Film Score Friday: Crimson Tide

This week on Film Score Friday, we list to the score from Crimson Tide. Hans Zimmer wrote the score for this 1995 release. Those familiar with Zimmer's work will find some familiar sounds here. 

Zimmer creates some great moments that really add to the intense subject matter of the film. He uses the entire horn section in unision at times to great effect. One of the highlights is the use of trumpet solo. Malcom McNab nails this as always in the recording. This comes in the distance, almost offstage, at the beginning of the score and becomes more pronounced throughout. The one drawback of this score is how much electronic music is used. The orchestral sound is still great, but we could have done without the electronica. 

Where does Crimson Tide rank for Hans Zimmer scores? Let us know in the comments. 

Mentioned in this Post

Crimson Tide on Amazon

Crimson Tide on iTunes

Film Score Friday: Mission Impossible

This week on Film Score Friday, we listen to the score from Mission Impossible. Danny Elfman wrote the score for this revival of the TV classic. It was almost from another composer though. Alan Silvestri was hired and supposedly recorded some music before being swapped for Elfman. Despite what sounds like challenging circumstances, Elfman's score succeeds. 

Although the opportunities for brass to shine are not as plentiful in this score as other Elfman works, it's still worth a listen. He manages to bring in the classic theme from the original series and introduce new elements that work for the film. His best success is building tension. In a film where the prospect of getting caught while on the run is a major plot point, this use of tensions works well. The highlight of the score is the very end when the brass are unleashed. It's pretty great and it feels like the bell of the Tuba will come through your speakers. 

Where does mission impossible rank for Elfman scores? Let us know in the comments. 

Mentioned in this Post

Mission Impossible on Amazon

Mission Impossible on iTunes

Film Score Friday: The Mask of Zorro

The Mask Of Zorro
Starring Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Stuart Wilson, Matthew Letscher
Buy on Amazon

This week of Film Score Friday, we listen to the score from The Mask of Zorro. James Horner wrote the score for this revival of the classic hero's tale. Horner drew some of his inspiration from the score of El Cid, one of the first epics to feature historic Spanish characters. 

Given the setting, it should be no surprise the prominence Horner gives to Spanish themes and instrumentation. Horns are prominent throughout the score as well. Whenever the main motive returns, it's always emphasized with horn. Trumpets get an opportunity for some lyrical solos as well. 
 

It's a great a score that really improves an average film. While there's familiar elements from Horner, it is different from many of his other scores. The material is certainly a factor, but still it's welcome and a joy to listen to. 

Where does this rank for Horner scores? Let us know in the comments. 

Mentioned in this Post

The Mask of Zorro on Amazon

The Mask of Zorro on iTunes

Film Score Friday: Wing Commander

Wing Commander: The Movie
Starring Freddie Prinze Jr., Saffron Burrows, Matthew Lillard, Tch?ky Karyo, J?rgen Prochnow
Buy on Amazon

This week on Film Score Friday, we listen to the score from Wing Commander. The score is from David Arnold and Kevin Kiner. There's one problem here though. The movie is bad. We know it's hard to believe that a movie about fighting cat people in space could be anything but good, but alas it is true. 

Terrible movie aside, the score is a good time. It's cheesy at times, but in a good way. There's lots of brass to listen to throughout the score. There's some screamin parts in octaves across the whole section at times that are just great. Just please, don't watch the movie. 

 

Mentioned in this Post

Wing Commander on Amazon

Wing Commander on iTunes

Film Score Friday: Star Trek II The Wrath of Kahn

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Starring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, Walter Koenig
Buy on Amazon

This week on Film Score Friday, we listen to the score from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn. James Horner wrote the score for this 1982 edition in the Trek franchise. This was Horner's first big profile movie. He delivered well. When Horner was brought on board, producers asked him to not use any of Jerry Goldsmith's material from the prior Star Trek film. 

“I’m sure that I was influenced by Goldsmith’s large orchestral scores when I started out, and that was because the people who employed me wanted that kind of sound. I wasn’t in a position to say, ‘Go To Hell!”
— James Horner on Star Trek 2

The director asked Horner to make the score sound "seafaring." This comes through quite a bit. There's a triple motive from the horns that adds drama at the right times in the top end of the range. Trumpets have lots of great fanfares as well. The low brass has plenty of chances to put air in their horns as well. 

In many ways, this film resembles an old submarine movie. The programmatic themes Horner inserts match this theme well. 

 

Where does this rank for Star Trek score? Let us know in the comments. 

Mentioned in this Post

Star Trek II on Amazon

Star Trek II on iTunes