# Best Soundtracks/Scores of Movies **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 17, 2000, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtracks-scores-of-movies/45987 "2000-12-17T04:43:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![PatrickM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7feea3/32.png) [@PatrickM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickM)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2000, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtracks-scores-of-movies/45987/21 "2000-12-17T22:51:20Z")
“Honeymoon in Vegas”, which features numerous big country music stars covering Elvis’ songs. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2000, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtracks-scores-of-movies/45987/22 "2000-12-17T23:08:51Z")
There’ll always be a special place in my heart for the original scores of [Tangerine Dream](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Tangerine+Dream). _Sorcerer_ and _Legend_ spring immediately to mind… ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtracks-scores-of-movies/45987/23 "2000-12-18T01:48:25Z")
BASIC INSTINCT by Jerry Golsdmith was always a favorite of mine – very cold and elegant. A lot of people like the Conan the Barbarian music, and it is very good, but I always thought it was a bit too manipulative and “trying too hard” for my tastes. I prefer the Poledouris scores for CHERRY 2000 and FLESH+BLOOD. If you like the Tangerine Dream style, BUIO OMEGA (an Italian horror film, released here on video as BURIED ALIVE) by the band Goblin is a great soundtrack. ---
**Author:** ![Chocobo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Chocobo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chocobo)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtracks-scores-of-movies/45987/24 "2000-12-18T02:40:23Z")
Anything done by John Williams, and a few songs off of the Gone in Sixty Seconds soundtrack are good. Gladiator had a great soundtrack too. (Was that by JW?) ---
**Author:** ![Sapphire\_Bullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@Sapphire\_Bullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapphire_Bullet)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtracks-scores-of-movies/45987/25 "2000-12-18T02:58:06Z")
my contributions, in no particular order: \*Philadelphia \*Magnolia \*Good Will Hunting (Elliott Smith is a god) \*Rushmore \*Shawshank Redemption and absolutely The Nightmare Before Christmas ---
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtracks-scores-of-movies/45987/26 "2000-12-18T03:00:13Z")
Had to put in a word for Mark Knopfler’s film work, especially the music for _Local Hero_. He’s also responsible for the soundtracks to _The Princess Bride_, _Cal_, _Last Exit to Brooklyn_, _Wag the Dog_, and _Metroland_. ---
**Author:** ![Skwerl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Skwerl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skwerl)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtracks-scores-of-movies/45987/27 "2000-12-18T03:31:30Z")
Of course, everyone’s taken mine by now, basically, but I’ll say em anyway: Jurassic Park, Star Wars, Jaws, Schindler’s List, and anything by John Williams Edward Scissorhands, Batman 1, Beetlejuice, Men In Black, everything else by Danny Elfman The Mission, by Ennio Morricone…and the theme to The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, too Chariots of Fire, by Vangelis Braveheart, by James Horner The old 007 movies, Dances with Wolves, by John Barry The Truman Show, by I-don’t-know-who (I think there’s some Philip Glass in there) Lola Rennt, by the director of the movie, I forget his name (aka Run Lola Run to Americans) and I think that about wraps it up. ---
**Author:** ![HalberMensch242](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecb155/32.png) [@HalberMensch242](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HalberMensch242)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtracks-scores-of-movies/45987/28 "2000-12-18T06:33:31Z")
i just thought of two more: Gattica Ravenous(really…really…unique instrumentation) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtracks-scores-of-movies/45987/29 "2000-12-18T06:38:30Z")
John Barry is the greatest. Out of Africa, Dances With Wolves, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, King Kong (1976), and Moonraker are my favorites of his. Also: Jerry Goldsmith–all of his Star Trek Work, Under Fire, Alien, Outland, Gremlins. Ennio Morricone–The Untouchables, The Mission, Exorcist II. Gabriel Yared–City of Angels, The English Patient. Vangelis–Blade Runner, The Bounty. John Williams–the Star Wars series, Schindler’s List, Born On the Fourth of July, Jaws, the Indian Jones trilogy. ---
**Author:** ![dave99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/45deac/32.png) [@dave99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dave99)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtracks-scores-of-movies/45987/30 "2000-12-18T06:40:15Z")
Anton Karas’ zither score from **The Third Man**. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtracks-scores-of-movies/45987/31 "2000-12-18T08:23:38Z")
