Best Theme from E.T.

[indy4 152]

I was watching E.T. the other day and I realized how many thematic ideas there are going on in that score. I've always been aware of the ideas themselves, I just haven't noticed how many there are together.

Main Theme: Evokes the feeling of homesickness to me, it gets its best variation in the finale when the ship takes off (possibly the greatest moment in the entire score).

E.T. and Me: A beautiful symbol of the friendship between E.T. and Elliot. It gets its best variation on E.T.'s "death" scene.

End Credits Theme: I know it isn't what it should be called, as it is very prominent in the score well before the credits, but I don't know what else I could call it. Anyways, fantastic, best variations in "Searching for E.T." and "Adventures on Earth."

Key's Theme #1: A quick, signal-like warning that danger is coming. Best variation in "Searching for E.T."

Key's Theme #2: A more sinister theme for Keys, like he is lurking nearby.

Bike Chase Theme: A great, exciting theme for the Bike Chase sequence, that comes back in the finale and the end credits.

Flying Theme: It is a variation on the Main Theme, but I think it's different enough to be counted as a seperate theme. This is what the general public has come to call "Theme from E.T." It is certainly the most well known theme from the film.

After close consideration, this is my ranking:

1. End Credits Theme

2. Main Theme

3. Key's Theme #1

4. E.T. and Me

5. Bike Chase Theme

6. Flying Theme

7. Key's Theme #2

[Josh500 1,602]

I gotta be honest, the way you named the themes is REALLY confusing! (even though you explained them)

You should read this, and then rename the themes. http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/et.html

Anyway, my favorite is what you presumably call End Credits Theme... The first part of Over the Moon is based on it.

Second is the Flying Theme.

[Datameister 1,394]

The main theme for me, easily. So many great statements on all emotional levels...mysterious, winsome, majestic.

I'm not sure what your "bike chase theme" is, though. Could you give a track time for that? I don't recall any new thematic material in that cue.

Also, I wouldn't call the flying theme a variation of the main theme. They're very distinct - all they have in common is the first interval.

[Josh500 1,602]

The main theme for me, easily. So many great statements on all emotional levels...mysterious, winsome, majestic.

I'm not sure what your "bike chase theme" is, though. Could you give a track time for that? I don't recall any new thematic material in that cue.

Also, I wouldn't call the flying theme a variation of the main theme. They're very distinct - all they have in common is the first interval.

And I don't think the main theme is what indy4 calls the main theme!

I thought the main theme was the Flying Theme!

[Datameister 1,394]

The flying theme is the most well-known theme from the score, most likely, but what indy4 calls the main theme is the first and last thing you hear in the orchestral score for the film itself, with many statements in between. The flying theme is just used for a few iconic scenes, mostly. (And I'm sorry to say it...but I've never been extraordinarily fond of it. It's just a little too much, though I can enjoy it, especially if I'm in the right mood.)

[indy4 152]

The main theme for me, easily. So many great statements on all emotional levels...mysterious, winsome, majestic.

I'm not sure what your "bike chase theme" is, though. Could you give a track time for that? I don't recall any new thematic material in that cue.

4:31 of "Adventures on Earth."

The flying theme is the most well-known theme from the score, most likely, but what indy4 calls the main theme is the first and last thing you hear in the orchestral score for the film itself, with many statements in between. The flying theme is just used for a few iconic scenes, mostly. (And I'm sorry to say it...but I've never been extraordinarily fond of it. It's just a little too much, though I can enjoy it, especially if I'm in the right mood.)

I've heard it so much that it has lost some of its affect. It's still great, IMO, but it can't top most of the other themes from the score.

[Red 73]

The flying theme most likely, followed closely by E.T. and Me.

[Josh500 1,602]

The flying theme is the most well-known theme from the score, most likely, but what indy4 calls the main theme is the first and last thing you hear in the orchestral score for the film itself, with many statements in between. The flying theme is just used for a few iconic scenes, mostly. (And I'm sorry to say it...but I've never been extraordinarily fond of it. It's just a little too much, though I can enjoy it, especially if I'm in the right mood.)

I know what he means, but I don't think that's the Main Theme! What indy4 calls the main theme is the "wonder theme." (according to filmtracks)

Theme from Jurassic Park is also heard in a few iconic scenes, but it's still the Main Theme...

I love the Flying Theme. It's on the same level as Luke Skywalker's Theme, Jaws Main Title, and Raiders March, IMO. Everybody recognizes it.

[indy4 152]

The "Wonder Theme" is heard in virtually every important scene. It's there when E.T. is left behind (causing the main problem) and when E.T. goes back home (the solution). And many many scenes in between.

[Datameister 1,394]

Ah, I know what you mean by the "bike chase theme" now. That's a great one, too.

