Edmilson 7,474 Posted January 21, 2020 Share Posted January 21, 2020 Wow, that's a really tough question, even for a fan like me! lol It changes from time to time, but I guess my top favorite JNH scores are (in no particular order) King Kong, Water For Elephants, The Village, Unbreakable and Dinosaur. But if you want to know more about him, there's two ways in doing that: his more intimate, dramatic scores, and the adventure, larger than life scores. For the first group, there's the supremely underrated Water for Elephants, the hard to listen but rewarding Snow Falling on Cedars, the unknown but also great The Emperor's Club, the tragic and Oscar-nominated Defiance, the recently released (and excellent) A Hidden Life, and almost all of his Shyamalan scores except for The Last Airbender and After Earth. The earlier Shyamalan scores are a great mixture of horror with more tender, beautiful string writing, as in Malcom is Dead for The Sixth Sense, Carrying Audrey from Unbreakable, The Hand of Fate Part 2 from Signs, The Vote and some unreleased cues (available on bootlegs and on YouTube) from The Village, and The Healing from Lady in the Water. If you want an example from his early career, there's his first Oscar nominated score, for Prince of Tides, which has his moments, but not his trademark "JNH sound". As for the second, you can't go wrong with the Kevin Costner scores (Waterworld and The Postman), the Disney animations (Dinosaur, Atlantis and Treasure Planet), King Kong, The Last Airbender, Maleficent and the two Fantastic Beasts scores. Vertical Limit is also interesting, and although I don't listen to these albums very often, there's some cues in scores like Hidalgo, Peter Pan, Water Horse, The Nutcracker and Snow White and the Huntsman that are worth listening once in a while. Not everyone likes his Hunger Games scores, but you can make a great playlist with material from the 4 scores. Avoid his suspense/thriller/action scores with a heavier electronic involvement, such as The Interpreter, Bourne Legacy, Salt, Nightcrawler, Michael Clayton, Dreamcatcher, these are generic and uninteresting scores far below his talent. The best one is Blood Diamond, which has a great main theme, some pretty good action (Diamond Mine Bombed) and emotional (Maddy and Archer, the final 5 cues on the OST) tracks. Bellosh and redishere 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bellosh 3,419 Posted January 21, 2020 Share Posted January 21, 2020 On 1/20/2020 at 5:14 PM, Edmilson said: Wow, that's a really tough question, even for a fan like me! lol It changes from time to time, but I guess my top favorite JNH scores are (in no particular order) King Kong, Water For Elephants, The Village, Unbreakable and Dinosaur. But if you want to know more about him, there's two ways in doing that: his more intimate, dramatic scores, and the adventure, larger than life scores. For the first group, there's the supremely underrated Water for Elephants, the hard to listen but rewarding Snow Falling on Cedars, the unknown but also great The Emperor's Club, the tragic and Oscar-nominated Defiance, the recently released (and excellent) A Hidden Life, and almost all of his Shyamalan scores except for The Last Airbender and After Earth. The earlier Shyamalan scores are a great mixture of horror with more tender, beautiful string writing, as in Malcom is Dead for The Sixth Sense, Carrying Audrey from Unbreakable, The Hand of Fate Part 2 from Signs, The Vote and some unreleased cues (available on bootlegs and on YouTube) from The Village, and The Healing from Lady in the Water. If you want an example from his early career, there's his first Oscar nominated score, for Prince of Tides, which has his moments, but not his trademark "JNH sound". As for the second, you can't go wrong with the Kevin Costner scores (Waterworld and The Postman), the Disney animations (Dinosaur, Atlantis and Treasure Planet), King Kong, The Last Airbender, Maleficent and the two Fantastic Beasts scores. Vertical Limit is also interesting, and although I don't listen to these albums very often, there's some cues in scores like Hidalgo, Peter Pan, Water Horse, The Nutcracker and Snow White and the Huntsman that are worth listening once in a while. Not everyone likes his Hunger Games scores, but you can make a great playlist with material from the 4 scores. Avoid his suspense/thriller/action scores with a heavier electronic involvement, such as The Interpreter, Bourne Legacy, Salt, Nightcrawler, Michael Clayton, Dreamcatcher, these are generic and uninteresting scores far below his talent. The best one is Blood Diamond, which has a great main theme, some pretty good action (Diamond Mine Bombed) and emotional (Maddy and Archer, the final 5 cues on the OST) tracks. I really appreciate this response. I can't offer much in discussion and hate to give such a short reply, but I've always loved what he has done with the Shyamalan films. But I'll give Water For Elephants and Dinosaur a listen at some point this week. Edmilson 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 "Air Music" - Ned Rorem (3:28 - 3:37) The entirety of that 10th section is just intoxicating. But I love that woodwind phrase of the main theme at 3:28 while violins play that shrill trill Nick Parker 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmilson 7,474 Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 