“Batman: Mask of the Phantasm” had an excellent musical score. I don’t know if it was all written by Elfman but they did give him credit for the opening theme. Marc ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtracks-scores-of-movies/45987/32 "2000-12-18T10:21:32Z")
Star Wars - one of my early favorite records. Still have the original vinyl. Ravenous - I keep meaning to get this, but keep forgetting. If you let some musicians from the 1850s listen to some electronic music and then try to recreate it with their own instruments, it would be something like the score to Ravenous. Blade Runner - took electronic music in new directions. Fit the movie perfectly. Office Space - another one I keep meaning to get, and I’m not much of a rap fan. ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtracks-scores-of-movies/45987/33 "2000-12-18T15:32:45Z")
“Henry V” I second “The Mission” I third “The Last of the Mohicans” ---
**Author:** ![Spiny\_Norman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Spiny\_Norman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiny_Norman)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtracks-scores-of-movies/45987/34 "2000-12-18T16:04:52Z")
Do we count the soundtrack as stand-alone or should we factor in how well it supports the movie ? Never mind, I nominate Queen’s soundtrack to Highlander. Fan-friggin’-tastic. S. Norman ---
**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtracks-scores-of-movies/45987/35 "2000-12-18T16:31:29Z")
Gotta go with… [li]Repo Man[/li][li]Flash Gordon (yes, the one by Queen)[/li][li]Passion (Gabriel’s Last Temptation of Christ score)[/li]Miller’s Crossing ---
**Author:** ![Hecubis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ec9cab/32.png) [@Hecubis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hecubis)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtracks-scores-of-movies/45987/36 "2000-12-18T16:45:52Z")
Passion & Birdy - Peter Gabriel The Big Night - Various Pulp Fiction & Resevoir Dogs - Various (can’t belive I’m the first to mention them) All the rest I think have been mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtracks-scores-of-movies/45987/37 "2000-12-18T17:31:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Badtz Maru \* > **Ravenous - I keep meaning to get this, but keep forgetting. If you let some musicians from the 1850s listen to some electronic music and then try to recreate it with their own instruments, it would be something like the score to Ravenous.** I’ve considered buying the DVD just for the music. Good call! ---
**Author:** ![Kepi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kepi/32/7251_2.png) [@Kepi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kepi)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtracks-scores-of-movies/45987/38 "2000-12-18T17:46:02Z")
I don’t know if these are the “best”, but they are some of my favorites to listen to (in no particular order): _Grand Canyon_ - James Newton-Howard _The Natural_ - Randy Newman _The Rocketeer_ - James Horner _Glory_ - James Horner _Field of Dreams_ - James Horner ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtracks-scores-of-movies/45987/39 "2000-12-19T04:42:56Z")
How about great collaborations? Let’s get the obvious one out of way: **Alfred Hitchcock/Bernard Herrman** Everything they did together was great, but _Vertigo_ was a masterpiece. 'nuff said. also, **Tim Burton/Danny Elfman** Elfman’s large orchestral flourishes with darkly comic undertones perfectly compliment Burton’s wonderful visual style. _Batman, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, Sleepy Hollow._ **Coen Bros./Carter Burwell** In _Fargo_, moments of quiet beauty such as the chiming chords at the opening title often build to thunderous crashing only to be cut short, leaving the viewer unsettled as the scene shifts. _Also, Raising Arizona, Miller’s Crossing._ **Mychael Danna/Atom Egoyan** Such sadness and regret in _the sweet hereafter_, the medieval procession sound with the flutes reinforce the themes of fate and the Pied Piper fairy tale. _Also, Felicia’s Journey, Exotica._ **Peter Greenaway/Michael Nyman** Greenaway’s rigid formalism meshes well with Nyman’s minimalism. The insistently thrumming strings in _The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover_ builds wonderful sexual tension as the wife & her lover exchange glances across a gaudy restaurant. _Also, The Draughtsman’s Contract, Prospero’s Books._ Cheers, **Hodge** ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtracks-scores-of-movies/45987/40 "2000-12-19T04:57:30Z")
THANK YOU for mentioning Flash Gordon. That gets my #1 vote. The Mission ranks up there. I also liked Witness. Highlander, as well. I searched for it in vain for years; now I see they have released a “concept album” that has 3-4 songs from each of the Highlander movies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtracks-scores-of-movies/45987.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtracks-scores-of-movies/45987.md?page=3)