The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers - The Complete Recordings

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Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0093624437628 Format: Soundtrack Label: Warners Manufacturer: Warners Number Of Discs: 4 Publisher: Warners Release Date: 2006-11-20 Running Time: 188 Studio: Warners
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Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Short review of a stunning, long set of music CDS & DVD Comment: Okay, there are a few reviews here which are quite long and cover every detail. I think one was actually longer than one of the books. However, I'm not going to do that. I received this set today and have played all the CDs twice. Helps to have a CD system which has at least a three CD capacity, that way it's seamless. The music is amazing. I already knew this having seen the film. However, to hear it all, every note, without dialogue, is something else. I have the one disc OST CD, (not leather bound) and this set won't replace it. I'm glad I have both. This set for when I have time, the single when I don't. The quality of sound is excellent, the music superb and while some may have issues with the packaging, I think it looks great. Frankly, I don't need leather bound CD cases, I like these for the music, not just to display. As Bernard Black said when asked if they were real leather editions of Dickens, he'd have to be paid in leather bound notes! Anyway, the cases look fine and I don't use them for frisbee or fetch with the dog. Okay, price. Don't get ripped off by the sellers here who are frankly using the scarcity in the UK to ramp up the price dramatically. Play.com has this set for sale for thirty five pounds. Yes, it says presently out of stock, but put in an order anyway. I did about three weeks ago and as soon as they had it, it was sent. Problem is that when they have outstanding orders, they get filled first, but if you are one of those you're fine. They don't take payment before they can deliver, and postage is included. The price on Amazon, (not by Amazon itself I hasten to add) is criminal. So, don't pay that and go elsewhere. And enjoy what is a true musical feast. Customer Rating: Summary: A rare chance to hear a Brilliant FULL Film Musical Score! Comment: Howard Shore's Musical Score for The Two Towers is just like having a ticket to an Orchestra performance in a Grand Hall, but you are enjoying it in your home, at work, or when you are out and about. I am so thrilled to hear it in it's full glory. I get what I call "chilly bones" or "sparks on the mainframe" otherwise meaning a tingling sensation down my spine. It's sweeping, it's vast; It takes you places in your head you would like to discover. I think this is Howard Shores Epic Achievement in Music that transcends a Film Score. It's warm like the sun, yet it splashes you with rain and thunderclaps. It is WORTH the money you pay for it! The Score: well, that is what you really buy it for - if you are hesitant in buying it - first try The Two Towers Score. If you enjoy the Complete Score, then it could sway your decision to get The Fellowship of the Ring Complete Score, or just stick to having the regular Lord of the Rings Film Soundtracks, or the Limited Edition Releases if you can still find them. I have the Limited Edition Lord of the Rings Film Soundtracks in Leather binding. The Two Towers Limited Edition Score has 20 tracks, and The Two Towers Complete Score has 35 FULL TRACKS plus the DVD of the Entire Score. I wish people would remember that the Director Peter Jackson doesn't approve anything for release unless it has new or additional material not previously seen or heard. He knows it's frustrating for people if they bought one item, and then another edition comes out. This is something I wish people would consider. They had to see first if there was a demand and market because complete film scores are rare or non-existent. I think this is a one off, so enjoy the luxury of having a full score for a change, instead of the edited choices being made for you on the regular film soundtracks. I don't feel ripped off - I was just a bit annoyed at first. The only time I would be really ANGRY would be if in a few years they release a Full Complete Score for all three films in a Leather Binding! I am still happy that I purchased The Two Towers Complete Score even though I have the Limited Edition. The design of the inside box containing the CD's and DVD is actually not too bad. There is a ribbon that makes it so the CD book, and Booklet come out easily. The DVD is on the pressboard of the outer box. The CDs are protected - and that is what counts. It should hold up to wear and tear if you take care of your CD's. The Booklet is decent with a sepia tone to the color and black