SW vs. LotR: Most Emotional Theme

Okay, so my "Most Frightening Theme" thread has been criticized a bit for the choice of themes compared. What am I going to do about this in this latest thread? Nothing! Gahahaha!

Anyways, this time, I'll provide the two themes that I think are the most emotional in the Star Wars and the Lord of the Rings movies. You, as always, post your favorite and voice any other opinions on the topic, which may include suggesting other emotional themes in the movies, as in the previous two threads.

Here goes:

If you were ever to cry in the cinema, which musical theme would draw the most tears from your eyes, and have you the most engrossed in the fate of the hero?

Star Wars: The Force Theme

or

The Lord of the Rings: Frodo's Theme

To further clarify, the Force theme is the theme played over the binary sunset on Tatooine, when Luke Skywalker dreamingly looks to the horizon at the beginning of A New Hope. It's used in many other places as well, of course.

Frodo's theme is the theme played almost anytime Frodo Baggins of the Shire is involved in perilous, happy or sad moments. If you're not sure which theme I mean, check out the link below:

The Themes of the Ring Feature on Scorereviews.com

Frodo's theme is the first theme on the page, next to an image of everyone's favorite Hobbit.

Now to my opinions.

Tough choice. The cues involving the Force theme, Binary Sunset especially, are most often very emotional. Frodo's theme is also brilliant, and used well in the movies. If I were ever to cry in the cinema (hasn't happened so far ), Frodo's theme would evoke the most tears, however. To some extent probably because the Lord of the Rings is, in my opinion, a more emotional movie than Star Wars overall. So my vote this time goes to the Lord of the Rings and Frodo's theme.

Also, if you have posted in the previous threads and enjoyed the concept, please write any suggestions you may have on other comparisons between the two soundtracks. Most mysterious? Most joyful? Something else? Post your ideas in this thread!

 

The Shire Theme? It's what In Dreams is sung to, isn't it? If so, instant win!

Force Theme is often used for emotional scenes, but LotR is better at it.

Also, for me, the Force Theme is more about the mysterious ways of the Force, than pure emotion.

Across the Stars is more emotional, but still wouldn't win.

 

The Force Theme is the best from either series.

 

I definitely agree with Senny. The Force Theme is of course a wonderful theme, but when talking about pure emotionality, the Shire Theme wins out everytime.

Breaking of the Fellowship makes me cry!

 

I love "In Dreams" too, but think of all the different cues where the Force Theme is used: Binary Sunset, Ben appears in ANH, The Battle of Yavin, Throne Room, "Leia, hear me. Leia.", Vader tosses Palpy, etc....

 

The Force Theme for SW-OT
Duel of the Fates for SW-PT
Gondor, Rohan and Last March of the Ents (TIE) for LOTR

 

I love the Rohan theme, although not for its emotion, but more because of the way it sets the stage and mood for the Home of the Horse Lords.

 

I'd have to, again, lean towards LOTR. Frodo's theme is one of the best I've heard.

 

Force Theme.

 

I wouldnt say The Force theme isnt that emotional,I mean its hard to describe it sets the mood for a scene involving Jedi/The Force.

The Shire theme is a lot more emotional especially when it is used in darker scenes(Breaking of the Fellowship,Samwise the Brave)

 

When the cold of Winter comes,

Starless night will cover day

In the veiling of the sun, We will walk in bitter rain

But in dreams, I still hear your name

And in dreams, We will meet again

When the seas and Mountains fall, And we come to end of days

In the dark I hear a call, Calling me there

I will go there, And back again

"Leia, hear me!"

Dun, dun, dun, da da, dun, dun, da dun, dun, dun, dun dun....

"Luke."

I can't choose.




ttbk_

 

I would have to say an emotional theme that blows either one out of the water is the small vocal part found on Battle of Endor II when Luke is going nuts on Vader. Extremely emotional and its only about 20 secondsl ong.

 

true, it's one of the most emotional pieces of music in Star Wars
but it's not a theme

 

No its not really a theme but the small piece is by far more emotional than either one above and it only last 20 seconds or so, quite powerful stuff there. If I have to pick then I would say the Force theme because it makes me think on all the by-gone days of the Jedi who died for peace and justice and it makes me think about Obi-Wan's role and how important he is to the saga.

 

It's tough for me to separate the power of the
piece stand alone VS in context. I'm really, really
burned out on all things LOTR at the moment (Have
been since ROTK) but I know I'd have chosen Binary
Sunset anyway.

