I've heard things from the score, but does it have any bombast or dark themes, not just happy lulabyes?

> I've heard things from the score, but does it have any bombast or dark
> themes, not just happy lulabyes?

Yes, it has a very large share of its dark themes. Although the flying theme is incrediably memorable, it's actually not as dominating as one would think when listening to the score alone. The first track alone starts out with a workout for the speakers, and the theme for the doctors/searchers/police is more often used than the flying theme throughout the movie. By any means, go see the movie and hear the score in its context.

Yeah I never liked that main theme.

Just listen to the first track "Main Titles". It's one of the creepiest tracks Williams has done.

> I've heard things from the score, but does it have any bombast or dark
> themes, not just happy lulabyes?

On the contrary, most of the playing time of the E.T. soundtrack (both the 1996 and 2001 releases) is used up playing dark themes on the harp. The soundtrack has a little for everyone -- the cliched, but brilliant 'over the moon' theme, the e.t. alone theme, the friendship theme... You should definitely get this if you don't already have it. No soundtrack collection--nor any cd collection whatsoever--should lack E.T.

Hi Mike. Well the only way to know would be to purchase it (E.T score fan here..hehehe). It is indeed very dark and also bombastic in places. The opening tracks such as (i'll use the original track names here from the first MCA release for ease of use) "Abandoned and pursued" is a very bombast and thrilling piece which is one of my Williams Favs. "Three million light years from Earth" has a dark impressive organ style blackness about it. "Adventures on Earth" is one of the most incredible pieces Williams has ever written (in my opinion), containing sheer bombast, snaring brass, thrilling racing strings, heartfelt emotion, a soft 1940's romantic sound and just pure genius all in one long track. The original 8 track MCA release is wonderful in its own way and has exclusivly arranged cues and suites for that release. But i doubt you'll find it very easily thesedays except through 2nd hand or collectors, so your best bet anyway is to purchase 1996/2001 release which has more of the darker unreleased material and remastered sound etc anyway. You really must check out that score. Its superb.