Music by John Williams (2024)

It took me a little more than a month to get to this review and I feel like I should have prioritized it sooner, given that it’s about the man who brought joy to my childhood. The fact that he was the composer for almost half of my favorite movies speaks for itself. I’ve never had the pleasure of finally watching Music by John Williams until now. I’ll start off by saying (as everyone already knows) that the man is an absolute legend. Even if you’re not into movies, his music is instantly recognizable to anyone. From Jaws, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, Superman, Harry Potter, and of course, Star Wars, the second you hear the theme, you know it’s John Williams. And thanks to this documentary, there’s so many other films that I just have to see, because even though I’ve seen quite a bunch, I feel like there’s so many others that I’m missing out on. And I apologize (not really) if I end up going on a spiel that goes on longer than it needs to but if you know anything about me, then you know that’s kind of unavoidable. So, let’s delve deeper into more detail.

     The movie basically tells the story of the life of film composer, John Williams, from his childhood to the giant he is today. And it was a story that had me hooked from start to finish. From the very first minute of the film where I get to hear some of Williams’ classic scores, my inner child was immediately awakened. Well, at least the part that’s more positive. I can safely say and I think anyone who knows anything about movies will agree, that movies would not be the same without music. And John Williams is proof of that. I guess if I can get on a more personal level, Star Wars: A New Hope is where my love of movies began. I remember when I was five years old, I had on old VHS tape of it and when I watched it the first time. It was like being transported to another world and one of the many things about it that always stuck with me was the music. When I first heard that opening theme with the crawl, I was in absolute awe. I’ve always enjoyed a good story with great sets and actors but when the music score comes in, you can feel the chills go up your spine, the tension building, or your emotions being toyed with. I guess that’s just the true power of John Williams, because his music can do those and so much more. It was also really cool to see interviews with the people that Williams has worked with throughout the years. If you’re a fan, then you’ll know who some of them are. I may be picky when it comes to certain things but I’m a fan of any genre of movie, and that includes documentaries. And this was one of the best ones I’ve seen in a while.

     I think it’s safe to say that my childhood would not be the same if it wasn’t for John Williams. I remember how obsessed I was with Indiana Jones when I was a little kid. I even had the Raiders March as a ringtone once; that’s how big of a fan I’ve always been. Movies have always been a big part of my life and the music score is always one of my favorite things about them. And I cannot wait to see what else I’m missing. So, as someone who’s a fan of the classics and being that John Williams is my favorite composer, there’s no doubt in my mind that I would have to give this movie a perfect 10 out of 10. If you’re a fan of the classics or the man himself, then you should definitely give this movie a watch if you haven’t already. I can guarantee that you’ll be as enthralled as I was.