Theme from Jurassic Park is also heard in a few iconic scenes, but it's still the Main Theme...

You're missing the point. What theme in Jurassic Park is indubitably better qualified to be the main theme?

[Josh500 1,602]

Theme from Jurassic Park is also heard in a few iconic scenes, but it's still the Main Theme...

You're missing the point. What theme in Jurassic Park is indubitably better qualified to be the main theme?

Ahhhh, maybe the one that's called "Theme from Jurassic Park"?

The other one's the "Island Theme," for me, or possibly the "Secondary Jurassic Park Theme."

[Beowulf 3]

It may be cliche, but it's obviously the Flying Theme.

As a kid I would wait patiently through the movie for both Flying sequences - mainly for the music (and how it works in both scenes).

[indy4 152]

I actually think that the 4 note motif (heard at 0:17 of "Opening Titles") is actually better fitting as a main theme for JP. The "Theme from Jurassic Park" seems more like a secondary theme, to me.

[Datameister 1,394]

Theme from Jurassic Park is also heard in a few iconic scenes, but it's still the Main Theme...

You're missing the point. What theme in Jurassic Park is indubitably better qualified to be the main theme?

Ahhhh, maybe the one that's called "Theme from Jurassic Park"?

The other one's the "Island Theme," for me, or possibly the "Secondary Jurassic Park Theme."

"Theme from Jurassic Park" is better qualified to be the main theme than "Theme from Jurassic Park"?

[Josh500 1,602]

By the way, does anyone know how the "Main Title" of E.T. was done? I'm talking about the music... if you can call it that. That WAS written by JW, right? I mean the creepy, unearthly, appropriately alien, kinda scary sound.

Is that synthethizer or some kind of weird percussion instrument or maybe some brass instruments or what?

Theme from Jurassic Park is also heard in a few iconic scenes, but it's still the Main Theme...

You're missing the point. What theme in Jurassic Park is indubitably better qualified to be the main theme?

Ahhhh, maybe the one that's called "Theme from Jurassic Park"?

The other one's the "Island Theme," for me, or possibly the "Secondary Jurassic Park Theme."

"Theme from Jurassic Park" is better qualified to be the main theme than "Theme from Jurassic Park"?

What are you talking about "better qualified"?

"Theme from Jurassic Park" is the theme from Jurassic Park (aka Main Title or Main Theme). Or so JW intended it.

[Maxxie 1]

I always thought that the "Main Theme" from Jurassic Park was the slower, more graceful theme associated with the Dinosaurs, as heard in the suite on the OST.

And I though the other theme (i.e. the 'fanfare' type one) was associated with the Island(s?)

I can never make my mind up which one I prefer. For JP3 it has to be the 'fanfare' theme because the "Main Theme" is far too fast!

As for E.T. (sorry for hi-jacking the thread!), got to be the "Flying Theme"!

[Datameister 1,394]

Synthesized, I'm sure. And I gotta admit...that's easily my least favorite part of the album and the film. I guess it works, but it's not my cup of tea. EDIT: Obviously, this was in response to the E.T. stuff.

Josh500, I said that I agreed with indy4's assessment of the theme at the beginning of "Far from Home" as the main theme for the film. You said that you thought the flying theme was the main theme. I said that I disagreed, because the "main theme" is used far more often, whereas the flying theme is only used here and there. You compared that to "Theme from Jurassic Park", pointing out that it's only used in a few scenes. So I pointed out that there isn't a better candidate in the case of Jurassic Park. (Expect perhaps the island theme...except Williams already decided that's not it.) And then...you told me that "Theme from Jurassic Park" is a better candidate for main theme than "Theme from Jurassic Park", which is where you lost me.

[Josh500 1,602]

Synthesized, I'm sure. And I gotta admit...that's easily my least favorite part of the album and the film. I guess it works, but it's not my cup of tea.

Well, at that point the movie hasn't really started yet so... But yeah.

And no, I do think it's fitting. It makes the audience slightly uneasy... before they're confronted with this charming cute little alien.

It would have been weird if we heard the Flying Theme full blast over the opening credits, don't you think?

By the way, does anyone know how the "Main Title" of E.T. was done? I'm talking about the music... if you can call it that. That WAS written by JW, right? I mean the creepy, unearthly, appropriately alien, kinda scary sound.

Is that synthethizer or some kind of weird percussion instrument or maybe some brass instruments or what?

Also, how was that done when the orchestra played the music live in 2002? They played just the recording of it?

[Datameister 1,394]

It would have been weird if we heard the Flying Theme full blast over the opening credits, don't you think?

