Five reasons the late James Horner was a genius

Composer James Horner. Photo / AFP

Dominic Corry takes a look at the late movie composer James Horner's greatest moments.

Film scores play a disproportionately large role in the emotional impact of most great movies, especially in relation to how well-known film score composers tend to be compared to actors, directors and writers.

Although anyone who's ever set foot in a movie theatre will be familiar with James Horner's work, many won't be familiar with his name. Until now, for the saddest of reasons. He was one of modern cinema's greatest composers, and his music has spent more time rolling around my head than that of any one other person.

Here are five reasons why:

1. The Oscar-winner

A scene from the film, Titanic.

The score (and Celine Dion song) with which Horner will forever be remembered (Titanic) shows him to be a master of classic sentiment. It's weepy sure, but the effectiveness cannot be denied.

2. Aliens

My personal favourite Horner score is an earlier James Cameron collaboration which plays on my headphones a bit more than it probably should - it's not particularly well-suited to everyday tasks. Aliens features perhaps the most atmospheric and tension-building score in the history of genre film-making.

A scene from the film, Aliens.

The finale escape music is ridiculously effective, and has been much imitated. It's like a stompy, action movie take on Gustav Holst's Mars.

3. Sax 'n' Steel Drums

A scene from the film, Commando.

My spiritual relationship with James Horner began with two very important action movies - the Arnold Schwarzenegger classic Commando (1985) and the Eddie Murphy breakout vehicle 48 Hrs. (1982). In scoring both of these films, Horner more or less offered up two variations on the same glorious action-ready theme. They're both absolutely sublime. Commando is slightly better.

4. The Gibson Movies

A scene from the film, Braveheart.

In addition to lasting partnerships with James Cameron (Avatar) and Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind is another great Horner score), Horner collaborated with Mel Gibson on his two best films as a director: Best Picture-winner Braveheart and the still-underrated Apocalypto (2006). There's a definite tonal overlap between the two scores.

5. Bear-mauling made beautiful

A scene from the film, Legends of the Fall.

Horner's score for the beloved-by-people-of-a-certain-age drama Legends of the Fall (1994) was in some ways a pre-cursor to the high-gloss schmaltz of Titanic. But it still gets me in the gut.

- nzherald.co.nz