Best Recent Theme

[Ledzo 0]

llll

[Incanus 5,890]

From that bunch Angela's Ashes. No hesitation and no doubts. It is followed as a close second by Hymn to the Fallen and Omaha Beach theme.

[robthehand 3]

The love theme from The Terminal.

[Lurker 5]

Hymn to the Fallen

Neil

[nightscape94 968]

Minority Report has Sean's Theme, which is even the name of one of the CD tracks. Though I still wouldn't choose it. I'm going with the love theme from The Terminal. Fantastic theme from one of my favorite recent scores.

Tim

[Justin 2]

Hymn To The Fallen.

Justin

[Orson 1]

Love theme from The Terminal.

[Morlock 12]

I'm with Neil on this one. 'Hymn to The Fallen' is one of my favorite JW compositions. Although, of course, I love all themes on the list, with the exception of The Omaha Beach theme, which works well in context, but sounds too much like Zimmer's Lion King for my liking.

My runner-ups would be 'The Days Between' and the secondary theme from Angela's Ashes.

[nightscape94 968]

The problem with 'Hymn to the Fallen' is that it is NOT a theme. It is a separate peice of music that is not incorporated into the score and used strictly for the end credits.

Tim

[Justin 2]

Why is that a problem?

Justin

[Morlock 12]

The representative from Ohio has already expressed my opinion, there is no reason to waste valuable MB space with my reply.

[nightscape94 968]

Why is that a problem?

Justin

Have you read the thread title?

Tim

[Morlock 12]

It is a theme, it is recent, and at least 3 people think it is best.

[nightscape94 968]

It is a theme, it is recent, and at least 3 people think it is best.

Well 2 out of three ain't bad

Tim

[Morlock 12]

Nope- sorry! it is a theme. The fact that it was not used in the film itself makes no difference.

[Richard P 5,303]

Love Theme from The Terminal, and the theme from 'Angela's Prayer'

Oh, and I count Hymn to the Fallen as a theme. After all, the concert version of Anakin's theme is only for the credits, yet it's counted as a theme.

[Jeshopk 8]

I chose the Patriot with the beautiful Ann and Gabriel theme imbedded.

[nightscape94 968]

Oh, and I count Hymn to the Fallen as a theme. After all, the concert version of Anakin's theme is only for the credits, yet it's counted as a theme.

If that's your argument, then you're actually helping me because you're incredibly wrong about its use in TPM.

Tim

[MSM 194]

What is recent? If you count Patriot as recent, then I'd say theme from the second half of Harry's Wondrous World.

[Morlock 12]

What is recent? If you count Patriot as recent, then I'd say theme from the second half of Harry's Wondrous World.

Putting Star Wars and Harry Potter aside, as well as score like MR and WOTW that don't have official themes, what do you say in wake of the whole 'declining' thing?

1998 is the cut-off point.

[Jeshopk 8]

You do not count Shawn's Theme from Minority Report? You do not count the electronic spiders theme from Minority Report? Why can JAWS be counted as a theme but not the spiders theme. Both are short motifs but the spiders theme has 11 notes and JAWS has only 2.

[Jacck 23]

I voted for the Omaha beach Theme..

For me it is the most inspired and memorable theme

[ChrisAfonso 237]

THE BLUE FAIRY!

Seriously, how could you leave that one off the list? It's gorgeous!

[nightscape94 968]

I think the Monica theme is so much better then the Blue Fairy theme, especially as heard in "The Reunion".

Tim

[Trumpeteer 304]

Monica's Theme from AI, which is performed the best on "Where Dreams Are Born."

Allow me to chime in and also say that "Hymn to the Fallen" is not a theme. I think to qualify it has to be used in some way in the film (not the credits) to denote some event, person or place.

[MrScratch 296]

Hymn To The Fallen, great theme - boring score.

Jeff

[RomanticStrings 62]

All of them!

~Conor

[MrAsterisk 0]

Hymn to the Fallen

Hymn to the Fallen

[Richard P 5,303]

Hymn To The Fallen, great theme - boring score.

Somber and respectful yes. Boring no

[Henry B 51]

The love theme from The Terminal is one of the few love themes by John Williams that I really love.

"I wish I could just wish away my feelings..."

[Morlock 12]

Monica's Theme from AI, which is performed the best on "Where Dreams Are Born."

Allow me to chime in and also say that "Hymn to the Fallen" is not a theme. I think to qualify it has to be used in some way in the film (not the credits) to denote some event, person or place.

