The Great Film Score Composer Debate

The Great Film Score Composer Debate

Have you ever watched a movie and wondered what it would be like without any music? Do you think it would have the same emotional impact without musical themes of sadness, happiness, terror, or excitement? Most likely, films would not be capture the viewers imaginations nearly as well without the expressions of different tones and chord structures that make the film music. And of course, we all know there are masters behind these works of arts that enhance the film.

As someone who is potentially pursuing a career in film score, I've been heavily interested in this debate, and despite that I have chosen MY favorite, I maintain a great deal of respect for these men and women of film music. But now, I want to know what YOU think. Below you will find a list of film score composers and some notable works. Please choose who YOUR favorite is and why. You may also reply in the facebook thread, and tomorrow I will post the results!

If one of your favorites is NOT listed below, please list their name and I'll ensure that they go into the count!

Here they are:

John Powell - X-MEN: The last Stand, SHREK, The Bourne Identity, The Italian Job

David Arnold - Independence Day, Godzilla, Casino Royale, Quantum of Solstace

David Newman - Ice Age, The Nutty Professor, The Sandlot, Critters

Danny Elfman - Big Fish, Sleepy Hollow, Spider Man, Charlotte's Webb

Michael Kamen - Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, X-Men, Mr. Holland's Opus, Die Hard

Basil Pouledouris - Starship Troopers, Robocop, Conan the Barbarian, Free Willy

Hans Zimmer - Pirates of the Caribbean, The Dark Knight, The Lion King, Inception, Gladiator

Thomas Newman - Shawshank Redemption, American Beauty, WALL-E, Pay it Forward

John Ottman - X2, Superman Returns, The Usual Suspects, Valkyrie

James Horner - Tombstone, Avatar, Titanic, Braveheart, Willow

Nino Rota - The Godfather, Romeo and Juliet, Waterloo,

Howard Shore - The Lord of the Rings, The Aviator, Dogma, Ed Wood, Mrs. Doubtfire

Henry Mancini - The Pink Panther, Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Exodus, Peter Gunn

Ennio Morricone - The Untouchables, The Good The Bad and the Ugly

John Williams - Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan

James Newton Howard - Signs, Waterworld, The Fugitive, Unbreakable

Alan Silvestri - Back to the Future, Forrest Gump, Castaway, The A-Team

Jerry Goldsmith - Star Trek: First Contact, Hollow Man, The Mummy, Air Force One

Max Steiner - Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, Top Hat, Night and Day

John Barry - James Bond Theme, King Kong, Midnight Cowboy, Out of Africa

Elmer Bernstein - Ghostbusters, The Three Amigos, Airplane!, Stripes

Bernard Herrmann - Psycho, Taxi Driver, Cape Fear, Citizen Kane

Christopher Young - Spider-man 3, Swordfish, Hush, The Hurricane

Lalo Schifrin - Rush Hour, The Beverly Hillbillies, Enter the Dragon

Michael Giacchino - Star Trek, UP, The Incredibles, LOST (Tv series)

Steve Jablonsky - Transformers, The Island, Desperate Housewives (TV series)