Standout main themes in otherwise uninteresting scores

[Quintus 6,494]

Suggestions?

I hear the new Twilight movie has quite a stunning main theme, for example.

I happen to really like Carter Burwell's whimsical theme to Being John Malkovich. I'm always on the lookout for quirky themes like that.

[Charlie Brigden 7]

Does 'Across the Stars' count? It's not necessarily a main theme, but it's the major theme of the film, and a lovely piece in an otherwise okay but not fantastic score.

[Xander Harris 9,673]

JFK

[Quintus 6,494]

@Charlie

Well yes it does count, of course. But not all movies are afforded the pleasure of having the Lord of Themes himself, do their music. Most movies are lucky to have even one good theme, let alone two or three, as JW has been known to provide.

[Ollie 1,375]

Now for those who will start complaining, this in no way means the following scores suck.

The Last Starfighter

The Terminal

Ice Station Zebra

Spacecamp

Star Trek Insurrection (Ba'ku theme)

Signs

[Charlie Brigden 7]

Star Trek Insurrection (Ba'ku theme)

Great example. I'd possibly even go so far as to mention the First Contact theme, since I don't think that's a particularly great score either (but a lovely, lovely theme).

[Quintus 6,494]

First Contact's main theme is absolutely beautiful, I adore it. I'm gonna check out Ba'ku theme on iTunes, along with one or two of the others Mark just mentioned.

[Ollie 1,375]

I was tempted to include Nemesis because of the lovely rendition of the main theme Goldsmith uses in the end credits.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,383]

Congo.

Executive Descision.

Star Trek: First Contact

[Ollie 1,375]

Seven Years In Tibet

Powder

Forever Young

[Wojo 2,458]

The Emperor's Death

*ducks*

[Charlie Brigden 7]

I was tempted to include Nemesis because of the lovely rendition of the main theme Goldsmith uses in the end credits.

That is a stunning theme, although I think NEMESIS is a generally underrated score.

[Quintus 6,494]

Some good suggestions here, I'll check 'em out.

[King Mark 3,975]

Back to the Future

Airport

Almost every Ennio Morricone score has a great main theme and incredibly boring underscore

[Quintus 6,494]

TGTBATU's underscore is heavenly to this ear, at least.

[Maxxie 1]

Back to the Future

I wondered when this was coming.

No surprises it came from you KM.

[Koray Savas 2,260]

The Good, The Bad And The Ugly is a masterpiece from beginning to end. Navajo Joe and The Five Man Army are better examples of superb themes with boring underscore.

[Nemesis 301]

I don't think The Terminal is avarage or booring.

I like the diffrent "colors" of the score. I think it's a very lovely score!

[Wojo 2,458]

Star Trek IV. I like the main title a lot, but don't find the rest of the score to be that great.

[Luke Skywalker 2,383]

Back to the Future

same here.

the rest of the score is not bad average, but compared to its main theme, it pales.

[Red 75]

Does 'Across the Stars' count? It's not necessarily a main theme, but it's the major theme of the film, and a lovely piece in an otherwise okay but not fantastic score.

I would go with this. There are a few other highlights though, like "Love Pledge/The Arena".

[Musica42 0]

Alamo: Price of Freedom, Merrill Jenson

Cliffhanger, Trevor Jones

Drag Me To Hell, Christopher Young

Last of the Dogmen, David Arnold

[King Mark 3,975]

AotC is really above average most other composer's scores

It's only below average compared to the other SW scores but still has it's importance

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,383]

AotC is really above average most other composer's scores

No, not really, there are hundreds of scores better then it.

[Quintus 6,494]

Musically, AotC is a superior piece of work, but as a film score it is predictable and in places - really dull.

Forget average-ness - AotC is a lacklustre JW score. But I still don't blame him for it.

Lee - realising that KM is truly JWFAN's biggest fanboy and NOT Luke Skywalker.

[Luke Skywalker 2,383]

AotC is really above average most other composer's scores

No, not really, there are hundreds of scores better then it.

and thousands worse.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,383]

Unlike you and KM, i prefer to judge a score at how good it is, not on how bad others are.

[Datameister 2,586]

Me, too. That's why I enjoy AOTC.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,383]

Oh I enjoy it, but it´s not a great score.

