PR: Superman Returns

[cinemediapromo]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SUPERMAN RETURNS: ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SCORE
FEATURES MUSIC BY ACCLAIMED COMPOSER JOHN OTTMAN AND AN EXCLUSIVE VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH BRYAN SINGER

Available June 27 From Rhino Records

LOS ANGELES – The thrilling and dramatic score from Superman Returns, the highly anticipated film featuring the Man of Steel’s latest heroic adventure, arrives in stores June 27, with nearly an hour of music from award-winning composer John Ottman (Fantastic Four, X2). The score album will be enhanced with an exclusive video interview with the film’s director, Bryan Singer (X2: X-Men United, X-Men, The Usual Suspects), a featurette on the making of the score and two trailers for the film.

Recorded with a 97-piece orchestra led by conductor Damon Intrabartolo, SUPERMAN RETURNS: ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SCORE features Ottman’s epic score including his unique twists on themes that John Williams composed for the original 1978 film, such as the classic main theme, “Superman March.” Superman Returns stars newcomer Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, Parker Posey and Kevin Spacey. Released by Warner Bros. Pictures, the film will open nationwide on June 30.

SUPERMAN RETURNS: ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SCORE (Rhino) will be available June 27 at all retail outlets and at www.rhino.com for a suggested retail price of $18.98.

The score album also includes liner notes penned by Ottman, who writes about his admiration for the 1978 original and its Williams score. “When Bryan (Singer) called informing me we were going to be making this film, I could actually feel my neck and shoulders tightening up. I mean, this is the Man of Steel. This is THE superhero. Why are we fooling with this!? Soon thereafter I swear I could see an apparition of John Williams, like Obi Wan Kenobi, waving his fingers, mouthing, ‘Don’t screw this up.’ It wasn’t as much the weight of also editing the picture, but foremost, the musical behemoth and responsibility ahead.”

SUPERMAN RETURNS: ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SCORE follows the release of Sound Of Superman, a collection of rising stars paying musical tribute to the red-caped American icon, which will be released by Rhino on June 13.

About Superman Returns
Following a mysterious absence of several years, the Man of Steel comes back to Earth in the epic action-adventure Superman Returns, a soaring new chapter in the saga of one of the world’s most beloved Super Heroes. While an old enemy plots to render him powerless once and for all, Superman (Brandon Routh) faces the heartbreaking realization that the woman he loves, Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth), has moved on with her life. Or has she? Superman’s bittersweet return challenges him to bridge the distance between them while finding a place in a society that has learned to survive without him. In an attempt to protect the world he loves from cataclysmic destruction, Superman embarks on an epic journey of redemption that takes him from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of outer space.

Directed by Bryan Singer (X2: X-Men United, X-Men, The Usual Suspects), SUPERMAN RETURNS stars newcomer Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth (Beyond the Sea, Blue Crush), James Marsden (X2: X-Men United, The Notebook), Frank Langella (HBO’s Unscripted), Academy Award-winner Eva Marie Saint (North By Northwest), Parker Posey (Best in Show), Sam Huntington (Detroit Rock City), Kal Penn (Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle) and Oscar-winner Kevin Spacey (Beyond the Sea, American Beauty, The Usual Suspects).

About DC Comics
DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman. These DC super heroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics’ Web site is located at www.dccomics.com.

About Rhino Entertainment
Based in Burbank, California, Warner Music Group’s Rhino Entertainment serves as the central catalog development, licensing, soundtrack, and television marketing area for the corporation. Rhino develops, markets, and promotes both audio and video products from the vast WMG catalog and through new productions with established artists. The division is also responsible for licensing WMG’s music for film, television, and video game uses, and for creating custom premium products.
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Contact: cinemediapromo@yahoo.com

[Fargobah]

I picked this up yesterday and have listened to it probably about 5 times now. I won't see the movie until Saturday, but I have been waiting for this since I heard Ottman was going to incorporate John Williams's classic score into his.

While he does this, Mr. Ottman does himself proud. He has just enough of JW's melodies in his original music so it doesn't draw you away from his own.

I especially enjoy track number 2 (Memories) which has a bit of Williams's Leaving Home theme.

The one drawback I found was that there were some similarities to X-2. But it is a minor, picky picky thing. At least he doesn't play the same music over and over again like James Horner.

While this probably won't garner an Oscar nomination (and I don't think it would be eligible because of the Williams themes) but this is the best of Ottman's work. I would rank his work still below the Masters (Williams, Goldsmith, Shore) but I would say he has made a leaping bound towards them with Superman Returns.

[Deacon]

I was a little disappointed. I've been listening to it for the last week, and whilst some cues do stand out - 'Memories, as you mentioned, 'Rough Flight' and 'Bank Job' - none of it works as well as Williams's themes. I've actually been having more fun listening to Brian Tyler's "Tokyo Drift" score.

[Fargobah]

Deac,

I would have been floored if Ottman's score outdid Williams. I agree, there are some places where it is dull, but I would still give it 8.5 / 10 scale. I think once I see the movie, the soundtrack will take on more resonance.

It's like when I hear the Planet Krypton theme from the Original, and it's cranked, I get goosebumps. There are parts (such as Memories, Little Secrets/Power of the Sun) that are prettu darn close to goosebump level.

[jayce78]

Yea , . . . I thought Ottman's stepped in quite nicely. There's noway you could out do Williams '78' score . . .

I think Track #4 is very stirring too . . . .one of my favorite parts of the score actually.

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/9769/fbui1.png (http://imageshack.us)

Is it just me or does T:#2 have a little Jerry Goldsmith 'Supergirl' sound to it?

I like that!!

[Belledame]

After seeing the movie I had to have the soundtrack. I really enjoy it and rotate it in my iPod all the time.

[JackCross]

I swear throughout this entire movie I kept thinking to myself "Wasn't that opening song from Spaceballs and other noted movies that age or older?" Musically, I found that the movie brought nothing new to the table. Then again could just be me.

Singer should have stuck with the X-men series.

[sickness]

Hell yeah he should have. Both suffered for it. There were some compelling ideas in both but X3 was turned to shit by the reset button philosophy -- there were no consequences -- and SR suffered because Singer chose to cherrypick certain elements from the mythology of the Donner movies (note: I know Donner was replaced on II less than halfway through but his influence is clear throughout except the crappy kiss of forgetfulness). In the end, he has a supposed sequel which only halfway respects its predecessors meaning ultimately it doesn't respect them at all.