and white images, and passages of the orchestra score. It has widescreen panoramic photographic views from the film. Most of these images are 2.5 cm by 10.5 cm, with a few larger photos from the orchestra playing, so it's not like the glossy full color photos they had for the Limited Edition CD. It does contain different shots from the film, some are not too bad - even though I wouldn't have minded them just being a larger size! There appears one strange large photo of empty chairs with headphones on each backrest, and a boy running to get a seat? Possibly this is Art! It's has the title over it saying - The Themes. I have to say I laughed at it, considering that this photo followed the larger black and white photo with Saruman observing his vast multitude of CGI warriors. Possibly this was just to show people that even though they overworked everyone on this musical production that they were actually allowed breaks. The DVD of the Music: It is in the same style format as was the extended Lord of the Rings DVD Screen Menus. You can select tracks which then play on the screen with an image of the two towers. You have the option to select seperate tracks or to listen the Complete Two Towers Soundtrack in full. The sound was great as far as I am concerned. One problem you could experience is trying to get the DVD off and on the clear rubber gum center tab. I am disappointed in the design of the CARDBOARD SLEEVE that contains the DVD, The Tri-CD Sleeve, and the Booklet. Why is it that my Collector's Limited Edition one disk has a great Leather binding - yet they did not do it for this edition? I admit - it does remind one of Record Boxes for Classical Music. I would have preferred a decent SUPPORT BOX to contain what I consider a very precious treasury of a score! My "new box" had an unexpected DENT in both cover sides - not to the point it would warrant taking it back because I would be faced with the same issue when it's sent again. Dare I mention the copies I did see in the displays of four record stores - being in a condition that no one in their right mind would ever buy it? I have seen bad, and then - well, yeah, these were really manhandled. That is what initially made up my mind not to get it while it was available in the record stores - much to my later regret. I have overcome this flaw to finally just order the CDs and not think about the CD box design. I just want to make sure that collectors who are really concerned about their artifacts have in mind that possibly they just might have to be content with a box that isn't suiting their perfect grading scales even if Amazon went to Amazonian lengths to make sure it was packed and shipped correctly. It's not the shipping - it's how this particular CD box is designed. So please have some caution if you order outside of the U.K. for this item. Anyone who knows decent CD design would consider the weight, shape, and inner support needed if they were making a Deluxe Design for what people would like to have withstand years of use. So fair warned - if you get this Edition - try at least to FOCUS ON THE WONDERFUL SCORE! Then you can ignore the Design flaws of the OUTER SLEEVE. I guess I am used to the Japanese knowing how to make really mind boggling package designs with paper, and then our wonderful western culture hasn't advanced far enough to learn how to even make a decent Box. Even the Design for it looks cheap. Sure it's designed to looks like an aged book with many pages on the sides - um, yeah. I am not impressed. I am IMPRESSED by the MUSIC, much to the annoyance of my neighbors who think I now watch Lord of the Rings all the time, and don't realize it's just a film score on CD. I am now buying The Fellowship of the Ring Complete Recording despite my issues about the Box design. I know the last The Lord of the Rings DVD releases were in paper boxes that were easily damaged. So you have to keep all of the Troll's and Gollum's of the world out of your Lord of the Rings music collection. Keep in mind this CD set is made with paper binding, so your favorite pet might make a real edible edition of it while you are out - much to your dismay. I have two cats and I am hiding this CD set far away from their curious paws and mouths. I am eagerly awaiting the release of The Return of the King - The Complete Recordings. This will probably have people cueing because Internet legend says that there is a cut of this film that is 6 hours. Once they release The Return of the King - The Complete Recordings we will all find out if this is true. Customer Rating: Summary: Stop moaning about the DVD nubbin!! Comment: Wow. Does life get any better than this? I am sitting in my garden, the sun shining upon my head. In front of me is a silver laptop, bedecked with Lord Of The Rings doodah and other such shizzle. Somehow, the familiar