Hans Zimmer became one of my favorite film score composers with his work on Backdraft. Ever since, I look forward to movies that feature his music. Unfortunately, he is a favorite of Jerry Bruckheimer, so many times the music is far and away the best part of the flick.
Batman
Begins
Zimmer and James Newton Howard collaborated on this score, but I'm not exactly sure of either's role. As I watched the movie, I thought I heard "Zimmer-isms", but since his style is being aped by so many Hollywood composers, I wasn't sure. This score is much different than Elfman's score listed below. You won't leave the theatre humming any themes. However, the thick, bass-heavy writing does support the movie well.
King Arthur
From Amazon...
"Zimmer picks up that gauntlet, producing an orchestral score bristling with massed brass, chorus and percussion -- if little of the indigenous mysticism that made his work on Gladiator so rewarding. What there is of that precious commodity is frontloaded via the song "Tell Me Know (What You See)," his evocative opening collaboration with Clannad's Moya Brennan."
The
Last Samurai
The Last Samurai is one of Zimmer's better scores of the past few years. It reminds me of a Japanese "Gladiator", but with more emotion than the Ridley Scott score.
Gladiator
From Amazon...
"Credit Hans Zimmer for taking "Mars, the Bringer of War" and hammering
its familiar harmonic and rhythmic Sturm und Drang into something
serviceably fresh; cohort Lisa Gerrard generally handles the more
ethereal, atmospheric passages."
Backdraft
Backdraft was the first movie that I noticed Zimmer's music. Even though much of it is synthesized, this powerful and percussive score made me realize what a fabulous composer Hans Zimmer is.
Thin
Red Line
From Amazon...
"Instead of the earthier martial themes associated with warlords
or heroes, this is the soundtrack to a melancholy Valhalla, a story
seemingly told by battlefield casualties who are already angels."
Hannibal
From Amazon...
"Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer has created a blood-pumping
dramatic score for Hannibal that pulses with Wagnerian intensity.
Sir Anthony Hopkins's monologue on three tracks adds a dimension
of hair-raising eeriness to the already deeply affecting and suspenseful
instrumental backing."
Black
Hawk Down
Ridley Scott gave Zimmer "15 days to write, arrange, and record the film's nearly two hours of music. The results of Zimmer's miraculous two-week musical campaign not only belie those constraints; they instantly take their place alongside The Thin Red Line as some of the most compelling music he's produced."
Crimson
Tide
This CD features more of Zimmer's synthesized music (doesn't he know better?), but it's still a good listen. Although a little repetitive, overall it's a powerful score.
Recent additions to my portfolio include OSU Trombones, ITF2007, and the Getzen Gazette.