True, that. I suppose the problem is just that I generally detest opening titles unless they have interesting music and/or visuals, and neither would have been appropriate to the beginning of E.T. Of course, the ideal way to do it would have been a cold open...but oh well. (And make sure you read my edited post above, too.)

[Josh500 1,602]

Josh500, I said that I agreed with indy4's assessment of the theme at the beginning of "Far from Home" as the main theme for the film. You said that you thought the flying theme was the main theme. I said that I disagreed, because the "main theme" is used far more often, whereas the flying theme is only used here and there. You compared that to "Theme from Jurassic Park", pointing out that it's only used in a few scenes.

Up to this, we agree.

I was just saying that "Theme from Jurassic Park," which IS clearly the Main Theme from JP, isn't heard very often, either, although it IS the main theme.

My point is, a theme can be a main theme, even though it's not heard the most often. Got it? (Force Theme, for example, is heard much more often than LS's theme, but the Star Wars main theme is still Luke Skywalker's Theme, don't you agree?)

So to come back to E.T., although the Flying Theme isn't heard the most often in the movie (which we both agree), I still think that's the Main Theme from E.T.

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,476]

The "Flying Theme". The standouts for me are when E.T. revives the flower, Elliott's kiss, flying over the moon, "E.T. Is Alive!" and the finale.

[Datameister 1,394]

I was just saying that "Theme from Jurassic Park," which IS clearly the Main Theme from JP, isn't heard very often, either, although it IS the main theme. My point is, a theme can be a main theme, even though it's not heard the most often. Got it? (Force Theme, for example, is heard much more often than LS's theme, but the Star Wars main theme is still Luke Skywalker's Theme, don't you agree?)

[bold mine]

See, that's where you're off. "Theme from Jurassic Park" isn't heard terribly frequently in the film, but there aren't any other themes that are used in significantly more prominent instances. The score just doesn't use thematic material all that often! E.T., on the other hand, uses thematic material ALL the time, and what indy4 calls the "main theme" is used more than all the others. Your argument isn't logical, because if you look at everything in context, "Theme from Jurassic Park" is analogous to what indy4 calls the main theme to E.T.

[Romão 1,931]

Indy4, what about that theme heavily featured in meeting ET (among other tracks)? Is that what you call Keys' theme #2? Because I don't think it has any relation to Keys and should therefore be considered a different theme

[indy4 152]

Key's Theme #2 can be heard in 0:56 of "Bait for E.T."

[Romão 1,931]

So what's theme #1?

The theme I was inquiring about is the one that is heard right in the start of "Toys".

[indy4 152]

So what's theme #1?

#1 can be heard at :09 of "Bait for E.T."

The theme I was inquiring about is the one that is heard right in the start of "Toys".

That'd be E.T. and Me, as it is titled on the OST.

Sorry everyone, I didn't intend for this to be so confusing.

[Ollie 859]

The Flying theme (E.T.'s Theme) is my favorite followed by Key's theme.

[Nick Parker 3,017]

Whatever theme is at (checking CD Player) :24 in "Bait for E.T.". Oh man, I just got chills from it.

[Romão 1,931]

So what's theme #1?

#1 can be heard at :09 of "Bait for E.T."

The theme I was inquiring about is the one that is heard right in the start of "Toys".

That'd be E.T. and Me, as it is titled on the OST.

Sorry everyone, I didn't intend for this to be so confusing.

That's not the "ET and me" theme. The theme I'm talking about is heard right in the beginning of the track, for about 3 times. ET and Me is only heard 0:28 into the track. The theme I'm talking about is heard several other times in the score ("Meeting ET", for example, or right in the beginning of "ET and Elliot get drunk"), although I'm unsure what it is suposed to represent.

[indy4 152]

So what's theme #1?

#1 can be heard at :09 of "Bait for E.T."

The theme I was inquiring about is the one that is heard right in the start of "Toys".

That'd be E.T. and Me, as it is titled on the OST.

Sorry everyone, I didn't intend for this to be so confusing.

That's not the "ET and me" theme. The theme I'm talking about is heard right in the beginning of the track, for about 3 times. ET and Me is only heard 0:28 into the track. The theme I'm talking about is heard several other times in the score ("Meeting ET", for example, or right in the beginning of "ET and Elliot get drunk"), although I'm unsure what it is suposed to represent.

Hmmmm...I always thought that the theme you're referring to was the A section of E.T. and Me and the one that appears 28 seconds into "Toys" is the B section. The actual cue titled "E.T. and Me" from the OST starts with this unidentified theme and then continues with the one 28 seconds into "Toys." I'm pretty sure those are the same themes.

[Datameister 1,394]

I'm surprised the flying theme is doing so well in the poll. I suppose I always just sort of assumed that the majority of film score fans felt the same way about it as I do, which was a kinda silly thing to assume.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

It's fantastic, and anyone who thinks otherwise is a moron!

