What was the last GREAT theme?

[Quintus 5,399]

We all possibly have different definitions of what makes for a "proper" theme, but I'd like to see if the drought has made people stretch their own definitions to beyond the pale of respectability, self worth and an all-time low of self loathing and inner disgust. I mean, does a bridge section even matter any more? What was in your humble opinion the last great "theme" and just how much of a man are you?

[Jay 37,336]

Every year there are plenty of great film score themes. You just need to listen to enough new film scores to find them.

My favorite themes from 2013 would be:

Mark Mancina's main theme to Planes

Admiral Marcus's Theme from Star Trek Into Darkness

Tauriel and Kili's love theme from The Desolation of Smaug

Tauriel's theme from The Desolation of Smaug

House of Durin from The Desolation of Smaug

Smaug's Themes from either AUJ or DOS, depending on your point of view (introduced in AUJ, fully developed in DOS.

Main theme from Now You See Me by Brian Tyler

Main theme from Pacific Rim by Ramin Djawadi

and of course Chris Tilton's great theme to SimCity

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

Hm. If I think about this hard, I'll come up with plenty of examples, but this was the first that popped into my head.

These are disgustingly pitch-shifted. Listen to the real thing if you have it.

[Faleel 5,345]

The House of Durin.

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

The Fellowship theme.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Lee said great themes people....GREAT!

[crocodile 7,999]

"Great" is really relative. But here are some good ones. As good as anything these days.

http://youtu.be/fnqrp15Ogns

http://youtu.be/7PsfCa4O6iI

http://youtu.be/fyXdQj_ufBs

Karol

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Great people....GREAT!

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

On further reflection, over the past few years, the "great" themes for me have been:

- With Malice Towards None from Lincoln

- The Cloud Atlas theme included in the videos I posted above. The Cloud Atlas Sextet is also gorgeous if you want to count that as a theme.

- Bruce's "long" theme from The Dark Knight Trilogy

- The "Time" theme from Inception

- Whatever you guys call the theme in Dreaming of Bag-End

/thread

[crocodile 7,999]

Great people....GREAT!

Hedwig's theme and Across the Stars, then.

Not sure what great means, the 70's/80's/90's scores don't really give me erection, either. Most of them anyway.

Karol

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Across The Stars is basically just the Star Wars main theme in epic strings mode.

But Hedwig's is great.

[crocodile 7,999]

Even if that's true, why would that be bad. Isn't that a stroke of genius?

Karol

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

- Bruce's "long" theme from The Dark Knight Trilogy

What?

- The "Time" theme from Inception

What?

- Whatever you guys call the theme in Dreaming of Bag-End

WHAT???

[Hlao-roo 389]

The last great theme in cinema was David Raksin's dark, glamorous, whimsical Laura.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

- The "Time" theme from Inception

What?

[Quintus 5,399]

The Gondorian theme is the closest I can come up with. A theme which had development, tonally and musically.

[crocodile 7,999]

The last great theme in cinema was David Raksin's dark, glamorous, whimsical Laura.

I think the tune from 2001 beats it.

Karol

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

- The "Time" theme from Inception

What?

- Bruce's "long" theme from The Dark Knight Trilogy

What?

- The "Time" theme from Inception

What?

- Whatever you guys call the theme in Dreaming of Bag-End

WHAT???

Try harder, you titanic twit.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Good theme

[crocodile 7,999]

The Gondorian theme is the closest I can come up with. A theme which had development, tonally and musically.

That's a GOOD one.

Karol

[Faleel 5,345]

- Whatever you guys call the theme in Dreaming of Bag-End

Bilbo's Theme?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

- The "Time" theme from Inception

What?

- Bruce's "long" theme from The Dark Knight Trilogy

What?

- The "Time" theme from Inception

What?

- Whatever you guys call the theme in Dreaming of Bag-End

WHAT???

Try harder, you titanic twit.

I'm sorry...I'm so sorry.

[crocodile 7,999]

I like this one, too:

Karol

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

The Gondorian theme is the closest I can come up with. A theme which had development, tonally and musically.

I personally think that Return Of The King is the last great score.

[Hlao-roo 389]

The last great theme in cinema was David Raksin's dark, glamorous, whimsical Laura.

[Quintus 5,399]

The Gondorian theme is the closest I can come up with. A theme which had development, tonally and musically.

That's a GOOD one.

Karol

Only good? Well it sure had me fooled during the Lighting of the Beacons.

I think that was the last time I got blown away by music in a film.

The Gondorian theme is the closest I can come up with. A theme which had development, tonally and musically.

