Love 'em!

Brad Fiedel did Fright Night and Terminator 1 & 2, two of my faves...

Thomas Newman did Desperately Seeking Susan and The Lost Boys, both of which are AWESOME...

James Horner, well, what hasn't been said of this creative genius? KRULL and Willow are just two of his masterpieces...

I don't know about anyone else at "Media Ventures," but Master Goldsmith? Untouchable.

American_Nightmare, February 4, 2004; 3:23 AM

I enjoy some of the main themes composed by Vangelis, but think his score albums are a no-no! In the UK, the score to Chariots Of Fire was a top-seller but just how many people were turned off film scores when they listened to the banality of the full score?

Similarly, I have not been impressed by Marvin Hamlisch. His one Bond 007 score showed a distinct lack of imagination or involvement in the storyline.

My wrath, though, is saved for those numerous "composers" (and the filmmakers generally) who think that a collection of pop/rock music suffices as a film score.

Mitch, February 4, 2004; 11:32 AM

This is a great question!
Thomas Newman's Green Mile is maybe the worst soundtrack I have ever heard (but that's possibly because I haven't heard lots of others, but still... it's terrible)! Also, I really cannot listen to John Williams' "masterpieces" like Star Wars or E.T. ...
And, yes, I forgot! Kill Bill is also very, very bad soundtrack... the "main theme" gives me nightmares...

42zaphod, February 4, 2004; 11:03 PM

I despise James Horner and Danny Elfman. James Horner is good at emulating the music of other composers if you want to consider that good.
The film "A Simple Plan" is good yet the music which is an emulation of the "Klute" score by Michael Small screws it up and distracts if you happen to notice it. Yet if you don't notice it, it works!
I avoid anything by either of these two schmucks!

, February 5, 2004; 5:27 PM

I think Horner's music is great. Beyond borders wasn't all that bad and Radio was a nice new theme. Of course he has copied many cues but hell, listen to Goldsmith, some of his scores use the same cues over and over again. Even John Williams is great in copying some cues. Wouldn't you if you had to write 5 scores a year?

Mediaventures is a company where several people work on the same score and one guy gets the credit. Listen to K19 (Badelt) and listen to Peacemaker (Zimmer) HELLO, same cues used in some places. And don't forget Pirates of the Caribbean. Like the score but it uses a lot of old scores by Mediaventures. Well maybe they will make a new fresh start with Zimmer and Rifkin battling over the company.


paulbontenbal, March 3, 2004; 11:26 PM