[MissPadmé 17]

Presumed Innocent..

The Main Theme is hauntingly beautiful... but that's it for that score

[Datameister 2,586]

Oh I enjoy it, but it´s not a great score.

As a whole, probably not. It doesn't have that indisputable quality of world-class-ness the way some scores do. But it's got a lot of moments I consider great, both on the album and otherwise.

[Quintus 6,494]

That is not in dispute. This thread was designed to hopefully highlight the less obvious works out there, in movie music land.

[Mr. Breathmask 624]

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

[Quintus 6,494]

^Perfect example.

Speaking of Kamen, The Iron Giant is another score which has a good, solid theme, but unfortunately there does not a exist a decent presentation of it, outside of the movie - often the case, with lesser known soundtracks. 'Tis a shame.

[Datameister 2,586]

That is not in dispute. This thread was designed to hopefully highlight the less obvious works out there, in movie music land.

Fair enough. Now I just gotta think of one...

[John Crichton 4]

The Last Starfighter

Star Trek Insurrection (Ba'ku theme)

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Great examples, especially The Last Starfighter. Would Robin Hood be a great theme or just a great main title piece?

First Contact is a great score throughout, I wouldn't put it in this category.

What about Indy 4? Call of the Crystal and the Russian theme are both damn fine themes in a meh score.

[Laserschwert 676]

Would Robin Hood be a great theme or just a great main title piece?

I'd say that "Prince of Thieves" has actually two very nice themes... the main theme and Marian's theme (which was basically "Everything I Do", which Kamen composed with Bryan Adams).

[Mr. Breathmask 624]

Yes, the love theme is very nice as well and the rest of the score is quite alright too.

It's just that the Main Titles tower over everything else, they're just insanely good.

[indy4 160]

Jingle All the Way

[Datameister 2,586]

I like the main theme to 24, but the rest of the show's scoring tends to be merely functional to my ear.

[Jacob 1]

Star Trek IV. I like the main title a lot, but don't find the rest of the score to be that great.

Hmmm, standout main themes in otherwise average scores... Pirates? National Treasure?

*backs away slowly*

How 'bout these:

Ice Age (Catchy main title. Don't remember much else.)

The Princess Bride (Gorgeous love theme. Rest of the score is awful synth.)

Flight of the Navigator (Lovely little main theme. Rest of the score is very 80s.)

[Laserschwert 676]

I like the main theme to 24, but the rest of the show's scoring tends to be merely functional to my ear.

Well, and altogether it sounds like rather cheap synths. Nevertheless I love the show, and the score does a good enough job.

[QMM 4]

Mouse Hunt

[Koray Savas 2,260]

Mouse Hunt's theme is so damn good, the rest of the score doesn't matter!

Nixon is another to add to the list, IMO.

[King Mark 3,975]

Lee - realising that KM is truly JWFAN's biggest fanboy and NOT Luke Skywalker.

Well, I like a lot of composers but JW is the only one I do stuff like trying to get unreleased music and editing complete score projects

[AI 0]

The Prince of Tides, fits the bill I think quite nicely.

And as KM mentioned, most Morricone scores.

[Datameister 2,586]

I like the main theme to 24, but the rest of the show's scoring tends to be merely functional to my ear.

Well, and altogether it sounds like rather cheap synths. Nevertheless I love the show, and the score does a good enough job.

That too, yes, and yes, respectively.

[Quintus 6,494]

Star Trek Insurrection (Ba'ku theme)

Gutted I'd never heard this before, but all together not surprised, considering my indifference to much of Star Trek. As usual, Goldsmith provided a gorgeous melody - I just love his high pitched strings, something of a Jerry trademark. But please tell me if there is a better, more complete version of 'Ba'ku theme' other than that heard in Ba'ku Village, 'coz I want it if it exists.

[Xander Harris 9,673]

The Baku theme is reprised in the end credits suite, which is wonderful, but I don't think there's much more than what's heard at the film's opening.

I agree with Back to the Future.

[BLUMENKOHL 1,110]

I hear the new Twilight movie has quite a stunning main theme, for example.

The entire score by Alexander Desplat is stunning. It is the only redeeming aspect of a great comedy movie.