spoiled by John Williams's bombastic music

Rating: Null/10 (12 December 2001)

Since he composed the music for Star Wars and Indiana Jones he's one of the Great Unavoidables; and he won't let us forget. The charm of Harry Potter is the whimsical combination of high-quality storyline/visuals with what is essentially a juvenile setting, in the "Boarding School Meets Tolkien" vein. Alas, the film becomes brash, pretentious, and in-your-face by the blaring fanfares and thundering bass strings which are hurled at the audience at all moments and from all corners. From quidditch match to corridor encounters with Snape, there's Williams's MOOZICK telling us that this is BIG and EXCITING. Baboom, vavavavrunch, kablang, tinkletinkle. I found it really annoying and, melodically, very shallow. This type of score is basically an acoustic form of special effects, a horror vacui, and it's all piled on way too thick. Producers, please give us a break in the follow-ups. Less is more; and less Williams would make a much better movie.