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Favorite Telvision/Film Scores

My favorite movie soundtracks are from my favorite films: 2001: A Space Odyssey and Transformers.

As for TV, I don't really have a fave there, although VeggieTales comes close 'cuz I love the theme song. :lol:
 
My favorite movie scores:

Amadeus (although I agree that it really shouldn't count since it's almost all Mozart)

Out of Africa - John Barry. Even listening to the End Title part of this score makes me cry, because I've seen this film so many times...and I'm always crying at the end. Now it's like reflex.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_fAEdw7ts0

Dances With Wolves - John Barry (yes, I do love those John Barry scored movies!) - someone else already posted a link for this one.

The English Patient - Gabriel Yared
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MY4i0X_FA7k

This is another score that can bring tears to my eyes, just by hearing it, since I know what happens and it's so doggone SAD!

Evita - Andrew Lloyd Webber (maybe shouldn't count either since the score was from the theatre production)

The Big Chill

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - John Williams

The Hunt for Red October - Basil Poledouris
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPsL2WVhFCchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvqyosmPaoE&feature=related

While I've been typing this, I've been listening to parts of the scores from Out of Africa and Dances With Wolves, and I think I've put a finger on it - John Barry knows how to use French horns...which happen to be my favorite instrument. He can create the feeling of great expanse better than anyone...mainly through the use of his horn section.
 
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I don't know if you could strongly associate any of his songs with the films, but my favorite film scorer is the Jazz musician Dave Grusin. Some people may find his version of Jazz a little poppy, but I find much of his stuff hauntingly beautiful.
 
PKTrekGirl said:
My favorite movie scores:Amadeus (although I agree that it really shouldn't count since it's almost all Mozart)
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In the words of David Cassidy: "I think I love you!" :lol:

Well, points to the fact that they used the music like it was the 3rd lead in the film. The film wouldn't be half of what it was without Mozart's music. And it's my favorite movie of all time.

But yeah, it's definitely cheating when it comes to greatest film scores. All other scores don't stand a chance.

This sums up why Amadeus has the greatest score: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wwfb_fbdCiw

Well, I readily admit my bias on this one. I've been to Salzburg twice plus Vienna and have a little collection of Mozart statuary that I pick up each time (a porcelain figurine of him on a forte piano music box that plays Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and a 250 Jahre birthday statuette with him playing violin). Not to mention my Die Zauberflöte Salzburg marionette theater video, having seen Le Nozze di Figaro, the 14.8 GB of Mozart on my computer, etc...

I probably should mention how highly I think of the soundtracks for That's The Way It Is and Elvis On Tour. Now *that* is cheating for me. :guffaw: But you're safe because this is just for instrumental scores.

Though, speaking of Elvis movies, the rousing orchestral version (as studio big band musician-like as it is) of Young And Beautiful heard all through the film (especially the romantic parts) from Jailhouse Rock is really beautiful. I honestly wish I had a copy of it.
 
Too many to list!
Some faves:
Superman
Blade Runner
Serenity
STTMP
Aliens
Clockwork Orange
Escape From LA
STTOS
The Prisoner
Planet of the Apes
Omega Man
Silent Running
The Matrix
Firefly
Indy & Temple of Doom
Conan The Barbarian
Gremlins
X-Men
Westworld
Logan's Run
Man From Atlantis
Somewhere In Time

I'd better stop; I could go on & on...
 
Camelopard said:
One of the advantages of setting scenes in bars and nightclubs is that you can make use of diegetic music.

The Tech Noir scene from The Terminator would be another good example. I love the way Cameron uses both slow motion and the music to heighten suspense in that scene: first, the dance music becomes increasingly dreamlike and distant, then it segues to menacing orchestral music as the Terminator spots Connor and moves in.

And then, after ratcheting the tension up to the point that it's unbearable--BLAM!
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I recently saw The Terminator again, and although I found some of it to be quite dated, the sequence you refer to holds up exceptionally well. Actually, reviewing that scene, you have to seriously consider that Mike Vejur, Christopher Franke, and Joe Straczynski were definitely influenced by James Cameron in the scene I linked to previously.

Another famous sequence with effective diagetic music would be the use of Ride of the Valkyries in the Helicopter Attack sequence in Apocalypse Now. Fellini's 8 1/2 uses the same piece, also diagetically (sort of) as well, though I can't find it on Youtube.
 
NileQT87 said:
PKTrekGirl said:
My favorite movie scores:Amadeus (although I agree that it really shouldn't count since it's almost all Mozart)
Click to expand...

In the words of David Cassidy: "I think I love you!" :lol:

Well, points to the fact that they used the music like it was the 3rd lead in the film. The film wouldn't be half of what it was without Mozart's music. And it's my favorite movie of all time.

But yeah, it's definitely cheating when it comes to greatest film scores. All other scores don't stand a chance.

This sums up why Amadeus has the greatest score: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wwfb_fbdCiw

Well, I readily admit my bias on this one. I've been to Salzburg twice plus Vienna and have a little collection of Mozart statuary that I pick up each time (a porcelain figurine of him on a forte piano music box that plays Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and a 250 Jahre birthday statuette with him playing violin). Not to mention my Die Zauberflöte Salzburg marionette theater video, having seen Le Nozze di Figaro, the 14.8 GB of Mozart on my computer, etc...
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with your bias. I'm biased too, since:
a) this movie was instrumental in turning me into a classical music fan back in 1984. It came out as just the right time - I was just old enough to go and see it and appreciate it and go and buy the soundtrack...and the rest is history;
b) Mozart is to this day perhaps my favorite composer (although I do have a much wider range of tastes now);
c) this is one of my favorite movies too - certainly in the top 5 at the very least.

