music Who's the better composer: John Williams or Hans Zimmer?

[Unr3alGamer 230]

The 2 most well-respected and acclaimed movie composers of the last few generations. Which one is the superior one?

 

To me, John Williams all the way. Hans Zimmer has made some more dramatic & tense soundtracks, and he has done a variety of some great soundtracks (half of Christopher Nolan's movies, Pirates of the Caribbean, Kung Fu Panda, Gladiator) but also some very generic soundtracks (Pearl Harbor, Man of Steel). John Williams goes beyond writing music: he writes feelings. Even his worst work invokes a sense of adventure, wonder, inspiration, and delight. His best work is some of the best musical pieces put to film.

 

Edit: I added a 3rd option if you can't decide.

Edited January 28, 2016 by Unr3alGamer

[Mesme Rize 15,685]

While i appreciate the work that my fellow german man Hans Zimmer did, i still have to say John Williams and it's not even close for me.

[Celli 4,338]

Oh, John Williams by a long shot.

His stuff in TFA was a little disappointing, though. I can't really remember much of the score.

[Unr3alGamer 230]

Oh, John Williams by a long shot.

His stuff in TFA was a little disappointing, though. I can't really remember much of the score.

I like these a lot: Rey's Theme, Jedi Steps, March of the Resistance, Attack on Jakku Village, Torn Apart, Scherzo for X-Wings, The Scavenger.

Edited January 28, 2016 by Unr3alGamer

[Mand'alor Dash 2,224]

I've always loved how John Williams turns every film he scores into an opera. The man is immensely talented, and can even bring much needed life into an otherwise terrible movie. Attack of the Clones, for example; awful, awful movie, but John Williams made it watchable.

 

Hans Zimmer is good. He's made some great tracks for movies such as Pirates of the Caribean, but the influence he's had on the world of film scoring has been very negative. You could argue that Williams had some very mediocre imitators, but nothing compares to the damned foghorn from Inception somehow leaking its way into every action soundtrack on the planet. It worked well for one movie, but for some reason it's in all of them now. I'm not saying this is necessarily Zimmer's fault, although he is sometimes the perpetrator, but his work was never exceptional to begin with. He's an above-par composer who, in a few decades, will only be remembered for the bloody foghorn instead of his actual good tracks.

Edited January 28, 2016 by Mand'alor Dash

[1Bit 1,531]

I enjoy both. Can't really comment on a favourite.

[Celli 4,338]

I like these a lot: Rey's Theme, Jedi Steps, March of the Resistance, Attack on Jakku Village, Torn Apart, Scherzo for X-Wings, The Scavenger.

I'll have to give them another listen for sure. I couldn't really hear the score that much in the theater, I'm sure if I listen a lot more closely, I'll like them.

Episode 3 has the best score in my opinion, though.

[Unikitty 1,212]

I'd listen to either one non-stop. But if I was forced to pick one, I'd choose Hans Zimmer. John Williams' pieces don't have the same ambiance that Zimmer's pieces have and I think I'd prefer those over William's more active and straightforward works.

[Megas 27,745]

Hans Zimmer has made some amazing things like Pirates of the Caribbean, Kung Fu Panda and Lion King but as you said he also has his share of generic scores, especially with action movies.

 

John Williams on the other hand, anything he composes is gold, definitely one of the best composers of our time. As far as Cinema goes, the only guy close to matching him is Michael Giacchino

 

EDIT: If we're gonna talk about best Star Wars OSTs, I agree with RotS having the best of the bunch, though ESB and TPH have the best single songs(Imperial March and Duel of the Fates respectively)

Edited January 28, 2016 by Megas

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,161]

I really hate comparing moving composers as they are both talented individuals who have made a lot of musical gold over the years.

 

Saying that though, I would have to say I prefer John Williams as it seems that plenty of Hans' stuff sounds somewhat cookie-cutter and lacks depth at times; but that is only my perspective.

 

And my perspective prefers James Newton Howard over both, so take that as you will.

[El Duderino 879]

Both great composers, but...

 

Jurassic Park...

 

nuff said.

[Film Reel 75]

To be honest both have great works but John Williams' music has more emotion to it and becomes part of the scene where as Hans Zimmer's usually has this grand sense about it even in the smaller pieces. Two very different composers. Though I would have to side wuth John Williams on this as he has helped create some of cinemas best moments.

