Your 15 All Time Greatest Williams' Scores

[Sandor 797]

Considering Ricard's age, and the fact that WoE was the first time Williams wrote this type of score (mischievous evil), I can certainly see why he loves it. Same with Home Alone. The styles of both would be regurgitated for Harry Potter and Hook, but Home Alone and Witches of Eastwick were there first....

Well, what these 'Top 15 Best Scores', 'Top 5 Worst Scores', 'Biggest Scores', Smallest Scores' etc. discussions have led me to believe: John Williams has never written a score which is generally considered to be 'a bad score'. Sleepers, Rosewood, Heartbeeps, The Witches Of Eastwick, ... They all have fans and belong in someone's top 10.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

The same can be said of Goldsmith, Barry, Zimmer, Herrmann.... etc.

[Ricard 2,245]

The only thing that i can't understand is why Schindler's list and PoA are not among those top 15. I explained my reasoning why in my opinion at least these two are on par with the best of JW's best!

But it is of course a matter of taste

You answered your own question

Yeah, well I believe Ricard lists Home Alone 2 in his top 10 so it just goes to show everyone has a different view on 'John Williams' Top 15 Scores'.

Home Alone 2 being in someone's top 10 is hardly surprising.

I believe Schindler's List is definately a Top 10 score and PoA belongs in the Top 15. Both are vastly superior to Home Alone 2 IMO

Well I think that Home Alone 2 is clearly superior to PoA, which is probably Williams' best score from the 00s, but it's still veeery far from the overall quality of his work during the 75-92 period.

but like I said: to each his own.

Exactly.

The main problem is that Ricard is the creator and owner of JWFAN. So people value his opinion, and would love it if it was similar to theirs.

I wouldn't be so sure about that.

Truth is Ricard's list is as valid or invalid as any other long time John Williams fan here.

With that I agree.

I value Ricard's opinion as much as any other here. Just find it a bit odd that one feels The Witches Of Eastwick or Home Alone 2 (fine scores BTW) are better than any score Williams wrote after 1992. To each his own of course, but it feels like someone is trying to make a statement.

And I find it a bit insulting that you find "odd" that I feel those scores are better than anything post-92. And that certainly contradicts your previous statement about valuing my opinion as much as any other's. Furthermore, it clearly shows that you don't value all opinions equally. I would never dare to say that I find "odd" that someone considers a Williams score better than others, especially if we are talking about a BRILLIANT piece of art like The Witches of Eastwick, still close to Mr. Williams best era, but far from his gradual decline in inspiration which lead to his technically great but much less inspired works from the 00s. And that is obviously not a fact, it's an opinion, but not an "odd" one at all.

Considering Ricard's age, and the fact that WoE was the first time Williams wrote this type of score (mischievous evil), I can certainly see why he loves it. Same with Home Alone. The styles of both would be regurgitated for Harry Potter and Hook, but Home Alone and Witches of Eastwick were there first....

My appreciation for those scores goes beyond those achievements.

Well, what these 'Top 15 Best Scores', 'Top 5 Worst Scores', 'Biggest Scores', Smallest Scores' etc. discussions have led me to believe: John Williams has never written a score which is generally considered to be 'a bad score'. Sleepers, Rosewood, Heartbeeps, The Witches Of Eastwick, ... They all have fans and belong in someone's top 10.

Which is quite "odd", isn't it?

[Thor 7,550]

Considering Ricard's age, and the fact that WoE was the first time Williams wrote this type of score (mischievous evil), I can certainly see why he loves it. Same with Home Alone. The styles of both would be regurgitated for Harry Potter and Hook, but Home Alone and Witches of Eastwick were there first....

Well, what these 'Top 15 Best Scores', 'Top 5 Worst Scores', 'Biggest Scores', Smallest Scores' etc. discussions have led me to believe: John Williams has never written a score which is generally considered to be 'a bad score'. Sleepers, Rosewood, Heartbeeps, The Witches Of Eastwick, ... They all have fans and belong in someone's top 10.

Except JOHN GOLDFARB PLEASE COME HOME.

