# What's Your Favorite Movie Soundtrack? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 22, 2002, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-movie-soundtrack/125030 "2002-08-22T03:42:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-movie-soundtrack/125030/21 "2002-08-22T16:12:42Z")
**Easy Rider** , hands down. The soundtrack is half the film, easy. I’m not much into soundtracks, but I also enjoy **O Brother, Civil War, Ansel Adams, Twin Peaks, Donner Party** (many of these from PBS programs). Yeah, I’m a real upbeat kinda guy!! Paaaar-ty!! * * * “Ya know what I think? I think thats a crackpot idea, man!” – Billy ---
**Author:** ![Intaglio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Intaglio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intaglio)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-movie-soundtrack/125030/22 "2002-08-22T16:31:00Z")
The A Beautiful Mind Soundtrack ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-movie-soundtrack/125030/23 "2002-08-22T16:34:16Z")
Sleepless in Seattle is pretty solid. Forrest Gump has some good songs, but to me a lot of them are clunkers so I’ll go middle of the road there. And, Animal House is pretty darn good. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-movie-soundtrack/125030/24 "2002-08-22T17:41:46Z")
**The Big Chill**. This movie came out when I was in the middle of my 60’s retro period. **Conan the Barbarian**. Basil Poledouris. The pseudo-Wagnerian stuff just goes with all the battle scenes, and that orchestral piece for the orgy scene in Thulsa Doom’s fortress…fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-movie-soundtrack/125030/25 "2002-08-22T20:59:25Z")
**World Eater** , I thought the _pi_ soundtrack was done by Massive Attack? ---
**Author:** ![Bindlestiff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bindlestiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bindlestiff)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-movie-soundtrack/125030/26 "2002-08-22T21:00:58Z")
Bladerunner ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-movie-soundtrack/125030/27 "2002-08-22T21:27:55Z")
**Times Square** - Includes: Talking Heads, Lou Reed, XTC, The Ramones, The Ruts, The Cure, The Pretenders, Patti Smith Group. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-movie-soundtrack/125030/28 "2002-08-22T23:08:47Z")
**Sexy Beast** has a great soundtrack. And I’m not just saying that b/c I’m a Stranglers fan. “Walkin’ on the beaches, lookin’ at the peaches…” And what about **The Bodygaurd**?? And IIIIIIIIIIIIIIeeeeIIIIIIII…will always… kidding. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Amazingrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8edcca/32.png) [@Amazingrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazingrace)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-movie-soundtrack/125030/29 "2002-08-22T23:09:22Z")
**Singles** had a better soundtrack than movie. Lots of great mid 90’s Seattle sounds. Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Screaming Trees. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2002, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-movie-soundtrack/125030/30 "2002-08-23T00:31:03Z")
Elmer Bernstein’s score for **The Ten Commandments** is classic old Hollywood. Anything by Bernard Hermann, especially **The Day the Earth Stood Still** (love that Theremin). **Pee Wee’s Big Adventure** by Danny Elfman. Perfect for Pee Wee, like one of Nino Rota’s Fellini scores on acid. ---
**Author:** ![LonelyNoodle05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b782af/32.png) [@LonelyNoodle05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonelyNoodle05)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2002, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-movie-soundtrack/125030/31 "2002-08-23T01:49:16Z")
I have a couple of favorite movie soundtracks: ~Divine Secrets of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood - this is mostly Cajun type Louisiana music ~O Brother Where Art Thou - folk and country kinda stuff ~10 Things I Hate About You - pop/rock, but not the usual stuff ~Walk To Remember - Christian pop/rock, it’s good stuff! ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2002, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-movie-soundtrack/125030/32 "2002-08-23T01:54:29Z")
Grosse Pointe Blank ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2002, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-movie-soundtrack/125030/33 "2002-08-23T02:14:48Z")
How could the **South Park: Bigger, Longer Uncut** soundtrack not have been mentioned here yet? And, although I know I’m going to get slammed for this, **Titanic**. That music is _haunting_. I left the theater saying I NEED this soundtrack CD. ---
**Author:** ![JavaMaven1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@JavaMaven1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JavaMaven1)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2002, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-movie-soundtrack/125030/34 "2002-08-23T02:47:49Z")
Since it wasn’t mentioned, one of my favorite all-time soundtracks comes from **Harold & Maude**. Cat Stevens, man–gotta love it. ---
**Author:** ![ramesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d07c76/32.png) [@ramesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ramesh)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2002, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-movie-soundtrack/125030/35 "2002-08-23T02:51:20Z")
The Crow. I simply cant stand other soundtracks. I think they are just a couple of good songs with 40-60 minutes of crap. The Crow however, has a cohesive theme and _great_ music. ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2002, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-movie-soundtrack/125030/36 "2002-08-23T03:23:05Z")
