James Horner's complete Rocketeer score?

CTF said:
Now, where did I say it didn't have a theme? I said it had a weak theme.
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You're trying to become my RPF arch-nemesis aren't you? :lol

It's only one of the greatest movie themes ever, right up there with Star Wars, Raiders and Superman. :love

In it's country of origin, i.e. here in the good ol' US of A, it's "The Rocketeer" just like the comic book it originated from. Or as I like to call it, "THE right way" as opposed to just "right way".

:p :angel
 
Personal taste is one thing, but it is a pretty weak theme when you consider how ****ing cool a character and design it is. And especially when you compare it to, like, Indiana Jones.
 
I honestly think the score composed by horner fit the feel and attitude of the film perfectly...

Cliff Secord is different from batman, superman, and indiana jones..

Cliff is an all american hero that happens by accident. Just a regular joe trying to live the american dream that comes across a rocketpack...He is clumsy at times, caring, and warm hearted...

The opening sequence of the film set a perfect tone for the movie..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNZCK5jw69Y&feature=related
 
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La La Land just released a two disc of James Horner's Krull so maybe they will do a Rocketeer one in the future. Perhaps a re-release of Commando while they're at it too. Another company did a release of Star Trek II by Horner a few years ago as well.
 
CTF said:
Please, do not compare Henry Jones, Jr. to Batman or Superman.
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Yeah, I know you really love it and are just giving us a hard time. I'm wise to your bag of tricks now, Mr. Stardust and lemme just say, the Rocketeer is like Henry Jones AND Indiana Jones with Batman and Superman thrown in PLUS a kick-butt rocketpack and a super-hot girlfriend. And only the best theme music EVER :p
 
For the record, I think Rocketeer is great: it has a lot of heart, great design and is a lot of fun. But -- and there's always a "but" -- I also think it lacks a decent score and has some pretty weak direction.
 
Yeah, among fans of the movie, you're gonna be alone in your lack of appreciation for the score. I don't know of any finheads that don't love the theme, myself included. My top four themes of all time are (in no particular order), Star Wars, the Rocketeer, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Superman. So, if you're serious, I dunno what to tell you. I'm with all the other guys in this thread. I LOVE the theme.
 
I love the score to the Rocketeer, and I am a huge believer that James Horner is a very talented composer, but I do believe some of his inspiration for the theme came from Bill Conti's The Right Stuff.


Just take a listen to the first few bars here:

YouTube - The Right Stuff. Bill Conti Soundtrack


It makes sense that Horner, known for his, ahem, "borrowing", would derive inspiration from a film sharing themes of aviation and Americana.
 
Hedjii72 said:
I love the score to the Rocketeer, and I am a huge believer that James Horner is a very talented composer, but I do believe some of his inspiration for the theme came from Bill Conti's The Right Stuff.


Just take a listen to the first few bars here:

YouTube - The Right Stuff. Bill Conti Soundtrack


It makes sense that Horner, known for his, ahem, "borrowing", would derive inspiration from a film sharing themes of aviation and Americana.
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I'm not familiar with Horner's reputation or the borrowing thing but then I'm really just a casual fan of movie scores, generally speaking.

I listened to the part you linked to and I can definitely hear some similarity. Personally I can hear similarities in a couple of scores I like so whether it's copied or not is beyond me.

I think the score is perfect for the Rocketeer. I think you're dead on about the Americana and avaition aspects though so if Horner did borrow that, he at least borrowed from the right source ;)

And of course, not being familiar with the Right Stuff score or movie and being such a huge Rocketeer nut probably makes me biased anyway. To me, and it appears it's the same with the other guys, the Rocketeer score is just... magical in a way. Maybe not to CTF but to us diehard finheads at least :p Just like the Superman, Raiders and Star Wars scores for me at least...
 
I think the score did its job better than the movie did, which is a shame because the movie had the potential to knock one out of the stands. For me the score was fun for a long while but didn't have enough legs for me to seek it out on CD now years later.

For those who like to trace such things, you'll find that the "takeoff" part of the first track was 'inspired' by parts of the modern John Adams composition, "Harmonielehre".
 
dualedge said:
Yeah, among fans of the movie, you're gonna be alone in your lack of appreciation for the score. I don't know of any finheads that don't love the theme, myself included. My top four themes of all time are (in no particular order), Star Wars, the Rocketeer, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Superman. So, if you're serious, I dunno what to tell you. I'm with all the other guys in this thread. I LOVE the theme.
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there's a big difference between saying rocketeer the movie has a great score, and rocketeer the movie has a great theme.

yes it is a good theme but its a weak score overall. its not a score you can just play on its lonesome and listen to at home. some bits are okay, but overall, its not that good.

compare that to Horners Wrath of Khan score, or Krull, or battle beyond the stars and they are far stronger overall.

rocketeer is a good THEME, but a weak SCORE
 
Lancer said:
there's a big difference between saying rocketeer the movie has a great score, and rocketeer the movie has a great theme.

yes it is a good theme but its a weak score overall. its not a score you can just play on its lonesome and listen to at home. some bits are okay, but overall, its not that good.

compare that to Horners Wrath of Khan score, or Krull, or battle beyond the stars and they are far stronger overall.

rocketeer is a good THEME, but a weak SCORE
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Thanks for explaining. I understand what you're getting at. I think what I was trying to say, perhaps unsuccessfully, was that I like the whole thing and that I disagree on the notion that any part of it is weak. I think the whole soundtrack (or whatever the proper term might be) hangs together and provides a tone for the movie and does so very well. Likewise the film sets the stage for the music and enhances it.

The converse is true for me as well. A great score can easily be ruined by a bad movie which is why, and no offense intended if you're a Krull fan (to each his own), but I'll personally never appreciate the musical artistry that went into its score beyond an intellectual level because I have no appreciation for the film.

I imagine that from the standpoint of a score aficionado my opinion is probably narrow-minded but it works okay for me.
 
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CTF said:
Where's Mike when you need 'im?
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True. I suspect he'd have a pretty strong and obviously well-educated opinion considering his profession.

Still wouldn't change my own opinion :angel but it'd be interesting to hear what he had to say.
 
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