I wouldn't know where to begin with Asian scores. As for the Zimmer scores, I think some of these are okay.

Beyond Rangoon
Crimson Tide
K2
Muppet Treasure Island
Pacific Heights
Regarding Henry
The Thin Red Line
A World Apart
Backdraft
Paperhouse




TheSaint.786, October 11, 2007; 6:18 PM

I have purchased both from yesasia and arksquare in the past and would recommend get from them. Now, about the music, besides Joe Hisashi I'm unable to advice on Asian film music.

Regarding Zimmer, when you say essential what are you looking for? If you are looking for scores that carry his trade mark sound, the distinctive way he scored the blockbusters in the 90's, pick up The Rock or Broken Arrow; if you are looking for some of his most *personal* works, I would advice The Thin red Line or Black Hawk Dawn. If pointing at the middle... get Crimson Tide! :)

antonio_lerias, October 11, 2007; 7:07 PM

Try HMV Japan. They have sound samples on a lot of their CD's. If you want a Japanese score that sounds like Hans Zimmer, I recommend "Lorelei: Witch of the Pacific Ocean" which is a WWII submarine movie.

http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail/1773971
Click "English" on upper or lower left if it displays in Japanese.

piano632, October 11, 2007; 8:31 PM

Hi seri,

I think you might like Koroshi "No Rakuin" (Branded To Kill) from Naozumi Yamamoto.

Cheerz,

David

coma, October 12, 2007; 6:36 AM

Hi serifiot,

I have no clue of Japanese film music, but when talking Zimmer, I think that GLADIATOR is obviously one of his most prominent works. I would also recommend BLACK RAIN, HOUSE OF SPIRITS and BATMAN BEGINS (skip tracks 5 and 6 though ;-)) His much praised THE DA VINCI CODE - in my ears - includes one and only one great track as well: "Chevaliers de Sangreal".

Although loathed by most, I also appreciate his MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II score, especially the track "Injection".

Urs

handstand, October 12, 2007; 7:02 AM

Hi Serifiot!

I think that if you want to get into Japanese film music, you should start with the classics, and in my opinion you should start with the awesome Akira Kurosawa and Godzilla box sets that are currently available. You can get much more epic than the music for the early Kurosawa Samurai films and the great marches of the early Godzilla films are second to none! These sets are available from Ark Square directly or Screen Archives. If you like jazzy scores Japanese scores I can't agree with Coma more (this is a first) that you would probably like Koroshi no Rakuin score. The other 2 scores on the Think label would probably also appeal to you also, and all three are available at Screen Archives. In my last post I mentioned how I was dissapointed with Hotwax's new "Composer Series" and how their CD "Stray Cat Rock Sex Hunter/Bad Girl Mako" didn't contain the full scores to either film only 4 of each. Judging by what you say you like, I don't think that you would like the music from "Sex Hunter" as the tracks on this CD are psyche rock oriented, although not all the tracks from the film are this way. Yajukari would probably be more up your alley as it more jazz-influenced with lots of piano. I would like to recommend more but many of my favorite Japanese soundtrack CD's are now out-of-print such as the "Toho Cult SF series" and the "Soundtrack Renaissance" series. If you don't like songs than most of the Hotwax CD's or the "Zoku Gimaku" series wouldn't be for you. I hope this helps.

- Eric Yee

erictyee, October 12, 2007; 4:31 PM

Hey Serifiot,

MovieGrooves.com features sound samples from all of the Ultra Vybe/Hotwax CDs that they carry, including STRAY CATS ROCK SEX HUNTER (a personal fave of mine!). I also recommend checking out THE BODYGUARD and THE GORILLA SEVEN if you dig groovy crime action scores from the 70's. All three of these CDs are almost entirely instrumental (no songs or hardly any songs):

http://www.moviegrooves.com/shop/ultravybehotwaxtraxsolid.htm

American.Nightmare, October 12, 2007; 5:16 PM

Hi,

Just playing the music of Kurosawa's film KHAN by Takemistu: classical and symphonic with some typical Japenese sounds: flutes...The music of Hiroshi Teshigahara's film JOSE TORRES also by Takemeitsu is also very interesting. I would also recommend some Masaru Satoh's music: the one for the HIDDEN FORTRESS makes me think of the SATAN BUG, Japenese traditional sounds experimentation...
Anyway, enjoy your listenings !



g.devinoy, October 12, 2007; 6:01 PM

Just a note about Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter. I have waited for this score to be released ever since I first saw the film in fact here is a post I made over two years ago hailing the release of the Stray Cat Rock compilation CD on Hotwax:
http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/forum/displayquestion.php?topicid=4584
The new "Sex Hunter/Bad Girl Mako" CD has only four tracks from each film and the cuts from Sex Hunter were already on the almost complete score CD that came bundled with book "Queens of Japanese Cinema" although to my mind no "Sex Hunter" CD would be complete without the songs from the pop group "Golden Half" and duet between the films stars Meiko Kaji and Rikiya Yasuoka. It is the best music of all the five "Stray Cat Rock" (early books on Japanese Cinema used to call the films "Alley Cat Rock") as I have seen all five via the Japanese DVD box set I have. I like the first film "Female Boss";; alot also and am a big fan of its star the pop singer Akiko Wada (who sings the great title song). The bottom line is if you want the complete Sex Hunter score you gotta get the book, but its worth it!

PS I've shown Sex Hunter (known to be the best out of the five films) but most of my friends didn't seem to like it, said it was boring (but I still love it!). Oh yeah, sorry Serifiot for hijacking your thread!

- Eric Yee

yeesus, October 13, 2007; 6:10 AM

Hi!

I would like to thank every single one of you for you helpful insight!

There is so much wonderful film music out there to be discovered...

I placed a small order with YesAsia, taking advantage of their free shipping and coupon offer so as to get myself warmed up.

The samples from Movie Grooves sounded very promising so hopefully Stray Cats & Mechanic will arrive ASAP.

:- )

serifiot, October 13, 2007; 6:07 PM