David Vincent 8 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 You know, for me John Williams is the best by far and I don't listen to many other scores than John Williams ones, but there are exceptions 8O For example, I love to listen in loop to Alan Silvestri's Back to the Future scores and David Arnold's Independence Day.Sometimes, people make a mistake by thinking those scores have been made by John Williams.Do you know other scores like these, "as good as a John Williams one" ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pieter Boelen 740 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 Scores that are certainly as good:Cutthroat Island (John Debney)First Knight (Jerry Goldsmith)Independence Day (David Arnold)Other scores that I personally consider to be just as good:Kingdom of Heaven (Harry Gregson-Williams)Mulan (Jerry Goldsmith)Mutiny on the Bounty (Bronislau Kaper)Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (Harry Gregson-Williams)The Mummy Returns (Alan Silvestri)Up for debate:Atlantis: The Lost Empire (James Newton Howard) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMacGyver 0 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 I love to listen in loop to Alan Silvestri's Back to the Future scores and David Arnold's Independence Day.Sometimes, people make a mistake by thinking those scores have been made by John Williams.Thats the typical newbie-mistake: Every good film music with a memorable theme comes from John Williams. 8OBut here are some that easily reach the same level of impact like a great williams score:Alan Silvestri - Judge DreddWhy? Easily his best work for a sci-fi/action film to date.Alan Silvestri - Siegfried & RoyI call this one the Alan Silvestri concert. It definitely has some williams influences in terms of orchestration but is overall pure silvestri magic all the way through the 50 minutes of running time.David Arnold - Independence DayI can only agree here. A thrill ride!Star Trek - The Motion PictureJerry's best without comparison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Mark 3,631 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 The scores I've listed in the Is Micchael Giacchino overrrated thread from 1975 to 1985 when all the top composers were at the top of their game by some sort of magical confluence.I still consider Back to the Future as a mediocre Williams imitation at the time.The theme is to blaringly obvious without any subtelty.But it's better than most of what's composed today.K.M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Skywalker 1,799 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 BTTF theme is Williamsy but the rest of the score is IMO bland, at least outside the movie.And it doesnt sound as the biggest orchestra assembled for an universal picture... :? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robthehand 3 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 Back to the Future III is by far the least bland BTTF score. I actually really like it. 8O Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 BTTF theme is Williamsy but the rest of the score is IMO bland, at least outside the movie.And it doesnt sound as the biggest orchestra assembled for an universal picture... :?SHUT UP OK...JUST SHUT UP! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Skywalker 1,799 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 :?dont you tell me the score has lush orchestrations... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sephiroth 0 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 Batman by Elfman is perhaps the greatest non Williams score ever. Batman theme, descent into mystery, charge of the batmobile, finale and up the cathedral are all among the best Elfman tracks.Also good ones:Aliens - James HornesAlien 3 - Elliot Goldenthal (Very good and underestimated composer)Children of Dune - Brian TylerAnd of course LotR by ShoreThey are not very Williams like but still good scores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 Conan The Barbarian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robthehand 3 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 Ben-Hur. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batmanand 0 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 Aside from Golden Age score, the following I would consider to be some that are up to Williams standard:Stargate - ArnoldIndependence Day - ArnoldCutthroat Island - DebneyBatman - ElfmanEdward Scissorhands - ElfmanDances with Wolves - Barrymaybe Finding Nemo - NewmanHannibal - ZimmerThe Hours - Glass (although it is obviously totally different from a Williams score)Peter Pan - JNH (although it is nowhere near Hook)The Mission - Morricone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delorean90 42 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 Easily "Young Sherlock Holmes" by Bruce Broughton. Just watch the movie and you'll hear it. The themes are terrific (I love the main theme--it's the clip on scorereviews.com), and the underscore is also wonderful, with a large, wonderful orchestra sound. It's easily a Williams caliber score. I wish I could get a hold of this for a reasonable price, but I haven't been able to find an Ebay auction that ends up less than 50 bucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,238 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 Tons of Goldsmith, lots of Korngold and Goldenthal, plenty of others.Marian - who doesn't want to start listing individual scores. The Fellowship of the Ring (Howard Shore) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 Marian - who doesn't want to start listing individual scores. I see. The Fellowship of the Ring (Howard Shore)Hmmm.