Thread: Movie Scores

Scores. Not soundtracks. Like Ennio Morricone's score of Untouchables.

I've seen quite a few films which were left wanting purely by virtue of shitty music. I've seen a few that had great scores but were otherwise wholly unremarkable.

So what are your favourite scores? What scores do you think have been integral parts of their respective films? And so on, and so forth

I'll start with the score for Assault on Precinct 13. Composed by the director himself, John Carpenter who I know isn't dead but he may as well be. Great bit of emotive and dread filling urban electronica. Some people cite it as a bit of an influence on Detroit techno and one of the progenitors of modern dance music. The latter I'm a little sceptical of, but I do fucking like it nonetheless.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNfDSNG7Y0g]YouTube - John carpenter's Assault on precinct 13 soundtrack Slideshow[/ame]

Yes, Halloween has to be up there with Jaws as one of the scores most integral to the film being what it is.

Enrico Morricone's 'Once upon a time in America'

Since i have music background, my favorite thing was to memorize composers when I was in my early teens, therefore my favorite movie scores are mostly from 80's flicks.

Did you know John Carpenter wrote the Halloween theme himself?


In my opinion best synth score ever is Harold Faltermeyer's Axel F, followed by Hans Zimmer's earlier work.... I am talking Rain Man and one of my favorites Black Rain. try listening Black Rain and Blade Runner and you'll notice some similarities between 2 movies (musically and visually). Vangelis/Blade Runner is also amazing.

I also love the opening of Top Gun (another Harold Faltermeyer score). The movie is crap, but the score is amazing. The montage of those F-15's with tubular bells and analog synths played in the background sent chills down my spine every time. A more popular version of this score is Top Gun Anthem with guitarist Steve Stivens, which is a bit cheezy.

Best score has to be Star Wars (and Empire). Sorry, but it is what it is.... a fucking masterpiece. Of course, it is overused in spinoffs, video games and whatnot, but this is the modern Symphony of epic proportions.

I also like Alan Silvestri. Back to the Future is a good score. He also scored Young Guns and one of my all time favorite movies when I was a kid..... Flight of the Navigator.

Seriously, I can go forever.....


As for Rocky, this is better

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDko7Utfqdg"]YouTube - Rocky IV - Training Montage[/ame]

Originally Posted by Michael J

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG2GjuZxvF0&feature=PlayList&p=6204C260AC9 3880C&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=60]YouTube - top gun anthem[/ame]

Ah, yes... Philip Glass... is that stuff from Truman Show?

(good stuff at 1:02)

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5ic0jCo4mU"]YouTube - The Truman Show Compilation[/ame]

Classic:



[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFBijDU8PpE"]YouTube - Philip Glass - Koyaanisqatsi[/ame]

Metamorphosis was on The Hours I think. Certainly a score that transcended the film there.

Yann Tiersen nailed it for Amelie:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiJVSMFLZ6g"]YouTube - Yann Tiersen - Amelie Poulain - Comtine d'un autre ete l'apr[/ame]

Sorry, I have to post this as it is one of those things that was just done right in the 80's. The score.... the operatic opening, the athmosphere. OMG!

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbWNZkoQHuE"]YouTube - Blade Runner (Opening Titles)[/ame]


Black Rain:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz-VbyU9DUM&feature=PlayList&p=E7834019315A249C&playn ext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1"]YouTube - black rain theme[/ame]


WHAT A GREAT THREAD!