Now, I know that I’ve done this before, but still, this one is better and more accurate.
Movies are given their full potential by the music used in them. If a movie has a bad score/soundtrack, then you are probably not going to like that movie, or just find it hokie and stupid. Whereas, if there is a film with a good score/soundtrack, then you will like the movie more because of the emotional feel of it. The top 5 films to create this emotion-filled sense of the most beautiful art we have are:
5. Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl – Klaus Badelt: Though the composer is a nameless man in the minds of many film fanatics, Klaus Badelt (Constantine, 16 Blocks) wrote one of the most unforgettable riffs for this film series. A very good score.
4. Batman Begins/The Dark Knight – Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard: The score is amazing in both of these films, Christopher Nolan’s ability reaching a new height in film with both of these, only to be added to and trumped by the next film. I can only wait to see what amazing thing comes next out of the mind of Christopher Nolan.
3. Inception – Hans Zimmer: A usual pick for Christopher Nolan’s movies, Hans Zimmer deserves Best Original Score for this amazing and lifting musical extravaganza that comes in from majestic horns and a beautiful piano.
2. Passengers – Edward Shearmur: The great music of Edward Shearmur hits its absolute maximum with this beautiful score that really shows the ability of a riff, a piano and two violins.
1. Requiem for a Dream – Clint Mansell: Great, GREAT score. Lux Aeterna was originally written by Mozart, and when Requiem for a Dream, Darren Aronofsky’s best film, was being made, Clint Mansell redid and revamped the masterpiece into a beauty that was Summer Overture, Winter Overture, Fall Overture, Hope Overture, and many more in-between-scenes overtures, all based on the amazing Lux Aeterna (which means Eternal Light, by the way).
I’m sorry, but any “greatest film scores” list that doesn’t include John Williams doesn’t garner much merit in my book. He’s one of the greatest composers of all time, let alone one of the greatest film score composers of all time.
Star Wars, Batman (1989), E.T., Indiana Jones, Superman (1978), Schindler’s List, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park…just to name a few.
Not to mention Danny Elfman. Hans Zimmer I agree with on your list, and I liked the Requiem for a Dream score, but you neglected some of the greatest scores of all time.
I am more of a composer fan rather than a score for a film. I do however, agree with Mark Barley, but that could just be a generational difference. I have been listening to Zimmer’s score for Inception, but I still have an affection for the Gladiator score. I still find The Last Samurai score more notable due to the varied tones for the different scenes. Jerry Goldsmith’s Alien score still runs chills down my spine. Same with some of James Horner’s work. Good list though – something to think about.
Well, Robert, James Horner’s score, Jerry Goldsmith’s score, and especially the other Zimmer score were all fantastic, but I saw these scores as better in my book. Mark, must we always argue? The point in this is that this is my opinion, and through it, I want other people to listen to this music and be like “shit, this is good,” not to down people like John Williams because I think he isn’t good (which couldn’t be farther from the truth). BTW, another really good composer who is rarely credited is Ira Newborn for his very good ending song in Planes, Trains and Automobiles. I love composers, as well, and I just realized that I forgot to put Clint Mansell’s Moon score on here, but nevermind that. The point is that I respect you all’s opinion, and thank you for the comments.
I’m not really arguing with you, and I realize that the above article is your opinion, but how can you not put John Williams in your “greatest film scores of all time” list?
That’s the great thing about Movie Film Review we all get to debate our opinions, and back them up as we see fit. My list would contain the theme from Star Wars IV and V – Hans Zimmers Gladiator (it moved me), Close Encounters (it was loud and memorable), Indiana Jones (Moves me physically – getting up and jumping). As an alternate I would throw in Maurice Jarres – Lawrence of Arabia – Nino Rota for the Godfather for the memories that the music conjures up. I first picks are typically pop culture favorites of my time – and as any list goes JC’s list will become dated and he or I, or you can write our own. Each of the composers picked all move us differently, and JC’s list says a lot about him. It also says a lot about him for what he doesn’t list (nothing bad). Debate is good! Or like Ebert and White – http://dld.bz/nkHm
Thank you Robert for that enlightening comment, and Mark, I just don’t think that his compositions moved me as much as the previous film scores. He is good, no doubt, but I just feel that his aren’t as good.
No love for Philip Glass? But yeah, I liked the Requiem for a Dream score, I wouldn’t say it’s the best. Maybe because it’s one of the most overused songs ever,maybe something else, I just don’t have the love for it others seem to.
Well, I think the originality of it was just so bizarre because it was revamped with such awesomeness that it was hard to hate. Also, the Danna brothers did the same thing with the Boondock Saints’ Blood of Cu Chalain. But, no, sorry, Philip Glass delivered amazing scores for Cassandra’s Dream, Notes on a Scandal and of course The Illusionist, but none of those scores really did it for me either.
It feels kind of wrong that you left out Morricone.
is there a reason?
also, all the movies you mentioned are quite recent. You’re leaving out biggest part of over 100 years of cinema, man!
:)
by the way, my favorite scores off the top of my head are
1 – Once Upon a Time in the West
2 – The Godfather
3 – Gladiator
4 – Star Wars (all of them really)
5 – Nuovo Cinema Paradiso
and I’m leaving out musicals…
Nice list. Ennio Morricone is good, and I liked his music, but only with individual pieces, and not quite the general score. My score list is in my generation of film simply because I lived through them, and I really felt more moved by them than the past music. Hans Zimmer is on your list, too! But yeah, there is no real reason for the no love of Morricone besides the fact that I just loved these 5 more. That’s what people don’t realize on this is that I liked, nay, loved most of the scores that the comments said, but I just liked THESE more.
Because you like ‘Inception’ here is something interesting if you found it yet. Great to share. This part is from YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVkQ0C4qDvM
And this is an LA Times article with Hans Zimmer about some musical motifs and how they put them together. I hope you find it interesting.
Rob
DUDE! That’s the shit! That was either on purpose via Hans Zimmer, or complete, COMPLETE coincidence. As always, Rob, I find it very interesting. Thank you very much.
I posted this on my facebook but forgot to post it here. This is an LA times interview that goes in depth with Hans Zimmer and Johnny Marr on what they were trying to achieve. http://dld.bz/pvFT
ah. I saw it again today, BTW, and I think I have a different view on the ending than my earlier thoughts.
That’s very interesting, Robert, thank you for sharing it with me.
These are all great scores but I must say as something a little different, I am so escited to hear the entire score and album “Daft Punk” has made for the upcoming “Tron Leagacy”
Daft Punk’s score would be interesting to hear. You can hear a bit of it on grooveshark.com, but the song that really struck me was the trailer song, which Daft Punk didn’t do, though it is better, to me, than any of the songs pre-featured for the movie. But yeah, the score will probably be good.
Morricone from Roland Joffe’s The Mission!! For sure!!!!
Clint Mansell’s score for ‘Moon’ made me weep! It’s one of the most beautiful scores i have ever heard!
His Moon score is ungodly and brilliant. Jesus, I need to update this list.
Steve Jablonsky anyone? :P
Nah, I’m kidding.
Good list by the way, I’d of put in The Departed and a few choice others but hey, it’s your list and I like it. :)
JC – Great list, although these are not my faves – but that’s why it’s your list. :=) I made a list like this a couple weeks ago: http://wp.me/p1sxgV-aj
I am a girl though, which probably shows through loud and clear in that list, haha.
it was still a good list :p it was enlightening, so thank you.