Favorite Movie Scores (& Individual Pieces Of Music)

While I constantly rave about video game music, let's face it, this blog isn't primarily a video game blog. It's a blog about film, albeit usually TV shows, so I wanted to finally talk about my favorite film scores:

1. Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom
• The Indiana Jones movies have my favorite scores in the whole medium of film. They're romantic, adventurous, and downright beautiful at times. But Temple Of Doom is the best of the bunch, with the already amazing John Williams at the peak of his craft. This is one of his darkest and most mature soundtracks, befitting one of Spielberg's darkest films, but it also manages to simultaneously be incredibly frantic, fun, and spirited. The music in Temple Of Doom can be goofy one moment, borderline horror music the next, and triumphant the next. It captures the film's tone so well you can pretty much pick up the story just by listening to the soundtrack.
• Composer: John Williams
• Notable Tracks: Short Round's Theme, Nocturnal Activities, Bug Tunnel/Death Trap, Fast Streets Of Shanghai, Slave Children's Crusade, The Mine Car Chase
2. The Matrix Reloaded
• The Matrix Reloaded has a very early 2000s soundtrack, filled with trance, rave, and EDM music, and I absolutely adore it. Don Davis brings such a strong sense of style to his Matrix soundtracks to the point where I just can't picture the series without him, but what really makes Reloaded my favorite of the bunch is the action music. Every single fight in the film is  pretty much timed to its theme, making what are already some of the coolest action setpieces in all of film even better. Songs like Chateau, Burly Brawl, and Furious Angels are propulsive, thrilling, and incredibly catchy, just incredible pieces of music all around.
• Composer: Don Davis
• Notable Tracks: Main Title, Furious Angels, Zion, Burly Brawl, Chateau, Mona Lisa Overdrive
3. Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring
• Okay, so technically you could argue that since the Lord Of The Rings tells one continuous story, I could just count its whole soundtrack. But if I had to pick one movie, it has to be the first movie's. Fellowship Of The Ring's scores introduces pretty much all of the trilogy's defining leitmotifs, and thus tends to have the best and most memorable versions of them. The ring's theme is mystical and eerie, the fellowship theme is one of the most thriling pieces of music ever composed, and the Shire theme is incredibly comfy. Howard Shore's music has pretty much forever colored my perception of Middle Earth, it's pretty much an integral part of the location for me.  
• Composer: Howard Shore
• Notable Tracks: Concerning Hobbits, The Breaking Of The Fellowship, The Ring Goes South, The Bridge Of Khazad Dum, A Knife In The Dark, One Ring To Rule Them All
4. My Neighbor Totoro
• Studio Ghibli's soundtracks being good is pretty much a cliché at this point, there really are a ton of picks for the best one. But since My Neighbor Totoro was my first Ghibli film, its music stuck with me the most. The music in Totoro captures the same sense of childhood innocence and wonder that the film does, making for an absolutely delightful listen... at least in the moments where Hisaishi isn't composing his heart out for songs like The Path Of The Wind, which are some of the most awe-inspiringly beautiful pieces of film score ever.
• Composer: Joe Hisaishi
• Notable Tracks: The Path Of The Wind, A Lost Child, Tonari No Totoro, Stroll, The Village In May, Cat Bus
5. Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back
• Of course I had to put something from my favorite film franchise, and while The Phantom Menace's score was really close, The Empire Strikes Back is pretty much the definitive Star Wars soundtrack. Some of the best themes from A New Hope such as Binary Sunset and Leia's Theme are brought back, but it's this movie's score that adds some of my personal favorite pieces such as the Han and Leia theme, Yoda's theme, and especially the Imperial March, one of the most defining themes of the whole series.
• Composer: John Williams
• Notable Tracks: Rescue From Cloud City, Han Solo And The Princess, The Imperial March, Yoda's Theme, The Battle Of Hoth, Lando's Palace, The Clash Of Lightsabers, Finale
6. Pirates Of The Caribbean: Curse Of The Black Pearl
• Hans Zimmer's always at his best when he just lets loose and goes completely bonkers, and Curse Of The Black Pearl's soundtrack pretty much requires that. Just as the movie is a rip-roaring rollercoaster ride of an action film, its soundtrack is just nonstop excitement and energy, perfectly captures this series' glorified "constant adventure" portrayal of pirates. Sure it uses the main Pirates leitmotif a lot, but it's a damn good leitmotif and probably the definitive pirate-related piece of music.
• Composer: Hans Zimmer, Klaus Badelt
• Notable Tracks: He's A Pirate, The Medallion Calls, Swords Crossed, Walk The Plank, The Black Pearl, Skulls And Crossbones
7. Batman 1989
• No one really talks about Elfman's Batman score, and that's a shame because it really is the best score for a superhero movie even after all these years. It's a score so good it elevates the film itself, not just capturing the movie's melodramatically gothic vibe but commanding your attention throughout its entire runtime. It can be haunting, romantic, and exciting, and most importantly of all, it nails the themes for its two main characters. This score has the definitive themes for Batman and Joker. The former gets a mysterious tune that captures the spirit of the character, protecting Gotham from the shadows. Meanwhile, the Joker gets a bombastic piece of circus music that feels eerily light-hearted compared to the rest of the score, just like how the character's colorful nature contrasts from Gotham.
