> I'll contend that Zimmer's ideas resonate quite well and were very
> memorable.

> And considering how I can find myself humming many of Zimmer's themes
> after seeing the films, particularly the main themes from crimson tide and
> gladiator and hoist the colours, though that one's a little easier since
> it's played over the end credits (very well, I might add). Zimmer's ideas
> do resonate well, and simply because his simplicity is not up to snuff
> with you does not mean he can't write engaging music.

Precisely. Why do you think they resonate so well? The chords he uses to support his themes are the most directly appealing to the human hear because they make the first part of the natural harmonic serie - C1,C2,G2,C3,E3,G3,B flat3,C4, D4.... (C,E,G - I) (G/B/D - V). Therefore a melodic sequence only based on I and V will always sound automatically appealing to the ear. Itīs natural. Itīs a natural game of tension/distension/tension. Itīs perfectly effective (but extremely simple). Thatīs why tonality is the most natural musical system. Of course if a composer like J.Williams uses atonal passages, polyrhythmia, modes and stuff like that, the music will not be very entertaning or hummable. Yet is a much more effective and interesting music. Zimmerīs music on the other hand is so homophonic, chordal and consonant that his simplicity is immediately noticiable even for a non-musician. Is a linear repetion of rhythmic and melodic structures (extremely simple structures) based on the same damn bass.

> that doesn't stop me
> from picking up James Horner music and thinking it's great.

James Horner is a musician. He knows everything Zimmer doesnt know. Heīs just an idiot when he steals from other composers.

> There's two reasons I applaud zimmer for
> putting in the woodwinds in this score...1) it's surprising, and anytime a
> composer surprises me, it's normally a good thing

Itīs surprising to use woodwinds? You must be kidding me. Just because Zimmer doesnt use them it doesnt make it more surprising. Every composer uses woodwinds.

2) it's not
> average...adding them gives the action cue depth it would've lacked
> otherwise. I fail to see what's so average about depth.

Because there is no depth. Thereīs a bass and a melodic line above it. The other instruments simply duplicate one or the other. Itīs a lazy process.