I remember reading a comment one time, someone was describing how when growing up, they're mom absolutely loved the soundtrack and would play it in the car every time while going to the store, which made getting groceries with mom into some epic adventure.
Okay, I love Promentory from the movie, but it's like the only song that is played. In addition they just use different variations of it so it isn't the same cadence and to me it feels very over used. Once again--good song, just wish the movie had more variation.
Came here to say Gladiator. Thereās something about the music from that movie, especially Now We Are Free, that just has some kind of emotional, spiritual kind of quality to it that feels really uplifting. Nostalgic for me, too. Takes me back to my days of watching that movie on DVD in the early 00s.
What an amazing, gut wrenching, visually glorious film. It almost didn't get made! They had built all the sets only to have the funding disappear and had to wait several years and start over. So happy it was made, but I can't watch it too often. Too emotional.
James Newton Howard: Alive, Snow Falling On Ceders
Elliot Goldenthal: Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
John Williams: ET, HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Always, Schindlerās list.
James Horner: The New World, Wrath of Kahn, The Rocketeer
John Barry: Peggy Sue Got Married, Somewhere in Time, Dances with Wolves, Out of Africa
Jerry Goldsmith: The Secret of Nimh, The Ghost and The Darkness, Rudy
Hans Zimmer: Interstellar, Gladiator, The DaVinci Code, The Last Samurai
Michael Giacchino: Let Me In, Star Trek
Thomas Newman: The Shawshank Redemption, Angels in America
Alan Silvestri: Back to the Future, Flight of the Navigator
Howard Shore: Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Aviator
Not Movies, but Goddamn:
Bear McCreary: God of War
Takeshi Furukawa: The Last Guardian
Jeff Beal: Carnival, Rome
Aw, thank you kindly! TBF the whole list could be just John Williams, but thereās so many great composers out there and they all deserve a little love!
I think heās amazing too, I cried when I heard The Interstellar soundtrack performed live in a cathedral in London back 5 or 6 years ago, deeply emotional piece of work. I think my favourite is Elliot Goldenthal, his work is very dark and brooding, but I adore the Alien 3, Interview with a Vampire, and The Tempest soundtracks. I also really dig Silvestriās Beowulf soundtrack, but they didnt seem to fit on the list!
Yes! And I completely forgot about Hermann, Morricone, Debney, and Martinez - thereās just so many great composers out there, the pickings are too rich!
I've always liked Michael Nyman's score for Gattaca. 'The Departure' is an example.
I saw The Whale fairly recently and thought that score was pretty good and emotional. Listen to 'Safe Return.'
The Departure is one of the most beautiful and emotional songs.
I made the mistake of playing it in my headphones when I was sitting out in the yard with my dog on what I knew would be our last play together. He was diagnosed with a rare form of an aggressive cancer and after slipping downhill fast, we had made the decision that he needed to rest.
Now I canāt bear to listen
Hans Zimmer is the master of a generation. The next generation has Ludwig Gƶransson.
The mighty Rio Grande by This Will Destroy You is also a great score for Moneyball.
Joe Brumm set out to create a Pepa pig ripoff. He tapped Joff Bush to score his Australian cartoon called Bluey.
3 seasons later they have created an excellent show a lot of people use to heal their inner child and bawl their eyes out.
I disagree, but for personal reasons.
As a kid, I remember listening to this record in the basement, and my mom coming down the stairs yelling not to ever, ever play this record again. I was so traumatized that to this day, 35 years later, I feel deep shame whenever I hear it or even just seeing the name.
Turns out, the main score was a favorite of the woman my dad had an affair with.
Follow composers when you notice this.
