocrat!”

Djdndnejwnwn

MemberGiganMay-24-2021 5:44 PM

Many people liked the score, I’m a music nerd, who didn’t. This score is ok. It does have emotion, I’m not a fan of this style in this movie. This style worked great for the Godzilla Anime Trilogy, but Not so much for GvK in my opinion. 

expecting the worst, sets you up for thr worst

Djdndnejwnwn

MemberGiganMay-24-2021 5:47 PM

The soundtrack isn’t the worst, but isn’t the best. I prefer it to the american music they added to the Later Showa americanized versions and the J pop that was in the Godzilla anime.

expecting the worst, sets you up for thr worst

BigGrayGolem

MemberMothra LarvaeMay-24-2021 6:18 PM

I know it was probably a matter of cost, but a Godzilla film without the traditional Ifukube theme really takes something away. Imagine a James Bond film without the theme; there's something missing. Junkie's score ended up sounding like one of those 1990 bargain bin video games that were based on a franchise, but couldn't pay for the rights to use the actual franchise music, so they imitated it with a synth.

Djdndnejwnwn

MemberGiganMay-24-2021 6:32 PM

BigGrayGolem

I don’t think that the problem was that it didn’t have the original theme, but it tried to cheaply imitate it. The synth isn’t the problem either, for example, even though many don’t like the Godzilla Anime, it has an absolutely amazing score, made with a synth.

expecting the worst, sets you up for thr worst

7amey

MemberBaragonMay-24-2021 10:38 PM

Every film of the Monsterverse have wildly different scores. GvK's is probably the weakest, but it's not too bad on it's own. I don't understand, though, why Holkenborg abandoned the classic theme. Maybe he thinks he's innovative, I don't know.

Djdndnejwnwn

MemberGiganMay-24-2021 10:44 PM

7amey

It’s not that he abandoned the OG Theme. It’s that he tried to imitate the chords and randomly placed them.

expecting the worst, sets you up for thr worst

7amey

MemberBaragonMay-24-2021 10:59 PM

SarcasticGoji

Here is Holkenborg's history with Godzilla:

“I’m such a Godzilla freak. I have all the Japanese versions of the movies. At a certain point, just for s**ts and giggles, I wrote something for Godzilla. About two years ago, I met the director because he showed interest in me as a composer. I asked him, ‘Do you know I’m the biggest Godzilla fan on the planet, and, years ago, I wrote some stuff.’ He was like, ‘You’re kidding me?’ So we started communicating, I tweaked what I did, played it for him, and he was totally in love.”

I have no idea why they tried to imitate the original theme while they had the rights to it.

G. H. (Gman)

AdminGodzillaMay-24-2021 11:35 PM

I think the truly baffling thing is they shelled out the rights for Godzilla's theme in not only King of the Monsters, but Ready Player One as well. But not Godzilla vs. Kong?

I'm on the fence over whether or not Ifukube's theme should be in every Godzilla movie, but after Ready Player One, it's a little odd that it wasn't used in GvK.

"'Nostalgic' does not equal 'good,' and 'standards' does not equal 'elitism.'" "Being offended is inevitable. Living offended is your choice."

Kattozilla

MemberAnguirusMay-25-2021 4:53 AM

on the topic of synths, what about Cozzilla's theme? The main title actually sounds epic

It would probably sound better as an alien/space theme, buuut who am i to judge

i've officially left. thanks for the memories!

Die-hard Spino Fan

MemberBaragonMay-25-2021 8:18 AM

The soundtrack is... meh. It’s meh. 

That is one big pile of shit - Ian Malcom, 1993

sonictiger

MemberGiganMay-25-2021 8:38 AM

The soundtrack is meh but y'all are missing the point of the whole thing.  Look at what I wrote closely and TRY AGAIN

“Calling yourself a hero make you a self-mythologizing narcissistic autocrat!”

Djdndnejwnwn

MemberGiganMay-25-2021 8:40 AM

I did, and again, I said it didn’t completely work for me, it’s one of the better scores, but not my favorite 

expecting the worst, sets you up for thr worst

sonictiger

MemberGiganMay-25-2021 8:42 AM

I meant LISTEN TO THAT LAST PART and know what I'm talking about.

I actually am very confused why Junkie didn't use THE REAL Godzilla theme

“Calling yourself a hero make you a self-mythologizing narcissistic autocrat!”

Djdndnejwnwn

MemberGiganMay-25-2021 8:42 AM

i did, 10:40 mark

expecting the worst, sets you up for thr worst

sonictiger

MemberGiganMay-25-2021 9:06 AM

So.....get my point now?

“Calling yourself a hero make you a self-mythologizing narcissistic autocrat!”

Djdndnejwnwn

MemberGiganMay-25-2021 9:10 AM

Not really, It’s not my favorite. It suffers from the problems of the rest of the score. The entire score is decent, but not really what I want.

expecting the worst, sets you up for thr worst

sonictiger

MemberGiganMay-25-2021 9:23 AM

Honestly, I agree but even though it does feel out of place for this frankly mediocre score it works.

“Calling yourself a hero make you a self-mythologizing narcissistic autocrat!”

Djdndnejwnwn

MemberGiganMay-25-2021 9:34 AM

not for me.. it’s not the style even, it’s just the score itself feels cheaply and sloppily done for me

expecting the worst, sets you up for thr worst

sonictiger

MemberGiganMay-25-2021 10:43 AM

That's true for the rest of the score.

“Calling yourself a hero make you a self-mythologizing narcissistic autocrat!”

Die-hard Spino Fan

MemberBaragonMay-25-2021 11:15 AM

KOTM's score is way better than Gvk's. No if's and's or but's about it.

That is one big pile of shit - Ian Malcom, 1993

sonictiger

MemberGiganMay-25-2021 11:25 AM

THAT IS TRUE, I wasn't saying that at all.

“Calling yourself a hero make you a self-mythologizing narcissistic autocrat!”

Kattozilla

MemberAnguirusMay-25-2021 11:26 AM

yeah, it is pretty great.

i've officially left. thanks for the memories!

sonictiger

MemberGiganMay-25-2021 11:30 AM

Godzilla's KOTM theme is the best part of THAT score.

“Calling yourself a hero make you a self-mythologizing narcissistic autocrat!”

Djdndnejwnwn

MemberGiganMay-25-2021 11:37 AM

sonictiger

KOTMs Score was amazing especially Godzilla’s Theme. Bear Mcreary did a good job remastering the OG goji theme

 

expecting the worst, sets you up for thr worst

Djdndnejwnwn

MemberGiganMay-25-2021 11:37 AM

the theme that you said is the best part is the march section of the theme 

expecting the worst, sets you up for thr worst

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