You've gotta answer this one, since I haven't heard one single score that came out this year. I'm not looking forward much to new stuff this year, but JNH's Lady in the Water could be interesting.

CK

> You've gotta answer this one, since I haven't heard one single score that
> came out this year. I'm not looking forward much to new stuff this year,
> but JNH's Lady in the Water could be interesting.

> CK

The Da Vinci Code is, by far in my opinion, the best score to come out this year.

Unless you count Williams' contributions to Superman Returns, of course.

> You've gotta answer this one, since I haven't heard one single score that
> came out this year. I'm not looking forward much to new stuff this year,
> but JNH's Lady in the Water could be interesting.

In alphabetical order, my top four are probably

The Da Vinci Code
Firewall
Mission: Impossible 3
X-Men 3

The middle two are probably my favourites of all.

...not that it deserves to be called the best score of that year, either, IMO.

Yavar

> You've gotta answer this one, since I haven't heard one single score that
> came out this year. I'm not looking forward much to new stuff this year,
> but JNH's Lady in the Water could be interesting.

> CK

None. All the scores this year have been weak. MI:3 and X3 were just average. Superman Returns is all right, though.

Todd

> You've gotta answer this one, since I haven't heard one single score that
> came out this year.

I'm torn between X-Men 3 and Mission: Impossible III. Both have been in non-stop rotation while driving to and from work each day...Superman Returns had a brief stint in my CD player this week, but today it was back to X-Men 3.

On a related note, will you people make up your minds about the DaVinci code?! I still can't tell if people think it's a purchase-able score, or if I shouldn't bother. Some love it, others say it's terribly boring. My own preferences don't even help...I like Hannibal, but I don't like Last Samurai. What's a score-fan to do?

-Brendan

> I'm torn between X-Men 3 and Mission: Impossible III. Both have been in
> non-stop rotation while driving to and from work each day...Superman
> Returns had a brief stint in my CD player this week, but today it was back
> to X-Men 3.

> On a related note, will you people make up your minds about the DaVinci
> code?! I still can't tell if people think it's a purchase-able score, or
> if I shouldn't bother. Some love it, others say it's terribly boring. My
> own preferences don't even help...I like Hannibal, but I don't like Last
> Samurai. What's a score-fan to do?

> -Brendan

Buy it. The last two tracks alone are worth the purchase,a dn that's not taking into consideration a few other gems sprinkled throughout the score.

> On a related note, will you people make up your minds about the DaVinci
> code?! I still can't tell if people think it's a purchase-able score, or
> if I shouldn't bother. Some love it, others say it's terribly boring. My
> own preferences don't even help...I like Hannibal, but I don't like Last
> Samurai. What's a score-fan to do?

But I'm somewhat interested in it. Apparently the highlight of the album is the one track by Richard Harvey, who's the composer of Animal Farm which you recently copied from me, so if you like that as I do...

Yavar

> But I'm somewhat interested in it. Apparently the highlight of the album
> is the one track by Richard Harvey, who's the composer of Animal Farm
> which you recently copied from me, so if you like that as I do...

Quote Brendan at the Jerry Goldsmith Gathering where I played him a bit of Animal Farm: "It's...niiice!" Meaning that it isn't that "niiice".

CONFOUND YOU, ANDERSON! Animal Farm is a *****-score and Harvey a better composer than Zimmer these days!

Beware of my wrath!!! Once I had my eight hours of sleep...

CK

> You've gotta answer this one, since I haven't heard one single score that
> came out this year. I'm not looking forward much to new stuff this year,
> but JNH's Lady in the Water could be interesting.

> CK

Can't help you out much there...I've only bought three scores this year so far: The Wild, M:I 3, and I picked up Superman Returns today...

The Wild and M:I 3 are both good; I haven't listened to Superman Returns yet, but it was great in the movie!

Klattdaddy

No particular order

- EIGHT BELOW (Isham)
- MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 3 (Giacchino)
- THE DA VINCI CODE (Zimmer)
- V FOR VENDETTA (Marianelli)
- X-MEN: THE LAST STAND (Powell)

-Erik-

It's been a slim year. Very disappointing.

