The new one is leaning towards something like this (if you don't like it or think it's unfair or uninteresting, that's your cue to suggest something you do like!):

Who writes the best action cues?

-Goldsmith
-Williams
-MediaVentures
-Horner
-etc etc etc.

1) A high tempo orchestral/synthesizer type run-away.... (a "chase cue", if you will.)

2) An elegiac choral piece, accompanying something Sam-Peckinpah/John-Woo slow-motion. (A 2.5 seconds of literal action drawn over 30 seconds of screen time.)

Also to be considered:

Horner
Debney
Arnold
Eidelman

Scott

1) Do you prefer the obligatory pop song(s)

[] At the beginning of the CD?
[] At the end of the CD?
[] Doesn't matter--I can program my player.
[] Help--I don't know how to program my player!

2) What's the most you would pay for an out of print/rare/import CD?

[] "Twenty bucks, max."
[] "I could see myself paying up to $100"
[] "My kidney."
[] "My mother's kidney."

3) Do you think Directors should stick with a certain composer?

[] Yes, a good collaboration makes for a good repetoire of work.
[] Yes, but once in a while, it's ok to break standards.
[] No, each film is an individual work, and music should be determined separately.
[] No, the composer isn't ultimately important--just as long as the music fits the movie.

4) What do you think of the commercial importance placed on film music currently?

[] What?? If it sells, it sells.
[] Film scores should be marketed and advertised like any kind of popular/modern music.
[] Film scores don't need advertisment, because we know where to find it.
[] The term "You know this doesn't have real music on it." makes you want to tear down the entire corporate musical infrastructure.

5) How often do you reccommend film music to "other" people (*other - shall be defined as those who normally exhibit much less than a passing interest in instrumental music.)

[] If it's good, I recommend it to everyone!
[] Only to close friends and family.
[] I learned to stop the hard way after the first few times....
[] No! My music! Mine! Mine! You no listen!

6) Part One: You're on a romantic date and your favorite score is playing in the background. Your date asks what music is playing. Not being able to "read" her/his opinion of the music, do you answer:

[] the Title of movie only.
[] the Composer, hoping that a lack of recognition will diffuse the question.
[] the Composer, hoping that recognition of the composer will open the door to further romantic fireworks.
[] "It's just some soundtrack...."
[] (Dodging) "Would you prefer if I put on something else?"

6) Part Two: Assuming that your date apparently doesn't care for the current music, do you:

[] End the evening, since this person is beyond hope.
[] Try another soundtrack. (One of 'em got to work!)
[] Put on something with...(ewww)....words.
[] Try something else, but still make plans for a second date, hoping to eventually sway your date over....

7) Part One: You're in the store, and someone who looks unfamiliar with the soundtrack section is looking for a soundtrack with no sucess, and little help from the store employees. Do you:

[] Wait for the employee to leave, and then mention to the unknowledgable customer, "You're looking for ~..."
[] Also inform the clerk, so in the future, they too can aid the unknowledgable....
[] Grab the correct soundtrack, and in addition to presenting it to the customer, recommend 2 or 3 other titles by the same composer.
[] Smile quietly to yourself.

7) Part Two: Another customer is looking for that (hot song/piece of music) that was featured in the ads for the movie, which you know is NOT on the soundtrack. Do you:

[] Say nothing and let them buy the soundtrack anyway. (They might actually like it, and it'll do wonders for sales.)
[] Simply inform them that the music they're looking for isn't on that CD.
[] Tell them the correct album.

Lancelot: I'm now going to answer all seven polls, cause I want to.

1. B

2. B

3. B

4. D

5. C

6(I). B

6(II). B

7(I). C

And, The Rock is a great action score but it wasn't just Zimmer. And so on.

Good choice of composers, Peter. Perhaps David Arnold would go well on the list.

1. Goldsmith-far in the lead

and the other four I would suggest

2. Williams
3. Poledouris
4. Broughton
5. Silvestri
6. Eidelman

7) Part One: You're in the store, and someone who looks unfamiliar with the soundtrack section is looking for a soundtrack with no sucess, and little help from the store employees. Do you:

[] Wait for the employee to leave, and then mention to the unknowledgable customer, "You're looking for ~..."

Something like this always happens to me, and it was either on my day off, or I was in another store. If I had to pick one, this would be it (up there).

[] Also inform the clerk, so in the future, they too can aid the unknowledgable....

If anyone ever did this to me, I (or the person standing next to me) would beat their ass. That's just not cool.

[] Grab the correct soundtrack, and in addition to presenting it to the customer, recommend 2 or 3 other titles by the same composer.

Sometimes this will work (Williams), but it's usually met with blank stares (Goldsmith). When people would pick up the House On Haunted Hill soundtrack, I'd always mention The Matrix (as much as I hate the album). They'd look at the Haunted Hill soundtrack and say, "Why don't this have the Marilyn Manson song on it? This is like, false advertisment or something." So, I always launch a pre-emptive "no, the songs aren't on there" strike. This happens with Varese stuff all the time. The Watcher, Hollow Man (!), The Replacements......

Shaun

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lancelot:
[b]Michael Kamen? Anyone? You know--Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, Robin Hood, Three Musketeers, X-Men....? Mr. Action Score? Validate me, here.....

[/B]

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Can... not... validate...

Who's writing the best action movie music today?

Danny Elfman
Jerry Goldsmith
James Newton Howard
Michael Kamen
Alan Silvestri
John Williams
Hans Zimmer

Voting polls will open in a few moments.

I wanted to thank Probable for this poll idea. Thank you Probable.