[BlueBrony 388]

John Williams is the man. Hans Zimmer hasn't yet gotten the longevity that Williams enjoys, but I have a feeling that he may reach similar heights someday. Williams special talent is in making melodies that stick with you, whether it's Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Superman, Jurassic Park, Schindler's list, Harry Potter, or E.T. (just to name a few). He has also written for a lot of other things, including the Olympics (Summon the Heroes, Olympic Fanfare and Theme) and President Obama's inauguration. I have no doubt that John Williams is the Wagner of our time.

[Spark Thunderbass 1,441]

I like both of them, they all make pretty awesome scores, although I have to admit that John Williams is a bit more phenomenal compared to Hans Zimmer.

[Unr3alGamer 230]

John Williams is the man. Hans Zimmer hasn't yet gotten the longevity that Williams enjoys, but I have a feeling that he may reach similar heights someday. Williams special talent is in making melodies that stick with you, whether it's Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Superman, Jurassic Park, Schindler's list, Harry Potter, or E.T. (just to name a few). He has also written for a lot of other things, including the Olympics (Summon the Heroes, Olympic Fanfare and Theme) and President Obama's inauguration. I have no doubt that John Williams is the Wagner of our time.

Did he score Obama's inauguration?

[Jokuc 8,174]

John William's work is amazing and so is Hans Zimmer's, I can't pick between them. My favorite film music composer though is Ennio Morricone.

[Twisted Cyclone 🚓 6,261]

John Williams and Hans Zimmer are both amazing in their own ways.

[TheAnimationFanatic 3,596]

They're both great for different reasons. Hans Zimmer's music is mostly Epic, Bombastic, and Percussion Based. Whereas John Williams' is Whimsical, Adventurous, and Melody Based.

Edited January 29, 2016 by Theanimationfanatic

[TheAnimatorOfficial 567]

John Williams. However, Michael Giacchino is quickly making a name for himself. His scores of The Incredibles, Up, and Inside Out are downright phenomenal.

[Unr3alGamer 230]

John Williams. However, Michael Giacchino is quickly making a name for himself. His scores of The Incredibles, Up, and Inside Out are downright phenomenal.

I like Michael Giacchino. He's done more outside of Pixar movies XD. Lost, Star Trek (2009), Jurassic World, Super 8, etc. He's a great composer, but he has yet to make a soundtrack that's truly inspirational.

[Megas 27,745]

I like Michael Giacchino. He's done more outside of Pixar movies XD. Lost, Star Trek (2009), Jurassic World, Super 8, etc. He's a great composer, but he has yet to make a soundtrack that's truly inspirational.

The Medal of Honor series, particularly Frontline, which I'd argue is one of the best Soundtracks ever made

[Bojo 1,372]

I couldn't ever choose between these two.

 

On one hand, you have the legendary soundrtack from Star Wars.

 

On the other, you have the epic soundtrack from Interstellar...

 

 

Of course both composers' have much more music to offer, but both are the best 

[Unr3alGamer 230]

I couldn't ever choose between these two.

 

On one hand, you have the legendary soundrtack from Star Wars.

 

On the other, you have the epic soundtrack from Interstellar...

 

 

Of course both composers' have much more music to offer, but both are the best 

Interstellar is probably one of Hans Zimmer's most memorable soundtracks, probably from the repeated A-E, A-E, B-E, B-E, C-E, C-E, D-E, D-E, B-E. lol

Edited January 30, 2016 by Unr3alGamer

[Bojo 1,372]

Interstellar is probably one of Hans Zimmer's most memorable soundtracks, probably from the repeated A-E, A-E, B-E, B-E, C-E, C-E, D-E, D-E, B-E. lol

It is definitely epic. My fav Hans Zimmer soundtrack was The Dark Knight, then Inception came, and then Interstellar happened. I truly love his work

[King Sejong 859]

   John Williams has composed music to many of my favourite movies, like the Poseidon Adventure, the Towering Inferno, Jaws, Superman, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park and Harry Potter, his music is iconic, and gives each film a stand out identity, plus give moments in each scenes, like charm or suspense, especially Raiders of the Lost Ark, where he gives the Ark of the Covenant its own theme song, and once you have heard it, you will never forget, it provides mystery and power to this artefact.

   Hans Zimmer is good, for he has composed music for Backdraft, the Lion King, and the Gladiator, but I love his work for Black Hawk Down, it is one of my favourite soundtracks of all time, however, Hans is too prolific, his music can sound too much alike, like his game soundtracks, and the Dark Knight soundtrack was not as memorable as Danny Elfman's 1989 Batman, James Horner is another composer that has music that sounds similar to previous work, I think Michael Giacchino is the closest composer who could match John Williams, after all his game soundtracks are special, like Medal of Honour and Call of Duty, which is why I give my vote to John Williams.