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Post #950414

Author
Density
Parent topic
Ranking the Star Wars Soundtracks
Link to post in topic
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/950414/action/topic#950414
Date created
7-Jun-2016, 11:06 PM

ROTJ is actually my favorite soundtrack. The music during Luke and Vader’s duel is hands down the best thing Williams has ever done IMO. The Emperor’s theme is awesome, and that melancholy reprise of the Imperial March during Vader’s death scene sends shivers down my spine to this day. ROTJ wouldn’t be half the film it is if it wasn’t for those throne room scenes, and those throne room scenes wouldn’t be half as good as they are if it wasn’t for the brilliant music.

And all the score for everything with Jabba’s palace, Endor, and the final space battle is just as exciting as the previous two scores and used the best elements of them. Plus you even got “Lapti Nek” and “Yub Nub” as bonuses. Opinion may be mixed on those two but I for one love 'em and think they fit their respective scenes perfectly.

ESB comes next for introducing us to the Imperial March and some truly awesome music for the Hoth and Cloud City scenes in particular. Nothing beats that moment when Vader storms into the Hoth base to a thundering Imperial March or later in the film when the music abruptly changes pace as he demands his shuttle. (Ruined in the SE by the way.) Both are pure badass moments that define the character.

The original Star Wars is the one that started it all of course and is nearly tied with ESB overall, would probably best it if the Imperial March was written earlier. Every theme is iconic. And you can’t beat the binary sunset and the Cantina Band songs are ridiculously catchy.

Then TPM brought us Duel of the Fates which was awesome so it gets major points for that.

The rest are kind of tied IMO, not quite as memorable. AotC had a great love theme and it’s a shame it wasn’t used in equally great love scenes, and TFA has Rey’s Theme and the last bit of music when she finds Luke is awesome, so it gets points for that despite being a little more repetitive than is par for Williams. RotS is probably the weakest score, most all of it is recycled and I can’t even hum for you anything that wasn’t, but it’s still pretty good.