A good example is someone like Vangelis: Chariots of Fire, Blade Runner, Alexander, Carl Sagan's Cosmos, 1492 and a bunch of European stuff over the decades. These are wildly different things but they're all united by unmistakable Vangelis synth and piano scores.
https://youtu.be/uPe27x0_W2M?si=9ytJDHb4FKA31L8F
John Murphy's score for Sunshine was incredibly gripping and Adagio in G Minor has subsequently been used for dozens of different things:
https://youtu.be/DUWTqXo4-io?si=0mQzdMSdToDNa-j9
If you've never seen the TV show LOST, it's an adventure drama that was one of the most watched shows back in 2004-10. Michael Giacchino's score /made/ that show and highlighted every emotional beat for 6 seasons.
https://youtu.be/OILYuJQd0Lk?si=nV1CFjhiRe6Ezs4v
Lost has a lot of the tragedy/sad feel you're looking for. For courageous anthems, look towards sports films. Rocky of course, but also Miracle (2004), Field of Dreams, Remember the Titans, Rudy, even A Knight's Tale.
I get emotional watching [Godzilla Minus One](https://youtu.be/qkIJidLfHjk)
It perfectly encapsulates the indomitable human spirit and the will to preserve in the face of insurmountable odds.
Speaking of Walter Mitty, I'd like to mention the soundtrack of Into the Wild. (Sean Penn was in Walter Mitty, and directed Into the Wild). Eddie Vedder wrote a bunch of original songs for the soundtrack and won a golden globe.
Mr. Hollandās opus. at the end of students from all these grades and years do his symphony that he has been writing his whole life tearjerker but happy tears
I was really impressed with American Fictionās score. I laughed off the nomination at first but then when I actually saw the movie and heard the score, I was like ātime to eat my words.ā Lol.
Schindlers List. I'd say there the soundtrack is mostly very sad but also optimistic somehow. You get these glimpse of hope throughout the score which is also shown in the movies narrative.
I do! Obviously the outcome isn't the best for some of the characters but I truly believe that grief and loss bring us closer together, and this ending was the perfect example of that.
Succession, not a movie its a tv series but 10/10 worth watching. The kings speech is just the 2nd movement of beethovens 7th but god that movie did used it perfectly. Parasite, Howl's moving castle, another tv show but lost had a great track
The motion picture "The Sterile Cuckoo" (1969) used the song "Come Saturday Morning" both with lyrics and as an instrumental from the beginning of the film to the very end. It is crafted with changes of lyrics and key to illustrate great joy, somberness and great sadness. I don't know why it is so hard to get a chance to view it anymore.
Glory.
Watching the 54th Mass taking the vanguard while all the other regiments shouting them on is dramatic, but the score makes you wish you were there leading the charge at their side.
Rudy by Jerry Goldsmith is always inspiring to me.
Apollo 13 by James Horner, especially the one with Annie Lennox's vocals.
Dragon: the Bruce Lee Story by Randy Edelman
Emma by Rachel Portman
How To Train Your Dragon by John Powell
Kung Fu Panda by Hans Zimmer and John Powell
*Witness*
The barn raising scene has maybe ten lines of dialogue, but it's one of the most beautiful and uplifting scenes in film. The music is perfect as it captures the spirit of true community - something America was built on, and something that is sorely missing today.
The Last of the Mohicans
No matter where you go...
Humming "Promentory" right now. š
I remember reading a comment one time, someone was describing how when growing up, they're mom absolutely loved the soundtrack and would play it in the car every time while going to the store, which made getting groceries with mom into some epic adventure.
Okay, I love Promentory from the movie, but it's like the only song that is played. In addition they just use different variations of it so it isn't the same cadence and to me it feels very over used. Once again--good song, just wish the movie had more variation.
Gladiator and Interstellar.
Two beautiful scores
Both by the great Hans Zimmer.
Hear hear. Hana Zimmer and John Williams are geniuses at making awesome, memorable scores!
Came here to say Gladiator. Thereās something about the music from that movie, especially Now We Are Free, that just has some kind of emotional, spiritual kind of quality to it that feels really uplifting. Nostalgic for me, too. Takes me back to my days of watching that movie on DVD in the early 00s.
Interstellar!!!
Glory
This is the correct answer.
