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  1. In Memory of LAJ_FETT: Please share your remembrances and condolences HERE

What's your favorite non-Star Wars opening score???

Discussion in 'Star Wars And Film Music' started by DARTH_BELO, Sep 7, 2016.

  1. DARTH_BELO

    DARTH_BELO Force Ghost star 5

    Registered:
    Nov 25, 2003
    I know there's a thread for this for Star Wars opening score already, but I'm interested to hear: What is your all-time favorite score for a non-SW film's opening? I suppose a top five or whatever works too, if there's not just ONE favorite. I know I had to think about this one for a while...

    I'd say my favorite would be the opening score for Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. It's not my favorite opening sequence (that would be ROTS, actually), but the score is perfect-it really captures you with its atmosphere and eerie mood. It lets you know that something broad and amazing is about to come. Last Crusade is also among my favorite of JW's score, and it really captures that Indiana Jones flavor immediately.

    And of course, since I can't just pick one, here are a few others:

    -Star Trek: First Contact (Such a beautiful melody)
    -Jurassic Park (the iconic opening titles)
    -Harry Potter (several, but mainly Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Deathly Hallows Pt. II.)
    -Lord of the Rings: Two Towers


    I imagine this is very much a matter of differing opinions. But I'm interested to hear what people's favorites are!
     
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  2. cerealbox

    cerealbox Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    May 5, 2016
    I'm ashamed to admit it, but the opening score to Howard the Duck.

    but it's tied for me with Back to the Future.
     
  3. Larsonator

    Larsonator Jedi Knight star 1

    Registered:
    Jan 20, 2016
    This probably isn't my real all-time favorite, but Batman v Superman immediately jumps to mind.
     
  4. Talos of Atmora

    Talos of Atmora Force Ghost star 5

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    Jul 3, 2016
    Conan the Barbarian's soundtrack is one of the greatest film scores ever created.
     
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  5. DARTH_BELO

    DARTH_BELO Force Ghost star 5

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    Nov 25, 2003
    OMG I totally forgot a big one: the opening score for Beetlejuice! Awesome stuff! Actually I would say that's in my top five.
     
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  6. Sarge

    Sarge Chosen One star 10

    Registered:
    Oct 4, 1998
    Last of the Mohicans. Awesome movie with an amazing soundtrack, right from the first frame.

    Cutthroat Island. Not an awesome movie by any stretch of the imagination, but what a great score.

    The Rocketeer. Just beautiful music, and perfect for flying.

    The Right Stuff. Rousing and uplifting.
     
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  7. Darthmaul208

    Darthmaul208 Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Dec 29, 2013
    The opening of The Mummy.
     
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  8. Darkslayer

    Darkslayer #1 Sabine Wren Fan star 7

    Registered:
    Mar 26, 2013
    The opening of the last Hobbit movie. Smaug's theme in all its glory.
     
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  9. LAJ_FETT

    LAJ_FETT Tech Admin (2007-2023) - She Held Us Together star 10 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    May 25, 2002
    633 Squadron - love all the music in that film. Also the opening to Raise the Titanic and about the last half hour when the ship comes up. The latter was one of the first films I bought after getting a VCR.
     
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  10. cubman987

    cubman987 Friendly Neighborhood Saga/Music/Fun & Games Mod star 7 Staff Member Manager

    Registered:
    Nov 7, 2014
  11. DARTH_BELO

    DARTH_BELO Force Ghost star 5

    Registered:
    Nov 25, 2003
    I should also add the opening to The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe. Technically not the very first opening sequence, but when the kids are riding on the train to the countryside, there's that main title theme score. Another top five for me probably.
     
  12. Darth Basin

    Darth Basin Jedi Master star 5

    Registered:
    Aug 15, 2015
    Thus Spoke Zarathusta. Opening of my favorite film of all time.....2001: A Space Odyssey.

    But my favorite Saga is SW. ;)
     
  13. seventhbeacon

    seventhbeacon Jedi Knight star 3

    Registered:
    Dec 3, 2015
    Non-Star Wars? Superman. Easily. Followed closely by Jurassic Park and ET.

    Non-Williams? God that's tough. Jablonski's Pirates of the Caribbean and Transformers, Horner's Aliens, Apollo 13 and Wrath of Khan, Zimmer and Howard's Batman Begins, Silvestri's Back to the Future and Forrest Gump, and John Ottman's X-Men 2 (which they brought back for the last two, soooo good!). And then you have the late great maestro Goldsmith, whose Trek scores are just essential.