world of my back garden has disappeared. Instead, I am standing upon the brink of a precipice, gazing into the deepening shadows, as a grey, gnarled super-being, Mithrandir, plummets to what can only be his impending doom. His theme plays in my mind, and his sword gleams as it tumbles like heavy straw through the firey chasm. There is nothing quite like the music of these films. Although there are some exceptional musicians, and technical geniuses amongst the music industry, (I am speaking of bands such as Dream Theater, to name one,) nobody and nothing has come close to the emotion you can feel while listening to this material. Perhaps a lone, wavering note from the hands of David Gilmour might move you in similar ways. Regardless - in my personal opinion, this is the ultimate pinnacle, in terms of film soundtrack. The packaging is beautiful - an aged leather-bound book gleams from your sweaty palms, and you handle the box with care, subconsciously. You really don't want to disturb whatever miracle is lying beneath the sturdy cover. People complaining about the DVD nub - Eh??? I took the DVD out.... and put it back again. The world didn't crumble, the sky did not implode in fire and brimstone, and blood did not begin gushing from the nearest tap. It's not BRILLIANT... But blimey, you're holding the most outstanding achievement ever to have surfaced in film music. Believe me - DVD nubs matter not at this stage. Buy this. Buy it now. And when you have it... Keep it secret... Keep it safe!! A word to my fellow muso fans out here: The accompanying booklet with this is awesome. I'm on the final leg of my Popular Music college course, and when you have a fair understanding of harmony, hooks, rhythmic technicality and such like, this will just add to the experience. Reading along, checking out the noted harmonies, the comments regarding the themes, and all the while having this astonishing piece of music playing, is a dream. Don't be fool of a Took, and get your greasy paws on one of these as soon as you can. Yeah, they are a fair bit in regards to price, but seriously - worth every penny. Plus, when you have it, you KNOW it's something that cost you. It's not flimsy, it doesn't disappoint, and it really stands up for itself. Right, time for some biscuits.... Customer Rating: Summary: Simply brilliant Comment: The conplete score is a work of genius, howard shore is and should be proud of his achievement, these works made the films far better than they would have been under anyone else. Its very rare for someone to release the complete score to a film and i for one am glad they are doing it for the lord of the rings films. The music is very emotional and conveys the mood perfecly throughout the films. I read the comments from the one reviewer saying he thought this was a rip-off, but the previous soundtrack releases where not complete versions of the films score, it was just a small selection. so i for one dont see this as a rip-off, its the complete score and not a cut down version. The effort that went into this production will probably never be surpassed in cinema history, so i for one am glad to part with my money to get this and the return of the king socre, when its released. Customer Rating: Summary: A Masterpiece in Movie Soundtrack Music Comment: Howard Shaw has once again proved himself among the best of film music composers with this the second installment in the trilogy. I must confess to liking the three films and being a collector of film soundtrack albums simply had to have the Lord of the Rings soundtracks and went straight out to get all three when I could. Then came the Complete Recording of the Fellowship and once again had to have it, and was i dissapointed? Absolutely not. That one had everything that the original album missed out and more. Then I waited and waited for this the Two Towers Complete Recording and once more I am stunned. The themes tell the story so well you do not need the pictures, and to me that makes for the best soundtrack music. So many fail to live up to their screen presence, this one does not. Deep, dark, joyous, fearful, happy and sad... all of the emotions are here. But, its more than a cinematic soundtrack. With choral music, symphony, even folk... and yes the actors get to sing as well, there's something for everyone here. The music takes you on the journey with the ring, you meet every character; good and bad, feel what they feel and more besides. Three CD's for your normal player, A DVD in 5.1 surround sound and a book to tell you a bit about the tracks, how they were created and what instruments were used. All in a box that resembles an old book (to match the first one). OK, the box is a bit flimsy but oh the music... and thats what you pays your money for, the music. I cannot recommend this more highly. More Reviews