Topic: Hans Zimmer

[Pfil]

I used to be a big fan of Zimmer back in the times of Pirates of the Caribbean. From Gladiator, through King Arthur and The Last Samurai, until Batman Begins.
The neoclassical sound with chord progressions and melodramatic style was just what I liked to hear in a movie.
But somewhere along the way, he lost it.
From The Dark Knight, my first disappointment, all disappointments followed, saved only by some portions of Rango.
The same happened with Media Ventures, back in the day a great source for great film music, and now just bombastic generic sound producers, with some exceptions like Happy Feet Two (yeah, I know... but the music is great).
And I didn't see the movie, but all I'm reading is that The Man of Steel music is bad.
So... I'd like to know what other CV fans think about Hans Zimmer, and his other composers from Media Ventures.
Do you find similarities between his works and some CV music?
Do you like the older scores or some of the new ones?

[X]

I've enjoyed his musical scores a great deal, but like any other artist he needs to know when to change up his style in order to keep it fresh. Let's take Danny Elfman as an example. Almost all of the films he's ever scored for, his music is somewhat repetitious ie it carries the same theme. But the one movie where I didn't hear any familiarity with his usual style was Terminator Salvation. In fact the music was so different that I had no idea Elfman had scored it in the first place. It definitely surprised me! I think it's important that every artist scoring for a movie do their absolute best to give the film something unique. A musical score that will help it stand apart form all the other films composed by the same artist. Sequels aren't an issue with me cause they are expected to carry a certain theme with them. But a completely different film is another story (figuratively and literally). But for The Dark Knight movie it wasn't the music that disappointing me, it was how the Joker was portrayed. And not just his personality, but also his overall design. He looks like a colored-up version of The Crow. Tim Berton did a much better job with his Joker. The only villain that stole the show and did a damned good job was Two-face.

[Pfil]

Yes, the same happened to me with Terminator Salvation. It surprised me when I read it was Danny Elfman. During the film I didn't notice about it.
I used to like Danny Elfman scores when I was a teenager, but the last one I really liked was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Since then, he's been lacking in his fantasy works.

With Hans Zimmer the problem is that now he doesn't care about melody, he is experimenting while repeating the same sound over and over. Years ago he was criticized for rehashing the same theme over and over, but at least there was a nice melody, nice chords... now all he does come across as noise to me, with some exceptions like Rango or Sherlock Holmes 2, that anyway can't hold a candle to his best works.

And yes, I agree with the Joker. Tim Burton's one was so much better. I don't know if it's because Nicholson was more capable of doing a compelling Joker than Ledger. I think it's Nolan's fault, Ledger did pretty well from what he was asked to do, I believe. It made me sad during the movie knowing that the actor had passed away. But the performance was OK, it wasn't glorious as most people says.
Another brilliant villain from the old Batman movies was the Penguin.

I remember that during the hype of Batman Begins / TDK, I decided to pick up the old films, and I didn't expect anything, but the first 2, especially the 2nd, really surprised me. They are excellent.
The 3rd and 4th film are laughable 

And I loved Batman Begins and TDKR, but just not TDK.

[TheouAegis]

For all the hate the old Batman movies get, Nicholson, DeVito and ... oh shit I forgot her name... But they were all EXCELLENT villainous actors. The sequels were just hamming shit up. Robin was detrimental to the series. The first two Batman movies were so dark and I actually felt SAD when Penguin died. Sad funeral progression of penguins already primed in proper pallbearer's attire.

[Super Waffle]

I hate Hans Zimmer and I wouldn't be caught dead listening to any of his sophomoric garbage.

[Belmontoya]

Wojciech Kilar all the way baby.

[Pfil]

Yes, the Penguin's death made me sad too, it's one of my favourite scenes ever, and the theme from Danny Elfman for that scene is glorious!

Nice list Waffle! There's a good deal of HZ there, though... but that's the good HZ.

And yes, Wojciech Kilar's Bram Stoker's Dracula was fantastic!

[Flame]

I thought the Man of Steel music was fine.

[Pfil]

I'm glad to read a good opinion.
I still didn't watch the movie but my hopes kept going down from everything I've been reading.
The review from Filmtracks for Man of Steel soundtrack was lapidary (score 1/5).