What's so special about Hans Zimmer??

Jadeite · Post by **Jadeite** » 2002-11-09 04:58pm

Zimmer's battle waltz for Gladiator was simply amazing.

Anyone know where I can download that?

Post by **Zaia** » 2002-11-09 06:56pm

Darth Wong wrote:Bullshit. Please explain why you lose control over the ultimate product by delegating the grunt-work to underlings. Do you believe that he also cedes complete creative control to those underlings, ie- he does not give them any instructions or direction and abdicates any right to judge, revise, or reject their work if it displeases him? Does the term "leap in logic" mean anything to you?

I just explained how an engineer does not lose control over a project just because he assigns some of the grunt-work to underlings. You cannot dismiss that simply because it's not "art". Art is not some kind of mythical thing to which someone like me is a complete alien; you cannnot dismiss an analogy without explaining why it is false.

This wasn't in answer to one of my posts, but I'm going to address it anyway for the hell of it.

I never said anything against your analogy because I think (when discussing cinematic scores) that it is completely valid. I actually started to type up an argument to your point, and then realized I couldn't because it was completely accurate in this scenario. Scores for movies must reflect and enhance the emotional aspects of the movie, and therefore MUST be dictated to the composer from some other source. Composers have little freedom in the cinematic score venue. So, it really doesn't matter if the director tells the composer who tells his assistant what is needed, because there has to be a framework for the music to fit into anyway. I still am annoyed that the main arrangers don't get more credit, but I guess I'll just have to suck it up and deal.

Now, if I found out that Beethoven delegated responsibilities to underlings, I would be GREATLY distressed and unbelievably disappointed. Your engineering analogy would be inaccurate in this instance, since Beethoven composed as a form of self-expression and, by definition, cannot have someone else do part of it for him.

Oh, and if anyone cares, one of my bands is performing the battle waltz from 'Gladiator' tomorrow at our marching band championship. Don't know whether that's kickass or sacrilegious to y'all, but there it is. And yes, it's a pretty cool piece.

THEHOOLIGANJEDI · Post by **THEHOOLIGANJEDI** » 2002-11-10 10:34pm

I've heard many of Zimmer's scores, they are good to listen to when watching a movie. Initially when I watch a movie that he scored for the first time, his score is likeable to me at best and it's a great mood setter, but repeated viewings, his score loses it's luster and appeal to me, and I end up ignoring it. He's not a bad composer as far as I'm concerned (and there have been many bad composers of the 90's) but what's so amazing about his scores? As someone mentioned they're all too similar, but the same can be said about others, and that is not something I necessarily don't like. Of his scores I liked the least it would have to be The Rock, and one of his better ones I've heard is either The Ring or Gladiator. But still it's not my cup of tea. Again what do people like about his scores?

As for other composers he's far inferior to: (In no particular order)

John Williams
Jerry Goldsimth
Alan Silvestri
James Horner
David Arnold

Falkenhorst · Post by **Falkenhorst** » 2002-11-11 03:55pm

HZ did the HANNIBAL soundtrack, therefore elevating him to supreme heights in my opinion. HAHAHHHAHHA <runs away screaming madly>

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2002-11-11 05:03pm

I find that Zimmer's stuff is better suited to complementing a visual. Take the soundtrack for The Rock, for example. I don't listen to it while I'm just sitting at my computer. Whenever I fire up Return to Castle Wolfenstein, though, I pump up my speakers, throw in the soundtrack, and it makes for one Hell of an intense gaming experience.

The Gladiator soundtrack is a bit different. I can listen to it on its own, but I rarely do. If I ever want to show off my speakers, I play "The Battle" and "The Barbarian Hoard."

On the other hand, I can listen to John Williams' stuff just while sitting at my machine. "Across the Stars" and the finale sequence from Episode II are some of my all-time favorite tracks, partially because I love the melody to "Across the Stars." It's a beautiful but haunting melody that perfectly captures just what implications Anakin and Padme's relationship will have on the galaxy.

Williams' stuff perfectly complements a scene, but it can stand on its own as well. I can't say I like him better than Zimmer, because I love both their stuff. But, I'm sorry to say, you can't get a better "Hail to the Chief" piece than "The Imperial March." It's perfect in every way. It delivers the sense of, "Woah, here comes a badass" without fail.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2002-11-11 05:06pm

Oh, and does anyone know the name of the guy who did the soundtrack for Starship Troopers? That was just plain kick-ass. The music sticks in your head.

Post by **Zaia** » 2002-11-11 05:14pm

Durandal wrote:Williams' stuff perfectly complements a scene, but it can stand on its own as well. I can't say I like him better than Zimmer, because I love both their stuff. But, I'm sorry to say, you can't get a better "Hail to the Chief" piece than "The Imperial March." It's perfect in every way. It delivers the sense of, "Woah, here comes a badass" without fail.

Yes, the music that has Williams' name on it is pretty good (especially the Imperial March) but I still have a big problem with the main assistants to Williams not getting credit for doing their part. For what it is, though, it's good. Whoever it really belongs to.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2002-11-11 06:09pm

Yes, the music that has Williams' name on it is pretty good (especially the Imperial March) but I still have a big problem with the main assistants to Williams not getting credit for doing their part. For what it is, though, it's good. Whoever it really belongs to.

A: You have no clue if this is true or not. It's hearsay at this point, until some sort of article can be produced.
B: Even if this is the case, do you know that this is how the entire industry works? How do you know Williams doesn't come up with the main themes and lets his underlings link them together, then touches up what they've done? Haven't you noticed that each film has an underlying melody that is present throughout each piece? In Episode II, you could hear the "Across the Stars" melody in almost every track. Williams may have composed that melody and then let his assistants plug it together with other stuff he'd already done, like other commondly known Star Wars tunes. You're interpreting this far too liberally and pessimistically. Just because Williams doesn't do all the work doesn't mean he does none.

THEHOOLIGANJEDI · Post by **THEHOOLIGANJEDI** » 2002-11-11 06:10pm

Durandal wrote:Oh, and does anyone know the name of the guy who did the soundtrack for Starship Troopers? That was just plain kick-ass. The music sticks in your head.

Basil Poledouris. You like Starship Troopers score too. It totally kicks ass. He also did Robocop and the two Conan Movies great stuff. You might want check the spelling mines is incorrect.

THEHOOLIGANJEDI · Post by **THEHOOLIGANJEDI** » 2002-11-11 06:13pm

Durandal wrote:I find that Zimmer's stuff is better suited to complementing a visual. Take the soundtrack for The Rock, for example. I don't listen to it while I'm just sitting at my computer. Whenever I fire up Return to Castle Wolfenstein, though, I pump up my speakers, throw in the soundtrack, and it makes for one Hell of an intense gaming experience.

The Gladiator soundtrack is a bit different. I can listen to it on its own, but I rarely do. If I ever want to show off my speakers, I play "The Battle" and "The Barbarian Hoard."

On the other hand, I can listen to John Williams' stuff just while sitting at my machine. "Across the Stars" and the finale sequence from Episode II are some of my all-time favorite tracks, partially because I love the melody to "Across the Stars." It's a beautiful but haunting melody that perfectly captures just what implications Anakin and Padme's relationship will have on the galaxy.

Williams' stuff perfectly complements a scene, but it can stand on its own as well. I can't say I like him better than Zimmer, because I love both their stuff. But, I'm sorry to say, you can't get a better "Hail to the Chief" piece than "The Imperial March." It's perfect in every way. It delivers the sense of, "Woah, here comes a badass" without fail.

I couldn't agree more, while Zimmer works don't appeal to me 100%, it does a great job in setting a mood and it complements visuals quite well.