Independence Day

The 1996 blockbuster has yet another rousing score from Arnold. His style still harks back to the golden age of Hollywood, but in this it has much more of a modern edge to it most of the time. The rousing main theme is incredibly patriotic and so fits the film well. The alien motif isn't really a theme, but it does convey a lot of the menace that is required and the use of massed choirs only adds to the effect. The action is good, but as with Stargate, I honestly couldn't visualise what was going on at any given moment when listening to the soundtrack. Again there is pastiche, but this time a lot more like John Williams than Stargate. The lack of the desert and mystical elements means that it looses it's Lawrence of Arabia feel as well. The score also has more cohesion than Stargate, but this is probably due to slightly longer tracks and hence fewer of them. The end credits makes an excellent suite of the best parts of the rest of the score and has the most over the top ending I have ever heard as well as being the longest end credits I can ever remember. The film version of the end credits starts and ends the same, but is different in the middle. So, for those who like loud and over the top music, this is a must buy.