That's a good analogy with "Mr. Holland's Opus." I completely agree with it too.
As for my own thoughts on the score, I like it. It's certainly no great work that will go in the history books as a soundtrack that changed the history of filmscores like "Star Wars" did in 1977, but it is fun to listen to. It's got an easy tune to whistle, and it gets the blood flowing.
As far as John's comments about newbies to Media Ventures, I think that holds true to a degree. Pirates is my second Zimmer/Media Ventures CD (Gladiator was the first). I noticed the similarities between those 15 seconds at the 6 minute mark in "The Battle" of Gladiator and the reoccurring theme in Pirates. I don't think anyone is oblivious to the similarities. The same could also be said of "Swords Crossed" (Pirates) and "Tribal War" (Black Hawk Down). I was still able to dismiss these similarities rather easily (especially after having heard "The Wedding" of Bicentennial Man and "For the Love of a Princess" from Braveheart; both by James Horner) because they are still very different songs.
It was a couple years after buying Gladiator that I finally heard the music from The Rock. That music bugged me because I had trouble finding a good theme in there that lasted more than a few seconds, and the entire track that I listen to had an annoying electronic beat. Pirates wasn't nearly as electronic as The Rock was. Perhaps if I'd listened to the Rock first, I wouldn't like Pirates. I really don't know.
As far as the rating goes, I'd give it ***1/2. I consider 3 stars to be average, and this score is slightly above average due to it's enjoyability. It does not soar because it is so simple. I completely understand why some people would give it one star so I won't insult them, but I still don't agree with them. I also understand why some people give it 5 stars, but I suspect that these people do not appreciate the complexity of using the orchestra in the most effective way (i.e. Schindler's List). I admit I'm more likely to walk down the street whistling Pirates, but there is no doubt in my mind that Schindler's List is a far superior score.
> It does seem to eitehrbe hated or loved with no middle ground. I guess I
> have to take people's word for it if they hated it due to it being
> unoriginal. It only brings to mind a scene from "Mr. Holland's
> Opus" where he plays "Louie, Louie" to the class and
> ponders over how simplistic and nonmusical it is, yet he loves it. He
> loves it because it was fun to hear. Personally, i think the Pirates
> soundtrack is fun to hear. It is flighty and it never carries a theme for
> too long before dumping it off. And yet, I still love to hear it. I think
> that's what happens to some folks that love it. It makes no sense to hate
> a piece of music just because it is too similar to something else. Hate it
> because it doesn't move you, hate it because it makes you angry to hear
> it, or some other reason.