[Josh500 1,602]

I was just saying that "Theme from Jurassic Park," which IS clearly the Main Theme from JP, isn't heard very often, either, although it IS the main theme. My point is, a theme can be a main theme, even though it's not heard the most often. Got it? (Force Theme, for example, is heard much more often than LS's theme, but the Star Wars main theme is still Luke Skywalker's Theme, don't you agree?)

[bold mine]

See, that's where you're off. "Theme from Jurassic Park" isn't heard terribly frequently in the film, but there aren't any other themes that are used in significantly more prominent instances. The score just doesn't use thematic material all that often! E.T., on the other hand, uses thematic material ALL the time, and what indy4 calls the "main theme" is used more than all the others. Your argument isn't logical, because if you look at everything in context, "Theme from Jurassic Park" is analogous to what indy4 calls the main theme to E.T.

What you're saying doesn't make sense. Either you're trying to obfuscate this unnecessarily, or you're overthinking it.

"Theme from Jurassic Park" IS a theme, and it IS heard frequently. Just not the MOST often. I agree with you that the score to JP isn't as dependent on themes as the score to E.T., but that's beside the point. JP the score DOES use themes.

Your argument isn't logical, because if you look at everything in context, "Theme from Jurassic Park" is analogous to what indy4 calls the main theme to E.T.

What context would that be?

"Theme from Jurassic Park" is used in the many prominent scenes (the meeting with the Brachiosaurus being the most prominent). The Flying Theme is heard during the arguably most prominent scene in E.T. (the over the moon scene).

"The Wonder Theme" is heard VERY often, I agree, but to call that little theme the main theme of E.T. is just silly.

I think we disagree on what main themes are supposed to do/represent.

[indy4 152]

I was just saying that "Theme from Jurassic Park," which IS clearly the Main Theme from JP, isn't heard very often, either, although it IS the main theme. My point is, a theme can be a main theme, even though it's not heard the most often. Got it? (Force Theme, for example, is heard much more often than LS's theme, but the Star Wars main theme is still Luke Skywalker's Theme, don't you agree?)

[bold mine]

See, that's where you're off. "Theme from Jurassic Park" isn't heard terribly frequently in the film, but there aren't any other themes that are used in significantly more prominent instances. The score just doesn't use thematic material all that often! E.T., on the other hand, uses thematic material ALL the time, and what indy4 calls the "main theme" is used more than all the others. Your argument isn't logical, because if you look at everything in context, "Theme from Jurassic Park" is analogous to what indy4 calls the main theme to E.T.

What you're saying doesn't make sense. Either you're trying to obfuscate this unnecessarily, or you're overthinking it.

"Theme from Jurassic Park" IS a theme, and it IS heard frequently. Just not the MOST often. I agree with you that the score to JP isn't as dependent on themes as the score to E.T., but that's beside the point. JP the score DOES use themes.

No, you've got it backwards. Theme from JP isn't used very often, but no other theme in the score is used more (except possibly the 4 note motif).

"The Wonder Theme" is heard VERY often, I agree, but to call that little theme the main theme of E.T. is just silly.

Why? It plays in the absolute most important part of the film, when the ship takes off at the end.

[Richard Penna 2,082]

It's fantastic, and anyone who thinks otherwise is a moron!

Where's Joey?

I don't know the score well enough to vote.

[Datameister 1,394]

No, you've got it backwards. Theme from JP isn't used very often, but no other theme in the score is used more (except possibly the 4 note motif).

Exactly. That is the heart of my argument. Josh500, you're trying to say that frequency of use is not a factor in whether or not a theme is the "main theme", since there are main themes that are used very infrequently. What I'm trying to point out is that even when a main theme isn't used all the time (e.g. Jurassic Park), it's still typically used more than most of the other themes.

"The Wonder Theme" is heard VERY often, I agree, but to call that little theme the main theme of E.T. is just silly.

Why is it silly? You disagree with it, presumably because the flying theme is the most recognizable and it scores two very important scenes, but if you honestly think it's just silly, you must not have thought very much about the following.

* The first bit of score you hear is indy4's main theme.

* The last bit of score you hear (before the credits) is indy4's main theme.

* 7 out of the 21 tracks on the soundtrack I bought do NOT include indy4's main theme. That means 14 out of 21 DO. That sends a pretty clear message.

* Whereas the flying theme mostly seems to simply represent the wonderment of flying with E.T., indy4's main theme more broadly seems to represent E.T. himself.

Naturally, this is not a cut-and-dry argument, but to dismiss my opinion as silly is...well, silly, as I clearly have some rather strong arguments.