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Author	Topic: James Horner

Floyd Pepper Oscar® Winner	Hi there! When Horner entered the Hollywood city limits his work was very promising, he seemed to be an able and original composer. Today he seems to be a writer of many many many scores, but no more as original and interesting as he was before (Titanic was awful!)... What do you think? My faves of his are: KRULL, Gorky Park, ALIENS (to name but a few). Which releases of KRULL do you know? I own an older German release (CINEDISC, vinyl), the 79 minutes Gold CD (limited edition of 750) and the new double-cd by SuperTracks... And what do you think of this score? [This message has been edited by Floyd Pepper (edited 06-07-99).]
posted 06-07-1999 05:48 AM PT (US)

S Smith unregistered	Uh oh. Here come a bunch of posts about how bad Horner is (it happens every time). Me personally: I think he's O.K. I like "Titanic" in a commercial sort of way, but don't think it should have won Best Score. I thought "Braveheart" was great, and "Zorro" was O.K. too. Normally though, I don't pay him much mind.
posted 06-07-1999 09:49 AM PT (US)

SFT Oscar® Winner	I know alot of you guys will probably disagree with me on this one but let me just give you my opinion on Horner: James Horner is a talented composer cabable of creating score wich contains great themes and are well put together. But unfortunately, lately that has been just about it. He does´nt really posses any innovational skills and his scores seeme shallow and do not really make any contribution to the movies. I mean, his scores are mostly a very nice listening experience filled with beautyfull music, but it does´nt really work on screen. Now, back in the 80´s he created scores worth the effort of byeing. But now, he just can´t seeme to get past that "mainstream" style he has aquirred for himself. Sometimes I don´t think he puts much effort into a given score, but just thinks: "Oh well...I´ll just think of a good theme or two, and then repeat them over and over again, and that will be it." I know that is´nt the case but that is how it sometimes feels to me. Don´t get me wronge: Horner is a great composer, but he needs to score films worthy of his talents and not just whatever is offered to him. SFT NP: Dolores Claiborne - Composers Personal Edition, Danny Elfman [This message has been edited by SFT (edited 06-12-99).]
posted 06-07-1999 12:04 PM PT (US)

Steph1 unregistered	I have to say that I agree completely with SFT. Horner is great when he really puts his heart into the score he's composing. I think that Titanic was a beautifully written score and one he did put a lot of effort into. I have to say I was really glad when it one the Academy Award last year.
posted 06-07-1999 05:16 PM PT (US)

Matt Oscar® Winner	seconding Steph1....His last couple scores havent been great(I did enjoy Mighty Joe Young tho...), but Titanic was, Braveheart was, Aliens, Apollo 13, etc...I'm looking foreward to Grinch. When he really tries, he gives us something truly memorable...but when he doesnt I easily forget it.
posted 06-07-1999 07:07 PM PT (US)

James Oscar® Winner	My favorite James Horner score will always be The Land Before Time. I don't believe he will ever be able to beat the incredibly powerful music he wrote for this film, and if he did then it would be a really great score. My other favorite Horner scores include Balto, Star Trek 2, Titanic, Braveheart, and House Of Cards. But Land will always be my favorite. "Whispering Winds" can still bring a tear or two to my eyes. As for Horner's talents as a composer... well, this is touchy topic. Say the wrong thing and you could have everyone on the forum at your throat. But I feel that everything I could possibly say has been said already. When he gives the effort, he can produce a score that is wonderful, magical, and fabulous (e.g. Land Before Time, Willow) but when he doesn't really try, the end product is usually forgettable and passes by without much notice (e.g. We're Back, Deep Impact). I'm looking forward to Grinch though -- it seems like the kind of thing he'd work at. James NP - The Piano (M. Nyman) *****
posted 06-07-1999 08:24 PM PT (US)

Steve Hughes Oscar® Winner	I really like James Horner. Okay, he repeats a lot of his stylistic elements -- the woodpipes, the steel drum motif for action movies -- but overall he's a fine composer. I prefer his earlier scores but his more recent efforts are great too.
posted 06-20-1999 07:15 AM PT (US)

Ben Penserga Oscar® Winner	Two Horner scores that no one ever seems to mention that I personally like are Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger. Patriot Games has that celtic feel that seems to seems to be in a lot of his scores these days. Clear and Present Danger was more of your typical action-suspense movie, but I felt it was still pretty good. I dunno ... am I only who likes it?
posted 06-20-1999 12:30 PM PT (US)

Gae Oscar® Winner	I agree with you James about Deep Impact! I bought the score at a price before seeing the movie purely on the basis of Horner's reputation and to be honest I found it very dull. I listened to it a couple more times but got bored of trying and so its currently on the shelf. I think one of his best scores in a movie is Aliens. It really adds excitment and drama to the movie and apart from a few atmospheric tracks works well on its own. I also liked the music to Jumanjii and Star Trek Wrath of Khan but to be honest Horner is'nt one of my favourite composers. I'm still trying to get into Braveheart, but dont listen to it much, and as regards Titanic it was a well done score with a couple of nice themes, but after hearing loads of my pupils and nearly every teenage girl playing "My Heart Will Go On" ad infinitum on the piano I've got a bit sick of that now...great key change though,from C sharp min to F min, risky!!! Gae NP The Dark Crystal**** Now Trevor Jones is rapidly becoming one of my favourites!!
posted 06-20-1999 03:13 PM PT (US)

S Smith unregistered	Off topic, but since Gae mentioned "My Heart Will Go On..." For those of you that are sick of it, there's a version in Italian on the Sarah Brightman "Eden" album. I listened to it the other day and found it quite refreshing compared to the original. I suppose this is sort of on topic since Horner has writing credit on the song.
posted 06-20-1999 08:28 PM PT (US)

Audacity Oscar® Winner	Ben, I totally agree with you on CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER. Some of you from the old message board might remember that I was having the hardest time finding this score. Well I finally found it about two months ago and I absolutely love it. It is definetly one of my favorite Horner scores. As for PATRIOT GAMES, it is not bad but I have not listened to it very many times, I will have to check this one out again. Audacity N.P. Tales From the Crypt (Various Composers)
posted 06-21-1999 04:42 AM PT (US)

JulietDean unregistered	S smith, i have the sarah brightman's CD too and i've heard the "my heart will go on..." i think its italian? yea...it was pretty cool. but even though...almost everyone is sick of that song, somehow, i still like it. oh well.
posted 06-22-1999 01:08 PM PT (US)

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