Should Hans Zimmer borrow from the John Williams score?

[aaronw]

Most of us love the original John Williams Superman score, especially the title march. It is supremely iconic and has become synonymous with Superman himself.

However, most of us also realize the need for Snyder to move away from the Donner films and Superman Returns, and adding a different score helps to accomplish that.

Nevertheless, Hans Zimmer's scores tend not to be as iconic and unforgettable. As Superman fans, we should not settle for anything less.

Thus the question: To what extent should Hans Zimmer borrow from the original John Williams score, if at all?

 

[dark_b]

of course not.

 

[solidsnake86]

No.

 

[Man in the Suit]

No!

 

[Hush]

Nothing, I mean are we ever going to move away from that score? I get that its Iconic but I mean people clamor for a new take on Superman and the moment one of the greatest composers of all time gets named people wonder if he should borrow from one of the other all time greats? There is a reason Zimmer and Williams became great in the first place. Superman needs more than anything else a completely new score to live off of.

 

[aaronw]

Yeah, and while were at it, why don't we begin putting Christ on a poster board instead of on a cross!

 

[Hush]

No Superman just as a character needs to move past the Williams score. Batman moved from Elfman. Why not Superman from Williams.

 

[sithgoblin]

I do not want to hear one iota of Williams' theme.

 

[aaronw]

Nothing, I mean are we ever going to move away from that score? I get that its Iconic but I mean people clamor for a new take on Superman and the moment one of the greatest composers of all time gets named people wonder if he should borrow from one of the other all time greats? There is a reason Zimmer and Williams became great in the first place. Superman needs more than anything else a completely new score to live off of.

Zimmer's scores are a nice complement to the movies, but they are completely forgettable. Superman needs a score that tells his story all by itself, that sounds as triumphant as he is. Zimmer is not going to do that by starting from scratch.

Changing the theme completely would be like putting Superman in black leather tights, or making his love interest someone else besides Lois Lane. It wouldn't be Superman.

 

[Black Dynamite]

It will prob be similar to the new batman score where there are subtle hints from the 1989 score but different and unique. I like a lot of Zimmer's work so I'm in favor of a new score.

 

[aaronw]

No Superman just as a character needs to move past the Williams score. Batman moved from Elfman. Why not Superman from Williams.

The 90's Batman films already moved away from the Elfman score. The Elfman score for batman was far less synonymous with Batman himself, as it was a staple of Batman for only 5 years. The Williams score for Superman has been a staple of Superman for over three decades. Moreover, Williams theme captures the heart and soul of Superman far better than the Elfman theme did for Batman.

I suppose if you didn't grow up watching the original superman movies, you wouldn't identify with what I'm saying.

It seems to me that nothing can get better than the Williams theme. Change simply for the sake change is alway a bad idea.

 

[Nirvana]

No.

 

[Stringer]

No.

 

[Steyin]

I'll guarantee that no new theme will ever move me the way Williams' does. Hell, knowing Zimmer, we probably won't even get a theme. As for an overall score, I am confident it will be solid.

 

[Rezzo]

Time to move on from Williams score.

 

[aaronw]

Time to move on from Williams score.

Um, why?

It's good the way it is.

 

[daywalker2007]

In an ideal world, the Williams Superman theme would be used forever as nothing can ever top it, never ever. But as we have to be realistic, the answer is going to be No.

Technically speaking, Hans Zimmer is not capable of even giving a good rendition of the Williams theme as he is not a trained composer like Williams.

But what Zimmer is good at is creating new sounds and textures, and music which will suit the movie it is in. It will probably lack any sort of melody, and will probably be a simple two or four note theme, but it will most likely work with the visuals.

IMO Zimmer's best work was with Black Rain (incidentally he reused the exact theme for Batman Begins and Dark Knight), Rain Man, Last Samurai and Gladiator.

I think Zimmer works best with dark movies, and has a distinctive sound honed over 20 years of vast experience.

Is he going to give us an epic Superman theme? The answer is No.
Is he going to give us a relatively decent theme for Snyder's superman movie? Probably yes.

If we keep expectations low, maybe he will surprise us, but then again, Zimmer hardly changes, you always know what you will get.

I doubt we will get a big brassy score like the Williams score.

the end result will be good though, maybe Zimmer might get inspired to shut the doubters up by giving us his best ever score! we can only hope!

 

[Rezzo]

Um, why?

It's good the way it is.

I love Williams original score, but it's just time to move on.

 

[aaronw]

In an ideal world, the Williams Superman theme would be used forever as nothing can ever top it, never ever. But as we have to be realistic, the answer is going to be No.

Technically speaking, Hans Zimmer is not capable of even giving a good rendition of the Williams theme as he is not a trained composer like Williams.

But what Zimmer is good at is creating new sounds and textures, and music which will suit the movie it is in. It will probably lack any sort of melody, and will probably be a simple two or four note theme, but it will most likely work with the visuals.

IMO Zimmer's best work was with Black Rain (incidentally he reused the exact theme for Batman Begins and Dark Knight), Rain Man, Last Samurai and Gladiator.

I think Zimmer works best with dark movies, and has a distinctive sound honed over 20 years of vast experience.

Is he going to give us an epic Superman theme? The answer is No.
Is he going to give us a relatively decent theme for Snyder's superman movie? Probably yes.

If we keep expectations low, maybe he will surprise us, but then again, Zimmer hardly changes, you always know what you will get.

I doubt we will get a big brassy score like the Williams score.

the end result will be good though, maybe Zimmer might get inspired to shut the doubters up by giving us his best ever score! we can only hope!

You are right. Zimmer is probably not going to deliver us an epic them, which means he's not going to use the Williams theme at all. Unless, perhaps, fan boys like us intensely demand it. For that reason it's good to first ask whether he should use the Williams theme at all.

 

[shieldshero]

Enjoyed all the new music in Returns, the Williams stuff didn't work at all without the original cast. . . new score please

 

[Doctor Jones]

**** no!

Keeping the Williams score is only keeping a foot in the Donner world. If this is a true reboot, it must go. Yeah, yeah, spare me the James Bond stuff, but Bond isn't nailed down like Superman is with Donner. Superman needs it alot more than Bond.

 

[daywalker2007]

We have to look at this way. What is the main theme that Zimmer came up with for Nolan's Batman movies? It was basically the "mollossus" theme which sticks out as the defining theme for Nolan's batman.

And this theme was actually created 16 years earlier before Batman Begins for "Black Rain".

If you don't believe me, just listen here, its the exact same theme, note for note!

[YT]Xl9jb_No1GI[/YT]
So i'm curious as to what he is going to come up with for Superman. I have a sneaky feeling he might reuse something from one of his previous movies.

 

[DorkyFresh]

not only should he NOT borrow from Williams's theme, but he's confirmed that he's not going to. i understand the want for some semblance of Williams's theme but this shouldn't even really be a discussion since it's confirmed that he'll be 'reinventing' Superman's score.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

**** no!

Keeping the Williams score is only keeping a foot in the Donner world. If this is a true reboot, it must go. Yeah, yeah, spare me the James Bond stuff, but Bond isn't nailed down like Superman is with Donner. Superman needs it alot more than Bond.

Ditto, my good sir.

 

[ALP]

Is he going to give us an epic Superman theme? The answer is No.
Is he going to give us a relatively decent theme for Snyder's superman movie? Probably yes.

I unfortunately have to agree. I'm most afraid Zimmer won't create an iconic theme.

He did score Lion King and Pirates- incredible very memorable... so I still have small bits of hope.