Greatest Composer of a Batman Film!?

[Rebel]

Batman & Batman Returns by Danny Elfman
Batman Forever & Batman and Robin by Elliot Goldenthal
Batman Begins & The Dark Knight by Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard

 

[2Serious]

Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard (though i don´t know how much the latter was involved) for me.

His soundtrack "Why so serious", "Agent of Chaos" and "Molossus" is pinpoint of what Batman and Joker is. With "Why so serious" we have the slow, steady rise of that weird sound, and exploding to a twist of different sounds. This IS the Joker.

And as for "Molossus" we have this dark, pompous tones filled with mystery and also danger and fear.

 

[El Payaso]

Elfman, no doubt. Batman theme and Waltz to the Death are the musical representation of the main characters if B89. The Catwoman theme is also very good.

But Zimmer and Newton Howard have made an excellent, excellent work so far.

 

[mongoose-mania]

Elfman 100%. Actually 110%.

 

[Crockett]

Don't get me wrong, I really like Elfman scores on both Batman'89 and BR and they are always going to be classics. But there are just something I really like more on Zimmer's & Newton Howard's scores on BB and TDK.

 

[RustyCage]

I greatly cherish Elfman's approach to mystery, you can literally feel Batman moving in the shadows to some of his music even when he's not on screen.

On the other hand, the new series has music that is unyielding, passionate, raw, dramatic, and suspenseful. I have listened to tracks like Molossus for days on end; it's a near-perfect summary of Batman in my opinion.

So both composers have done a gorgeous job, and while I feel Zimmer could approach mystery a bit more, he's approached more of Batman as a whole than Elfman did. I would wet my pants if they collaborated for Batman 3.

 

[Mister H.]

I like that Zimmer's scores enhance the moments on film. There is an organic wing flapping to much of the score, and there movements that remind one of a racing pulse, others that feel like they are breathing.

To me, Elfman's scores are fun, but they are too busy for my tastes and have that playful, carnival feel that turns me off.

 

[Brother Jack]

Danny Elfman, out of this poll. But I feel that the best Batman composer ever was Shirley Walker.

 

[Cain]

^ she's my favorite conductor especially her work with Elfman in the first Burton flick her BTAS compositions though while brilliant aren't as good as Elfman's to me. However they are the only ones that come close IMO.

So, Elfman without a shadow of a doubt. It's just pitch perfect, I read the comics that's the backdrop I'm rolling with. It's adventurous, whimsical & full of imaginative fantasy all at once. Not the intense action movie like stylings of Zimmer or Newton Howards ultra sensitive sounding compositions.

 

[Brother Jack]

^ she's my favorite conductor especially her work with Elfman in the first Burton flick her BTAS compositions though while brilliant aren't as good as Elfman's to me. However they are the only ones that come close IMO.

Mask of the Phantasm is her crowning achievement. That alone rises above all the rest.

 

[Cain]

Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard (though i don´t know how much the latter was involved) for me.

His soundtrack "Why so serious", "Agent of Chaos" and "Molossus" is pinpoint of what Batman and Joker is. With "Why so serious" we have the slow, steady rise of that weird sound, and exploding to a twist of different sounds. This IS the Joker.

And as for "Molossus" we have this dark, pompous tones filled with mystery and also danger and fear.

If you're familiar with their individual works it's extremely easy to tell who did what just by listening. I do think the Joker themes were class acts, they worked so organically. I never really liked Molosus though, it just sounded way too much like an outtake from Michael Bay's The Rock for my taste and not a BATMAN theme.

 

[Cain]

Mask of the Phantasm is her crowning achievement. That alone rises above all the rest.

Yeah a lot of it especially during the latter Bruce and Andrea moments is too vibrantly effective to deny that score's power.

 

[Two-Face]

I like Zimmer & JNH scores but Elfman's theme is the best.

 

[RustyCage]

Yeah I sort of wish Walker was included in this, but that may have made it impossible to choose! Her music was brilliant. The classic intro to the show, Mask of the Phantasm. Man... I might rewatch Phantasm after I finish Dark Knight later.

 

[The Joker]

Definitely Elfman.

 

[Frankenmation]

Elfman without a doubt. And maybe its just me but I actually prefer how the Batman theme sounds in Batman Returns over Batman 89, theres just seems to be more a build up and it sounds more eerie.

 

[howl]

Elfman. One of the reasons I love Burton's Batman films.

 

[howl]

With "Why so serious" we have the slow, steady rise of that weird sound

a cello was used for that part. love it.

 

[Macphisto]

Elfman. The score in both B'89 and BR is like another character.

Zimmer and JNH's Batman scores reach dizzying heights, but are also rather generic in places (especially the action cues, which could quite easily have been written for a James Bond or Die Hard installment).

 

[BigSams50]

Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard. I loved the score in TDK and BB

 

[Rebel]

Part of why I prefer Elfman's musical majesty:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGAKYVGuPqE


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsSlBNnPJe4


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTgkQqBV3_g

 

[ddddeeee]

I love BB and TDK but the music left a lot to be desired for me. It's more generic Zimmer for the most part, it's a shame because when he tries something different he can be brilliant.

Elfman in a landslide.

 

[Daredevil]

I love Danny Elfman but this goes to Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard HANDS DOWN.

 

[Rebel]

Danny Elfman had a different theme for pretty much everything. Hans and Howard, although splended, had a few on constant loop.

 

[howl]

Elfman. The score in both B'89 and BR is like another character.

well put