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SolVanderlyn · May 30, 2017

I love movie soundtracks. Almost as much as I love game soundtracks. John Williams and his score for Star Wars, as overused and cliche as they have become, still hold the top spot in cinematic music for me. The Imperial March is absolutely perfect for an evil empire and its "the dragon" trope of Darth Vader. And Duel of the Fates is perhaps his magnum opus (good thing, too, as Episode I needed a redeeming factor).

Tell me, GAF. What other tracks are as amazing as this? I'm not trying to say that this one is the best, and none can reach its level of glory. I am legitimately asking what stands up to it, as I really would like to have more music to listen to.

Secret Fawful · May 30, 2017

Sword of the Stranger - Ihojin no Yaiba, Deai, Aganai no Yuki by Naoki Sato is pretty much the best final duel theme I've ever heard.

jstripes · May 30, 2017

"Epic" doesn't mean "good".

Frozenprince · May 30, 2017

jstripes said:
"Epic" doesn't mean "good".

In this case it does tho.

VeryGooster · May 30, 2017

Hot take. I like "Battle of the Heroes" more than "Duel of the Fates."

SolVanderlyn · May 30, 2017

jstripes said:
"Epic" doesn't mean "good".

Spare me your semantics, you know what I meant.

Gooster said:
Hot take. I like "Battle of the Heroes" more than "Duel of the Fates."

Valid opinion.

entremet · May 30, 2017

I love it.

VeryGooster · May 30, 2017

I mean don't get me wrong DOTF has its place in SW soundtrack lexicon but for everything one can criticize about Revenge of the Sith, BOTH is just such an amazing track for honestly one of my favorite set pieces in the series.

eizarus · May 30, 2017

Probably not on the same level, but I think Gundam Unicorn (OVA) has one of the best and most epic soundtracks I've heard in a long time. Especially the live versions and the medley.

https://youtu.be/pJI0iTemcjo
https://youtu.be/ojhRqE4JOAU

HStallion · May 30, 2017

Even Dual of the Fates can't top Susumu Hirasawa's work on Berserk.

Sign makes me want to go on revenge and kill me an army of demons. To get the full epic feel you can watch it with the trailer for the PS2 Berserk game, its awesome!

Pagusas · May 30, 2017

The entire Pirates of Caribbean At Worlds End soundtrack, but the end credit theme mixes them all together to enjoy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrJHxtdxW7M

Syder · May 30, 2017

Gooster said:
Hot take. I like "Battle of the Heroes" more than "Duel of the Fates."

Definitely, I think it's much better.

zeshakag · May 30, 2017

I thought John Powell's Test Drive from How to Train Your Dragon was pretty epic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LECmyZB-cgM (Just the song at full volume: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5N3q68e7OQ )

Also, Howard Shore's Glamdring from The Two Towers:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_1EVCVYjO8&list=PL548C1D0CE6653E0C

Hero_of_the_Day · May 30, 2017

Duel of the Fates is literally the best thing about the prequels. It is fucking awesome.

Loxley · May 30, 2017

That one song from Requiem for a Dream that was used in every goddamn movie trailer for like a decade straight is pretty freaking epic.

zeemumu · May 30, 2017

the orchestral version of Requiem for a Dream

brianjones · May 30, 2017

remember when this song was on TRL

smurfx · May 30, 2017

the matrix has some good songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbxZargtXug

HStallion · May 30, 2017

Basil Poledouris' entire Conan the Barbarian score is quite possibly the most epic score for a movie ever even to this day. This isn't a hot take either, its the god damned truth.

Riddle of Steel/Riders of Doom

The Kitchen/The Orgy

Battle of the Moudns

George Oscar Bluth II · May 30, 2017

Isn't the version used in the final film the concert version or something? I do know that Lucas messed around with Duel of the Fates enough to make Williams unhappy, because the entire final act was reconfigured.

Bobby Roberts · May 30, 2017

The movie it comes from: Just okay
The use of it in the movie: almost non-existent

BUT:

"What Are You Going to Do When You're Not Saving the World" by Hans Zimmer, from Man of Steel?

Damn good. Daaaaaaaaamn good.

As good as Williams' work on Superman: The Movie? Nah.

