Soundtrack & Score Discussion

[Moviefan2k4]

I saw a similar thread, on this website's search results. But the last reply was 15 years ago, and I didn't want to get in trouble for doing so myself.

So, with that in mind - "What's your favorite soundtrack or score?" It can be for movies, TV shows, video games, whatever. One of my personal choices is Graeme Revell's contribution, to Alex Proyas' "The Crow". Three years ago, Varèse Sarabande Records released an expanded version of that film's score. Almost immediately, it generated controversy...but not for reasons you might expect. Some fans claimed that this release was falsely advertised, since it apparently contains cues from the film's first sequel, "City of Angels". But I did some of my own research, and it appears that the included music actually was composed by Mr. Revell, for use in the original film. I don't know why it was ultimately trimmed back, but that movie became so popular at the time, that Miramax insisted on doing another one right away.

Anyhow, I mention all of this because when the 2021 re-issue first came out, only 3,000 copies were made, so it became very hard for average fans (such as yours truly) to find or afford one. But I finally did, from a UK-based website called Elite Soundtracks, and a third-party seller named DiscOgs. After what seemed like an eternity,
they finally delivered it. But all the waiting was an absolute frickin' nightmare! I probably emailed them at least four times, trying to check on the status of my order...and they never replied, not once. Their customer service royally sucked - its just that simple. By comparison, my usual orders from Amazon would take 5 or 6 days, at the most. So, one thing is most definitely for sure - I will NOT be buying from this seller, or anyone else in the UK, for a very long time.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

Anything from Ennio Morricone or Basil Polidouris. Okay, Morricone kind of phoned it in on Red Sonja, but that's all that particular movie deserved.

 

[Tosk]

I couldn't possibly narrow it down to even ten. I'm like this with movies themselves, there's just too many 10-out-of-10s for me to truly pick a #1.

Now that I think about it, I couldn't even just pick a number one composer, let alone one score. Goldsmith alone has dozens of amazing scores. Goldsmith by name, goldsmith by nature.

TL;DR. I have contributed nothing of value to this thread.

 

[Rowdy Roddy McDowall]

Goldsmith may have more variety than John Williams. But JW, like He-Man, has the power.

WEST SIDE STORY, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, NORTH BY NORTHWEST are among my pinnacles. PLANET OF THE APES and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD would not be far behind.

I chose EMPIRE as John Williams' absolute best 60-second moment for his scene in which Leia, Lando, the droids and Chewbacca first escape without Luke. Awesome doesn't even begin to describe the emotion of it.

 

[Moviefan2k4]

Goldsmith may have more variety than John Williams. But JW, like He-Man, has the power.

Agreed - they don't call him the "movie music maestro" for nothing.

I chose EMPIRE as John Williams' absolute best 60-second moment for his scene in which Leia, Lando, the droids and Chewbacca first escape without Luke. Awesome doesn't even begin to describe the emotion of it.

My favorite two pieces of "Star Wars" music, are the "Throne Room" theme from "A New Hope", and "Across the Stars" from "Attack of the Clones" (my favorite prequel, by the way).

 

[UssGlenn]

Williams' Indiana Jones trilogy is tops for me, but Horners work on The Rocketeer is masterful as well.

 

[Moviefan2k4]

Williams' Indiana Jones trilogy is tops for me, but Horners work on The Rocketeer is masterful as well.

"The Rocketeer" is one of my favorite childhood films; I love almost everything about it. And yet, for some unknown reason, I never attempted to track down any copy of the soundtrack or the score.

 

[UssGlenn]

"The Rocketeer" is one of my favorite childhood films; I love almost everything about it. And yet, for some unknown reason, I never attempted to track down any copy of the soundtrack or the score.

They released the full remastered soundtrack in 2020. (The 1991 release was partial).

 

[Malicia]

I will NOT be buying from this seller, or anyone else in the UK, for a very long time.

I've just been looking at the website and reviews and I can understand why. Unprofessional sales copy and very poor customer feedback. It looks like a one man band operation possibly by someone who does it as a side hustle for some extra scratch (My Americanisms are really coming along)

For computer game scores there's no comparison to Jeremy Soule's music for TES: Oblivion. Outstanding music and I used to load up the game just to hear the music playing while doing chores. Even listening to it now is emotional because of the memories of the first time I played the game.

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Difficult to chose a favourite movie soundtrack and genre from so many but Schindler's List is the most moving of them all.

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Another favourite is the soundtrack to Boomerang with Eddie Murphy. The selection and placement of the tracks fits perfectly with the theme.

 

[BK613]

Ah, TES. Daggerfall, Morrowind, Oblivion. That's a few hundred hours of fun.
Liked Morrownd's theme as well as Oblivion's.
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For movies, in addition to too many to name, I liked Excalibur's use of classical music

 

[Moviefan2k4]

They released the full remastered soundtrack in 2020. (The 1991 release was partial).

