As a listening experience I can't say I'm interested in the entire 1941 score, but I have to say I think the March is a truly great, fun piece. I've never heard a marching band butcher it, so I don't have bad memories attached. And while the film is a mess to be sure, I felt the march stood out as the best, most accomplished part of that mess. I've always felt it fits in well on Best of Williams compilations and the like.

I do think it sad that "obnoxiously positive spirit" is a deterrent of its own to many reviewers/listeners. If something has a good theme, over the top positive spirit or enthusiasm truly doesn't bother me. Maybe it's less complex than a shades-of-gray alternative, but there's still something valuable about the light-hearted. It's the same attitude that grated me about the Filmtracks "Ponyo" review. That score is a masterwork in my opinion, a perfect mix of a large number of beautiful themes. That its standing could be lowered for being overly positive, as the review indicates, strikes me as a touch unfair. But then, that's opinions for ya -- I just often feel like some reviewers mark a check box as soon as they note that something is overwhelmingly positive that instantly removes a star. "Oh, dear, it's too happy. This can't be a perfect score!"