Thinking back, I always found the Amon Hen track
where Boromir is being made into a pin cushion as
the most emotional cue in that saga. A lot of pathos
there.

As far as other comparisons, you mentioned most mysterious. How about the Rivendell theme VS
the Kamino theme from AOTC? I'd actually have to
vote Rivendell there.

Most romantic? Aniron VS Across the stars or maybe
Princess Leia's theme? I'd choose either SW theme but
it's close, especially VS ATS.

And for the most ominous, the Imperial march VS (Not
sure what this piece is actually called) Sauruman's
theme (The bellicose music for the Orc amry).
This isn't really fair is it? I'd go 'March' all the
way.

All great stuff. It'll be around longer than we are!

 

While themes are nice, I myself prefer the drama and uniqueness of codas: almost self-contained pieces of music you hear once within a given symphony (or movie, or movie series) during a pivotal moment, and never again. The two best examples of codas I can think of: the anguished, desperate music where Luke attacks Vader after Anakin threatens to turn Leia; and when Gandalf falls. And in this case, Gandalf's "death" kicks Luke's anger's ass.

 

Good point, Shadowen. Themes are wonderful for continuing variations on an emotion or idea, but having a completely new bit of music is great.

I don't recall Gandalf's fall music, though. I just know the RotJ music is so fantastically moving. And actually, the revised RotJ end music from the SEs is one of the few things I really love about them over the OOTs.

Force v. Shire theme.... yikes. I really love the Force theme, but it evokes different emotions. It's more a spiritual thing, whereas the Shire theme evokes ideas of home. Both are really great, but, much to my chagrin, I have to admit that the Shire theme moves me more.

However, that may change with RotS


-sj loves kevin spacey

 

The instant Gandalf lets go and Frodo screams, the film goes to slow motion, most of the sound is muted (except for the clicking of Goblin arrows as they zip past Aragorn and shatter on the wall), and a quiet humming chorus starts to build...and then it's accompanied by the most poignant female solo vocal I've heard in my entire life. On the soundtrack, it ends after less than a minute; in the movie, the music continues for another 45 seconds, in the scene outside Moria with the Fellowship mourning. The sound and dialogue is completely muted as the chorus takes up the soloists' tune.

It's particularly effective when you see the characters' reactions. There is the Hobbits' weeping, of course, but the more martial characters' reactions are just as interesting.

Gimli struggles to break free from Boromir, who is holding the dwarf back from going back into the mines and giving the goblins a piece of his mind--or rather, axe.

Also in this scene is Orlando Bloom's best piece of acting in the entire series, possibly in any movie I've seen him in--and while that may not be saying much, it's still pretty good. He puts on the expression, almost, of a little boy lost. Legolas is an elf, after all, and this is the first time anyone he's ever known has died, and he's having trouble comprehending it. (On the subject, a similar moment happened moments before, when the Balrog roared--the camera is briefly on Legoloas, and he is absolutely terrified. He knows what a balrog is, and knows that it can utterly destroy him.)

The first audible sound effect is Aragorn wiping his blade clean and stowing it in its scabbard; the first dialogue is him calling out to Legolas to help him get the Hobbits moving again.

For emotional scenes, it was one of the most devastating I've ever witnessed, and a masterful piece of film-making; of course, it probably helped that the first time I saw it was in a real theater. Strangely, by the time I got a copy of the soundtrack for myself, the music completely blindsided me and left me with a lump in my throat. Also, when I found out that another 45 seconds of musical bliss hadn't made it to the CD, I nearly went berserk.

 

It's so damn hard to choose...

I'll just say the Force theme beats the Shire theme by a very small margine.

 

It is hard to choose. Plus "Emotional" could mean many things.

The Steward of Gondor, and the Song Pippin sings made me (a grown man) cry. Partly because it made me think of SBS, when Anakin fell. Also, the whole "Charge of the Light Brigade" feel made me even sadder. It is the saddest of both, in my mind. The only piece of film score even approaching the tearjerker effect that had was "Hymn to the Sea" from Titanic; with Spock's funeral in Star Trek II a distant theme.

If "Emotional" means romantic, then both "Across the Stars" and "Anarion" are tied for first place, with the Han & Leia theme from ESB a close runner up.

If "Emotional" means Martial Splendor, then it's the Rohan theme hands down.

And if "Emotional" means generally maudlin, then the Force theme is a clear winner with Binary Sunset as a near second, and "May it Be" in third place.

And both series' scores are so well done, this barely scratches the surface of great music on all eight motion pictures produced to date. I'd rank John Williams and Howard Shore as equals; both composers of the very highest caliber.