• Composer: Danny Elfman
• Notable Tracks: The Batman Theme, Waltz To The Death, Roof Fight, Finale, Up The Cathedral, Descent Into Mystery, The Bat Cave, Flowers
8. Up
• Michael Giacchino is one of the most reliable film composers around, always understanding the assignment even when it's for a six season long TV show (how is Lost's music always so good?!). But while some may prefer his more jazzy stuff like Mission Impossible or The Incredibles, I think his magnum opus is the Up soundtrack, which contains some of his most elegant, soaring, and emotional pieces of music to date. And when the movie takes a more light-hearted tone, Giacchino gets a chance to pull off some fun 1930s-esque music. It's a very consistently strong score that absolutely deserved all the awards it got.
• Composer: Michael Giacchino
• Notable Tracks: Married Life, Carl Goes Up, Paradise Found, Stuff We Did, Escape From Muntz Mountain, Memories Can Weigh You Down, The Spirit Of Adventure
9. Star Trek: The Motion Picture
• It's hard to describe "space music". It's the type of music that perfectly depicts the awe and wonder of exploring the unknown, stuff like Buzz Lightyear's theme in Toy Story. Jerry Goldsmith's score for The Motion Picture is the best space music, constantly amplifying the adventurous spirit that the film pretty much hinges on. At times, The Motion Picture's soundtrack is optimistic, hopeful, and soaring. But other times, it's eerie. Just like the film, it's not afraid to emphasize how scary the unknown parts of space can be too. TMP's score is so good and all-encompassing that the rest of the franchise struggles to reach these highs.
• Composer: Jerry Goldsmith
• Notable Tracks: The Enterprise, Main Theme, Ilia's Theme, Klingon Battle, V'Ger Flyover, The Meld
10. Puella Magi Madoka Magica Rebellion
• Yeah, this shouldn't be a surprise coming from the big Madoka fan. The original's score is already my favorite anime soundtrack, and Kajiura didn't let up for the movie sequel. Rebellion's score is just as ethereal, haunting, and dramatic as you'd hope for from a Madoka soundtrack, and is possibly even more mature in the way it twists and distorts leitmotifs from the show. The battle themes are bombastic, the tragic themes are classical, the weird themes are... very weird, and it all captures that distinct Madoka vibe perfectly.
• Composer: Yuki Kajiura
• Notable Tracks: Absolute Configuration, Once We Were, Holy Quintet, I Remember, Another Episode, Never Leave You Alone, Flames Of Despair, I've Been Waiting For This Moment, Your Silver Garden

In addition, I also wanted to give recognition to my favorite individual pieces of music in movie scores. Some are from movies on the previous list, and others are not.

1. Slave Children's Crusade (Temple Of Doom)
• If I had to say what my favorite leitmotif from the Indiana Jones series, it would be the Holy Grail theme hands down. It's mystical, ethereal, bittersweet, nostalgic, and... sadly never really given its own individual track, with most of its parts being broken up throughout the soundtrack. Thus, my favorite individual Indiana Jones track is easily the Slave Children's Crusade. After an entire film's worth of the main cast being put through the absolute worst torment, this song serves as the turning point for the heroes and the climactic piece of the whole movie. It's triumphant, bombastic, and single-handedly ramps up the momentum for Temple Of Doom's nonstop action-heavy final act. To put it simply, Slave Children's Crusade is Temple Of Doom. That movie would not work without this song.
2. Duel Of The Fates (The Phantom Menace)
• Hey, I did say I really liked The Phantom Menace's soundtrack. There really isn't much I can say about Duel Of The Fates that hasn't already been said. The chorus, the buildup, the way it rises and lowers in intensity throughout, the sheer grandiosity and scale of it all. This is hands down one of the most epic pieces of music ever composed, Williams just goes so damn hard. But while everyone associates this theme with Darth Maul, I actually like to associate it with the entirety of Phantom Menace's fantastic third act. The way the music and jumps between the different character perspectives is timed so well, it makes for one of my favorite scenes in terms of editing. 
3. No Time For Caution (Interstellar)
• So this theme became a bit of a meme nowadays, and it's often played over videos of intense situations. However, whenever I hear No Time For Caution in a video, it's impossible for me to pay attention because this theme is godly. The ticking clock in the background, the organ lead, the slow buildup, the dramatic chords, Hans Zimmer absolutely killed it with this one. It's intense, transcendent, and has you gripped every time you hear it. The perfect theme to signify humanity persevering through seemingly impossible odds.
4. The Path Of The Wind (My Neighbor Totoro)
• I already brought this up when talking about Totoro's soundtrack but, my goodness is this song fantastic. There isn't much I can really say about it other than the fact that it's just plain beautiful. But even more than that, The Path Of The Wind has such a fantastic buildup, and a phenomenal climax. It's the type of song that makes you forget all your worries and just take in the scenery.