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scissorhands 16 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 Sometimes, people make a mistake by thinking those scores have been made by John Williams.Do you know other scores like these, "as good as a John Williams one" ?Those are very different concepts: scores that sound like John Williams, and scores as good as John Williams.Arnold's Stargate or Independence Day can be listed in the first group, but by no means in the second one (ID4 is a good example, compared with Williams' approach in the same genre: War of the Worlds). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nightscape94 965 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 It's funny how many people mis-label files on those person-to-person share systems. John Williams is credited with a plethora of material that isn't his, such as the Back to the Future stuff.I agree with the Eflman Batman score, as well as his Edward Scissorhands and his extremely pleasant Sommersby.Conan The Barbarian was already mentioned. I would also say Gone with the Wind, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, King of Kings....man-o-man, there are tons of great non-Williams scores. The world doesn't start and stop with him Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incanus 5,723 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 It's funny how many people mis-label files on those person-to-person share systems. John Williams is credited with a plethora of material that isn't his, such as the Back to the Future stuff.It is amazing how little people care who has composed the music and Williamsseems to have become synonymous with all film music. Conan The Barbarian was already mentioned. I would also say Gone with the Wind, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, King of Kings....man-o-man, there are tons of great non-Williams scores. The world doesn't start and stop with him TimThere are tons and tons of brilliant film music out there and not all of it is written by Williams. In the last couple of years I have discovered many great scores and composers that I did not want to explore when I was younger. I guess there was some childish notion that I would betray Williams in a way as a fan if I listened other composers' works. That sounds funny but you do silly things when you are young. It does not lessen worth of Williams' music in my eyes (or should I say ears) if I listen other composers. He is still IMO the best film composer out there and nothing is going to change that. I am glad I stopped beingclose minded about other film composers and scores. I have discovered so much wonderful music. Now all I need is to broaden my musical tastes beyond classical and film music. To name all great scores would take a lot of space and since there are no ultimate and final words on the excellence of any score beyond personal tastes I wont list any here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superman 0 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 Abyss - SilvestriAnastasia - David NewmanArmy of Darkness - LoDucaAtlantis - JNHAzurik - Rise Of Perathia - Jeremy SouleBTTF 1,2,3 - SilvestriBatman - ElfmanBig Fish - ElfmanBlack Stallion Returns - Georges DelerueBoy Who Could Fly - BroughtonCharlie And The Chocolate Factory - ElfmanChinatown - GoldsmithCider House Rules - PortmanConan The Barbarian - PoledourisCongo - GoldsmithCutthroat Island - DebneyDiablo 2 - Lord Of Destruction - Matt UelmenDinosaur - JNHEdward Scissorhands - ElfmanGhost Ship - Conrad PopeGladiator - Zimmer Godzilla - David ArnoldGold Diggers - McNeelyHeart Of Darkness - BroughtonHomeward Bound - BroughtonHulk - ElfmanHunchback Of Notre Dame - MenkenHunt For Red October - PoledourisIncredibles - GiacchinnoIron Will - McNeelyJudge Dredd - SilvestriLast Samurai - ZimmerMask Of Zorro - HornerMatrix - Don DavisMerlin - Trevor JonesMission - MorriconeMouse Hunt - SilvestriMulan II - McNeelyMummy Returns - SilvestriNarnia - HGWPassion Of Christ - DebneyPeter Pan - JNHPredator - SilvestriReturn To Neverland - McNeelyRobin Hood - KamenRocketeer - HornerShawshank Redemption - Thomas NewmanSilverado - BroughtonSky Captain - ShearmurSpider-Man - ElfmanStar Wars - Shadows Of The Empire - McNeelyStargate - David ArnoldSupergirl - GoldsmithTrinity And Beyond - William StrombergVan Helsing - SilvestriVillage - JNHWho Framed Roger Rabbit - SilvestriWillow - HornerYoung Sherlock Holmes - Broughton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,238 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 Marian - who doesn't want to start listing individual scores. I see. The Fellowship of the Ring (Howard Shore)Hmmm....Yes?Marian - ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BurgaFlippinMan 7 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 Legends of the Fall - James Horner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 Marian - who doesn't want to start listing individual scores. I see. The Fellowship of the Ring (Howard Shore)Hmmm....Yes?Marian - ?You did list an individual score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bondo 33 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 Medal of Honor (1-3) and Cutthroat Island are as good (not necessarily better) as any adventure score Williams has ever wrote, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,238 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 You did list an individual score.No. That's obviously just what I was playing at that time. Musically, I'm not convinced it would belong in this category.Marian - who would list many other scores before this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trent B 337 