Yeah, I found a copy on Amazon, but they want almost $100 for it...and I spent almost $80 on "The Crow". So I doubt I'll be buying anything that expensive again soon.

I've just been looking at the website and reviews and I can understand why. Unprofessional sales copy and very poor customer feedback. It looks like a one man band operation possibly by someone who does it as a side hustle for some extra scratch (My Americanisms are really coming along)

I probably should've paid more attention myself, when I first placed my order. I was just so thrilled at the time, about the possibility of finding such a rare item for myself...and my overall excitement got the best of me.

 

[Malicia]

Yeah, I found a copy on Amazon, but they want almost $100 for it...and I spent almost $80 on "The Crow". So I doubt I'll be buying anything that expensive again soon.

I probably should've paid more attention myself, when I first placed my order. I was just so thrilled at the time, about the possibility of finding such a rare item for myself...and my overall excitement got the best of me.

Offering hard to find media is probably why the owner isn’t bothered offering a positive experience to customers because they reason that they’re doing customers a big favour so how dare they complain when things go wrong in a Basil Fawlty way. A friend of mine runs a website selling memory and has no staff so does everything himself including spending a few hours every day dealing with complaints and returns. He’s meticulous at making it as hassle free as possible which has lead to a loyal customer base and overwhelming positive feedback over the years. Some people don’t deserve to be in business with the way they treat customers.

 

[SithHappens]

So hard to narrow it down.

I love the soundtrack for Drive. And Moulin Rouge. Theme tunes for TV Casualty is a really good one, but who could vote against the littlest hobo?

Movie wise scores, I'd probably say Superman, just awesome.

 

[Moviefan2k4]

Offering hard to find media is probably why the owner isn’t bothered offering a positive experience to customers because they reason that they’re doing customers a big favour so how dare they complain when things go wrong in a Basil Fawlty way. A friend of mine runs a website selling memory and has no staff so does everything himself including spending a few hours every day dealing with complaints and returns. He’s meticulous at making it as hassle free as possible which has lead to a loyal customer base and overwhelming positive feedback over the years. Some people don’t deserve to be in business with the way they treat customers.

I agree with your statement's last line, completely. With how badly they treated me, I wouldn't shed a tear if Elite Soundtracks goes out of business.

 

[Moviefan2k4]

Movie wise scores, I'd probably say Superman, just awesome.

Personally, I think the 1978 Superman score is John Williams' second-best work, after Star Wars. Both have become so iconic, and for very good reasons. I bought the 3-disc CD version of the soundtrack, released for the film's 40th anniversary in 2018. They only made 5,000 copies, but the price remained affordable at around $40, so it took a while for them to sell out. Amazon still has a few, but they're charging $60 and up for them. Still, its worth it if you're a big fan of either the movie itself, or Mr. Williams' work in general.

 

[Rowdy Roddy McDowall]

My favorite two pieces of "Star Wars" music, are the "Throne Room" theme from "A New Hope", and "Across the Stars" from "Attack of the Clones" (my favorite prequel, by the way).

When a much-beloved pastor left our church to serve in Wisconsin, many in our congregation gave her musical tributes. The youngest to give her a tribute was born in 1978. I was a bit amused when he used the extended and altered THRONE ROOM music from SITH's end-credits.* It does demonstrate how Williams's best themes resonate across the generations.

(*I'm guilty of this also in a sense. When my mother passed on in 2001, the Howard Hanson Romantic symphony lingered that evening in my head. Part of that piece was used in the first ALIEN's end-credits.)

 

[Moviefan2k4]

When a much-beloved pastor left our church to serve in Wisconsin, many in our congregation gave her musical tributes. The youngest to give her a tribute was born in 1978. I was a bit amused when he used the extended and altered THRONE ROOM music from the end credits from SITH's end-credits.* It does demonstrate how Williams's best themes resonate across the generations.

(*I'm guilty of this also in a sense. When my mother passed on in 2001, the Howard Hanson Romantic symphony lingered that evening in my head. Part of that piece was used in the first ALIEN's end-credits.)

Music of almost any kind reaches across time, and continually touches the soul. That's probably the biggest reason we as people keep using it.

 

[DarrenTR1970]

I don't know about soundtracks, but I do own original copies of Saturday Night Fever, Grease and Popeye and they get spun pretty regularly.

 

[Commander Troi]

And Moulin Rouge.

One of my absolute faves.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

Goldsmith may have more variety than John Williams. But JW, like He-Man, has the power.

More imaginative; while every composer has certain tendencies, one could lose count trying to list all of the flat-out brilliant, memorable TV and film scores Goldsmith composed. Easily in my top 3 greatest composers list, usually standing in the top spot.