I find some of the suspense tracks (like "Execution") a little grating, but "Etude" is beautiful. A couple of other highlights too, like "Pran's theme" and "Requiem for a City".
From what I remember in the film, it works pretty well (brilliant film!). Cant say I have ever sat down and listened to the score. On another point, its 30 years since the great John Pilger reported the holocaust carried out by Pol Pot in Cambodia. Shame on ALL who were responsible for what happened to that poor country.
From what I remember in the film, it works pretty well (brilliant film!). Cant say I have ever sat down and listened to the score. On another point, its 30 years since the great John Pilger reported the holocaust carried out by Pol Pot in Cambodia. Shame on ALL who were responsible for what happened to that poor country.
I was actually in the capital Phnom Penh in March, but time prevented me from visiting the Killing Fields (we went to Angkor Wat instead). Curiously, on the 6-hour bus ride from Siem Reap (where Angkor Wat was located) to Phnom Penh, they showed this film on the television. Kinda strange choice, since the majority of the passengers were locals. It's not exactly upbeat viewing and one would think it would ressurect some kind of national trauma.
I find some of the suspense tracks (like "Execution") a little grating, but "Etude" is beautiful. A couple of other highlights too, like "Pran's theme" and "Requiem for a City".
I think you know I love this one. The electronic elements of the score may not be to everyones taste but I've always said it was worth picking up for the superb orchestral moments of which I'm certain British "classical" composer David Bedford had more than a hand in.
I had the LP once and found it very amateurish. Didn't like it at all, and I usually like Oldfield.
Harsh words FB. I totally disagree, maybe it's time you gave it another try?
I don't have it anymore. I just think it sounded amateurish compared to some of his later (non-film) works like Tubular Bells II, Songs Of Distant Earth, Tubular Bells III and Tres Lunas, to mention a few.
What a coincidence! I pulled this one out only yesterday having not heard it for a few years. Love the main theme (Pran's Theme) and its orchestral variants particularly in the choir (Requim For A City). Putting all those elements into your mp3 playlist makes a fine suite. The electronics are quite challenging (hardly amateurish!) and difficult to listen to with the exception of the last two tracks.
I do remember an interview with James Horner years ago when asked about what his favourite score was and initially he cited Mike Oldfield's The Killing Fields and made a point of mentioning the way he used the electronics in the score. I think he also then went on to mention Bernstein's To Kill A Mocking Bird.
The orchestral elements in The Killing Fields are a great listen whilst the electronic section varies from challenging to good (Etude - not by Oldfield though if memory serves me right).
From what I remember in the film, it works pretty well (brilliant film!). Cant say I have ever sat down and listened to the score. On another point, its 30 years since the great John Pilger reported the holocaust carried out by Pol Pot in Cambodia. Shame on ALL who were responsible for what happened to that poor country.
I was actually in the capital Phnom Penh in March, but time prevented me from visiting the Killing Fields (we went to Angkor Wat instead). Curiously, on the 6-hour bus ride from Siem Reap (where Angkor Wat was located) to Phnom Penh, they showed this film on the television. Kinda strange choice, since the majority of the passengers were locals. It's not exactly upbeat viewing and one would think it would ressurect some kind of national trauma.
I find some of the suspense tracks (like "Execution") a little grating, but "Etude" is beautiful. A couple of other highlights too, like "Pran's theme" and "Requiem for a City".
I think you know I love this one. The electronic elements of the score may not be to everyones taste but I've always said it was worth picking up for the superb orchestral moments of which I'm certain British "classical" composer David Bedford had more than a hand in.
That's not an unreasonable assumption, probably no more than Shirley Walker in her years as an orchestrator for various composers.
The use of a popular Puccini aria to emphasize the writer's emotional suffering came in for much criticism at the time. Of course this was the filmmakers' choice, not the composer's.
From what I remember in the film, it works pretty well (brilliant film!). Cant say I have ever sat down and listened to the score. On another point, its 30 years since the great John Pilger reported the holocaust carried out by Pol Pot in Cambodia. Shame on ALL who were responsible for what happened to that poor country.
A moral post of some social conscience by me over 4 years ago. Impressive!
I'd been thinking about watching this one again recently and today I had the opportunity. I guess I wanted to see if the years had diminished any of its potency...
I'd been thinking about watching this one again recently and today I had the opportunity. I guess I wanted to see if the years had diminished any of its potency...
Not one bit.
The film is brilliant. The score is brilliant.
I watched it for the first time in years a few months back. It's a great film. It is unfortunate that the film is just as relevant today. A deeply moving and harrowing film.
