I don't disagree, but I wasn't referring to Williams' score in the Donner films. Instead, I was talking about Ottman's score that just used portions of the main theme one-too-many-times, incapable of breaking away from it enough to cater to the the needs of its own film.
Ottman didn't use the main theme one-too-many-times. Plus SR is a direct sequel to the first two Reeve films so what did you expect. He had to use some of the themes that Williams created.
Ottman used snippets of the main theme during "Rough Flight". He used the full theme when the audience applauded Superman's return at the Baseball stadium, which was appropriate, imo.
When Superman was flying around Metropolis with Lois the emotional theme, which Ottman created for Superman in this film, was carrying most of the scene. With the Lois Lane theme making a big statement as they approach the DP. While the emotional theme wrapped up the rest of that cue.
The scene where Supes was saving Meteropolis the Superman theme was barely used in that scene if I recall. I think he used a snippet of it when he was landing with the DP globe over his shoulders.
The "So Long Superman" cue/scene was mostly carried by Ottman's emotional theme, while the Superman theme made a big statement towards the end of the cue showing defeat and loss.
During Supes suncharge Ottman used his emotional theme to carry that sequence.
I noticed mostly during the third act Ottman uses the Superman theme when Superman is doing something majestic or "super" if you will. Like when Superman was lifting the other half of Luthors sinking ship while Lois, Richard and Jason were stuck inside, as well as when Superman was lifting the kryptonite continent into orbit/space, and the final scene which is a homage to the other films. Ottman did let the emotional theme carry most or half of the final flight sequence before the Superman theme came in to wrap the movie up though.
I don't think Ottman relied too much on the themes from the other films. He used the Lois Lane theme vaguely in three scenes. The scene where Clark sees Lois (on the tv screen) for the first time in five years, the scene where he follows Lois with his x-ray vision as she's using the elevator to meet up with Supes on the rooftop, and towards the end of the Metropolis flying sequence with Lois . Ottman was actually against using the theme at first but succumbed to it eventually in a good way. I'm not going to count the end credits. That used the LL theme as well.
The "Leaving Home/Smallville" theme was only used in his flashback/ childhood sequence and when Ma Kent was waiting outside of the hospital for her son to be alive. The theme was used sparingly and vaguely.
The Krypton theme was used at the opening scene b/c it was a direct homage to the first film. The theme made a big statement during the overhead/panning shot of Luthor and his gang approaching the FOS. He used the theme for the last time when Supes mentions what was left of Krypton during Lois' interview with him on the DP roof.
Ottman didn't bother using Williams' "March of the Viillains" theme for Luthor again and instead wrote a darker more sinister Luthor theme to match Spacey's more darker mad scientist approach to Hackman's.
Again Ottman didn't rely on the themes too much when used. Second this is a sequel to the Donner film. Therefore he had to stay true to William's themes for continuity's sake.
So I believe Ottman went the right direction for his SR score. I really don't get all the fuss that Ottman get's for this. His score for SR is a lot better than his F4 scores, imo.
If Snyder will be going for some dark and bombastic themes/images, they pretty-much got the go-to guy for the music.
