Intrada Soundtrack Forum

I'm sure that people have a handful of choice tracks that come to mind, but do you have an all time favorite that you feel just blows the competition out of the water? For me, I'd have to say that the easy money would be on DESERT CHASE, from Raiders of the Lost Ark. Nothing even comes quite close for me. It's slow building tempo and it's relentlessly grinding rhythm, combined with Willaims' trademarked heroic Raiders fanfare, never fails to elicit excitement, nor leaving me near breathlessness. Good stuff, to be sure.

How about you?

Matt

Good choice !

On the Tank from Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade still gets the blood pumping!

El Cid and Spartacus both have extraordinary busy action music.

My all time favorite has to be Betrayed from Rambo: First Blood part II

followed closely by:

Breakout from Capricorn One
The Battle in the Snow from The Empire strikes Back
Futile Escape from Aliens

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Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius
- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Lately I've been extremely impressed by Brian Tyler's action scoring, and especially with Decimation Proclamation from Aliens VS Predator Requiem. This must be the best noisy action cue I've ever heard...
But if there was only one action cue to honor here, this would be for sure : Asteroid Field from The Empire Strikes Back for its interstellar punch !

"Raisuli Attacks" by Jerry Goldsmith from The Wind And The Lion.

(There may be other, equally good action cues, but this one is the first that comes to my mind... and a better action cue? That would be tough to find.)

Joel McNeely's "Cadillac Freefall" from Terminal Velocity is one of my favorites, but they are many.

1-DESERT CHASE Raiders of the Lost Ark
2-THE RAZOR First Blood
3-THE MONSTER TRACTOR Supergirl
4-FAILED KNIGHT Lionheart

NORTH BY NORTHWEST - "The Wild Ride" - Bernard Hermann

If the action cues in this score don't get your heart racing, nothing will.

How about "Cheyennes" by Alfred Newman from

HOW THE WEST WAS WON.

Staggering! Sensational! Superb!

It's hard to pick just one, right?

Looks like a few old school mentions and the obvious Williams/Goldsmith cues, but I must say that it's nice to see someone mention Joel McNeely's "Cadillac Freefall" from Terminal Velocity. He was definitely playing with the big boys when he wrote that one. Good choice, a little off the beaten path, but certainly a cue that's worthy of leaving one reaching for the defibrillator.

Best,

Matt

Jerry Goldsmith's "Helicopter Rescue" from THE CASSANDRA CROSSING has always been a favorite of mine.

James

P.S. On second thought, "The Climber" from the same film isn't too bad either.

The Hijacking from Air Force One (from Mr G).

I've always liked Cadillac Freefall as well.

Maybe I should make mention of my second choice here, as a nice runner up is also good for conversation. That said, my #2 would have to be Jerry Goldsmith's "HOT WATER" cue from Outland. I never really see this one come up in any debates concerning best action cues and it really should be on the list as one of the greatest. It's snarling, nasty scoring at it's best and certainly latches onto ones jugular and never lets go until the ride ends like a shot-gun blast to the face.

Some good choices you guys have posted - keep e'm coming.

So many to choose from!

Max Steiner's scoring of the charge in "The Charge of the Light Brigade" is my favorite. Elmer Bernstein's "The Magnificent Seven" contains many grand action cues (sort of creating action for moments where action is needed and the director supplied none...).

I also love many of Michael Giacchino's cues for "Speed Racer" -- his scoring of the final epic race, which is interspersed with some haunting cues for introspective moments within the race, is grand.

Steve Jablonsky's action cues for "Transformers" are also quite riveting.

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Erik Woods
host and producer CINEMATIC SOUND RADIO PODCAST


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