Favorite Cue from TWOK Score

[CoveTom]

After leaving the TMP score poll open for a little over a week, the winning cue, by a very slight margin, was "The Enterprise."

I'm now going to move on and do the TWOK score, basing my track listing on the Film Score Monthly release. So which track from the TWOK score is your favorite and why?

For me, it's "Battle in the Mutara Nebula," but I'm not sure I can explain why. I just have always loved that particular cue.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

"Surprise Attack."

I like the buildup of the score that heavily hints that things are going to get dirty.

"Battle in the Mutara Nebula" is a good follow-up. The theme gives a feeling of hope after all the disaster that has happened before.

(A lot of sounds from both themes show up in "Aliens" and "Titanic," of course).

 

[CorporalClegg]

"Genesis Countdown" is probably the single best Star Trek cue of all time. That said, the rest of the score is kind of mediocre. "Surprise Attack" is okay, I guess.

 

[Smellmet]

I would never use the term 'mediocre' to describe the score from TWOK

 

[CoveTom]

I don't think Horner has the same variety in his scores of, say, Jerry Goldsmith. But, then again, that's pretty much a major part of his reputation.

I'm struck, for example, by how much of a variety there is in Goldsmith's score for TMP. Sure he makes plentiful use of the main theme, but the sound is starkly different for the Klingon battle, and then from the moment the Enterprise enters V'Ger until the end of the film, there's virtually no hint of the main theme and what we do hear stands in great contrast to the music from the first hour of the film.

Horner's score for TWOK is more repetitive, I think, thematically, but TWOK is also a very different film. And I still think the TWOK score is pretty amazing. I love, for example, the way Horner manages to slowly ramp up the tension in "Kirk's Explosive Reply" until the moment where the Enterprise fires at Reliant. And I love the arrangement of the main theme as it plays during the "running out the guns" moments in "Battle in the Mutara Nebula."

Ultimately, I don't think Horner is quite the caliber of composer that Jerry Goldsmith was. But I think the score for TWOK is a masterpiece, and fits the film perfectly.

 

[beamMe]

"Genesis Countdown" is probably the single best Star Trek cue of all time. That said, the rest of the score is kind of mediocre. "Surprise Attack" is okay, I guess.

Up until "Enterprising Young Men" I would have given that title to "Genesis Countdown"'s more upbeat equivalent from The Search for Spock, "Stealing the Enterprise".

That moment when she passes trough the doors of the Spacedock: Goosebumps!

 

[Basill]

I really hate picking favorites, but for fun's sake, I went with Enterprise Clears Moorings (by the slimmest of margins).

 

[mos6507]

Battle In The Mutara Nebula has that rhythmic jumpy-upbeat opening that I really love. I pretty much wore out my cassette version of this in the 80s, but over time I've come to appreciate the Search for Spock soundtrack much more--it has more heart to it.

 

[CorporalClegg]

I've come to appreciate the Search for Spock soundtrack much more--it has more heart to it.

Agreed.

Also, The biggest problem I have with TWOK's soundtrack is the arrangement. It's very bland and by the numbers. It's also really repetitive. One of the benefits Horner had in recycling so much of the score was he was better able to focus his time on the arrangement. He uses so much more of the orchestra in TSFS, really lets it breathe. He really accents the undertones and allows the tonal variation of the sections to flesh-out the melody.

At the time he did TWOK, he'd only really done a few small-budget films and some TV movies. And he'd done very little conducting. It's clear he learned a lot in the short time in between.

On the other hand, TSFS's score still loses points for being so recycled. The again, it has always been the biggest knock against Horner.

 

[Ssosmcin]

Well, in this case, being a direct continuation of the previous film, the reuse of themes is warranted (and yeah, I'm well aware of Horner's pilfering). Playing both scores back to back actually shows the narrative progression of these themes. Spock's in particular grows from its humble beginnings on TWOK into en epic, sweeping piece by the time the BoP lands on Vulcan in TSFS.

It's all subjective, but TWOK's score is FAR from bland to me. It's a beautiful piece of work on one of Horner's best scores. It and TSFS work as one long score, an epic story etched in music. I adore them both and they, plus TMP, stand as my three favorite scores in all of the Trek films.

 

[C.E. Evans]

Another vote for "Battle In The Mutara Nebula."

 

[EnriqueH]

I don't have the music handy.

What was the name of the track that started with Kirk's line, "It's two hours, are you ready?" when he beams aboard and talks about "Hours instead of minutes." and then shows the Reliant and Enterprise around the planet.

 

[CorporalClegg]

This one?

[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KilBvojsMdw&index=17&list=PLBE3A4BA7072EFA42[/yt]

 

[EnriqueH]

They're inoperative below C-deck.

What is working around here?

YES! I love that!!!

So much going on in this scene. I love the cadets running around with their game faces on.

Or how about the deleted scene?

"That young man's my son!"

"Fascinating."

I wish they'd left that in. Nice little character interaction.

THERE SHE IS!!!! THERE SHE IS!!! AHHHHHHH!!!! NOT SO WOUNDED AS WE WERE LED TO BELIEVE, SO MUCH THE BETTER!

Man, just listening to this and the movie's quotes just start cascading from my fingertips.

 

[Indysolo]

James Horner is a cadet in that scene.

Neil

 

[EnriqueH]

I believe that's Nick Meyer as well by the photon tube, isn't it? The way he keeps interchanging hands on the railing...straight from the Shatner School of Acting. And it works!

 

[CaptainMurdock]

Genesis Countdown. It's so tense and powerful with a brilliant payoff. Though I love the whole score, It's hard to pick just one.