[Thor Joachim Haga]

We’ve had two James Horner reviews on our site recently. So I thought I’d ask: What are your top 5 Horners?

I think mine are:

1. THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS
2. Avatar
3. Aliens
4. Braveheart
5. Titanic

Yeah, I know. All very predictable, except maybe no. 1. But I have about 70 Horner scores, and I could mention tons of runner-ups.

[Sigbjørn Vindenes Egge]

I don’t make lists but Braveheart would be very close to the top, if not at the top.

[Malte Müller]

Maybe Aliens, Braveheart, Brainstorm, Star Trek II and Willow, Legends of the Fall is nice although a bit very saccharine. Titanic is probably one of my less favorite ones 😉

[Nils Jacob Holt Hanssen]

My list would probably be something like this:

1. Krull
2. Living in the Age of Airplanes
3. Sneakers
4. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
5. Aliens

Why Star Trek III and not II, you may wonder, with II being many people’s favorite? Well, I never really liked the main theme from II, for one thing. I always thought it sounded uninspired an forced. I remember being very disappointed with it, after having been spoiled at that point with all the great Williams themes from the first two Star Wars films, as well as Goldsmith’s wonderful Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Of course, Horner’s ST II theme IS used quite a bit in III also, but III has a lot of other material that I think surpasses a lot of what II has to offer: The Klingon action material, and the music for Spock and Vulcan, particularly the Katra Ritual sequence.

[Thor Joachim Haga]

Interesting that you have KRULL as no. 1. I’ve had the 2CD forever, but except a track or two, it’s never done anything for me (it’s exasperating; and too much ‘horror’ material). But I’ve recently re-programmed the tracks into the old Southern Cross programme (the short, original one), and have high hopes that this new presentation will lead to a new appreciation of this score.

[Malte Müller]

How could I forget KRULL, that’s a favorite Horner of mine as well. Only know the Southern Cross version.

[Nils Jacob Holt Hanssen]

You’re right, Thor – the KRULL 2CD IS a bit too much to get through in one sitting. I don’t think I’ve ever done that myself! But in appropriate doses, I really enjoy the wonderful energy and vigour in Horner’s writing here. And he was barely 30 at the time!

[Jon Aanensen]

1. Field Of Dreams
2. Braveheart
3. Commando
4. Titanic
5. Flightplan

[Thor Joachim Haga]

My taste hasn’t changed that much since 2018, but I’ve grown more and more fond of the calm over the rambunctious action stuff.

Maybe my top 5 would look like this:

1. THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS
2. Apollo 13
3. Legends of the Fall
4. The New World
5. House of Cards

Or something.

I really wanted to squeeze more of the calmer, explorative Horners in there, but it would be disingenious. And I had to let go of some teenage favourites (APOLLO 13 and LEGENDS OF THE FALL stay on).

[FalkirkBairn01]

I definitely prefer Horner’s earlier stuff, preferring more the style he had when he first started out over his meandering later scores:

1. Aliens
2. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
3. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
4. Brainstorm
5. Krull

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