I personally think that Return Of The King is the last great score.

Agreed.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

It all went downhill after that.

Jerry dying didnt help ofcourse

[crocodile 7,999]

It was a great moment, but, trust me, only film music fan really know the theme.

It didn't help that most of the audience were wondering how on earth would they be able to light a beacon up this high up in the mountains.

The Gondorian theme is the closest I can come up with. A theme which had development, tonally and musically.

That's a GOOD one.

Karol

Only good? Well it sure had me fooled during the Lighting of the Beacons.

I think that was the last time I got blown away by music in a film.

The Gondorian theme is the closest I can come up with. A theme which had development, tonally and musically.

I personally think that Return Of The King is the last great score.

Agreed.

Nah, that would be King Kong.

And no, not Howard's.

And no, not Barry's.

Karol

[Hlao-roo 389]

The last great theme in cinema was David Raksin's dark, glamorous, whimsical Laura.

I think the tune from 2001 beats it.

2001: A Space Odyssey?

[crocodile 7,999]

It's a great tune!

Karol

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

So Richard Strauss wrote the last great movie theme?

[crocodile 7,999]

The film scoring ends on Strauss, yup.

Karol

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

Good, it was over before it even began. That seems about the opinion I'd expect from this place.

[Hlao-roo 389]

Bach would beg to differ.

[crocodile 7,999]

Now that you mention it, Thomas of Celano did one great film tune.

Quite popular, this one.

The most used theme in history, even.

Karol

[Hlao-roo 389]

I had to look that one up, but yes. I like how we went from discussing the last great theme to the first one (or at least the first composed one).

[Wycket 36]

To give an actual answer to the question, here's my top 3 most recent. Not necessarily my favorites or anything, but things I think have made a substantial impact and perhaps even transcended the film they were in.

I'm A Pirate (Pirates of the Caribbean)

Molossus/Whatever you want to call the collective themes of the Nolan Batman movies

Opening Theme from Game of Thrones

[Not Mr. Big 4,639]

The Book Thief's main theme is one of John Williams's best in a long time.

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

Now that you mention it, Thomas of Celano did one great film tune.

Quite popular, this one.

The most used theme in history, even.

Karol

Well he's one of the possible writers anyway. And that's just the text, not the chant I think.

Actually one of the most irritating musical quotations to my ears.

[Hlao-roo 389]

Laura was actually a serious answer, although Williams has come pretty close over the years, especially in composing the first few Star Wars scores. Given the thread title ("GREAT"), however, I tried to be more circumspect.

[crocodile 7,999]

Now that you mention it, Thomas of Celano did one great film tune.

Quite popular, this one.

The most used theme in history, even.

Karol

Well he's one of the possible writers anyway. And that's just the text, not the chant I think.

Actually one of the most irritating musical quotations to my ears.

You must hate an awful lot of music then.

Karol

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

Maybe, but definitely not as much as some people!

[crocodile 7,999]

It's a lazy device sometimes.

And sometimes, if cleverly disguised, might be very cool.

Depends on who's doing it, really.

Karol

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

To be terribly frank, one of the most annoying and out of place incarnations is in CE3K. Always found that motive to be really boring.

I don't mind Shore's descending third though.

[Faleel 5,345]

What motive are we talking about? Dies Irae?

[crocodile 7,999]

Speaking of which, when I first heard V for Vendetta I thought Marianelli was ripping Williams. Oh how naive of me. It doesn't help that the main theme from that score also makes an appearance (in the undeveloped version).

Karol

[Mr. Brown 91]

TAXI DRIVER

Not exactly a traditional theme, but fitting for a groundbreaking film. Captures the grittiness of the film and it was obvious that Herrmann knew the subject matter--both New York and a life of self-conflict and contradiction. I don't think another composer could have done it any better.

Since then, I can't think of a theme that really blows me away. Some of Williams's, I suppose. Early Elfman was interesting, channeling Herrmann (like BEETLEJUICE). Iglesias's theme for TINKER TAILOR was great, I thought.

[Olivier 5]

I agree on Cloud Atlas and Horner's Spider-Man; also the one from Pirates of the Caribbean, which achieved tremendous popularity, well beyond the film score community-- might it be the latest one to have done so?

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

To be terribly frank, one of the most annoying and out of place incarnations is in CE3K. Always found that motive to be really boring.

It's more of a tribute to Herrmann's theme from SISTERS.

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

Iglesias's theme for TINKER TAILOR was great, I thought.

Forgot about this one. Agreed.