    That only begins to scratch the surface. Movie music is my favorite style of music, followed closely by synth and techno stuff. God I loved what Daft Punk did for Tron: Legacy!
     
  14. DARTH_BELO

    DARTH_BELO Force Ghost star 5

    Registered:
    Nov 25, 2003


    Definitely great film scores, all.

    I'm curious, what would you say is your favorite film opening score?? (I'm assuming those above were simply for the film as a whole, as some of those didn't actually have score in the opening sequence.)
     
  15. seventhbeacon

    seventhbeacon Jedi Knight star 3

    Registered:
    Dec 3, 2015

    Actually, I was thinking directly of how all the films start! I might have mis-remembered Apollo 13 (it's been ages since I watched the film) but I love tracks that set the mood at the beginning, and each of those have something riveting, whether it's the atmospheric slow reveal of the escape pod in Aliens or the drums and choir of Jurassic Park followed by the terror of the Raptor attack!

    Edit: Superman still holds because of the music that plays over the voiceover and the opening title. X2 for the same combo of voiceover and theme after the Nightcrawler attack and the use of Mozart's Dies Irae!
     
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  16. Howard Hand

    Howard Hand Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Feb 11, 2015
    Apollo 13 is a great one, one of the first non-Williams scores that came to mind.

    Oh yeah, forgot about E.T. That would be my choice. The creepy religious strings, the frantic statement of the bad guys' theme, the fanfare as the ship takes off. It's a powerhouse cue.
     
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  17. DARTH_BELO

    DARTH_BELO Force Ghost star 5

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    Nov 25, 2003

    Oh okay. Yeah I'd forgotten about those. Cos I was trying to remember-I didn't think Pirates, Transformers or Back to the Future had opening scene scores-I must be forgetting some.
     
  18. seventhbeacon

    seventhbeacon Jedi Knight star 3

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    Dec 3, 2015

    It's entirely possible. I thought that you had little Elizabeth followed by Jack Sparrow's entrance, but I checked and was wrong about that one. Transformers... hard to watch bad movies again so I could be wrong. BTTF had this great suspense-setup with the score playing lightly and mysteriously over all the ticking clocks in Doc's garage!

    Edit: OH NO! I was wrong! No music at all! They put it in the opening sequence to the recent Telltale Games first chapter! Hahaha oh I feel like a bad fan.
     
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  19. Nehru_Amidala

    Nehru_Amidala Force Ghost star 7

    Registered:
    Oct 3, 2016
    That's easy.
    1. Overture from Edward Scissorhands- Danny Elfman
    1. Small Moves from Contact- Alan Silvestri
    (two way tie)
     
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  20. darkspine10

    darkspine10 Chosen One star 8

    Registered:
    Dec 7, 2014
    A couple of really nice ones I can think of:

    Treasure Planet
    The Hunchback of Notre Dame
    Kung-Fu Panda
    The Lord of the Rings
    WALL-E
     
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  21. Rancor Keeper

    Rancor Keeper Jedi Master star 1

    Registered:
    Dec 28, 2015
    Harry Potter
    Rocketeer
    Glory
    Conan the Barbarian
    The Incredibles
    Dances with Wolves
    Close Encounters
    Silverado
    The Lord of the Rings films
    Nightmare Before Christmas


    That's just the first few off the top of my head. Great opening statements and great overall soundtracks all.
     
  22. Barriss_Coffee

    Barriss_Coffee Chosen One star 6

    Registered:
    Jun 29, 2003


    *goosebumps*
     
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  23. Nehru_Amidala

    Nehru_Amidala Force Ghost star 7

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    Oct 3, 2016
    I really liked ET also. One of the best themes to be heard in concert.
     
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  24. Porkins2099

    Porkins2099 Jedi Padawan star 1

    Registered:
    Oct 31, 2016
    - Superman: The Movie
    - From Russia with Love
    - Back to the Future: Part II
    - Inglourious Basterds
    - X-Men 2, DOFP and Apocalypse

    ... and 2001: A Space Odyssey, although the opening music wasn't meant as a movie score, so I don't know if it counts. But still, one of the greatest openings ever.
     
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  25. PaulWrightyThen

    PaulWrightyThen Jedi Knight star 2

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    Jan 11, 2016
    Battle Beyond the Stars is awesome.
     
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