Word: theming
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...recurrent theme in Alice Adams' latest collection of short stories, The Last Lovely City. Before you write her book off as fluffy beach reading, though, know that it isn't about just any kind of sex--this is about what one of the characters (embarrassed and somewhat surprised that she can still get crushes "at her age") calls "geriatric sex." This caveat, coupled with the novel's fun themes of loss, aging and solitude, might take this off the list of cheery summer flings...
...parts of the plot. I say apparently because I have avoided them assiduously, and listing them here would only, of course, tempt the reader to spoil it for him/herself as well. So while I will discuss the few pieces that won't give anything away (such as "Anakin's Theme"), you'll have to buy the soundtrack (or glance at the back in Newbury Comics) to find out what the rest...
...course, the traditional Star Wars main title opens the soundtrack. And after the opening fanfare, there's the traditional subsiding into a more subdued theme. In this case, it is not the sound of a threatening attack of a Star Destroyer on a tiny vessel or the thumping triad notes of Darth Vader's theme but a grand, sweeping piece that is reminiscent of the Indiana Jones films. Mark my words: the opening scene of the film judging simply from the music, will have some sort of advancing army or caravan, be it droid, human or beast, across a plain...
...third track, "Anakin's Theme," is one of the finest examples of Williams' genius in film music. Anakin Skywalker, of course, will become the Darth Vader of the original films (if that's a spoiler for you, then you probably don't care anyway). Having to work backward from the other three Star Wars soundtracks, Williams has embedded the familiar notes of "Darth Vader's Theme" (also known as the "Imperial March") within the slow, thoughtful piece. One can easily imagine the notes solidifying more and more over the next two films and into the familiar, thundering music of Darth...
However, the soundtrack of The Phantom Menace is somewhat disappointing in its lack of energy. Quirky, dainty and mysterious themes abound, but there is little of the excitement of a "Battle of Yavin" from the original film or the track titled "Return of the Jedi" from that film's soundtrack. There is something that sounds suspiciously similar to "The Emperor's Theme" from Return of the Jedi, but I can't be entirely sure. Of course, the familiar Obi-Wan Kenobi/The Force theme is present from time to time; but they are mere gestures that haunt the soundtrack, which actually...