I tend to make a distinction between movie soundtracks and movie scores. It seems to me that most soundtracks consist of separate and distinct songs selected from a variety of sources whereas most movie scores tend to be original, if often derivative, orchestral works intended to form a coherent whole. I don’t know how valid these categories are and I’m sure there are plenty of exceptions but, for the moment, I’m going to go with it and see if anybody else agrees: **Movie Soundtracks:** [ul][li]_Magnolia_. Aimee Mann is one of the best singer/songwriters in pop music right now. And she has a new CD coming out next week. Woohooo![/li][li]_O Brother Where Art Thou?_. Wonderful country, bluegrass and gospel music. Very evocative of the time period.[/li][li]_The Virgin Suicides_. Air’s music is ethereal and mysterious. Perfectly suited for the subject matter.[/li][li]_Fight Club_. Already my categories break down. I can’t decide where this belongs. The Dust Brothers’ twitchy techno and ironic sampling built a real sense of tension and disconnect.[/li][li]_The Royal Tennenbaums_. **Fred** , I too loved this soundtrack. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out Wes Anderson’s previous film _Rushmore_. You’ll love that soundtrack (and movie), too.[/ul] **Movie Scores:** [ul]Bernard Herrmann is God. _Psycho, North by Northwest_ and especially _Vertigo_ are all masterpieces. Also great are _Citizen Kane_ and _Taxi Driver_[/li][li]Nino Rota’s _Godfather_ is also magnificent. Grand themes that recall the old country.[/li][li]Vangelis’ _Blade Runner_. The music has a beautiful melancholy quality. A lament for something lost.[/li][li]Carter Burwell’s _Fargo_ is another favourite. I particularly love the way he contrasts quiet harmonies with a thunderous orchestra as a means of keeping the audience unsettled.[/li][li]Michael Danna’s _the sweet hereafter_. The score is painfully sad and Danna’s music has a medieval sound, complete with flute, which perfectly complements the Pied Piper theme running through the movie[/li][li]Howard Shore’s _Lord of the Rings_. I wasn’t immediately struck by his score when I first saw the movie but after successive viewings I find the pieces sticking in my mind. Did anyone else detect a theme stolen from Shore’s previous work for _Silence of the Lambs_ during the opening prologue?[/ul]And, because nobody ever seems to think of it in these lists, I’m going nominate John Barry’s _James Bond Theme_ as one of the all time great pieces of movie music. Yes, even better than _Star Wars_.[/li] Hmmm, I seem to have rambled on a bit, haven’t I? ---
**Author:** ![fizgig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@fizgig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizgig)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2002, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-movie-soundtrack/125030/37 "2002-08-23T03:24:55Z")
\*\*Pump up the Volume Romy and Michelle’s HS Reunion, for '80’s pop Reality Bites O’Brother\*\* I’ve heard the **Mothman Prophecies** soundtrack is amazing. Any more opinions there? ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2002, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-movie-soundtrack/125030/38 "2002-08-23T05:17:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CaptMurdock \* > \*\*[ > > **Conan the Barbarian**. Basil Poledouris. The pseudo-Wagnerian stuff just goes with all the battle scenes, and that orchestral piece for the orgy scene in Thulsa Doom’s fortress…fantastic. \*\* You beat me to it. It sounds silly, given the content of the movie, but the actual score is excellent - a great combination of head stomping music, and more calm stuff. Anyway, I don’t know anything about movie soundtracks (that is, 15 random songs thrown together and associated with a movie), but I’m becoming an expert on movie scores. My personal favorites would have to be… Aforementioned Conan the Barbarian, for action stuff. Also, Predator by Alan Silvestri is very good. Arnold gets the cool action scores. “Silence of the lambs” by Howard Shore is the best ‘atmospheric’ score I’ve ever heard. The parts Trevor Jones did for ‘Last of the Mohicans’ is very good - but that score was done half and half by two different composers, the other I can’t think of at the moment. “Unbreakable” had a very cool blend of classical elements with modern electronics. “Fight club” has a very cool score, one of the best electronic/modern scores I can think of. Fit the movie perfectly. Graeme Revell is an excellent composers, but I can’t think of his ‘master work’ that’s specifically worth mentioning. Perhaps it’ll come to me later. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2002, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-movie-soundtrack/125030/39 "2002-08-23T08:24:33Z")
**Car Wash** It’s also one of my favorite movies. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2002, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-movie-soundtrack/125030/40 "2002-08-23T09:33:10Z")
**American Graffitti** which I lent out once and never got back. Very much worth getting a second copy- someday… **Pretty Woman** - hate the movie, love the soundtrack, same with **Leap of Faith**. I’d love a copy of **Joe vs. the Volcano** but I’m not sure if it was ever made (despite what it says in the closing credits.) **When Harry Met Sally** - Harry Connick Jr. Others that appear above include **Oh Brother** , **Sleepless in Seattle** , & **Snatch** (this of course does not include movie musicals, which is another thing entirely) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-movie-soundtrack/125030.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-movie-soundtrack/125030.md?page=3)