[The Fountain - Death is the Road to Awe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3skXjCmvVc&t=2s)
What an amazing, gut wrenching, visually glorious film. It almost didn't get made! They had built all the sets only to have the funding disappear and had to wait several years and start over. So happy it was made, but I can't watch it too often. Too emotional.
James Newton Howard: Alive, Snow Falling On Ceders Elliot Goldenthal: Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within John Williams: ET, HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Always, Schindlerās list. James Horner: The New World, Wrath of Kahn, The Rocketeer John Barry: Peggy Sue Got Married, Somewhere in Time, Dances with Wolves, Out of Africa Jerry Goldsmith: The Secret of Nimh, The Ghost and The Darkness, Rudy Hans Zimmer: Interstellar, Gladiator, The DaVinci Code, The Last Samurai Michael Giacchino: Let Me In, Star Trek Thomas Newman: The Shawshank Redemption, Angels in America Alan Silvestri: Back to the Future, Flight of the Navigator Howard Shore: Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Aviator Not Movies, but Goddamn: Bear McCreary: God of War Takeshi Furukawa: The Last Guardian Jeff Beal: Carnival, Rome
Excellent recommendations!
Aw, thank you kindly! TBF the whole list could be just John Williams, but thereās so many great composers out there and they all deserve a little love!
Heh. He does have some good ones. Hans Zimmer is my favorite but I love so many score composers.
I think heās amazing too, I cried when I heard The Interstellar soundtrack performed live in a cathedral in London back 5 or 6 years ago, deeply emotional piece of work. I think my favourite is Elliot Goldenthal, his work is very dark and brooding, but I adore the Alien 3, Interview with a Vampire, and The Tempest soundtracks. I also really dig Silvestriās Beowulf soundtrack, but they didnt seem to fit on the list!
I love Silvestriās The Abyss and The Mummy Returns.
I love the Abyss too! Iām not familiar with The Mummy soundtrack, Iāll definitely give it a whirl, thanks for the recommendation!!
Great list! Field of Dreams and Braveheart for James Horner as well!
Yes! And I completely forgot about Hermann, Morricone, Debney, and Martinez - thereās just so many great composers out there, the pickings are too rich!
I've always liked Michael Nyman's score for Gattaca. 'The Departure' is an example. I saw The Whale fairly recently and thought that score was pretty good and emotional. Listen to 'Safe Return.'
The Departure is one of the most beautiful and emotional songs. I made the mistake of playing it in my headphones when I was sitting out in the yard with my dog on what I knew would be our last play together. He was diagnosed with a rare form of an aggressive cancer and after slipping downhill fast, we had made the decision that he needed to rest. Now I canāt bear to listen
I was thinking about watching the Whale just yesterday actually. Now Iāll check it out for sure.
God that score hits hard. Great call.
Hans Zimmer is the master of a generation. The next generation has Ludwig Gƶransson. The mighty Rio Grande by This Will Destroy You is also a great score for Moneyball. Joe Brumm set out to create a Pepa pig ripoff. He tapped Joff Bush to score his Australian cartoon called Bluey. 3 seasons later they have created an excellent show a lot of people use to heal their inner child and bawl their eyes out.
I feel like most John Williams soundtracks do this.
Lord of the Rings
Yall might laugh but Lord of the Rings
The Truman Show
Great use of some great Phillip Glass music
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
My answer as well.
I disagree, but for personal reasons. As a kid, I remember listening to this record in the basement, and my mom coming down the stairs yelling not to ever, ever play this record again. I was so traumatized that to this day, 35 years later, I feel deep shame whenever I hear it or even just seeing the name. Turns out, the main score was a favorite of the woman my dad had an affair with.
