I don't believe this!

My friend and I were *just* discussing this a matter of hours ago. Let's be honest here - John Williams is overrated. Sure, his themes are brilliant - memorable pieces of music that stick with you forever. However, the rest of his music leaves a lot to be desired. Bland, orchestral tracks that all really sound the same.

You compare his work to passionate composers like Hans Zimmer, Harry Gregson-Williams (MGS 2 is a brilliant soundtrack - and it's a game!), David Arnold and John Barry and you see the difference. Williams' problem is that he doesn't branch out - it's just seems like brass, brass, brass all the time. He needs to try something different and stop working with Spielberg all the time. BRANCH OUT! BE DIFFERENT! His music is just getting too monotonous.

And its hilarious to see his fans in this very thread writing things along the lines of "Williams is great... look at all his great themes." Yeah, and great they are. And so... what about his other stuff?

I've never been one for following the trend, never been one for acting like a sheep because everyone else is. I am very much my own person. I like a whole variety of film composers but Williams consistently fails to interest me with anything more than his themes.

Williams is only liked because it's "cool" to like him. You mention to one of your casual movie-viewing friends that you have, for example, John Williams score to ATTACK OF THE CLONES and they'll probably be impressed. But you say you have the soundtrack to METAL GEAR SOLID 2, BROKEN ARROW, A VIEW TO A KILL or TOMORROW NEVER DIES and they'll not be able to pick themselves up from the ground for aching with laughter.

Something else which I found hilarous, and this is the honest truth God strike me down. I was looking for a CD before Christmas and saw a CD set - "John William's Greatest Hits". And I said to myself before picking it up, "If it's all just themes, I'll probably laugh right here cos that's all he's really good for". I picked up the case, and the back of the case simply read "Themes from:" and went on to list a whole load of themes he had written for movies! Hardly a greatest hits compilation!