It denotes the fallen, which is one of the major themes of the film. It is not fitting for any particular moment in the film, just captures it as a whole. I think that falls within the jurisdiction of 'theme'.

[nightscape94 968]

Not to sustain the argument further, and after this I promise to shut up about it, but that makes it more a concert piece then a movie theme. You are correct in what it signifies, but a lot of music that isn't film score is meant to do the same. If the music is in no way threaded throughout the actual proceedings of the movie, then I don't believe that music to be a theme, in the true sense of movie themes where it represents a character or setting. A movie theme can even represent an idea, like the Force theme, but in the case of HttF, it acts as more of a concert piece that covers the credits.

Tim

[Morlock 12]

And I believe it can quite comfortably be both a theme and a concert piece that covers the credit. But it is futile to further discuss the point. Steef will come to reveal the truth to us sooner or later. Or he might send one of his cronies (Though Ross has been kinda absent of late).

[JoeinAR 1,957]

Hymn to the Fallen

its made with saccharin, I chose the Float

[scissorhands 16]

Saccharin.... sugar-free. That's good, I guess.

[Morlock 12]

Hymn to the Fallen  

its made with saccharin,  I chose the Float

Hmmm, I didn't taste any artificial sweetner at all. Well, this side of the Atlantic, it's made of only natural prodects, producing a healthy, fat-free, delicious entre. But then again, Neil's in the New Jersey...I'd check the water down there. You've been saying all kinds of goofy things lately.

[batmanand 0]

Theme as a piece of music: Hymn to the Fallen

Theme as used in film: Victor's Theme

Theme as it should have been used in the film, but wasn't despite amazing use on album: Monica's theme

[SturgisPodmore 0]

Minority Report has the following themes/motifs:

-PreCrime

-Spyders

-Anne Lively

-Sean's Theme

-A New Beginning

I know it's four years after the cut-off date, but it does have themes.

Best recent theme: "A Window to the Past"

Best from the list: "Main Titles" from Angela's Ashes, followed by both themes from The Terminal

~Sturgis

[Ray Barnsbury 8]

Of those listed, the Love Theme from The Terminal. So feel-good and uplifting, a nice departure from the hugely sweeping love themes we have so many of. I did notice that leaving Potter off the list really narrows down the list of brilliant themes Williams has composed in recent years. But this is a nice list of selections.

Ray Barnsbury

[Ledzo 0]

llll

[Composer_Fan 2]

I voted for Catch Me If You Can. But The Terminal's themes were close. And I probably would've voted for Minority Report, had it been up there.

[ChrisAfonso 237]

I think the Monica theme is so much better then the Blue Fairy theme, especially as heard in "The Reunion".

Tim

Hm, I couldn't ever really warm up to Monica's Theme. Sure, it's nice, but is has some quality in it that makes it actually more appropriate for the song than for the score... something about those repeated phrases that seem redundant if not combined with differing lyrics. It's so... conventional. The harmonies, too.

[Ollie 1,375]

Monica's Theme followed by Hymn to the Fallen and then The Patriot.

[David Coscina 4]

I voted for "Jazz Autographs" which is the love theme from The Terminal. With its expansive jazz harmonic extensions, it's simply a beautiful theme.

But I would honestly have to say that Sayuri's Theme from MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA is gaining ground as one of my Williams faves from the new millenium. I ripped the theme, Going to School, Confluence (totally awesome track), and Reprise/End Credits to satiate my hunger for the entire score (I pre-ordered it from Amazon to hear the streaming score).

You know, I'm glad Williams had the chance to stretch out with this score. Even though much of it sounds more Chinese than Japanese, I like the Asian flavor and scoring he applied to it. Perhaps they temp tracked the film with Tan Dun because I hear a lot of CTHD and HERO in there.

[David Coscina 4]

I think the Monica theme is so much better then the Blue Fairy theme, especially as heard in "The Reunion".

Tim

Hm, I couldn't ever really warm up to Monica's Theme. Sure, it's nice, but is has some quality in it that makes it actually more appropriate for the song than for the score... something about those repeated phrases that seem redundant if not combined with differing lyrics. It's so... conventional. The harmonies, too.

I think it's too sweet and Andrew Lloyd Weberish sounding. Atypically very simple harmonically and not as compelling as the Blue Fairy theme or David's theme, both of which are built on minor 7th chords. there's very little extended harmonies past the basic triads in Monica's Theme.