MovieChat Forums > Spectre (2015) Discussion > Bond music: Your favourite composer

Bond music: Your favourite composer

posted 8 years ago by SuperBobster
12 replies | jump to latest

Who do you think has been responsible for the best and most memorable Bond musical scores? And who would you like to see (or hear) do a Bond score?

- John Barry is probably the best known and most appreciated, being the man that set the tone with the originals.

- David Arnold I think is the second best, took on a lot of what John Barry had done and brought it into the modern age, putting his own personal stamp on it.

- Thomas Newman I do like, but I think his music is best suited for films like Shawshank Redemption, and also his Pixar stuff, he doesn't quite hit the mark with Bond.

- Eric Serra is under-appreciated, loved his dark mysterious score from GoldenEye. He should have done a few more.

As for who I'd like to do a Bond score, a few names spring to mind: Hans Zimmer, Michael Giacchino, Henry Jackman, John Murphy, Howard Shore.

[–] FridayOnElmStreet 8 years ago

Best - John Barry

Who would I like to heard do one - Danny Elfman

[–] mariakelly-04164 8 years ago

Anyone who doesn't think that John Barry is not the greatest bond musical composer needs to be on antipsychotic medication!

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[–] TheSharkFromJaws 8 years ago

Barry is obviously the best. It's not remotely a competition.

I guess Arnold would be #2.

[–] pjl69 8 years ago

My problem with David Arnold is that his Bond scores sound pretty much the same (at least before Casino Royale), unlike John Barry who incredibly (given the number of movies he scored) gave each of his scores unique easily identifiable sound. So I prefer Bill Conti (FYEO), George Martin (LALD) and Marvin Hamlisch (TSWLM) over Arnold. I especially like Martin's score in LALD because of the melancholic, fatalistic and sad feel he gave to it.

[–] HugeDaiCottermee 8 years ago

Barry by far although David Arnold's "White Knight" theme from TND is worthy of comparison to him.

[–] CuriousCase007 8 years ago

John Barry and David Arnold.

George Martin, Eric Serra, Michael Kamen and Bill Conti offer solid efforts as well. In fact, the only composer on the keen on is Thomas Newman.

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[–] pking-2 8 years ago

John Barry and Clint Mansell, respectively.

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[–] mariakelly-04164 8 years ago

My other favorite Bond composers are David Arnold and Eric Serra (by the way, if you have the chance to buy Serra's soundtrack for The Fifth Element, buy it. It's one of the best things about the movie).

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] domester82 8 years ago

Best- John Barry
Runner up- David Arnold
Would like to see- Hans Zimmer, Michael Giacchino

[–] mollydtt 8 years ago

John Barry is my favorite.

Since he is no longer available, I would love another Thomas Newman score for the next Bond film, although a Hans Zimmer score sounds intriguing.

[–] ComicNerd 8 years ago

I think John Barry is number 1 but I did like Bill Conti's score for For Your Eyes Only.

I'm not a fan of Thomas Newman's Bond score's, he underuses the Bond theme. It can be overused for sure, but there were key moments in Spectre where the traditional Bond theme could have livened up the movie.