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 Air Force One - Goldsmith and McNeelyStar Trek The Motion Picture - GoldsmithStar Trek II The Wrath Of Khan - James HornerStar Trek III The Search For Spock - James HornerStar Trek V: The Final Frontier - GoldsmithStar Trek First Contact - GoldsmithStar Trek Insurrection - GoldsmithStar Trek Nemesis - GoldsmithThe Matrix - Don DavisThe Matrix Reloaded - Don DavisThe Matrix Revolutions - Don DavisSpider-Man - Danny ElfmanStarship Troopers - Basil PoledourisDinosaur - James Newton HowardThe Scorpion King - John DebneyJust to name a few from my end which I think are good non-Williams scores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollie 1,062 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 Believe it or not there are good film scores that were written before 1980.It's true I've heard them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ridan 0 Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 Maybe not, but Yared's Troy. Huge, memorable themes; lush and thick orchestrations; Amazing battle music. You get the idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,949 Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 Yared's Troy doesn't count since it really isn't a score.Titanic, it's amazing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRuleOfThirds 0 Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 Conan The Barbarian.Sounds more like Goldsmith, biatch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixie_twinkle 48 Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 Far too many scores to name, but anything by Korngold, Steiner, Waxman, Herrman, and Rosza for starters. Not too much lately though. SOmeone mentioned the score to Narnia! Why????? Perhaps I was in the wrong movie, but that score sucked! However I woud like to defend the terrific theme from Back to the Future. Obvious? Maybe. In the same way that Williams Superman Theme is obvious, his score to The Cowboys is obvious. Etc etc. The Back to the Future theme is simply one of the most exciting and memorable themes of all time. And that's all I have to say about tha.....t.James - who wishes someone would hurry up and release an nice CD of the score to Clash of the Titans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salacius 7 Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 I never heard a score thinking 'this sounds like Williams' (with the exeption of Joel McNeely- but he copied the weaker Williams moments)However I listen to meany other scores and think that they are great.Interview With a Vampire,LOTRStar Trek SoundtracksOmen trilogyAlienAliensAlien 3Hellraiser I + IIBatman ForeverBack to the futureJudge DreadPredator I + IILittle BuddhaThe Last EmperorStargateLegendI mean there are so many great scores out there. But for me nobody comes close to Williams other than Goldsmith.I also have this thing where I can't listen to any other composer after I've heard my most faivourite CD's from Williams.The only thing that can compete is classical music so I grab some of my classical collection as a worthy continuation to the material from JW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Mark 3,631 Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 James - who wishes someone would hurry up and release an nice CD of the score to Clash of the Titans.I have that on c.d.It was released by Pendulum along with Cocoon,what are you talking about?So scores as great as a Williams one:Star Trek The Motion PictureStar Trek The Wrath of KhanMoonrakerClash of the TitansKrullCocoonThe Black HolePoltergeistThe Final ConflictThe Secret of NIMHThe Land Before TimeStargateSky Captain and the World of TomorrowK.M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McClane 1 Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 Titanic, it's amazingRiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.You mentioning that score as "amazing" is as sarcasting as asking to Shaq if he can dunk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeshopk 8 Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 My short list:Clash of the TitansPoltergeistConan the BarbarianBatman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Barnsbury 8 Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 You mentioning that score as "amazing" is as sarcasting as asking to Shaq if he can dunk.Joe wasn't being sarcastic.Ray Barnsbury Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 Titanic is outstanding, but as Horner goes, I prefer Braveheart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McClane 1 Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 Yes Ray, Joe is the person who hates/bash pretty much everything, so that was clearly sarcastic.And with that, I wanna say that I agree with Stefan. I like Titanic but it's not Horner's best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incanus 5,723 Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 Titanic is outstanding, but as Horner goes, I prefer Braveheart.I can't personally stand that synth choir and Uillean pipes. Plus after hearing that love theme(My Heart Will Go On) blasted from every media for a year after the movie had come out kind of turned me off that too. I own the score but I can't listen it from start to finish. But hey that is life. Some things you like, some things you don't. Personally I would choose something else from Horner like Brave Heart or Rocketeer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Mark 3,631 Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 I don't like the new era Braveheart,Glory,Legend of the Fall Horner.I prefer the Krull,Star Trek,Land Before Time era.K.M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nightscape94 965 Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 On that note (pun excusable), Willow is pretty good. I'd say it's an above average Horner score.Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,238 Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 I like Titanic but it's not Horner's best.Sneakers is.As for Willow... great score, and at the same time, Horner's worst rip off ever.Marian - Flesh+Blood (Basil Poledouris) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SturgisPodmore 0 Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 Someone mentioned the score to Narnia! Why????? Perhaps I was in the wrong movie, but that score sucked!Probably because it has eight themes which interweave beautifully and develop all throughout the score. It's a really fun score with a strong emotional core, and it does anything but meander, as you claimed. At least you gave it a listen outside of the film before claiming it "sucks." Oh wait. ~Sturgis, surprised at how many people listed very few scores to be as good as Williams Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Barnsbury 8 Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 Yes Ray, Joe is the person who hates/bash pretty much everything, so that was clearly sarcastic. Since he's stated his admiration for Titanic, both film and score, on multiple occasions in the past, he was clearly being serious. Now be quiet!Ray Barnsbury Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indiana_Fett 0 Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 What does JWFan think of James Horner's Glory? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Barnsbury 8 Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 I think it's a terrific score, one of Horner's best for sure.Ray Barnsbury Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nightscape94 965 Posted February 7, 2006 Share Posted February 7, 2006 What does JWFan think of James Horner's Glory?Do I smell a poll coming on? Anway, with regards to Narnia...it's a good score, but hardly up to par with the best of Williams. I've listened to the score three times now, and really have no interest to listen to it again for some time. The first two tracks are uninteresting musically. The middle section is pretty dull, but pleasant to listen to. The Battle is a good track. On the whole it's a pretty average score, good, but not great....worthy of talk and praise, but not worthy to be compared to Geisha or Munich this year.Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin 2 Posted February 7, 2006 Share Posted February 7, 2006 What does JWFan think of James Horner's Glory?Sounds like a poll!Justin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SturgisPodmore 0 Posted February 7, 2006 Share Posted February 7, 2006 Anway, with regards to Narnia...it's a good score, but hardly up to par with the best of Williams. I've listened to the score three times now, and really have no interest to listen to it again for some time. The first two tracks are uninteresting musically. The middle section is pretty dull, but pleasant to listen to. The Battle is a good track. On the whole it's a pretty average score, good, but not great....worthy of talk and praise, but not worthy to be compared to Geisha or Munich this year.Just so ya know (if you didn't already) . . . the first track features the "Children's Theme" and the second features that as well as the first appearance of the "Narnia Theme." So it's not just mindless nothingness, if that would entice you at all. But if you really find them uninteresting, well then, you're just a big poo-poo head! ~Sturgis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nightscape94 965 Posted February 7, 2006 Share Posted February 7, 2006 I obviously did not analyze the score while listening to it, as you did. I don't know, the first track just sounds like James Bond music or something. The electronics sound out of place, as does the trumpet blasts. The strings are doing interesting things, but the clicking rhythm and drum loop annoyes me. "Evacuating London" suffers for a couple of reasons. The female vocal caught me off guard, but the track ends up sounding like a bad pop song. It sounds, in fact, like trailer music. The stuff they get from a grab-bag or archive.Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixie_twinkle 48 Posted February 7, 2006 Share Posted February 7, 2006 Someone mentioned the score to Narnia! Why????? Perhaps I was in the wrong movie, but that score sucked!Probably because it has eight themes which interweave beautifully and develop all throughout the score. It's a really fun score with a strong emotional core, and it does anything but meander, as you claimed. At least you gave it a listen outside of the film before claiming it "sucks." Oh wait. The score spoilt the film for me, so why on earth would I want to listen to it away from the film? I heard more than I could stomach in the theatre. Sorry to be argumentative, but I left the cinema thinking that a wonderful opportunity to compose some interesting music had been wasted. Those dull music cues aren't going to sound any better on a CD player than they did in the dolby surround sound of the cinema. And yes, it meandered. A lot. James - who wishes someone would hurry up and release an nice CD of the score to Clash of the Titans.I have that on c.d.It was released by Pendulum along with Cocoon,what are you talking about?It's out of print, that's what I'm talking about. You can get it second hand for about 35 bucks, but I don't have that kind of money for a CD right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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