Halo [2001]
In addition to revolutionizing the genre and topping all other first-person shooters of its time, Halo packed an original score that became famous in its own right. The credit goes to Martin O’Donnell who wrote a haunting score that tells the story of elite soldiers, alien races, and the mysterious Halo ringworld.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz7dDU2-sZo[/youtube]
Lion King [1994]
Not only did Hans Zimmer compose a fantastic score, but The Lion King also boasted a number of quality original songs including Circle of Life, Be Prepared, and Can You Feel the Love Tonight among others. Anybody who was a kid when the Lion King came out loved it and can probably remember how powerful the music was watching the movie for the first time. The song here is To Die For.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdHv66YB620[/youtube]
Gladiator [2000]
Did you see Gladiator? Did you hear this song at the end? Enough Said. Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerard, Now We Are Free.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fAVQgsM1wY[/youtube]
Silent Hill 1 - Tears Of…
The first Silent Hill debuted in January 1999 for the original Playstation and is widely considered one of the scariest games of its time. Silent Hill 2 pushed the boundaries of the survival horror genre even further with Akira Yamaoka’s score and the game’s creepy atmosphere that defines the series. Very serious and touching music for a video game of its time.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd5WvlXD05s[/youtube]
Silent Hill 2 - Laura Plays the Piano [2001]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6L9Cbs0m_U[/youtube]
Silent Hill 3 - Letter From Lost Days [2003]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ7d-HoQFsw[/youtube]
Silent Hill 4 - Wounded Warsong [2004]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3aUGJ2VqmY[/youtube]
Jurassic Park [1993]
We all know about John Williams. This one is just classic Williams. Probably the best he’s ever done. Either this or Star Wars.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6fka74ZnpU[/youtube]
Munich [2005]
Another Steven Spielberg/John Williams collaboration, although this film did not receive nearly as much attention as many of their previous works. The film will polarize audiences but it is very worth watching and boasts a terrific score. This track is deep.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqPDvSq86SA[/youtube]
Star Wars [1977 - 2005]
Here I’m grouping all six films together. Nothing very subtle about the music of Star Wars. Through Williams’s use of leitmotif we are prompted to associate the main characters/forces with certain moods and melodies, for example we have Luke’s Theme/the Force Theme, Leia’s Theme, the Imperial March, and even an Ewok theme. Below is Duel of Fates, which accents the climactic lightsaber battle between Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, and Darth Maul. It is popularly known as Darth Maul’s Theme.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzVBqBosf5w[/youtube]
The Godfather Waltz [1972]
Italian composer Nino Rota’s pensive introductory waltz to the Godfather Trilogy.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPUrFHeFUaU[/youtube]
The Godfather Finale [1972]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWeovnGYCyo[/youtube]
TimeSplitters 2 - Siberia [2002]
Perhaps this was Playstation 2’s Halo. Game was ahead of it’s time with its Mapmaker feature and multilayer customization. I reckon it was one of the best shooters for the PS2 and it has a surprisingly robust soundtrack. Just listen to the music of the first Level - have you ever heard video game music like this before?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsetlRd-nvs[/youtube]
TimeSplitters 2 - Wild West
I can think of no better Wild West tribute to set the mood than this from Rare’s TimeSplitters 2. It is spectacular.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLHo_vcQVj0[/youtube]
TimeSplitters 2 - Neo Tokyo
I consider Graeme Norgate something of a genius (he also did the music for the N64’s Goldeneye and Perfect Dark, and Donkey Kong Land for the Gameboy).
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zAPk9bGVo4[/youtube]
Batman Beyond [1999]
A slick industrial, cyberpunk intro theme to a more mature and futuristic Batman cartoon. Any fans?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X4wETFqHcM[/youtube]
Batman: TAS [1992]
The predecessor to Batman Beyond, Batman: The Animated Series was dark and gritty for a children’s cartoon and the theme below is fitting. Gotta Love the lightning at the end.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6Cvi30-BTU[/youtube]
Donnie Darko - The Artifact & Living [2001]
Michael Andrew’s score is minimalistic compared to some of the grander symphonic scores exemplified above, but it certainly brings to life the surreal and fascinating world of Donnie Darko.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-xNTboLs6o[/youtube]
Donnie Darko - Middlesex Times
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y69gu2xv25s[/youtube]
Donnie Darko - Manipulated Living
This track is creepy and absurd!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SScSzRngDr0[/youtube]
Donnie Darko - Liquid Spear Waltz
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnjOTy1LroA[/youtube]
Donnie Darko - Did You Know Him?
Listening to the complete soundtrack always puts me in an odd but amenable funk.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIYP5k2B3HM[/youtube]
Donnie Darko - Mad World
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lch96GIc-WM[/youtube]