Best Fantasy Score of 2007

[Pieter Boelen 633]

There have been lots of scores for fantasy films this year of rather varying quality. So now that the year is over, which do you think is the best? I included two computer game scores in this poll, because I believe they deserve to be added. Additional thoughts on these scores would also be welcome.

Note: This poll is only meant for scores COMPOSED for 2007 films and computer games. So that excludes The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King Complete Recordings as well as The Spiderwick Chronicles.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

The Lord Of The Rings by Howard Shore!

[Pieter Boelen 633]

That's not a fantasy score of 2007, is it? Even though it was obviously re-released in heavily expanded form in 2007.

[Mr. Breathmask 480]

It's Steef's answer to everything!

[bondo 33]

Without a doubt, LAIR by John Debney. I never though Debney would match Cutthroat Island, his masterpiece, but somehow he did. Lair is not even close to being called original, but it's still fun and exciting, and that's what matters most.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,765]

OOTP - since it was the only one I heard.

[Ollie 859]

Howard Shore's ROTK Complete Recordings.

[Ray Barnsbury 8]

The Water Horse, by far.

And ROTK was composed in 2003, people.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

That does not rule it out in any way!

[Ollie 859]

The Water Horse, by far.

And ROTK was composed in 2003, people.

But it was released in 2007...

[Mr. Breathmask 480]

And ROTK was composed in 2003, people.

Parts of it in 2004, I imagine.

[Henry B 49]

Lair, I guess. Beowulf and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game) were also pretty good.

[Richard Penna 2,082]

The Water Horse.

[David Coscina 3]

I like JN HOward's Water Horse as well. LAIR was fun but not even close to original and that does have an impact on my listening enjoyment after a while.

[Luke Skywalker 1,284]

I think i'll go with Lair.

[Red 73]

Lair, from what little I've heard.

[Pieter Boelen 633]

That does not rule it out in any way!

Perhaps I should have made it more clear that I meant "Best Fantasy Score COMPOSED in 2007". I'll edit my first post.

Without a doubt, LAIR by John Debney. I never though Debney would match Cutthroat Island, his masterpiece, but somehow he did. Lair is not even close to being called original, but it's still fun and exciting, and that's what matters most.

Wholeheartedly agreed. I think Cutthroat Island remains better, but Lair is definitly John Debney's second-best score as far as I'm concerned. Interesting that with so many fantasy scores this year, it's actually a score composed for a computer game that is getting most of the votes. It seems that computer game scores have caught up with film scores at last.

[BLUMENKOHL 1,064]

JNH's Water Horse....a very charming score....with plenty of JNH Magical Moments™. The two different styles are a bit unsmoothly integrated, but overall given the rest of choices, it's the clear winner.

Lair was highly unoriginal, odlly overly subdued for what it was trying to be (it just doesn't cross THE Threshold®), if you, and the best bits were by Kevin Kaska. Overall, I'd say it's the overrated score of the year that no one will remember by 2009. It's merely a competent excercise in substanceless form.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

No, it means that John Debney is one of the better composers working today.

Lair may be a Computer Game score, but it was composed by someone who is primirily a film composer, and it's inspirations lie almost completely within the world of film music.

[gkgyver 1,638]

Lair.

I haven't heard a few of those scores, but Lair is the one I remember most vividly.

[Koray Savas 2,095]

At World's End by far.

[Jacob 0]

For me, it's a toss up between Water Horse and Pirates so far. I enjoy TWH more consistently but AWE has some real highs.

I'll have to give Lair another listen as well as check out Golden Compass and some others.

BTW, Doyle's The Last Legion isn't really fantasy. It's a lame 'historical' take on King Arthur's father as a boy. And the score was really dull.

[gkgyver 1,638]

Well, it's certainly better than OotP, based on the theory that PotC had no previous entries to live up to, I give you that.

[Elmo Lewis 6]

Choosing any of those scores as "the best" will only prove the sorry state film music is currently in.

[Pieter Boelen 633]

BTW, Doyle's The Last Legion isn't really fantasy. It's a lame 'historical' take on King Arthur's father as a boy. And the score was really dull.

I thought there was a wizard in there and some supernatural stuff. Haven't seen the film though, so I suppose I'm wrong.

[indy4 152]

It was a tough choice, between PotC and OotP (not the video game), but I went with Pirates in the end. It's my second favorite score by Zimmer. Water Horse would be next in line.

[SturgisPodmore 0]

I said The Water Horse, though Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End are also very good, and Stardust has some great highlights, as well. But James Newton Howard's sublime score for The Water Horse wins out for me.