And I've been to Salzburg (mainly to visit the Mozart-related stuff) and Vienna (Mozart, but other stuff too) as well. Good stuff! ;) Still can't get over seeing all of that music without hardly a scratch-out or correction. Brilliant!

I probably should mention how highly I think of the soundtracks for That's The Way It Is and Elvis On Tour. Now *that* is cheating for me. :guffaw: But you're safe because this is just for instrumental scores.

Though, speaking of Elvis movies, the rousing orchestral version (as studio big band musician-like as it is) of Young And Beautiful heard all through the film (especially the romantic parts) from Jailhouse Rock is really beautiful. I honestly wish I had a copy of it.
Click to expand...

I like Elvis movies. :) I've not seen all of them, but I've seen Jailhouse Rock, King Creole, Clambake, and Speedway (I think that's the name of the last one). They play them quite regularly on TCM.

BTW, if you live in the US, you should tune in to TCM on August 16 for 24 straight hours of Elvis movies. ;)
 
Warp Coil said:
Bear McCreary's work on Battlestar Galactica takes the cake. I absolutely love the music from this show. I'm eagerly anticipating the release of the season 4 soundtrack. I recently watched Caprica and was impressed with McCreary's work on that, as well.
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Bear left a comment on his blog about the track 'Kara Remembers' from Someone to Watch Over Me that is included on the soundtrack. Here it is:

Holy Frak. When you hear the version that’s on the record. Hot damn, it kicks ass. :)
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I can't remember the last time I wanted a CD so badly! :lol:
 
Harvey said:
I recently saw The Terminator again, and although I found some of it to be quite dated, the sequence you refer to holds up exceptionally well.
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Yes. IMO, the equivalent scene in Terminator 2, in the mall, is not as good, mostly because of sound. The music was less interesting and effective, and the sound effect they used for the T-1000's pistol was wimpy.

Harvey said:
Another famous sequence with effective diagetic music would be the use of Ride of the Valkyries in the Helicopter Attack sequence in Apocalypse Now. Fellini's 8 1/2 uses the same piece, also diagetically (sort of) as well, though I can't find it on Youtube.
Click to expand...

Yes! (Slaps forehead) How could I forget that?
 
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I don't know what dia-whatever means. I just know what I like. The soundtrack to Victor/Victoria, Moulin Rouge and Across the Universe spring to mind. Tubular Bells from the Exorcist. Most of Apocalypse Now. Platoon, especially Elias's Death(is that what its called? Dafoe's death scene.) Dazed and Confused(cause that was my teen years' soundtrack, too) and Simple Minds at the end of the Breakfast Club. Kiss's Music from The Elder. One soundtrack I love(don't tell my wife-its her cd) is Bend It Like Beckham. And the soundtrack through-out Battlestar Galactica impressed the hell out of me.
 
Mistral said:
I don't know what dia-whatever means. I just know what I like. The soundtrack to Victor/Victoria, Moulin Rouge and Across the Universe spring to mind.
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:) 'Diegetic'.

It means, from within the world of the film: from a source that is visible on the screen, or a source that is implied to be present by the action of the film.

Victor/Victoria is an excellent example. IIRC, most of the music in that movie is diegetic--it takes the form of musical numbers performed onstage, within the world of the film.

Good movie, too. I liked Moulin Rouge's music as well--the second time I saw it. The first time, it was a little too weird to take in all at once.

I mean--seriously: Jim Broadbent singing "Like a Virgin," while the waiters cavort in the background? That was just ... :crazy:
 
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book story

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[FONT=Times New Roman]I would like more related info for this.[/FONT]
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I'm just going with TV scores as I have too many film favorites to list

The Prisoner. Even though once you got past Ron Grainer's theme most of the music used on the series was actually stock music, they collected such a great collection of tunes that I can't pick a favorite (beyond the theme, itself).

Doctor Who. Murray Gold's scores for the series since 2005 have been remarkable; movie worthy in almost every case. And it's rare to see good, original SONGS being written for SF shows, too (and not for gimmicky "musical episodes") either. Other than the various versions of the theme I've never been a big fan of the 1963-89 series music, but I've got all of the soundtracks since Murray Gold joined.

Twin Peaks: Until the return of Doctor Who, Angelo Bandalamenti's score for Twin Peaks was the only recent TV score that I could listen to by itself. So many TV scores are bland or generic. But Twin Peaks hits you between the eyes and gives you nightmares.

Alex
 
WEll, a farily big amount of the stock music for "The Prisoner" was actually special; it's the only case I know of where the "Stock" music was specifically composed for that very show. Not all the cues were used where they had been written too, but still highly effective. Fans should check out this newly remastered box set from last year:

http://www.screenarchives.com/title_detail.cfm?ID=8339
 
Re: book story

steve04 said:
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Hi steve04,

I'm not sure what book you're talking about, but you can start a new thread on the topic by clicking the "New Thread" button towards the top of the forum on the left hand side (it's right under "Lost" and "CSI"). Hope that helps!
 
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