Top 20 Kamen Scores

Ok, this is what it's all about.  I decided to start with Michael Kamen because a.) unfortunately he passed so his catalog is complete and b.) my first favorite score was Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, so it seems only appropriate to start with that. 

I love Kamen's music.  He tackled just about every genre well.  His highlights are his two cop trilogies, but he has plenty of other great period pieces and dramas.  Without further ado, my top 20 Kamen scores:

20. Road House
I finally gave this a listen recently.  It is sort of Die Hard lite.  But it's really unfair to compare the two because this is not nearly as good.  Still, it is better than most.

19. Last Action Hero
Suprisingly light on action.  Arnold's movies have had some great scores, but this is pretty forgettable.  I expected a lot more from this.

18. The Last Boy Scout
This has some pretty good stuff, especially the little jig piece.  But overall, it stands as the waypoint between his great scores and his meh scores.

17. Die Hard 2
Now we're talking.  I really like the addition of Finlandia as the classical piece.  I may have discounted this score because it is my least favorite movie of the series, but that is clearly not Kamen's fault.  I would love to hear a complete rendition of this score.

16. The Iron Giant
A very good score for an underrated animated movie.  This would probably be my favorite non-Pixar or Batman animated score.  It could be higher on this list, but Kamen just has too much good music.

15. Frequency
It's good, but not quite as memorable as the other scores ranked higher.  The Buxton Fire scence sends chills down my spine.  Plus, who doesn't love a movie centered around baseball?

14. Lethal Weapon 2
This series deserves more respect (and more complete releases).  The Stilt House is one of Kamen's best action tracks anywhere.

13. Lethal Weapon 3
There's one big reason this is ranked higher than the previous movie: Armor Piercing Bullets.  That is one of my all-time favorite action pieces.  That, and I like the mini theme for Russo's character.

12. Die Hard: With a Vengeance
Clearly we're in the thick of the Lethal Weapon/Die Hard scores.  This is the top of the sequels I ranked, mainly because I love the inclusion of When Johnny Comes Marching Home.

11. The Three Musketeers
A somewhat forgotten Kamen great.  In some ways it's a poor-man's Robin Hood, though that diminishes how good this score is.  I particularly love M' Lady DeWinter.

10. Lethal Weapon
Iconic, and a shame it just cracks the top 10.  The Hollywood Blvd Chase is enough to make this one of the great action scores, and the goofy themes fit perfectly.

9. Mr. Holland's Opus
Better known as Mr. Kamen’s Opus.  I don’t have any proof, but I would bet this was his most personal project given the subject manner.

8. Open Range

Both the movie and the score are largely forgotten, but Kamen really tapped into arguably the best genre for movie scores.  One of my favorite western scores for sure.

7. X-Men

The X-Men movies collectively have the best music of any superhero movie series (sorry Batman), and it began with a bang.  The X-Jet track remains one of my favorite all-time.

6. Highlander

I wish I could hear a proper complete score for this.  A prime example of how an amazing score can overcome a dreadful movie, even despite Queen.  Swordfight at 34th Street is amazing.

5. What Dreams May Come

About a thousand times better than the rejected Ennio Morricone score.  Every time I hear it, it gets to me.  It really captures the journey from highs to the lowest of lows.

4. Don Juan DeMarco

A movie best known for the Bryan Adams song, this score is amazingly charming.  One of my favorite scores to fall asleep to.  Yes, I am a sucker for Spanish guitar.

3. Band of Brothers

Probably the greatest score for a miniseries, with apologies to Basil Poledouris' Lonesome Dove.  There is so much greatness going on here, but it begins with the haunting main theme.

2. Die Hard

The action score to end all action scores, and a perfect fit for the greatest action movie of all time.  There have been a few “complete” releases recently, but both are missing quite a few tracks.  The inclusion of Beethoven’s 9^th is perfect.

1. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Was there any doubt I would have this first?  I wore this tape out!  Again perhaps most well known for the Bryan Adams son, but Marian’s theme is perhaps his most beautiful work, and the action scenes are driving.  How has nobody released a complete score for this?

So there you have it.  Argue away.