~Sturgis

[Kendal_Ozzel 32]

Having not heard Lair or Water Horse yet, I'm gonna say Beowulf.

[King Mark 2,924]

I've heard most of these.None of them very impressive.I had better hopes for Water Horse.

[pixie_twinkle 44]

From the ones I've heard it has to be Stardust.

[King Mark 2,924]

In the 80's fantasy films like these would have been a treasure chest of great scores

[Jacob 0]

BTW, Doyle's The Last Legion isn't really fantasy. It's a lame 'historical' take on King Arthur's father as a boy. And the score was really dull.

I thought there was a wizard in there and some supernatural stuff. Haven't seen the film though, so I suppose I'm wrong.

You are. (But consider yourself fortunate you've not seen the movie.)

The 'Merlin' character just uses trickery and stuff. In one scene he was on top of a wall and made it look like he was shooting fireballs at the opposing army. It was really just catapults behind the wall. But there might have been something 'magical' about 'Excalibur' but it certainly wasn't obvious.

Stardust has some great highlights, as well.

Indeed. But I think it appeals to me more because I really liked the movie; perhaps my favorite of the year. Septimus and Flying Vessel are fun and the more intimate parts are quite nice.

Did anyone else pick up on the Twinkle Twinkle Little Star cameo?

[Ray Barnsbury 8]

In the 80's fantasy films like these would have been a treasure chest of great scores

I know where you're coming from, but to me it seems like living in the past is a great way to miss out on the present. Might as well enjoy what you can nowadays, right?

[Koray Savas 2,095]

In the 80's fantasy films like these would have been a treasure chest of great scores

I know where you're coming from, but to me it seems like living in the past is a great way to miss out on the present. Might as well enjoy what you can nowadays, right?

Right. So be less critical of Hans. You're gonna be hearing a lot him in the next 10 years.

[Ray Barnsbury 8]

Not exactly what I meant...

[BLUMENKOHL 1,064]

What more could you want out of Water Horse than "Swimming" ?

[Richard Penna 2,082]

Indeed. A very magical score.

[JoeinAR 1,759]

stupid video games should not be included, thats for retarded fanboys of the mongoloid kind

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

Normally, I would agree with you.

But if you listen to it, there is nothing that reveals that it was composed for something as filthy as a computer game.

[Richard Penna 2,082]

I respectfully disagree Joe.

[Ollie 859]

In the 80's fantasy films like these would have been a treasure chest of great scores

I know where you're coming from, but to me it seems like living in the past is a great way to miss out on the present. Might as well enjoy what you can nowadays, right?

No, living in the past, especially with all the great releases from the past being released, is still a good way to go. Especially if nothing worthwhile is being released.

Thankfully today's technology allows one to listen to film scores before buying them.

Right. So be less critical of Hans. You're gonna be hearing a lot him in the next 10 years.

No I won't be hearing him alot of him in the next 10 years, I can guarantee you that.

[bondo 33]

stupid video games should not be included, thats for retarded fanboys of the mongoloid kind

Then make a new poll. This one says "Best Fantasy Score," not "Best Fantasy Film Score"

[Pieter Boelen 633]

And that is very much on purpose. In this case, the computer game scores are of such a quality as to warrant inclusion. The fact that a computer game score is currently leading the poll should serve as proof of that.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

In this case, the computer game scores are of such a quality as to warrant inclusion.

You only included one, and that one is basically like a film score.

[Red 73]

stupid video games should not be included, thats for retarded fanboys of the mongoloid kind

What exactly makes you think that?

[Koray Savas 2,095]

stupid video games should not be included, thats for retarded fanboys of the mongoloid kind

Still coming into threads with that negative attitude, eh Joe?

[Ray Barnsbury 8]

In the 80's fantasy films like these would have been a treasure chest of great scores

I know where you're coming from, but to me it seems like living in the past is a great way to miss out on the present. Might as well enjoy what you can nowadays, right?

No, living in the past, especially with all the great releases from the past being released, is still a good way to go. Especially if nothing worthwhile is being released.

The flaw with that, of course, is that there is worthwhile music being composed and released these days. Not as much, naturally, but it's there.

[Ollie 859]

Yes and you left off something else that I posted. That today you can sample albums and listen to them before you make your purchase.

[John Crichton 4]

Video games have produced some of the best orchestral (or synth orchestral) music the last 5-10 years. Personally I'd say the game music industry is in much better shape than film music right now.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

Synth orchestral? Don't make me laugh!