The Lion King to Interstellar: The Music of Hans Zimmer

I looked all the way back to 2007 and did not see a thread dedicated to the film scores of Hans Zimmer. I definitely feel like we need one.

Personally, I first noticed Zimmer with his score for The Lion King, which I greatly enjoyed. It was not the lighter cartoony nature of the Menken scores before this film, but was a little darker and more serious. It was also a bit more synthesized and processed. This approach certainly impacts a lot of his scores and overall for me, he tends to be somewhat hit and miss. I do greatly enjoy some of his scores, others not so much. I enjoy the Pirates of the Caribbean scores, bombastic and over the top as they might be, they are also fun. I really enjoy a lot of the Gladiator score, which I find to be his best work.

Recently I discovered the Interstellar score and think it's fantastic. Much more understated, beautiful and rich with the organ dominating the score. To me it doesn't sound at all like "typical" Zimmer and is very unique and recognizable. I can't think of another score that sounds like Interstellar.

 

Someone made a list of the best film music composed by Hans Zimmer. Interstellar, The Dark Knght Rises and The Lion King (in which Elton John was also involved) are my favorite film music composed by Zimmer so far:

 

I didn't know he did the music for The Lion King! That's cool! But anyway, I love Hans Zimmer, he's actually one of my favorite composers after John Williams. His Pirates of the Caribbean soundtracks are some of my favorites of his.

 

I liked Zimmer's work with John Powell on Kung Fu Panda. Great stuff, I really like the heavy Chinese influences.

 

The Last Samurai, The Thin Red Line and Man of Steel all have great tracks as well.

 

I hated the Man of Steel soundtrack. It took his propensity for banging bad synthesized drums to an absurd level. It actively distracted from the film, I felt, which is the worst crime a score can commit.

 

The Dark Knight trilogy soundtrack is top notch.

 

Completely disagree with you on this. I could understand (although not agree) if you were talking about Inception.

 

I appreciate his more recent "experimental" scores but I'll always prefer his more upbeat and thematic work from the 80's and 90's.
Cool Runnings
The Prince of Egypt
Crimson Tide

And while I'm not a huge fan of the first 2 Pirates scores, At World's End is great.

 

He did the Prince of Egypt too? How do I not know these things!

 

Agree. His Man of Steel soundtrack is excellent, one of my favourite superhero scores.

 

This is also one of my top Zimmer scores. Wonderful!

 

Coincidence Lion King is on right now!

 

There is an expanded version of that soundtrack with a few new score pieces. I really should check it out.

 

After the genius John Williams got his well-deserved and long overdue AFI Lifetime Achievement Award, I think Hans Zimmer deserves the same. The Lion King, The Prince of Egypt, The Dark Knight Trilogy, and the Kung Fu Panda Trilogy all speak for themselves.
I don't feel like enough people talk about his work in Kung Fu Panda. "Oogway Ascends" and "Po Finds the Truth" are extremely powerful.
Additionally, The Lion King might be the greatest film score of all-time to me. It's just a work of genius and it's so haunting, hopeful, and thrilling throughout its many pieces.

 

I would not put Hans Zimmer the next in line after Williams. Goldsmith, Horner, Morricone, Silvestri, they all deserve it before Zimmer.

 

Id add James Newton Howard or Alexandre Deplast.

I've seen the new Dune last week and the score wasnt my taste at all. It all just was like noises and sounds. No melodies for the most part. Only the "theme" was kind of a melodie.

It was better with Bond though. But for me Zimmer is a hit and miss. There are film composers for me who are way better then him.

 

This is exactly how I felt about his Man of Steel score. But when he nails it (Interstellar), he REALLY nails it.

 

Zimmer's probably become too prolific and subsequently often imitated, but he's unquestionably left his mark among modern composers. The Lion King, The Thin Red Line, Inception and Interstellar are my favorites of his. And he can even churn out amazing pieces from otherwise mediocre or forgettable films.

This one from The DaVinci Code immediately comes to mind:

 

Gladiator too. Excellent score.

 

Prince of Egypt is my favourite Zimmer score. That Burning Bush theme alone is one of the best themes in anything ever

 

Oh yes, I am a huge fan of Prince of Egypt.

 

As someone that is usually not overly fond of Zimmer... man, his Dune score really delivers. Especially the themes associated with the Bene Gesserit.

 

I look forward to the film, after which I will check out the score.