> ..when a composer has to rip himself off. It's like Horner cut and paste
> chunks of Casper and Troy into the movie. Has the guy run out of ideas?

O.k. Mr. How about you write a score for a criticly acclaimed movie, and another, and another, and another, and another! Look at John Williams. We get the same type of marches and and hero themes and love themes. They all start with either a french horn crecendo, or a loud blast of about all the instruments in his 98 piece orchestra. Then generaly build into the Main theme. They all sound the same to me. A minuet and a half of triplets and sixteenth note eigth note combo.

Same goes for Horner. Except he has a different take on themes. He usually has a main title sequence with a beautiful theme mabe some piano or chorus...or bagpipes he does love bagpipes... Anyway all composers borrow at some point. Critics just pick on him because they are too blined to see all the other composers borrow becouse of thier expirience or reputation. Like Jerry Goldsmith and John Williams. And probobly the best movie composer of all time, Hans Zimmer. Listen to his score for Gladiator and Pirates of the Carabien and you'll get what i'm talking about. (James Horner is still my favorite composer)