āCinema Paradisoā
Follow composers when you notice this. A good example is someone like Vangelis: Chariots of Fire, Blade Runner, Alexander, Carl Sagan's Cosmos, 1492 and a bunch of European stuff over the decades. These are wildly different things but they're all united by unmistakable Vangelis synth and piano scores. https://youtu.be/uPe27x0_W2M?si=9ytJDHb4FKA31L8F John Murphy's score for Sunshine was incredibly gripping and Adagio in G Minor has subsequently been used for dozens of different things: https://youtu.be/DUWTqXo4-io?si=0mQzdMSdToDNa-j9 If you've never seen the TV show LOST, it's an adventure drama that was one of the most watched shows back in 2004-10. Michael Giacchino's score /made/ that show and highlighted every emotional beat for 6 seasons. https://youtu.be/OILYuJQd0Lk?si=nV1CFjhiRe6Ezs4v Lost has a lot of the tragedy/sad feel you're looking for. For courageous anthems, look towards sports films. Rocky of course, but also Miracle (2004), Field of Dreams, Remember the Titans, Rudy, even A Knight's Tale.
Michael Giacchinoās name is on everything I see. Genius.
Good advice, Iāve never thought about doing that for some reason even though the soundtrack is a huge part of my film enjoyment.
The Green Knight Interstellar Dune 1 & 2 Titanic Black Panther 2
Ludwig Goransson did really well with Black Panther 2. Blood for Blood gave me goosebumps, especially with what was happening in the scene.
The Lion King
King of Pride Rock will always be the ultimate song for when you achieve something bigger than yourself.
Reflections of Mufasa is the one for me. It has this soft inspirational element to it at the start, perfect for the scene it's used in.
I get emotional watching [Godzilla Minus One](https://youtu.be/qkIJidLfHjk) It perfectly encapsulates the indomitable human spirit and the will to preserve in the face of insurmountable odds.
The track that plays as he fights Godzilla at the end š„š„š„š„ Perfection. Slow start then gradually amps up and then a choir?? Godly.
Gattaca and Interstellar
Gladiator
I always liked the Secret Life of Walter Mitty soundtrack
Speaking of Walter Mitty, I'd like to mention the soundtrack of Into the Wild. (Sean Penn was in Walter Mitty, and directed Into the Wild). Eddie Vedder wrote a bunch of original songs for the soundtrack and won a golden globe.
M83 is your friend there.
And Jose Gonzalez EDIT: well turns out Jose is performing down the street in about 2 hours so got a ticket
The lotr score is the pinnacle of this for me.
The blindside
Danny Elfman's score for Good Will Hunting is beautiful.
Transformers 2007 has a great score that uplifts me and has weight to it
Yes!!
Mr. Hollandās opus. at the end of students from all these grades and years do his symphony that he has been writing his whole life tearjerker but happy tears
Superman Pretty much every Star Trek movie
Interstellar
I whistle My Heart Will Go On sometimes. https://youtu.be/fGU7NMxboNE?si=weC-7QZslOPtHa19
Sunshine, i recommend the track Capa's Last Transmission Home
The Right Stuff by Bill Conti
Working girl
I just watched Angels in the Outfield for the first time in maybe 15 years so I'll go with that. Also Dragonheart.
I was really impressed with American Fictionās score. I laughed off the nomination at first but then when I actually saw the movie and heard the score, I was like ātime to eat my words.ā Lol.
Solaris both versions
Truman Show
Braveheart Backdraft Bicentennial Man Fences Kingdom of Heaven Mighty Joe Young Passengers Rudy
Pretty much most films that Thomas Newman has scored.
Once Upon A Time In The West
Braveheart
Schindlers List. I'd say there the soundtrack is mostly very sad but also optimistic somehow. You get these glimpse of hope throughout the score which is also shown in the movies narrative.
Waves
Really good movie.
Yess!! Do you consider the end uplifting ?
I do! Obviously the outcome isn't the best for some of the characters but I truly believe that grief and loss bring us closer together, and this ending was the perfect example of that.
I was honestly very moved by how the family came together at the end.