[Sandor 797]

And I find it a bit insulting that you find "odd" that I feel those scores are better than anything post-92. And that certainly contradicts your previous statement about valuing my opinion as much as any other's. Furthermore, it clearly shows that you don't value all opinions equally. I would never dare to say that I find "odd" that someone considers a Williams score better than others, especially if we are talking about a BRILLIANT piece of art like The Witches of Eastwick, still close to Mr. Williams best era, but far from his gradual decline in inspiration which lead to his technically great but much less inspired works from the 00s. And that is obviously not a fact, it's an opinion, but not an "odd" one at all.

Ok, I realise now that you really do love HA2 and TWOE. Sorry then; 'odd' is definately not the right word. But I disagree that Williams' 00's scores suffer from a 'gradual decline of inspiration'. I think scores like Memoirs Of A Geisha, Catch Me If You Can and the recent War Horse are Williams at his most creative and I think these are works he - as a composer - is immensly proud of.

[Ricard 2,245]

Memoirs, Catch Me and War Horse are very good scores.

[Ricard 2,245]

P.S. Regarding THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK and HOME ALONE 2:

From The JWFAN MB Consensus Top 10 JW scores thread:

Good idea! (in fact, that's what I wanted to do some time ago)

Let's start:

1st: EMPIRE OF THE SUN

2nd: SAVING PRIVATE RYAN

3rd: JAWS

4th: HOME ALONE 2

5th: AMISTAD

6th: INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE

7th: THE LOST WORLD

8th: FAMILY PLOT

9th: SLEEPERS

10th: ALWAYS

Okay, only just got my web access back so haven't visited the site for literally ages but heres' my top ten......

01. The Empire Strikes Back.

02. E.T.

03. Jane Eyre.

04. Superman.

05. Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade.

06. Monsignor.

07. Attack of the Clones.

08. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

09. Schindlers List.

10. Images.

Boy that was hard, no for a lie down and a good snooze during the "four feathers score!"

1. Empire Strikes Back

2. Schindler's List

3. ET

4. Born on the Fourth of July

5. Far and Away

6. Home Alone 2

7. Artificial Intelligence

8. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

9. American Journey (documentary)

10. Return of the Jedi

-Adam

1.) E.T. the Extra Terrestrial

2.) Far and Away

3.) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

4.) Hook

5.) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

6.) The Empire Strikes Back

7.) Home Alone 2

8.) Jurassic Park

9.) Jaws

10.) Star Wars

Ray Barnsbury-who had a heck of a time choosing

Here's my revised list so as not to include American Journey (which is a great score and no more obscure than many of his feature films but I'll accept the criteria ).

1. Empire Strikes Back

2. Schindler's List

3. ET

4. Born on the Fourth of July

5. Far and Away

6. Home Alone 2

7. Artificial Intelligence

8. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

9. Return of the Jedi

10. Jurassic Park

Tough Decision actually but:

1. Raiders Of The Lost Ark

2. E.T. The Extra Terristrial

3. The Empire Strikes Back

4. Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom

5. Schindler's List

6. Jaws

7. Superman

8. Return Of The Jedi

9. Close Encounters Of The Third Kind

10. The Witches Of Eastwick

Here's mine:

1. Raiders Of The Lost Ark

2. The Empire Strikes Back

3. Superman The Movie

4. E.T.

5. The Witches Of Eastwick

6. Jaws

7. Close Encounters of the Third Kind

8. Jurassic Park

9. Episode I: The Phantom Menace

10. Episode II: Attack Of The Clones

Whew....that was difficult. banghead

1. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

2. Star Wars Episode II:Attack of the Clones

3. E.T.

4. Home Alone 2

5. Raiders of the lost Arch

6. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

7. Empire Strikes Back

8. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

9. Jurassic Park

10. Star Wars Episode I:The Phantom Menace

WOW That was very hard to do, I'm tired now

Now that i am registered, i can have mine counted.

I don't really have such a favourite but i listen to CoS the most out of all the ones i have, so i put that number one.

1. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

2. Star Wars Episode II:Attack of the Clones

3. E.T.

4. Home Alone 2

5. Raiders of the lost Arch

6. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

7. Empire Strikes Back

8. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

9. Jurassic Park

10. Star Wars Episode I:The Phantom Menace

My list:

1. Empire strikes back ( Star Wars )

2. Indiana Jones 1

3. Home Alone 2

4. Harry Potter 2

5. Hook

6. Jurassic Park 1

7. Superman 1

8. Jane Eyre

9. Schindlers List

10. E.T.

Andreas ( Admin )

This is like choosing which person on the life raft gets to live and you love them all! ask me again in a week and I'd have a different list I couldn't bring myself to put Star Wars scores more then twice

1. The Empire Strikes Back ( number one always changes for me)

2. Star Wars

3. E.T.

4. Superman

5. Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark

6. Hook

7. The Fury ( A recent favorite)

8. Home Alone 2 ( must be a Varese thing)

9. Schindler's List

10. A.I.

My Top Ten:

1. The Empire Strikes Back

2. Hook

3. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

4. Return of the Jedi

5. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

6. Far and Away

7. E.T.

8. Witches of Eastwick

9. Jurassic Park

10. Schindler's List

1. The Empire Strikes Back

2. A New Hope

3. The Witches of Eastwick

4. Hook

5. Schindler's List

6. E.T.

7. Raiders of the Lost Ark

8. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

9. Close Encounters of the Third Kind

10. A.I.

Wow.. now that's a tough one...

A wealth of Soundtracks to Choose From !!!

But i'll give it a shot !!!

1. The Empire Strikes Back (now that's obvious !)

2. A.I.

3. Raiders of the Lost Ark

4. E.T.

5. Close Encounters of the Third Kind

6. Empire Of The Sun

7. Hook

8. Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets

9. Jaws II

10. The Witches of Eastwick

;-)

1 Star Wars: ANH

2 Jaws

3 Star Wars: ESB

4 Schindler´s List

5 Jurassic park

6 The Witches Of Eastwick

7 Earthquake

8 Space Camp

9 E.T.

10 Raiders Of The Lost Ark

1. Hook

2. The Lost World

3. Saving Private Ryan

4. Home Alone 2

5. Far and Away

6. A.I.

7. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

8. Angela's Ashes

9. Jurassic Park

10. Empire of the Sun

PetePan, who finally replied...

Sorry busy at the moment...

1. Hook

2. The Lost World

3. Saving Private Ryan

4. Home Alone 2

5. Far and Away

6. A.I.

7. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

8. Angela's Ashes

9. Jurassic Park

10. Empire of the Sun

PetePan, who finally replied...

Sorry busy at the moment...

1.- Return Of The Jedi

2.- The Empire Strikes Back

3.-Schindler's List

4.-Attack Of The Clones

5.-A New Hope

6.- Chamber Of Secrets

7.-Phantom Menace

8.- Home alone II

9.- Jurassic Park

10.- A.I.

I've been visiting this MB for a couple of years, but this post finally promted me to join. So, here's my top 10.

01. Jurassic Park

02. The Cowboys

03. E.T.

04. The Empire Strikes Back

05. Star Wars

06. Hook

07. Attack of the Clones

08. Catch Me If You Can

09. Home Alone 2

10. Sleepers

I know everyone said it would be hard, but ranking these was a lot more difficult than I imagined.

#1 CL0SE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND

#2 BORN ON THE 4TH OF JULY

#3 SCHINDLER'S LIST

#4 SUPERMAN

#5 JAWS 2

#6 A.I

#7 THE PATRIOT

#8 E.T

#9 SAVING PRIVATE RYAN

#10 THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK

My list:

1. The Empire Strikes Back

2. E. T. - The Extra Terrestrial;

3. Superman - The Movie

4. The Witches of Eastwick

5. Close Encounters of the Third Kind

6. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

7. Raiders of the Lost Ark

8. Dracula

9. Jane Eyre

10. Angela's Ashes

That's it, however I'm completely shore about the 3 first only.

Jarbas from Brazil

"Do or do not. There is no try!"

I hope this time my login works.

