Issue 24- Super Themes! Movie Edition!
So after dealing with the celebrity obsessed hero that is Booster Gold last issue, I thought I’d go back and look at something to do with Superheros in media. After thinking about what I might want to discuss, I realized one of the things that people might often overlook but do remember are the theme songs!
From tv’s to movies, sometimes there’s just that heroic theme that sticks with you. Now I had to split this article up. We’ll be focusing exclusively on my five favorite movie themes for this one in no particular order because if we went with tv themes, this list would just be WAY to long. So let’s give it up for my favorite comic book movie themes!
(Christopher Reeves made you believe.)
Wonder Woman- WONDER WOMAN Theme
The best thing to come out of Batman VS Superman was Wonder Woman. Hell, the best thing to come out of the DC movie-verse has been Wonder Woman. And while her part was downplayed in Justice League, she was still awesome in that so of course they had to give her the most badass theme they could.
By Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL, this theme instantly pushed the Vs movie in a better direction just by how amped it got you. This is truly a theme fit for the princess of the Amazons.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=74&v=Gw_o7XUX3fg
(Those Amazon’s have the BEST themes!)
X-Men- Suite From X2 ( X-Men Main Theme )
Let’s face it, while Blade really gave new blood, and half of you left, to the comic book movie genre, it’s rebirth really started with 2000’s X-Men. Or Wolverine and the X-Men as the film series really enjoyed to focus on Logan.
The opening song got you hyped as it went through a very industrial and modern theme. Composed by John Ottman, this song got you ready to fight...the horrors of racism, homophobia, and all the other allusions X-Men stood for.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=41&v=3RmKEKtodDs
(You’re imagining the giant X-Door aren't you!)
My favorite version is the suite from X-2 which incorporated a bit of everything in there!
Batman (1989)- Batman Theme
You knew this had to be on here. Going from something dark and brooding before slowly amping up to amazing heights, the theme from 1989’s Batman, yes you now have to post the year considering how many remakes and sequels, gave us a taste of what were in for. With Tim Burton’s trademark style, this movie was going to be dark, but with an element of wonder and fun.
Composed by Tim Burton’s usual partner in crime, Danny Elfman, this song made it’s ways through multiple movies, and even used during the original Batman The Animated Series Theme. This is definitely music to fight crime in the dark to!
(You just wanna play with those wonderful toys…)
The Avengers- The Avengers Theme Song
A much more classical orchestrated piece, the Avengers theme song start of slow once again, like many of the best on this list, until it hits the brass and horns where you can imagine the camera swirling around the first massive superhero team up in movie history.
Composed by Alan Silvestri, who also composed the theme to Captain America which almost made this list, this was the song was worthy of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=40&v=8VGJGXMUhmc
(Hulk SMASH other puny themes!)
Superman- Superman Theme
While I was honest in saying that I put this list of my favorite themes together in no particular order, I won’t hesitate to say that the theme from 1978’s Superman movie is my favorite hero theme of all time.
John Williams outdid himself with this one. This theme has the highs, the lows, it has excitement, wonder, and especially, hope. The Man Of Steel’s theme tried something similar but it just never was able to quite hit the height of this song, plateauing before it met expectations. Hmm i wonder if that’s a metaphor…
But seriously, this is my favorite superhero theme of all time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=e9vrfEoc8_g
(You will believe a theme can fly!)
Next week, we’ll be doing a small but fun overview of SQUIRREL GIRL BEATS UP THE MARVEL UNIVERSE! Yes this is a real comic and yes, the writers completely mapped out how she could logically do it. Meanwhile, stay tuned for next time where we continue with my favorite themes songs on TV! Excelsior!
Posted from my blog with SteemPress : https://vaughndemont.com/comicscorner/2018/08/14/issue-24-super-themes-movie-edition/
Excellent list here, @comicscorner. I especially love seeing John Williams' Superman: The Move theme here in the top spot. Richard Donner knew what he was doing with that film, and understood that unless the director, the actors, and the production team all took the movie and its mythology seriously, audiences wouldn't. Part of that 'taking it seriously' bit was hiring a top-tier composer to score the movie, and making sure they understood the dramatic theme it was going for. Superman: The Movie without Williams' iconic theme isn't a serious superhero film, just as Star Wars without Williams' iconic theme isn't a serious space opera.
I know people are quick to disregard it these days, but I want to give a shout-out to John Ottman's work scoring Superman Returns. While it's true Ottman got to borrow from Williams' original composition, I think the work he did for everything unique to the film is elegant, emotional, and perfectly-keyed for the story the film was trying to tell.
That, right there, is the entire movie condensed down to three beautiful minutes by Ottman. I couldn't recognize a single track from any of the recent big-screen blockbusters I've seen, but I walked out from seeing Superman Returns in the theater with that song burned into my brain. That, right there, is magic. :)
Returns wasn't bad per say, it was just, forgettable. That was it's biggest misstep. It didn't try anything new with the character which isn't necessarily a bad thing but it also didn't add anything either. It tried to recapture the magic and the idea of the original movies and did it but without really rising to the heights that made the original, first two at least, work.
Still, this music really works well and captures the feel of what they were TRYING to go for.