Soundtracks: Star Trek II vs Star Trek III

[EnriqueH]

Man, I got the Star Trek II-VI soundtracks for Christmas. (My parents procured them from Intrada).

I just finished listening to the Trek III soundtrack, and I think I prefer it to TWOK's soundtrack.

I loved Horner's Klingons theme too.

I realize now that Ron Jones Klingon theme (which I also love) is a kind of Goldsmith-Horner Klingon fusion.

Stealing of the Enterprise still gives me goosebumps.

 

[Khan 2.0]

Horners scores are tremendous. I remember as a kid thinking that they had an other worldly type vibe and I associated them with the Genesis cave and the lush jungle forest stuff you see that was shot on location at the end of II, and also the mammoth mushroom space dock, the enterprise falling from the heavens

its fun to think the guy who would later score huge 'cool' stuff like Aliens, Titanic, Avatar started off on Trek (and you can hear numerous II/III rifts in those movies, esp Aliens - which kind of adds to the hard core aspect of II/III) that being said Goldsmiths score are equally tremendous

as a kid I used to think it was bizarre (but in a cool way) the trek films had so many main themes - the TMP theme, Hormers II/III, the IV Christmas bells theme (later id discover similar Trek IV themes in Beneath the Planet of the Apes), then the TMP score again for V (which was by then more associated with TNG - how weird was that), and then an all new main theme etc for VI (and then VII), before back to TMP/V for FC! and of course INS and then NEM (which had a very TMP spacedock reprise at the end. there was even abit of TWOK Horner-esque music where Data says 'goodbye' as Picard gets beamed away)

 

[Smellmet]

Movies 1-3 are hands down the best scores in the franchise in my opinion. Such memorable music.

 

[Inactive-Shapeshifter]

I prefer the Goldsmith scores

 

[RandyS]

Movies 1-3 are hands down the best scores in the franchise in my opinion. Such memorable music.

Yep. 4 and 5 have some good stuff in them too.

Hell, they ALL have some good stuff in them.

 

[drt]

its fun to think the guy who would later score huge 'cool' stuff like Aliens, Titanic, Avatar started off on Trek (and you can hear numerous II/III rifts in those movies, esp Aliens - which kind of adds to the hard core aspect of II/III) that being said Goldsmiths score are equally tremendous

That Horner copies his own themes so much has caused me to lose interest in his work, to the point I now don't like ST2/3 nearly as much as I used to...

 

[Smellmet]

I prefer the Goldsmith scores

I prefer Goldsmiths work on TMP over every other, but I prefer Horner's work on 2 & 3 over Goldsmiths 5 & FC, though they are both good scores in their own right.

I never cared for Insurrection's score, but really liked Nemesis though.

 

[doubleohfive]

It amazes me how timeless the scores are. I was at a holiday party the other day discussing these and specifically telling IndySolo and TV's Frank how amazing "Stealing the Enterprise" still is, all these years later.

 

[Trimm]

I think both the TWOK and TSFS scores are among my favorite soundtracks, Trek or not. That said, TSFS just sounds better to me. More contrasts in the themes, richer melodies etc.

 

[Therin of Andor]

That Horner copies his own themes so much has caused me to lose interest in his work, to the point I now don't like ST2/3 nearly as much as I used to...

To me it would the other way round. When I was feeling impatient between ST II and III, or ST III and IV, etc., I would investigate other Horner, Rosenman and Goldsmith scores and play them, pretending they were new Trek.

Have you heard "Battle Beyond the Stars", "Cocoon", "Cocoon II: The Return", "Brainstorm" or the animated "Lord of the Rings"? Also when it was mentioned that ST VI's soundtrack would be inspired by Holst's "The Planets" (originally Meyer wanted to use "The Planets", a suite which I'd remembered from music lessons in high school!).

Also worked a treat when I heard that a song from the closing credits of "Patch Adams" would be retooled as the theme for the "Enterprise" TV series!

 

[CorporalClegg]

When you get right down to brass-tax, they're basically the same score. However, I think Horner figured out what didn't work in the TWOK score and fixed it. Also, I've always preferred his Klingon theme to Goldsmith's.

 

[EnriqueH]

I prefer the Goldsmith scores

TMP score is my favorite too, which is why I specifically named this thread II vs. III.

Man, when I saw Aliens recently, I half expected Khan to show and give Ripley a hard time...and at another point, I expected Kruge to show up.

Still, I've been a fan of the Horner Trek scores for so long that I can separate the experience.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

Horners scores are tremendous.

