There are several details that go into the quality of a great movie, and for me one of the most important things to get right is the instrumental music track. Music adds so much to the experience, it can heighten the emotion, rev-up the excitement or submerse us into the films other worldly atmosphere. Granted, there are a lot of classic movie themes to choose from, but I’m not aiming for the most recognizable and well known. This is a countdown of my personal favorite movie music tracks I’ve personally heard. Now I’m only going to list one score pure music composer, that way it’ll be easier to add some variety to this, and highlight the artist along with what in my opinion is their best work. With that said, turn up the volume and enjoy my top 12 favorite movie music tracks.
#12 Harry Gregson-Williams score for “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The
Witch and the Wardrobe”
I’ll admit, I haven’t had much exposure to this
artists work, but I absolutely love his score for the 2005 motion picture “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The
Witch and the Wardrobe”. Not only does it sound beautiful, but also very
other-worldly, which only adds another lair of atmosphere to the films setting.
The track also has some very grand and sweeping instrumentation, like something
from out of a timeless epic. Combining both beauty and grandeur into one sold music
track is no small accomplishment, but Mr. Williams hit’s it right out of the
park with this enchanting music track.
#11
Alan Silvestris score for “Back to the
Future”
Oh, who doesn’t get excited listening to this music theme? This
is the kind of score that makes me want to go on an adventure, something fast
paced and exciting. In fact, the score itself is like a short story of
adventure told through music. It has the whimsical build up, the action packed exhilaration,
the suspense, the strength being built and it all closes with musical notes
that embody a great taste of victory. What else can I say about this score, it’s
just really exciting to listen to. It fills you with hope, it fills you with
pride, it fills you with excitement, and it’s just plain awesome music that I can’t
get enough of.
#10 Basil Poledouris score for “Conan: The Barbarian”
While I’ve never been a fan of the movie, this
soundtrack has always stood tall as one of my all time favorites. The stand out
track tilted “Riders of Doom” is
arguably one of the most epic pieces of music ever put to film. It has size, grandeur
and it gets me exhilarated every time I hear it. Another stand out track titled
“Riddle of Steel” has some great
atmospheric notes, and cares a nice theme that really highlights the hero. For
such a corny movie, this track gives the false impression that you’re about to
watch a grand and glorious motion picture phenomenon.
#9 John Williams score
for “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of
Azkaban”
Good old John Williams, is music is so iconic and well known that
it’s hard to rank any one of his scores as his best work, but I do have a
personal favorite. John Williams’s iconic Harry
Potter theme has always been a staple for my favorite fantasy franchise, but in
my opinion, it’s the third film in the series that provides the best
instrumental sound track of them all, and John Williams best work. The music from
“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of
Azkaban” has very distinct medieval influences in
the instrumentation, which fits the setting beautifully, and I especially love the
smaller, individual scores of the film. Buckbeak’s flight music is a particular
favorite score of mine, the climactic battle with the Dementors features some
especially exhilarating instrumentation, and the films triumphant finally music
is downright sensational.
#8 George S. Clinton’s score for “Mortal Kombat”
If you want to hear a music track that’ll get you
pumped for action, it’s George S. Clinton’s score for “Mortal Kombat” all the way. The 1995 movie was average good, but
the theme music is unbelievable. Just hearing the announcer cry out “MORTAL
KOMBAT!” gets me hyped as hell, and the track perfectly blends a video game
style techno beat with rhythm and energy. The stand out track titled “The Immortals: Techno Syndrome” is a pure
overload of awesome! This is the kind of track that needs to be playing at a tournament,
whether it be video games or karate or anything else, it’s just that sweet.
#7 Danny Elfmans score for “Edward Scissorhands”
If you’re a long time fan of Tim Burton
movies, you know your share of music composed by the great Danny Elfman, as he
usually does the music in all his films. My favorite work of his by far is the
score for “Edward Scissorhands”.
This is the classic Danny Elfman score that just hits all the right notes, its
gothic and foreboding but it’s also whimsical and enchanting at the same time.