Pretty epic choral moment for Gia. It's just a shame that it lasts only for 10 seconds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bellosh 3,419 Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 4:23-4:29, also the outro is great too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redishere 697 Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 On 1/21/2020 at 2:14 AM, Edmilson said: and almost all of his Shyamalan scores except for The Last Airbender and After Earth. The earlier Shyamalan scores are a great mixture of horror with more tender, beautiful string writing, as in Malcom is Dead for The Sixth Sense, Carrying Audrey from Unbreakable, The Hand of Fate Part 2 from Signs, The Vote and some unreleased cues (available on bootlegs and on YouTube) from The Village, and The Healing from Lady in the Water. I love every Shyamalan score you mentioned (never listened to Last Airbender and After Earth).Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs, The Village and Lady in the Water all have incredible soundtracks in my opinion. I don't listen to The Happening that much, but it has its moments Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redishere 697 Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 The part starting at 0:41 makes me swoon every time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tydirium 1,167 Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 This appearance of the Unicorn Theme at 2:30: Love love love the chromatic descent of the choir underneath the flutes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loert 2,515 Posted February 15, 2020 Share Posted February 15, 2020 8:56 - 9:26 Sounds almost like two people having an argument! Cerebral Cortex 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 I often conceptualize especially dissonant counterpoint as an argument Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tydirium 1,167 Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 1:08-1:19: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Nick Parker 3,040 Posted April 5, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted April 5, 2020 Listened to one of my ol' standby favorites yesterday. The cello melody that comes in here, and the following chorale have this bleak inevitability contrasted with a wan, faded optimism, like sunlight peeking through the window of a jail cell prisoner. When the high strings come in...insta-chills. Romão, Edmilson, Sharkissimo and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK 3,307 Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 That pedal tone at the end... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted April 30, 2020 Share Posted April 30, 2020 30:36 - 31:47ish My favorite section of the music that Copland cut out of the familiar concert suite of Appalachian Spring. I think it's a shame that more people haven't heard this wonderful music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glóin the Dark 1,223 Posted April 30, 2020 Share Posted April 30, 2020 24:29 - 25:07 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted May 1, 2020 Share Posted May 1, 2020 4:28 - 5:00 is feel-good so-exciting-I-can't-keep-still music Those Copland rhythms that are just crackling pure energy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loert 2,515 Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 1:22 onwards reminds me a lot of The Ultimate War from HOOK, but amplified in activity by about 10000%: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted May 7, 2020 Share Posted May 7, 2020 3:20 - 3:56 Nick Parker and The Illustrious Jerry 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,378 Posted May 7, 2020 Share Posted May 7, 2020 Love that piano sound Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted May 7, 2020 Share Posted May 7, 2020 Just now, Jay said: Love that piano sound Makes me think of early Elfman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,378 Posted May 7, 2020 Share Posted May 7, 2020 Made me think of Schifrin's M:I stuff (the stuff beyond the theme, like The Plot) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmilson 7,474 Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 Anyone else also considers the heroic theme of The Road to El Dorado one of the best John Powell has ever done? It's so swashbuckling and adventurous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oomoog the Ecstatic 314 Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 Is this the best you can do Mitsuda: ? Hahahahahaha! Pathetic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmilson 7,474 Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 My favorite track of this OST: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muad'Dib 1,802 Posted July 4, 2020 Share Posted July 4, 2020 1:04 - 1:14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Parker 3,040 Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 The little low brass counter melody that ends up blatting that low C...ohhhhhh my god, it's so satisfying. This is what happens when you get a true blue composer to do a big cartoon type score! Also love the little clarinet figure at :35, reminds me of the textures Walker would use for her Two Face theme, it's such a great and succinct depiction of the character. And the trademark Goldenthal brass growl around :58 is