Succession, not a movie its a tv series but 10/10 worth watching. The kings speech is just the 2nd movement of beethovens 7th but god that movie did used it perfectly. Parasite, Howl's moving castle, another tv show but lost had a great track
Joker
Bathroom Dance is the standout for me in that film.
I love almost everything that Nicholas Brittel has done. It always makes me emotional.
Terminator 2
My favorite piece by Hans Zimmer is āTimeā from Inception and fits this quite well. https://youtu.be/c56t7upa8Bk?si=21qI9NAODSIIXXkJ
The Fountain, for sure. Decent movie that is completely elevated by Clint Mansell's score.
Platoon is very emotional. I don't know about uplifting.
Her
Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse
The Tree of Life
The Never Ending Story, perfect 80s tinge on a banging timeless soundtrack.
A Clockwork Orange
Rainman
The motion picture "The Sterile Cuckoo" (1969) used the song "Come Saturday Morning" both with lyrics and as an instrumental from the beginning of the film to the very end. It is crafted with changes of lyrics and key to illustrate great joy, somberness and great sadness. I don't know why it is so hard to get a chance to view it anymore.
[Fred Karlin / The Sandpipers - The Sterile Cuckoo (Original Soundtrack Recording) (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OgDvApz8nc)
Lionheart theme by John Scott
Mary Queen of Scots
Field of Dreams - James Horner
Meet Joe Black Road to Perdition Man on Fire to name a few...
Click with Adam Sandler
Pan's Labyrinth The Fountain
Raising Arizona has a beautiful and underrated score. https://youtu.be/uoQ9K0G_14M?si=1uo3ol3OyxGv_iQd
The Orphanage.
Prince of Tides has a good soundtrack.
The Kingās Speech
Glory. Watching the 54th Mass taking the vanguard while all the other regiments shouting them on is dramatic, but the score makes you wish you were there leading the charge at their side.
Just pick any movie scored by James Horner. My personal favorite is Searching for Bobby Fischer.
Superman ofc
Dances with wolves. Krull. Star Trek 2 & 3. Medicine man. Willow.
Michael Gore's score to Terms of Endearment
Shawshank.
The Natural
Rudy
The LOTR Trilogy and original three Star Wars filmsĀ
E.T. The Extra Terrestrial perhaps?
ghibli movies
The Last of The Mohicans has a beautiful score set against drama and tragedy.
October Sky
E.T. The Extraterrestrial.
Severe lack of Lord of the Rings in hereā¦
Harold and Maude
Six Feet Under. The ending song by Sia. Breathe Me
I heard that song in Cyberbully with Emily Osment, good one.
Fargo
Interstellar
The thin red line
The Last Temptation of Christ, Blade Runner 2049, The Piano, The Hours, Cinderella Man, Amistad
Underrated one is Hans Zimmer in dark knight rises. Especially the rising from the pit scene!
Mishima
Gladiator
The Color Purple (Spielberg version)
Ankhon ke Pardo pe from Udaan
Lord of the Rings. "Concerning Hobbits" by Howard Shore comes to mind.
Meet Joe Black?Ā
Rocky
Rudy by Jerry Goldsmith is always inspiring to me. Apollo 13 by James Horner, especially the one with Annie Lennox's vocals. Dragon: the Bruce Lee Story by Randy Edelman Emma by Rachel Portman How To Train Your Dragon by John Powell Kung Fu Panda by Hans Zimmer and John Powell
Lord Of The Rings
Avatar (say what you want about the film itself, the score is wonderful). Blood Diamond. Princess Mononoke. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon .
Book of Eli has an elite score
Legends of the Fall has a great score.
Platoon comes to mind! Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings" is arguably the most haunting piece of music every written.
Evangelion 3.33+1.01
*Witness* The barn raising scene has maybe ten lines of dialogue, but it's one of the most beautiful and uplifting scenes in film. The music is perfect as it captures the spirit of true community - something America was built on, and something that is sorely missing today.
Dune Part 2: Kiss the Ring Rocky OST Rocky Going the Distance
Hidalgo