I personally do not understand the disdain for this score...
This was actually the 1st Horner, or actually any score that I went out and bought.

I haven't stopped listening to it.
It has a Peter and the Wolf (the wonderful use of french horns for the hunter), and Nutcracker (the delicate and variety of themes, such as for Alan Parrish and the Pelican Steals the Game cue), feel to me that is magical and awe inspiring.

When I was taking snare drum and marimba lessons, this score so inspired me with it's exotic and dramatic use of all types of percussion and sounds to manipulate and exhilirate the listener.

I know that scores (that i own) such as Land before Time, Balto, and Casper, are much easier to listen to, and may have a better "flow" to the music, but I believe this score has beautifully scored mayhem down to an art!

4 1/2 stars (not quite a classic but gets extra half a star for never getting boring! What's wrong with a little mayhem now and again!)

For similar fun try:
Casper by James Horner
Sleepy Hollow by Danny Elfman
Robots by John Powell
Dinosaur by James Newton Howard