Which of the films has your favourite score?

[Shalashaska]

I find it to be a toss-up between Jerry Goldsmith's glorious The Motion Picture and James Horner's intense The Wrath of Khan score. Both complement each film perfectly, with the former surpassing its film counterpart in quality, although that's more of a dig at The Motion Picture as a film than anything.

Both are respected as two of the greatest sci-fi scores of all-time, if not some of the best of any genre, and they both have two of the greatest composers in film history. I don't think anything reaches the heights of the first two entries in the series. Although, Cliff Eidelman's work in The Undiscovered Country is one I find myself listening to regularly. I don't see it brought up all the time in these kind of discussions, but I think it really is a standout.

 

[Vger23]

Ranked:

1. TMP
2. TFF

3. TWOK
4. TSFS


5. FC

6. GEN


7. 2009

8. TUC



9. NEM

10. ID


11. INS





12. TVH

 

[Terok Nor]

TWOK
TSFS
FC
TMP
TFF
TUC
GEN
TVH

I don't remember the scores of the other movies.

 

[The Wormhole]

Totally TWOK, though I do find the Generations score to be an underrated gem.

 

[Leto_II]

Throwin' in some love for The Search For Spock, here.

 

[Smellmet]

Throwin' in some love for The Search For Spock, here.

Same here. I voted for it. It was a very tough call between it, TWOK, and TMP though.

 

[Shalashaska]

Throwin' in some love for The Search For Spock, here.

It has too many rehashed music from The Wrath of Khan, IMO. It has some nice new pieces, like Stealing the Enterprise, but there's nothing too creative other than that.

 

[Shat Happens]

I find TFF's vastly inferior to TMP's and I dont know exactly why.

 

[sbk1234]

There's been no bad Star Trek theme music. My favorite is the theme from First Contact. Goldsmith at his best.

The theme from TMP has truly become iconic.

 

[Greg Cox]

Probably WOK, but FIRST CONTACT gives it a run for its money.

And I actually like the INSURRECTION soundtrack much more than I like the movie.

 

[FormerLurker]

^Same here. Not a terrible movie, but the soundtrack actually goes a long way in helping it to not totally suck.

 

[Indysolo]

Star Trek - The Motion Picture. There is no comparison.

Neil

 

[TheSubCommander]

Star Trek - The Motion Picture. There is no comparison.

Neil

I'm forced to agree it's the best.
Not only does it have a great score during the Enterprise fly over and V'Ger scenes, it also is what gave us what later became known as the TNG theme, as well as the Klingon theme.

However, I think TWOK ant TSFS are really close.

Nemesis actually had a great score, IMHO, too. Especially the opening Romulan Senate scene.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Wrath of Khan
Undiscovered Country
First Contact

The Ba'ku village theme from Insurrection, mind you, has a special place in my heart because I had it played at my girlfriend's funeral when the coffin arrived

 

[The Toddler]

It has too many rehashed music from The Wrath of Khan, IMO. It has some nice new pieces, like Stealing the Enterprise, but there's nothing too creative other than that.

I voted for Star Trek III because I like how it builds on the Star Trek II themes. If I had to pick an album that I had to listen to from start to finish, it would probably be Star Trek II. But Star Trek III takes that material and reaches new heights in a few instances. Further, I think the Star Trek III score actually improves my enjoyment of the film more than any other in the franchise. Star Trek The Motion Picture would still be pretty dull, Star Trek II would still be the best, and Star Trek V would still be silly even if their scores were better or worse. But the Star Trek III score helps you feel continuity from the previous film, gives you cool variations on great themes, and adds some weight to scenes that otherwise might have fallen flat — all of which add to the film's overall quality.

 

[Greg Cox]

^Same here. Not a terrible movie, but the soundtrack actually goes a long way in helping it to not totally suck.

I've only seen the movie once, but I listen to the INSURRECTION soundtrack all the time.

 

[Kor]

I like the soundtracks to TMP, TWOK, and TUC, with their differing approaches (though the last felt a bit messy at times, just like the movie).

Kor

 

[SeerSGB]

Ranked
1) TMP
2) FC
3) TSFS
4) TUC
5) TWOK
6) TVH
7) NEM
8) TFF
9) INS
10) GEN

 

[F. King Daniel]

I have the weirdest love for STV's score. That remix of the TMP theme is my favourite version, and the music on Sha'Ka'Ree is amazing.

 

[Smellmet]

I voted for Star Trek III because I like how it builds on the Star Trek II themes. If I had to pick an album that I had to listen to from start to finish, it would probably be Star Trek II. But Star Trek III takes that material and reaches new heights in a few instances. Further, I think the Star Trek III score actually improves my enjoyment of the film more than any other in the franchise. Star Trek The Motion Picture would still be pretty dull, Star Trek II would still be the best, and Star Trek V would still be silly even if their scores were better or worse. But the Star Trek III score helps you feel continuity from the previous film, gives you cool variations on great themes, and adds some weight to scenes that otherwise might have fallen flat — all of which add to the film's overall quality.

Well summed up. As good as the stealing the enterprise scene is, the score here, despite heavily riffing TWOK, elevates it to outstanding.