Standout main themes in otherwise uninteresting scores

[Quintus 6,496]

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

Damn straight!

That movie played as much a part in my own childhood as any Star Wars, Goonies, Superman, Indiana Jones and Back to the Future flick ever did. Flight of the Navigator was and still is a brilliant kids movie, strangely and criminally forgotten.

Thank you so much for bringing back the memories

[King Mark 3,975]

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.

The score seems to have a big influence on me judging a movie favourably. I guess it made me more forgiving on the corny romance and made the dramatic scenes better than they actually were . You know if something like The Chronicles of Narnia had these type of scores instead of the MV sounding generic stuff they would be much better

[Neimoidian 15]

...

Theme from Terminator & Terminator 2 by Brad Fiedel (though I enjoy the scores in the movies)

Training Montage from Wanted by Danny Elfman

Death and Transfiguration from Hancock by John Powell

...

[Datameister 2,586]

Theme from Terminator & Terminator 2 by Brad Fiedel (though I enjoy the scores in the movies)

THIS.

[Kevin 23]

Dances with Wolves

*ducks*

[Xander Harris 9,675]

The new/alternate Raiders March from KOTCS

Hymn to the Fallen

Schindler's List theme

The Amelia/jazz motif from The Terminal

[Neimoidian 15]

Schindler's List theme

[King Mark 3,975]

I agree with Hymn to the Fallen

I'd say A New Beginning from Minority Report

[BLUMENKOHL 1,110]

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.

There's a cue on the expanded version...which is 1:07 mins. So not complete by any means, but it is perhaps Goldsmiths most magical single cue of his late career. And it's a beautiful rendition of the Ba'ku Theme. "A Perfect Moment" I believe it is called....and it builds to one single...perfect rendition of the theme. No track has ever been so appropriately titled.

We can hold a philosophical discussion about it in PM's if you like.

[indy4 160]

There's quite a bit to like about Saving Private Ryan and Minority Report IMO.

[Red 75]

There's quite a bit to like about Saving Private Ryan and Minority Report IMO.

And Schindler's List. I seriously cannot understand why someone would only enjoy the main theme.

[BLUMENKOHL 1,110]

And Schindler's List. I seriously cannot understand why someone would only enjoy the main theme.

I disagree, but I can completely see their viewpoint. It is an overly melodramatic work with little restraint.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,387]

Anti-semite!

[BLUMENKOHL 1,110]

On the contrary, I feel Williams' music misses the horror of the subject.

Schindler's List the score should have been Auschwitz-Birkenau all around. Instead it was sugary.

[Red 75]

Schindler's List the score should have been Auschwitz-Birkenau all around. Instead it was sugary.

To me it's appropriately mournful, not sugar-coated.

[indy4 160]

The movie was about Schindler's emotional reaction to the horrors. Writing music that is tragic and pitiful best represents how Schindler is feeling. At the point where he is more upset with the fact that he is in a position to help and isn't than the Holocaust itself, it's less about the horrors of the Holocaust and more about what one man feels about it and the conflict between morals and business.

[BLUMENKOHL 1,110]

To me it's appropriately mournful, not sugar-coated.

Good for you!

it's less about the horrors of the Holocaust and more about what oneman feels about it and the conflict between morals and business.

I could see that in Neeson. Williams should have transcended the immediate with his music, rather than padding what's already evident in the director's own work.

[indy4 160]

To me it's appropriately mournful, not sugar-coated.

Good for you!

it's less about the horrors of the Holocaust and more about what oneman feels about it and the conflict between morals and business.

I could see that in Neeson. Williams should have transcended the immediate with his music, rather than padding what's already evident in the director's own work.

Spielberg's work didn't make the horrors of the Holocaust "evident?" The less obvious part of the film was Schindler's own emotional confliction, and that is what the music represented. The "sad" music reflected the agony Schindler was going through in both deciding to save people and questioning whether he was doing enough. The average movie goer is much more likely to miss that as opposed to the fact that the Holocaust was a sucky place to be.

[Xander Harris 9,675]

And Schindler's List. I seriously cannot understand why someone would only enjoy the main theme.

Well, that's not what the topic is about? It's standout themes in average scores as opposed to themes that are the only parts of a film score you enjoy. I think Schindler's List is fairly average, especially for a score that won an Oscar. Since you mention it, though. What else is there to enjoy, really? On CD anyway, Schindler is just too damn dark and depressing. I prefer my Williams scores more well-rounded.

[Red 75]

And Schindler's List. I seriously cannot understand why someone would only enjoy the main theme.

Well, that's not what the topic is about? It's standout themes in average scores as opposed to themes that are the only parts of a film score you enjoy. I think Schindler's List is fairly average, especially for a score that won an Oscar. Since you mention it, though. What else is there to enjoy, really? On CD anyway, Schindler is just too damn dark and depressing. I prefer my Williams scores more well-rounded.

Since when is "dark and depressing" necessarily a bad thing? Looking at the film it was composed for, how could it be anything but? Besides the score exudes emotion: mournful, contemplative, and sometimes uncomfortable, but compelling nonetheless. And "Remembrances" is one of Williams' finest pieces ever.

[John Crichton 4]

SL lacks boom-tzz. Some people just need that.

[Hlao-roo 390]

And Schindler's List. I seriously cannot understand why someone would only enjoy the main theme.

Well, that's not what the topic is about? It's standout themes in average scores as opposed to themes that are the only parts of a film score you enjoy. I think Schindler's List is fairly average, especially for a score that won an Oscar. Since you mention it, though. What else is there to enjoy, really? On CD anyway, Schindler is just too damn dark and depressing. I prefer my Williams scores more well-rounded.

