artguy360 1,884 Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 What film theme best conveys the idea of action and adventure? I'm posting this in general discussion because I'm hoping for non-JW responses. My personal favorite theme that just screams action, adventure, and excitement is the theme for North By Northwest by Bernard Hermann. Although it may sound out of fashion now, this theme so perfectly conveys adventure to me with it's orchestration, frenetic progression, and percussive bombast. What say you? What are your picks? Mr. Hooper 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 8,324 Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 It's the best Mr. Hooper and filmmusic 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Hooper 2,683 Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 25 minutes ago, artguy360 said: My personal favorite theme that just screams action, adventure, and excitement is the theme for North By Northwest by Bernard Hermann. As I recall, he called it a "fandango from hell." Here's another rousing adventure theme from Herrmann... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 10,057 Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 Korngold's THE SEA HAWK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GerateWohl 4,789 Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 Even though it's not action music I would call Kamen's Highlander Theme one of my favourite adventure themes. It is a hero's theme, that carries brillantly the sense of adventure. And I am so far not getting tired of it. Spoiler Davis 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crocodile 8,290 Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 As for non-Williams: Karol Sunshine Reger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmilson 8,182 Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 I love the El Dorado theme from Powell & Zimmer (though I think it sounds more like the former than the latter). Very swashbuckling and adventurous. Sunshine Reger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Andy 4,821 Posted May 26 Popular Post Share Posted May 26 Jesus Christ, fellas. Come on. Sylvan, Sunshine Reger, Davis and 5 others 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
filmmusic 2,109 Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 6 minutes ago, Andy said: Jesus Christ, fellas. Come on. Yes, this is that came to my mind first! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Edmilson 8,182 Posted May 26 Popular Post Share Posted May 26 11 minutes ago, Andy said: Jesus Christ, fellas. Come on. I think the implied subtitle of the thread was: "aside from the Raiders March" Andy, Bellosh and ThePenitentMan1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy 4,821 Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 4 minutes ago, Edmilson said: I think the implied subtitle of the thread was: "aside from the Raiders March" Easy. Sweeping, whirling, percussive, tough, epic. @crocodile’s choice of Lost World is a good one too. Tom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 8,324 Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 33 minutes ago, Andy said: Jesus Christ, fellas. Come on. Never heard of it. ThePenitentMan1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy 4,821 Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 Let me tell you the tales of High Adventure! Davis 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweeping Strings 2,515 Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 A non-Williams composition that utterly evokes action-adventure? That's easy. Jurassic Shark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy 4,821 Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 What is it? It’s unavailable to view in the US. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smaug The Iron 546 Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 Just now, Andy said: What is it? It’s unavailable to view in the US. Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy 4,821 Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 Natch! Sweeping Strings 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davis 2,749 Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 Jerry Goldsmith: THE MUMMY Unlucky Bastard and Andy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 8,324 Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 1 minute ago, JTN said: Jerry Goldsmith: THE MUMMY He's the only scoreposer who matters aside from Horny Horner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Hooper 2,683 Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 I can't be the first one to point out the similarity here... 2 hours ago, Andy said: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,952 Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 5 minutes ago, Mr. Hooper said: I can't be the first one to point out the similarity here... No, it's been a "running gag" on most film music forums since the late 90s, and probably way before that too. They're not that similar, but I get where the observation comes from. As for favourite adventure themes, I wouldn't know where to start or stop, much less find one favourite that rules them all. Very wide parameters. Mr. Hooper 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,618 Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 Davis 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy 4,821 Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 21 minutes ago, Thor said: As for favourite adventure themes, I wouldn't know where to start or stop, much less find one favourite that rules them all. Very wide parameters. Well, I personally appreciate the less obvious ones posted by @crocodile @Edmilsonand @GerateWohl And starting off the OP with NBNW is pretty cool. I in fact just listened to that one last night. Perhaps a more interesting exercise is “Less Obvious Adventure Themes” to get more out of the box suggestions. Already this thread reminded me I need to give some attention to Highlander and The Wind and the Lion. I like that. Getting suggestions. artguy360 and GerateWohl 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmilson 8,182 Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 3 minutes ago, Andy said: Perhaps a more interesting exercise is “Less Obvious Adventure Themes” to get more out of the box suggestions. Exactly, otherwise people will just post the obvious choices, like Raiders March, etc. Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,618 Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy 4,821 Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 36 minutes ago, Edmilson said: Exactly, otherwise people will just post the obvious choices, like Raiders March, etc. Guilty as charged Mr. Hooper 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bellosh 3,746 Posted May 27 Share Posted May 27 I scrolled too fuckin far to finally see Andy's post. Just feeling betrayed at this point by some of you Sylvan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Hooper 2,683 Posted May 27 Share Posted May 27 2 hours ago, Bellosh said: I scrolled too fuckin far to finally see Andy's post. Just feeling betrayed at this point by some of you The author wanted non-JW suggestions. We wuz just followin' orders! ThePenitentMan1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stark 400 Posted May 27 Share Posted May 27 For a more recent work, Rim of the World by Bear McCreary (do NOT watch the movie though). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik Woods 579 Posted May 27 Share Posted May 27 Raiders is my favourite but THIS is my second favourite. Andy and Davis 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davis 2,749 Posted May 27 Share Posted May 27 8 minutes ago, Erik Woods said: Raiders is my favourite but THIS is my second favourite. Nice! I watched the original last night. Erik Woods 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karelm 2,938 Posted May 27 Share Posted May 27 I think quite highly of Debney's Zathura. Davis 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trope 637 Posted May 27 Share Posted May 27 Davis and ThePenitentMan1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Hooper 2,683 Posted May 27 Share Posted May 27 Not the "best", but some toe-tapping high adventure in here. Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmilson 8,182 Posted May 27 Share Posted May 27 Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
filmmusic 2,109 Posted May 27 Share Posted May 27 Well, another obvious choice, but if we're talking about non-JW themes, this is my second best: ThePenitentMan1 and Davis 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datameister 2,178 Posted May 27 Share Posted May 27 I wouldn't call it the best, but I think Shearmur's Sky Captain deserves a mention. Davis 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
filmmusic 2,109 Posted May 27 Share Posted May 27 Others worth mentioning: Davis and Andy 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,952 Posted May 27 Share Posted May 27 This thread is already taking a million minutes to load. YouTube overload! But as usual, it's a matter of scrolling through one's iTunes collection and finding the odd track here and there. Some random ones that haven't been mentioned: "Chitti to the Rescue" from ENTHIRAN "My First Bus Ride" from THE MUMMY RETURNS "Main Title" from LADYHAWKE "Cody's Flight" from THE RESCUERS DOWN UNDER "Riddles" from BUCKLEY'S CHANCE "Building the Deathcoaster" from ARMY OF DARKNESS "Fratelli Chase" from THE GOONIES "Main Title" from THE MUSKETEER (Arnold) "The Phantom" from THE PHANTOM ....at D now, and kinda bored. Maybe more later. Davis and DemonStar 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony 595 Posted May 27 Share Posted May 27 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HunterTech 1,102 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 I am certainly out of my depth when it comes to distinguishing adventure themes (as superhero themes take a similar yet distinct approach), but I'd like to think this qualifies as a straightforward example: Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Andy 4,821 Posted May 28 Popular Post Share Posted May 28 Someone with greater familiarity with Golden Age scores will cringe, but Kamen’s theme from Robin Hood Prince of Thieves was enough to make credits over old tapestries thrilling. This promise of Adventure was so effective, Disney appropriated it for all of their home video promos. Davis, TiredDad and Mr. Hooper 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Lovett 7,034 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 It's an excellent score. Who the hell is gonna cringe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmilson 8,182 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 Star Wars-related, but not exactly an obvious choice. With all respect to Williams, but in regards to this theme I prefer how Powell used it on the actual underscore, like here: 28 minutes ago, Andy said: This promise of Adventure was so effective, Disney appropriated it for all of their home video promos. See, this is why I could never "love" this theme as much as I wanted. Every time I played it I was reminded me not of Costner's Robin Hood and medieval adventures but rather Disney's stupid DVD promo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Hooper 2,683 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 4 hours ago, Edmilson said: See, this is why I could never "love" this theme as much as I wanted. Every time I played it I was reminded me not of Costner's Robin Hood and medieval adventures but rather Disney's stupid DVD promo. Yet more proof that Disney ruins everything it touches. Edmilson 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony 595 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 Davis 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePenitentMan1 965 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 On 27/05/2024 at 10:59 AM, filmmusic said: Well, another obvious choice, but if we're talking about non-JW themes, this is my second best: If adventure in space counts, then I'd have to include Broughton's Lost In Space as well: Spoiler That string chord underneath the solo horn at the beginning has always felt like the perfect representation of space exploration to me as a kid; vacuous, but beautiful, quiet, yet expansive. And then the cue crescendoes into a big bloom of orchestral wonder. It's a slower-tempo, more romanticized version of it, but I'd say it still captures the tone of space adventure wonderfully. Of course, if we want a more traditionally adventurous tone: Spoiler Davis 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy 4,821 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 9 hours ago, Brock Lovett said: It's an excellent score. Who the hell is gonna cringe? The people who are more familiar and faithful to Korngold's Robin Hood Score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,618 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 Kamen's score is very incoherent in comparison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davis 2,749 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 4 hours ago, ThePenitentMan1 said: That string chord underneath the solo horn at the beginning has always felt like the perfect representation of space exploration to me as a kid; vacuous, but beautiful, quiet, yet expansive. It reminds me of another great epic beginning: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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