delicious, too. On the subject of tiny satisying moments, the bari sax/trombone fall around 2:11 here gives me goosebumps almost every time. Romão and The Illustrious Jerry 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toothless 964 Posted July 9, 2020 Share Posted July 9, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muad'Dib 1,802 Posted July 15, 2020 Share Posted July 15, 2020 DUM DUM DUM DUM DUM DUM DUM DUM DUM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmilson 7,474 Posted July 17, 2020 Share Posted July 17, 2020 0:13 to 0:43 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oomoog the Ecstatic 314 Posted August 3, 2020 Share Posted August 3, 2020 3:06-3:14 gives me tears. Quite possibly the most beautiful thing to mind. Romão 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bayesian 1,364 Posted August 8, 2020 Share Posted August 8, 2020 I got my copy of LLL's Casper this afternoon and I'm very happy to report that one of Horner's most charming musical moments is finally on CD. You can hear it starting at 2:11 in this video, or at 1:10 on track 22 of CD 1. This is movie music magic, on a par with JW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bellosh 3,419 Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 4:07-4:22 (3:58-4:12 on the actual cue 'Robin Escapes' on the expanded Intrada release) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSH 969 Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 I love this little moment in the end credits of Goldsmith’s The Mummy. The little descending piano colour towards the end of that statement of the love theme at 4:16. Gives me goosebumps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabulin 3,515 Posted November 7, 2020 Share Posted November 7, 2020 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bayesian 1,364 Posted November 7, 2020 Share Posted November 7, 2020 Here's a song I love, and one that for me at least rings so very very true after today. One short musical moment here that has always captured me starts at 0:59, when Debbie Reynolds sings "..and you and you and you and you." I'd love if someone could explain what that chord progression is and why it sounds so magical. publicist 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted November 13, 2020 Share Posted November 13, 2020 This cue is sooo good -- I've played it so many times since I first discovered it a month or two ago: From the ecstatic little flute echoes over the charging strings (particularly around 1:07) to the beautiful dancing piano line over the rich, flowing strings beginning at 1:10, this is such a great cue. The rest of the score is not particularly inspiring, but this track is Desplat at his very best. Bellosh 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loert 2,515 Posted December 8, 2020 Share Posted December 8, 2020 LOVE the first 10 seconds! Edmilson and Fabulin 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabulin 3,515 Posted December 8, 2020 Share Posted December 8, 2020 15 hours ago, Loert said: LOVE the first 10 seconds! What other moments of polytonality do you like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loert 2,515 Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 On 12/8/2020 at 4:12 PM, Fabulin said: What other moments of polytonality do you like? Since you asked for it (10:32) Fabulin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo 3,709 Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 The cello line at the start of The Prophecy from the Fellowship of the Ring OST 🤤 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toothless 964 Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 2:13 2:34 CHAOS! Bayesian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bayesian 1,364 Posted December 29, 2020 Share Posted December 29, 2020 Alan Menken is awesome. Listen to what he does between 1:13 and 1:41. It's straight-up magical. (I didn't timestamp this one because I think the buildup in the cue is helpful to making the short moment I mention really pop.) EDIT: I'm back with another one! Randy Edelman this time: From 0:32 to 0:51. But especially from 0:40 to 0:51. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabulin 3,515 Posted January 13, 2021 Share Posted January 13, 2021 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muad'Dib 1,802 Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muad'Dib 1,802 Posted January 18, 2021 Share Posted January 18, 2021 5:06 - 5:55 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmilson 7,474 Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 I love the strings and flutes in the beginning of this track: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muad'Dib 1,802 Posted March 7, 2021 Share Posted March 7, 2021 Raiders of the SoundtrArk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmilson 7,474 Posted March 7, 2021 Share Posted March 7, 2021 I think it's rather unfortunate that the Avatar OST omits the best cue on the climax, 9M4 Quaritch Down. This cue is a must in every comprehensive Avatar playlist. Raiders of the SoundtrArk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raiders of the SoundtrArk 2,433 Posted March 7, 2021 Share Posted March 7, 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCEwUFtjAr4 The Ecstasy of Gold by Ennio Morricone Perfection! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now