Horner's scores were the right shot in the arm TOS movies needed to establish its own, less pretentious feel, which was the problem with too many post-Star Wars (1977) sci-fi scores--including TMP. The work for TWOK / TSFS were sweeping, but earthy, certainly heroic but threatening all at the same time.

I felt Horner's nods to certain TOS incidental music (Khan's reveal to Chekov & Terrell / the fanfare at the close of the Vulcan scene in TSFS) were naturally mixed into the rest in a more effective way than the Courage theme in TMP.

the TMP theme, Hormers II/III, the IV Christmas bells theme (later id discover similar Trek IV themes in Beneath the Planet of the Apes)

Interesting that you mention the Apes sequel having an influence, as i've always thought the BTPOTA track "Ape Soldiers Advancing," / "Ape Soldiers Continue" probably influenced John Williams' two note theme for Jaws some three years later.

 

[HIjol]

Man. both Horner and Goldsmith are such a treat for the ears (and occasionally the goosebumps) that it is hard to choose or separate. For me, I see the images from a given section of the movie as the music plays, and I love that.

Gotta say that, IMHO, Dennis McCarthy's opening theme in Generations (while the champaing bottle is tumbling towards the christening) is pretty good, also.

 

[2takesfrakes]

The STAR TREK III soundtrack is much more listenable, by far, to my discerning ears ...

 

[HIjol]

The STAR TREK III soundtrack is much more listenable, by far, to my discerning ears ...

Just watched that on the local HD channel here in the United Arab Emirates, and after the surprise of them actually screening it, I would agree with you. Hope you are well, Frakes!

 

[doubleohfive]

That Horner copies his own themes so much has caused me to lose interest in his work, to the point I now don't like ST2/3 nearly as much as I used to...

To me it would the other way round. When I was feeling impatient between ST II and III, or ST III and IV, etc., I would investigate other Horner, Rosenman and Goldsmith scores and play them, pretending they were new Trek.

Have you heard "Battle Beyond the Stars", "Cocoon", "Cocoon II: The Return", "Brainstorm" or the animated "Lord of the Rings"? Also when it was mentioned that ST VI's soundtrack would be inspired by Holst's "The Planets" (originally Meyer wanted to use "The Planets", a suite which I'd remembered from music lessons in high school!).

Also worked a treat when I heard that a song from the closing credits of "Patch Adams" would be retooled as the theme for the "Enterprise" TV series!

Composers repeating themselves is nothing new and certainly not something only Horner is guilty of. In the Trek pantheon, Dennis McCarthy repeated himself all the time. Seems like a silly thing to get hung up over, but whatev.

 

[2takesfrakes]

I am pleased to report that I'm doing very well, HIjol. 2015 is looking bright for Mrs. Frakes' son 2takes. And how about you, sir - how were The Holidays for you?

 

[HIjol]

I am pleased to report that I'm doing very well, HIjol. 2015 is looking bright for Mrs. Frakes' son 2takes. And how about you, sir - how were The Holidays for you?

Mrs. 'jol's son HI is giving her much pleasure and mirth, and his father will depart this Earth very soon for the Next Step in the Journey. He has fought long enough, and they are both at peace about it. Hospice now, and then...

Holidays were sweet and generous, and my surprise gift was an Autographed copy of "Hamlet" in Klingon, signed by no less than Kahless! (Some Staffer, no doubt!)

But now to the Posting! Learned some lessons in the "ST III Directing" Thread, and got a well-deserved spanking.

 

[2takesfrakes]

That's got to be tough for you, losing your father and, really, I am sorry to hear about that. I didn't know about "Hamlet" being translated in Klingonese, though. Autographed by Kahless, eh? I'm a fan of Billy Shakes, too, you know, but the only autographed book I have is from Kenneth Branagh. It's a present a former giflriend; she found it on eBay.

My friend Carla invited me over for New Year's Eve - we all had a good time. Except for my being cornered, at one point, by some friend of hers I hardly ever saw, or spoke to - the one with the high forehead! I was very polite. Very pleasant. Emboldened by this, she asked if I was seeing somebody. I told her I was and she was like, "that's cool." Later, though, Carla starts interrogating me - in front of her and some other friends - about my new, unknown woman ... probably trying to get me to say I don't want to get with a woman with a high forehead. But why'd she have to tell Carla that, anyway? I was being nice to her. Other than the lovely Carla's faux pas ... my Holiday's were most enjoyable.