1. The Empire Strikes Back

2. E. T. - The Extra Terrestrial;

3. Superman - The Movie

4. The Witches of Eastwick

5. Close Encounters of the Third Kind

6. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

7. Raiders of the Lost Ark

8. Dracula

9. Jane Eyre

10. Angela's Ashes

Jarbas

1.) The Empire strikes back

2.) Star Wars - A new hope

3.) Schindler´s list

4.) The return of the Jedi

5.) Raiders of the lost ark

6.) Hook

7.) The patriot

8.) Indiana Jones and the last crusade

9.) Home alone 2 - Lost in New York

10.) Superman

1. Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope

2. Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

3. Star Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi

4. Jurassic Park

5. Superman

6. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

7. JFK

8. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer Stone

9. Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace

10. Witches of Eastwick

I registered for this occasion!

1. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

2. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones

3. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

4. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

5. Schindler's List

6. Hook

7. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

8. American Journey

9. Far and Away

10. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

Best,

Uranus

It was really a hard job to do, but here is my list:

1. The Empire Strikes Back

2. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

3. The Fury

4. Empire of the Sun

5. The Witches of Eastwick

6. Raiders of the Lost Ark

7. Far and Away

8. Schindler's List

9. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

10. Superman

Morgaine

1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

2. A.I Artificial Intellegence

3. Home Alone

4. E.T

5. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

6. Jurassic Park

7. Star Wars:The Empire Strikes Back

8. Far and Away

9. Home Alone 2

10. Minority Report

1. The Empire Strikes Back

2. Raiders of the Lost Ark

3. E.T.

4. Nixon

5. Close Encounters of the Third Kind

6. Star Wars

7. Hook

8. Superman

9. The Witches of Eastwick

10. The Lost World

1. SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE

2. STAR WARS: EPISODE V - THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

3. SCHINDLER'S LIST

4. J.F.K.

5. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

6. SAVING PRIVATE RYAN

7. THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST

8. JAWS

9. THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK

10. HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE

This is just too hard. It's like choosing which one of your children you like best. This list is based on the desert Island scenario. (with portable CD player obviously)

Superman. is just the best piece of music I ever heard live. Simply stunning.

1. SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE. ( BEST MUSIC LIVE. PERIOD)

2. THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. ( IMPERIAL MARCH, MAGNIFICENT)

3. SHINDLER'S LIST. ( NIAGRA FALLS EVERY TIME)

4. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. ( THE MOST FUN YOU'LL HAVE LISTENING TO MUSIC)

5. J.F.K. ( STUNNING)

6. JAWS. ( SIMPLE BUT GENIUS)

7. THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK. ( OVERLOOKED MASTERPIECE)

8. SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. HARROWINGLY BEAUTIFUL)

9. HARRY POTTER AND THE PHOLOSOPHER'S STONE. (HIS BEST RECENT WORK)

10. THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST. ( REPETITIVE? YES. BUT DELIGHTFUL)

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Also notice how many of these people no longer post here

[indy4 155]

Was a final, composite JWFAN Top 10 list ever created?

[Sandor 797]

LOL Thanks Ricard. You've made your point. Maybe also fun to post all the top 10's that DIDN'T include HA2 and TWOE.

But for the record: I LOVE both scores and don't find it surprising either one of them popping up in anyone's top 10.

[SF1_freeze 131]

Concerning Home Alone 2: This score is the best orchestral christmas score i know of and i enjoy it more than Home Alone but it reuses such a wealth of Home Alone material (albeit in cool new ways) that the original still is the bigger achievement

The same could be said about Revenge of the Sith. It's an immensely enjoyable Starwars score mainly because of the new ways Williams arranged older themes and motifs. NeverthelessTPM, RotJ, TESB and Starwars still remain greater achievements cause of the much bigger amount of fabulous new material...

[Maglorfin 196]

In no particular order:

- Superman

- Star Wars: A New Hope

- Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back

- Home Alone

- Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

- Catch Me If You Can

- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

- Jurassic Park

- E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

- Cowboys

- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

- Close Encounters of the Third Kind

- Jaws

- Hook

- Seven Years in Tibet