5. The Ring Goes South (Lord Of The Rings)
• The Fellowship theme is one of the best pieces of music for just pumping you up. Try listening to it while going on a walk somewhere, it'll make you feel like you're going on a big adventure. I love how the first half of this song is actually a menacing version of The Shire theme that keeps you on edge... until it hits you with the Fellowship theme like a ton of bricks. Hands down the best usage of leitmotifs in the whole trilogy. 
6. Absolute Configuration (Madoka Rebellion)
• Homura vs Mami is one of my favorite fight scenes ever, let alone animated. It's a frantic, bombastic and oddly balletic flurry of gun fu and time stop shenanigans that exudes energy and creativity in every frame, and the phenomenal music that accompanies it elevates the fight even further. The wailing guitars, intense drums, and of course Kajiura's signature chorus make for one of most thrilling songs in the franchise.
7. He's A Pirate (Pirates Of The Caribbean)
• I said it once and I'll say it again. This is THE pirate theme. Sure it's an intense and exhilarating piece of music buoyed by Zimmer's signature booming drums, but it's also just damn fun. Just listening to it makes you want to sail the high seas and be a swash-buckling pirate, even if in reality, I'd never do that in a million years. Not unlike the Fellowship theme, He's A Pirate is really good at hyping you up and making you feel badass while listening to it.
8. The Enterprise (Star Trek: The Motion Picture)
• This track plays during what is basically six straight minutes of the camera taking the tour around a swanky new improved Enterprise. It's a scene that should feel like long, drawn-out, hollow fan service... but it's not, and that's entirely because of this tune. Goldsmith knocks this scene is basically starship porn, so he writes a long love letter to the Enterprise, its unique design and features, and its mission. It's a hopeful tune that perfect encapsulates the spirit of Star Trek.
9. Married Life (Up)
• You've probably heard this all before. Up's opening ten minutes is one of the finest and most emotional sequences in any movie, and its music plays a big part of that. It's basically ten minutes worth of the same leitmotif played over and over again, but the way Giacchino modifies the leitmotif, amping up the tempo and switching tone at a rapid pace, makes for one of the most dynamic pieces of film score ever. If the events of the movie don't make you cry, I'm damn sure Married Life will.
10. What's Up, Danger (Into The Spider Verse)
• I really wanted to put Into The Spider Verse's fantastic soundtrack in my Top 10, but it does have a few needledrops in it so I didn't want to count it. However, What's Up Danger was made for this movie, and it shows. It's a great song on its own, but the way it syncs up with easily the best scene in the movie is so perfect. And the crazy thing, it was the first scene we saw of Spider Verse, it was the teaser trailer. But this track made Miles' leap of faith feel fresh, as if I had seen it for the first time all over again. 
11. Chateau (The Matrix Reloaded)
• I really could have picked any of the major fight themes in Matrix Reloaded, but the one that plays during the Chateau fight (already one of my favorite fights in the movie) is definitely the highlight. It's super fast-paced and frantic, and the mixture of orchestra and techno is incredibly well-done. But my favorite part of the theme is actually when Neo gets a cut, almost all of the instruments cutting out except for a jamming synth bass just stuck with me so much.
12. Waltz To The Death (Batman 1989)
• I already talked about how much I love this theme when discussing Batman's score. It's the perfect Joker theme. Compared to how low-key and eerie much of this film's soundtrack is, the Joker essentially getting circus music sticks out in the best way possible. But it's also not a light-hearted theme either, it's creepy in its own way, just as Joker is actually terrifying under his clown guise. 
13. Portals (Avengers Endgame)
• I'll be frank, the MCU doesn't tend to have the best music. Portals is the exception, and thank goodness it was. The titular portal scene is supposed to be the most pivotal and important scene in the whole film, so Silvestri needed to absolutely kill it, and he did! Portals perfectly evokes the scale and size of this event, seeing all these superheroes on the same screen, slowly building up to the grandiose reprise of the Avengers theme, the best and most memorable theme in the whole MCU.
14. Welcome To Jurassic Park (Jurassic Park)
• Jurassic Park is a really cool film because of how it's basically split into two halves. Everyone knows the scary second half where everyone is constant danger of being eaten by dinosaurs, but I also adore how the first half of the movie focuses on the sheer awe of seeing dinosaurs walk around right in front of you. And Williams captures that sense of wonder with this song so incredibly well, and thanks to Jurassic Park's still amazing effects, Welcome To Jurassic Park will always have that same effect on you every time you watch the film. That Brontosaurus coming into frame as this theme plays is pure movie magic. And that stomp... what a perfect film...
15. The Cleaner (Toy Story 2)
• Okay, so this is a bit of a weird pick but The Cleaner always stuck with me for some reason. Maybe it's because of childhood nostalgia from this being my favorite Toy Story (it still is), maybe it's because of how goddamn satisfying that scene of Woody being cleaned, or maybe it's just that charming and delightful to listen to. Either way, The Cleaner is a fantastic and underrated piece of music that perfectly evokes the charm of early Pixar.