Not with the Prelude & Main Title on that score. And not with the Planet Krypton following shortly afterwards.

Hey, speaking of Preludes, probably the best bit of battle music I've heard in on both TV and Film is Bear McCreary's Prelude to War for Battlestar Galactica, which is fucking amazing.

Loxley said:
That one song from Requiem for a Dream that was used in every goddamn movie trailer for like a decade straight is pretty freaking epic.

This is partially my fault.

brainzelda · May 30, 2017

I think Brothers in Arms from Fury Road fits the bill.

DiscoJer · May 30, 2017

Attack of the Hawkmen/Battle Theme from Flash Gordon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBe1hwg7V-M

Not exactly a great sense of tactics, but great music. There's actually a bit more before that clip starts that builds up the anticipation that I love.

edit: here's a slightly longer version that has the bit I mean

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnTHypbLlkE

HStallion · May 30, 2017

DiscoJer said:
Attack of the Hawkmen/Battle Theme from Flash Gordon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBe1hwg7V-M

Not exactly a great sense of tactics, but great music. There's actually a bit more before that clip starts that builds up the anticipation that I love.

Its fucking Queen. Their soundtrack elevated that Flash Gordon movie several times beyond what it really was.

KO Traveling Hobo · May 30, 2017

Angel of Doom
Fate
Heisoku no Kakudai

lastplayed · May 30, 2017

Ride of the Fire Mares from Krull. My favourite James Horner track ever.

MGrant · May 30, 2017

It's quite short, but

Anth0ny · May 30, 2017

the Batman theme

but mainly as the TAS theme.

HStallion · May 30, 2017

Anth0ny said:
the Batman theme

but mainly as the TAS theme.

It was perfected in Mask of the Phantasm. Shirley Walker was incredible.

Alexander DeLarge · May 30, 2017

Basically the entire LOTR soundtrack but these in particular
Bridge of Khazad Dum
https://youtu.be/zBoGSMuuHf4

The Breaking of the Fellowship
https://youtu.be/sQ9NOV3KNpY

The Last March of the Ents
https://youtu.be/4QfHKv86gRQ

Forth Eorlingas
https://youtu.be/ESnMzQZubKg

The Lighting of the Beacons
https://youtu.be/ZgJYNveHOYU

Battle of Pelennor Fields
https://youtu.be/F8oqZ7SJN_8

The End of All Things
https://youtu.be/3MWxAAQoNiw

Bobby Roberts · May 30, 2017

HStallion said:
Basil Poledouris' entire Conan the Barbarian score is quite possibly the most epic score for a movie ever even to this day. This isn't a hot take either, its the god damned truth.

Riddle of Steel/Riders of Doom

The Kitchen/The Orgy

Battle of the Moudns

This is some truth.

brainzelda said:
I think Brothers in Arms from Fury Road fits the bill.

This also works damn well.

Although speaking of Mad Max - technically this isn't film score, but one of the best trailers FOR Fury Road used this old piece by Verdi and it fit so well, they put it in the movie during the Bullet Farmer's last ride.

Loxley · May 30, 2017

Alexander DeLarge said:
Bridge of Khazad Dum
https://youtu.be/zBoGSMuuHf4

The Breaking of the Fellowship
https://youtu.be/sQ9NOV3KNpY

The Last March of the Ents
https://youtu.be/4QfHKv86gRQ

Forth Eorlingas
https://youtu.be/ESnMzQZubKg

The Lighting of the Beacons
https://youtu.be/ZgJYNveHOYU

Battle of Pelennor Fields
https://youtu.be/F8oqZ7SJN_8

The End of All Things
https://youtu.be/3MWxAAQoNiw

Gotta toss in Host of the Eldar as well.

wandering · May 30, 2017

Rohan

Gondor

Isengard

Alexander DeLarge · May 30, 2017

Loxley said:
Gotta toss in Host of the Eldar as well.

Damn I forgot about that one. There's so many. Even after editing I keep thinking of more I could add in there.

Christopher Tin's Sogno di Volare (Civilization VI theme) and Baba Yetu (Civilization IV theme) are great too. I believe Baba Yetu was used in film and I'm sure Sogno di Volare will be too.
https://youtu.be/WQYN2P3E06s

https://youtu.be/IJiHDmyhE1A

Human Resources · May 30, 2017

I mean, Fire Walk With Me ends with fuckin Requiem in C Minor, in the context of the film that's pretty insane

Josue · May 30, 2017

HStallion said:
Even Dual of the Fates can't top Susumu Hirasawa's work on Berserk.