There’s just no other movie score like it, combining both haunts and magic into
one captivating track. It’s just over flowing with atmosphere, wonder and it
always submerses me into the movie experience whenever I hear it. Danny Elfman will always be a legend to us
movie music lovers, and it’s his captivating score for “Edward Scissorhands” that I’ll always remember and admire him for
the most.
#6 Don Davis score for “The Matrix Revolutions”
So, “The
Matrix Revolutions” has this reputation for being the worst film in its
respected franchise, but even if it is the worst, that still doesn’t mean there’s
nothing of value in it. The one thing this movie truly got right by far was its
epic finally score composed by Don Davis. This has got to be the most
sensational, larger than life finally music I’ve ever heard, combining an epic
quire with a stylized techno beat and fast rhythm into one unforgettable track.
It has the buildup, it has energy and it closes on the most sensational of
final notes that give me goose bumps every time I hear it.
#5 Shirley Walker’s score for “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm”
Batman is no stranger to having unforgettable
music tracks in his movies. Personally, of all the talented artist to compose
music for Batman’s films, nothing thrills me more than the late Shirley Walker’s
score for “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm”.
It’s dark, brooding, mysterious, then gradually elevates with a cryptic quire
and finally launches into a tempo that just screams “This is the real Batman!”
Her music just embodies everything great about my favorite superhero, and it’s
always stood out to me as his classic sound track. It just adds so much size
and weight to the character, while also keeping the gothic and haunting tones
in check. The opening theme alone always gives me chills, and sets the tone for
an epic Batman experience. Like I said, many artists ranging from Danny Elfman
to Hans Zimmer have brought credible music to the dark knight’s movie legacy,
but personally it’s Shirley Walker who got it perfect with the most riveting
score Batman has ever had.
#4 Tom Tykwer’s score for “Run Lola Run”
Arguably the most energizing music score I’ve ever
heard, Tom Tykwer’s track from “Run Lola
Run” will make you want to get up and run with the main character of the
movie. It’s got the cool techno beat, the energy, the rhythm and it’s a rare
case in which the music actually plays a part in the story telling experience. While
the beat remains the same, the style and rhythm is constantly changing
depending on each new direction the film takes. The whole film follows one
character running to various locations, there’s very little dialogue, and a
very simple story, but it’s a highly entertaining work of art, especially with
the pumping techno soundtrack that keeps us engaged throughout.
#3 James Horner’s score for “The Land Before Time”
The late James Horner is one of my personal
hero’s, and created the music of my child hood. I can’t even begin to count how
many films I grew up with that were blessed with his music talents, so I always
looked at him as the guy who planted the seed that eventually grew into my love
for music. Personally, no other score of his touches my heart, or takes me back
to my child hood more than his score for “The
Land Before Time”. His instrumentation of the track “The Discovery of the Great Valley” is the stuff of sheer beauty,
like listening to music that came right to us from heaven. It’s a track where
every single musical note leaves just the right impact for each scene in the
film, and those final notes always bring grown man tears to my eyes every time I
hear them.
#2 Basil Poledouris score for “The Hunt for Red October”
When it comes to epic music tracks,
some may think of “Lord of the Rings” or “Gladiator”, but for me personally, I
don’t think I’ve ever heard a more epic score then Basil Poledouris “Red Army
Choir” from the 1990 picture “The Hunt
for Red October”. It begins with subtle buildup, it accelerates into a
Choir that feels grand and mighty, then it segues into a choirs of what sound
like Christmas Carolers, and then finally it settles back into the quiet yet
atmospheric chanting. It’s just an awesome track that gives audiences the
impression that they’re about to watch something grand and massive unfold. This
may be a little miss leading for some, but I think it fits the tone of the
movie perfectly, and is without a doubt one of the films great highlights.
Before I reveal my #1 favorite, here are some Honorable Mentions ...
Randy Edelman's score for "Dragonheart"
John Carpenter’s score for “Halloween” (1978)
John Carpenter’s score for “Halloween” (1978)
Bill Conti’s
score for “Rocky” (Gonna Fly Now)
Clint
Mansell’s score for “Requiem For A Dream”
Hans Zimmer’s
score for “Pirates of the Caribbean”
The End
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