Some things in your review really bother me. Just like with DOS, you spend two to three paragraphs complaining about the score's problems, and you every right to do that. What's more, 99% of your complaints are justified! Why, then, do you always comfort yourself by saying that, in the end, it's all unimportant because it's all better than most film scores?

Yes, these scores are superior to most scores, and, yes, compared to LOTR, they are INFERIOR. You say that these scores shouldn't be compared to LOTR. They should, for the simple reason that PJ insisted on 're-doing' LOTR. If he absolutely has to produce three films in two cuts with the same amount of (useless) extras and the same composer, the comparison is very, very valid indeed.

You also say that the lack of DVD audio might be responsible for some parts of your review. Why are you so obsessively trying to like these scores? The only times I really thought I was in Middle Earth was during parts of AUJ (Wargs, Misty MOuntains and yes, tracked music!) and Bard's Family theme in Fire and Water. Why? Because not a single moment in the scores is as grand as these, and more importantly, nothing seems genuine anymore. It all feels forced and obligatory, not to mention lacking decent orchestration. Where are the layers of trombones, horns and female choir? Where is the enthusiasm in the performance? This has nothing to do with stereo sound, it has all to do with tired performances/composers. How long can you listen to the endless, boring Erebor/Dragon theme before wondering when the hell you're finally getting something else? The tracked music/rerecordings, even those that don't make thematic sense, all sound better.

Also, a point about the themes. These three scores are intellectual works of art, I'll give you that. But no matter what you think, the total rejection of especially the MM theme is SENSELESS and OUTRAGEOUS. Shore might have written 50 themes for this franchise, but that one theme was the main theme for the 'common folk'. When I was in the theatre, we were all nudging each other whenever that theme entered the score. The attempts to explain its absence away are just pathetic.
- There is no company anymore. Right, only Gandalf is missing sometimes.
- They passed the MMs. Yeah, because the troll fight took place on the MMs, didn't it?
- Sons of Durin takes its place. Interesting, but then that connection needs to be clearly established thematically.

The total change of direction since AUJ is also unacceptable to me, and then I'm not only talking about your 'ADD'. How did we go from adventure to Silence of the Lambs? You really can't just ignore all these major problems by saying that other film scores are worse.

I never liked the non-thematic original Star Wars trilogy music, but at least JW never completely shocked me in style. What's more, The Force Awakens and the prequel trilogy have some outstanding moments (Rey, Across the Stars, Duel of the Fates). Where are those moments here? Where is the fire, the fervour, the 'For Frodo', the 'Theoden Rides Forth'? Where?!