Favorite John Williams movie music

G W Zipper

G W Zipper

Sr Member
Bringing a conversation from the Episode VIII thread over here, as it seemed to be getting a little too off topic over there.

What is your favorite John Williams movie music, obscure or not? Especially the obscure ones, I'd love to hear something I may have overlooked.

For me, favorite non-SW obscure JW movie composition, "Out to Sea" from Jaws:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAsbnSYqZac

Also, love the bit going on behind the scene in ROTJ as Han fires the rifle at the Sarlac tentacle to rescue Lando:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFz5DMhrxTs
 
As I posted on the other thread, my favourite 2 JW themes,....'The Map Room, Dawn' from Raiders,..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeKfF5X5lMw

..but beating it to the top is 'Imperial Attack' from Star Wars,....especially near the end,...when Artoo & Threepio set sail on the Escape pod......."The damage doesn't look as bad from out here"....

https://youtu.be/RiqUG-JodM4?t=246
....the way the score sweeps makes the hairs stand up on my neck

Beautiful

J
 
Last edited:
I would choose The Visitors from Close Encounters, The Desert Chase from Raiders, Man Against Beast from Jaws and .The Battle Of Yavin from Star Wars.
 
Oooooh, Raiders March, Superman main theme and Imperial March. All obvious but all rousing and spine tingling.

Oh and Jaws.... of course Jaws.
 
In seriousness, yeah, the ESB score, especially the Asteroid Field, Hyperspace, and the snow battle, are my favorite pieces of his.
 
Olymp-

Oh, movie music... So much for the Olympic Fanfare and Theme...


So... movie music:

Aside from the standard awesomeness of Superman, Indiana Jones, Close Encounters, Star Wars, E.T., and Jaws, there are a few favorites I have:

1) Jurassic Park. John Williams knocked it out of the park with this. The entire score encompasses the power and majesty of what it would be like to see real life dinosaurs, and what it would be like to watch them run amok. From the opening theme to the end credits, it is a true masterpiece.

2) 1941. Williams did a phenomenal job blending his own emerging style with standard marches and jingoistic sensibilities to create a wonderful soundtrack.

3) Harry Potter. Williams composed a soundtrack that perfectly encompassed the magic and mystery of the Wizarding World.

4) Schindler's List. So hauntingly beautiful it hurts.
 
Even though I have an absolute bias toward Star Wars, I have a VERY hard time saying which music of his is my favorite. His music has been giving me goose bumps for years a la Star Wars, ET, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, Superman, Indiana Jones, Jaws, and on and on and on... He's a rare breed that can bring so much emotion and thematics to scores that make these a pure joy to hear even without a movie visual to go with it. His music even inspires visuals that aren't part of the movies they are written for. I love so much what he's done for cinema and the power of enhanced emotional storytelling through music.

In my book he is THE BEST.
 
I really don't know how you guys can even choose. Seriously. I thought about this for a while. Some are stronger or more iconic than others but I cannot choose a favorite. And if I did it would probably change tomorrow. :D
 
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