Since when is "dark and depressing" necessarily a bad thing? Looking at the film it was composed for, how could it be anything but? Besides the score exudes emotion: mournful, contemplative, and sometimes uncomfortable, but compelling nonetheless. And "Remembrances" is one of Williams' finest pieces ever.

Real composers know how to write scores that don't merely reproduce the emotions already evident in the film's narrative. They write music that comments intelligently on and frequently stands in tension with the on-screen action. As such, Williams' score for Schindler's List is a failure of the imagination and an emblem of his abject hollowness as an artist.

[Datameister 2,586]

Real composers know how to write scores that don't merely reproduce the emotions already evident in the film's narrative. They write music that comments intelligently on and frequently stands in tension with the on-screen action. As such, Williams' score for Schindler's List is a failure of the imagination and an emblem of his abject hollowness as an artist.

Yep. "I Love You, You Love Me" would have been a far better choice for a main theme, a true manifestation of superior artistic integrity.

[Hlao-roo 390]

Real composers know how to write scores that don't merely reproduce the emotions already evident in the film's narrative. They write music that comments intelligently on and frequently stands in tension with the on-screen action. As such, Williams' score for Schindler's List is a failure of the imagination and an emblem of his abject hollowness as an artist.

Yep. "I Love You, You Love Me" would have been a far better choice for a main theme, a true manifestation of superior artistic integrity.

Indeed, it would have been a daring stroke, a feat of breathtaking artistic conviction. Unfortunately, Williams is a sell-out.

[Datameister 2,586]

A screw-up and a hack to the extreme, yep.

[pixie_twinkle 60]

The main theme from The Abyss is head and shoulders above the rest of the score IMO.

[Koray Savas 2,260]

I wish Alan would post here more often.

[Datameister 2,586]

I wish Alan would post here more often.

I agree.

[John Crichton 4]

Who?

[MSM 194]

Da Vinci Code (Chevaliers de Sangreal is the piece de resistance, rest ist quite mediocre).

Jaws also.

[Diego 21]

Jaws also.

You've got to be joking

[Luke Skywalker 2,385]

My condolences for the people that think schindler's list is mediocre.

[publicist 4,650]

My condolences for the people that think schindler's list is mediocre.

Mediocre is the wrong word. It's just square. For every JEWISH TOWN there are numerous leaden I COULD HAVE DONE MORE's which slide happily through all the melodramatic clichés Spielberg originally wanted to avoid. Since little of it survives in the movie, it does not much harm and in case of cited sequence, the sequence itself was the real culprit, Williams only made it worse (the YOU ARE THE PAN sequence from HOOK is a similar howler).

As for the original topic, i'd cite PRESUMED INNOCENT, ACCIDENTAL TOURIST and SABRINA.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,387]

Jaws also.

You've got to be joking

I certainly hope so!

[Ollie 1,375]

We've been down this road before, Jaws is underrated by quite a few here.

[Quintus 6,496]

Fools, the lot of 'em!

Seriously.

[Wojo 2,458]

Oh please, this again? It's not like this place is a university where Jaws is required listening, and the school marm breaks our knuckles if we don't listen to it and like it.

[Quintus 6,496]

Oh please, this again? It's not like this place is a university where Jaws is required listening,

It isn't?

News to me.

[John Crichton 4]

Wojo's right, but at the same time Jaws does get the short shrift by quite a few young'uns here. And I used to be one of them.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,387]

Oh please, this again? It's not like this place is a university where Jaws is required listening, and the school marm breaks our knuckles if we don't listen to it and like it.

If only I were the Moderator!

[Maxxie 1]

Jaws is ok, but like many people I find a lot of it boring, like the film really. I'd much rather listen to (and watch) Jaws 2.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,387]

*Cracks his neck muscles, Roger Murtaugh-style* So what parts of the movie are boring to you?

[Charlie Brigden 7]

Not even going to bother posting the Picard photo...

[Maxxie 1]

*Cracks his neck muscles, Roger Murtaugh-style* So what parts of the movie are boring to you?

Oh please.

Well, most of it really. Except for near the end with the cage etc.

Maybe it's my age. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a marvellous movie, and one that's certainly worthy of all the praise that it gets given. It was amazing for the time (not that I was around), but that doesn't mean I have to bum it like some people do.

Not even going to bother posting the Picard photo...

Could it even be classed as a photo?

[Xander Harris 9,675]

Jaws and E.T. are about on par as Spielberg's best films, and easily among the greatest of all time. Not a single boring section in their entire respective 2-hour running time. Not one.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,387]

I saw Jaws at age 3 and thought it was amazing. I then saw it again aged 11 and thought it was amazing. Your age has nothing to do with it. It's more likely your intelligence and the milieu you are growing up in.

In short, I blame your parents and your school!

[Maxxie 1]

Jaws and E.T. are about on par as Spielberg's best films, and easily among the greatest of all time. Not a single boring section in their entire respective 2-hour running time. Not one.

I disagree. I get bored with the endless "the barrels are up again" stuff.

I saw Jaws at age 3 and thought it was amazing. I then saw it again aged 11 and thought it was amazing. Your age has nothing to do with it. It's more likely your intelligence and the milieu you are growing up in.

In short, I blame your parents and your school!

I'm sorry, who are you to judge me?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,387]

I am Stefan Cosman!

[Xander Harris 9,675]

Jaws > Maxxie. So there you have it.

[Maxxie 1]

I am Stefan Cosman!

Ah right, I see. That really clears it up. Thank you for the clarification. <_<

Jaws > Maxxie. So there you have it.

What is it with you people? Why can't you just accept (for once) that not everyone agrees with your opinion?!

So, just because I don't agree with your opinions about a score, I'm automatically unintelligent with bad parents and a bad school? I find that really offensive.

My parents are amazing, and I'll have no-one saying otherwise!!!

Bunch of tossers!