My top picks so far:

Superman Returns
V for Vendetta
X-Men: Last Stand
Fateless (technically 2005, I guess)

The Marianelli is the only one I listen to for spare time enjoyment. He accomplishes the same masculine brutality with orchestra, synths, choir, and electric guitar that Zimmer attempts to do... but with incredible balance and style! Even at Vendetta's most explosive rhythmic moments (like tracks 11 & 13, for instance), with churning strings, pounding percussion, deep choir, and rambling electric guitar, you can still hear those flutes whipping up a storm over the top. I call it "intelligent masculinity." Lots of fun, and I appreciate it moreso after listening to POTC all weekend long. I would love to hear what Marianelli could do for a POTC-type assignment. He'd probably be able to satisfy Bruckheimer without sacrificing smarts...

Christian

> You've gotta answer this one, since I haven't heard one single score that
> came out this year. I'm not looking forward much to new stuff this year,
> but JNH's Lady in the Water could be interesting.

> CK

I saw the trailer for Lady in the Water today, and must say I wasn't impressed with what I saw. I know a trailer is a mere snapshot of a film, but to me it looks like a standard slasher movie. I hope I'm wrong, as Shyamalan is one of my favourite directors. The score, from what I have read, is quite notable (as is the custom when JNH and Shyamalan get together).

I'm also looking forward to the following scores (note, I'm basing these future predictions on Australian release dates. Some of these films may have already been released in Europe and the US):

The Lake House (Rachel Portman)
United 93 (John Powell)
All the King's Men (James Horner)

I must say that this is a dismally small list. I just don't seem to collect as many current soundtracks as I used to. The last one I purchased was X-Men 3, but that was over a month ago. That single purchase is amongst more than two dozen soundtracks I've purchased in the interim.

> You've gotta answer this one, since I haven't heard one single score that
> came out this year. I'm not looking forward much to new stuff this year,
> but JNH's Lady in the Water could be interesting.

I'm always excited about a JNH score for a M.N.S. film!

As far as Best Score of 2006, I'm not sure. I will say that the biggest surprise of the year so far (for me) has been Rupert Gregson-Williams' music for "Over the Hedge." Nice stuff!

Cap

NP: The Missing (picked this up used yesterday; nice background music for work)

> NP: The Missing (picked this up used yesterday; nice background music for
> work)

I love The Missing! One of my favorite Horner scores and probably the one of his I've listened to the most over the past two years or so.

As for best scores of the year thus far, can't really say as I've only seen three movies (X-Men Last Stand, Mission Impossible III, Superman Returns), and thus only heard three scores. Of those, I think I liked Superman Returns best in film, but only because of the impact of the original Williams material, so I don't know if that counts.

-Jon

> You've gotta answer this one, since I haven't heard one single score that
> came out this year. I'm not looking forward much to new stuff this year,
> but JNH's Lady in the Water could be interesting.

> CK

I don't know why but I love yelling out your name.

Ummm, I would suppose it would have to be "The Da Vinci Code". The last 2 tracks are exceptional. As far as X-Men 3 goes, if it weren't for the Dark Phoenix tracks, it would be an unexceptional score, IMHO of course. I haven't bought MI:3 yet for the fact that nothing I heard during the course of the film compelled me to go out and buy it.

But Superman Returns sounded fantastic as heard in the film, so I may go and grab a copy of that one. Ottman did a surprisingly good job of melding Williams original work and added much to an already very well made movie.

Tom

NP: Not a damn thing! I'm sitting here at work, twiddling my thumbs. Slow, SLOW day every company that had any sense took the day off today to make it a 4 day weekend. Grrrr.

> I don't know why but I love yelling out your name.

Makes two of us. For some reason, a couple of guys at school have taken to get me new nicknames (which I will not divulge here); great, one more reason to avoid the place these days!

> Tom

> NP: Not a damn thing! I'm sitting here at work, twiddling my thumbs. Slow,
> SLOW day every company that had any sense took the day off today to make
> it a 4 day weekend. Grrrr.

You'd make a great German, you know that? Holidays? Long weekends? Pffft!

How was NYC?

CK

Well, I haven't bought any of this years scores (I only just started my soundtrack collection about a year ago, so I'm trying to catch up on the fifty odd years of great scores that I've missed (just got Willow but can't seem to get Raiders of the Lost Ark: everywhere I look, it's priced at $45 or more! > )), so I'll just go on what I've heard in the films themselves.
I'd say I like the trombone roaring X3 the best so far, and Superman Returns is good, too, but it was hard to discern much from the movie except the original (but superb) William's theme.