Sign makes me want to go on revenge and kill me an army of demons. To get the full epic feel you can watch it with the trailer for the PS2 Berserk game, its awesome!

Forces tho

Razgriz-Specter · May 30, 2017

The Kraken from Pirates of the Caribbean 2

Fancyarcher · May 30, 2017

Depends on what defines as epic, but these themes and pieces of bits always leave me on the edge of my seat, thus I'd classify them as epic, only the first I'd argue is directly epic as Duel of The Fates. Some of these scores are very obscure on this site, so you may have not heard them. I prefer to spotlight lesser known works because I love film music in general, while these thread tend to turn into the same fifty or so more "mainstream" tracks eventually being posted.

The amazing Final Conflict theme everyone.

And lets not forget the best track from the score either.

Ben Hur

El Cid

The Lion In Winter

Zulu

Zulu Dawn

Lifeforce

Total Recall theme

Slipstream

Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Sleepy Hollow

Judge Dredd

Jupiter Ascending

Stargate

And so on.

Loxley · May 30, 2017

How could I forget Kingdom of Heaven?

- Crusaders

- Battle of Kerak

- King's Fall

JayTapp · May 30, 2017

Hard to beat Conan's intro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEp76ppPc8o

HStallion · May 30, 2017

Ennio Morricone was also a master of the epic track. Whether it was The Ecstasy of Gold from The Good, The Bad and the Ugly or the amazing set of songs used for what was quite possibly the greatest gun fighter dual ever in Once Upon a Time in the West.

Edit: To get a better feel for just how god damned good the tracks for the final duel in Once Upon a Time in the West really are you need to watch the entire scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwb3P0fuM1c&t=328s. Huge spoilers but god damned if this isn't one of the best scenes in cinema history.

Shaanyboi · May 30, 2017

Last of the Mohicans - Promontory

Also agree with the Lord of the Rings mention. Specifically Bridge of Khazad-dum

Eternal Gamer · May 30, 2017

The Ecstasy of Gold. From The Good,
the Bad and the Ugly.

https://youtu.be/J3IlqY1CbI0

Aquavelvaman · May 30, 2017

Not a movie, but Ace Combat has some pretty good ones

Megalith Agnus Dei
The Liberation Of Gracemeria

CaviarMeths · May 30, 2017

Hans Zimmer - I Don't Think Now Is the Best Time

This has become one of my favorites. It's essentially a PotC score "best of" compilation in one track played at the climax of the trilogy. I don't even particularly like the movie it's in, but that music is epic as hell.

Also, anyone who doesn't like the docking scene of Interstellar and No Time For Caution can just get the fuck out of my face.

Gooster said:
Hot take. I like "Battle of the Heroes" more than "Duel of the Fates."

I agree. Both Battle of the Heroes and Anakin vs Obi-Wan are fantastic and I love how Williams weaves the classic themes into them.

LewieP · May 30, 2017

Clubbed To Death.

Death is the road to awe.

Anything by Zack Hemsey.

PhoncipleBone · May 30, 2017

Gooster said:
Hot take. I like "Battle of the Heroes" more than "Duel of the Fates."

Syder said:
Definitely, I think it's much better.

In this camp as well. Duel of the Fates is great, but Battle of the Heroes has more of an emotional punch to it.

ryutaro's mama · May 30, 2017

Vault Heist - Fast Five

https://youtu.be/preFv5uWWOM

Bonen no Max'd · May 30, 2017

Secret Fawful said:
Sword of the Stranger - Ihojin no Yaiba, Deai, Aganai no Yuki by Naoki Sato is pretty much the best final duel theme I've ever heard.

hell yeah this movie is so good and the theme is incredible

More_Badass · May 30, 2017

Some personal favorite tracks

Molossus (Batman Begins)

The Game Has Changed (Tron Legacy)

He's A Pirate (POTC: Curse of the Black Pearl)

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Tracks that are as epic as Duel of the Fates? (Movie soundtrack discussion)

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