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James Horner reveals why he didn't score 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2'

By

Chris Begley

·

on James Horner reveals why he didn't score 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2'

James Horner had a blast working with The Amazing Spider-Man director Marc Webb on the first movie, but Sony and the producers had different plans for the sequel. They decided to hire Hans Zimmer for The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and Horner explained why in a new interview with James Horner Film Music:

JHFM: So The Amazing Spider-Man was quite unusual for you, it was probably the director’s personality that brought you to this project, because he had a different vision for this film?

JH: He was very inexperienced and he and I had a very good relationship and the producers had their own opinion. And they didn’t want his input. And then Sony had their own, they just wanted action.

To me, the whole thing about doing the movie was I liked the director and there was a chance to write something for the two lead characters and then she dies in the next movie. But the next movie ended up being so terrible, I didn’t want to do it. It was just dreadful.

It sounds like Horner isn’t too upset about not writing the score for The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Whose music did you prefer? Horner’s score from The Amazing Spider-Man, or Hans Zimmer’s new take for The Amazing Spider-Man 2? Let me know in the comments below.

SOURCE: James Horner Film Music (via Joblo)

Comments

  1. Mr. Mr. Avatar
    Mr. Mr.

    i liked horner’s theme for ASM and had hoped they had continued with that direction for part 2. i liked zimmer’s score but still prefer horner’s. and this interview from him seems to confirm what many have said about studio interference contributing to the problems of the movie. too many cooks in the kitchen!
    i didn’t think the movie was dreadful as he is saying though, but it could’ve been better.

  2. Tayson Avatar
    Tayson

    I loved Hans Zimmer’s work on The Dark Knight movies, and his score for Man of Steel was a masterpiece. There are some parts of what he did on ASM2 that I thought were great, but as a whole, I didn’t love it. I never paid too much attention to James Horner’s score in the first one, so it’s hard for me to say it’s better or worse, but I didn’t love Zimmer’s score like I expected to.

    I honestly don’t understand why everyone thinks the movie was a trainwreck. I loved it. I’ve heard all the arguments about the “problems” with it, and I think they’re wrong. I’ve seen it several times and still love it. I think they pulled it off really well. But what do I know?

    1. Jim_Beaming Avatar
      Jim_Beaming

      If I wanted to see a Spider-Man musical, I would’ve seen turn off the dark.

  3. Nick Avatar
    Nick

    Horners was much better. The second movie was definitely not good

  4. Assassin Messiah Avatar
    Assassin Messiah

    It wasn’t a bad movie but the Music was horrible. I sure hope they don’t go in that direction again

  5. Mike D/ Avatar
    Mike D/

    I loved James Horner’s score versus Zimmer’s which is normally no t the case with his work. Outside of the horn segment for Spiderman’s theme as it were, I found the soundtrack overall very forgettable.

  6. FBK Avatar
    FBK

    James Horner.. always James Horner. His musical style is stunning- and there is less of an ego than that of Hans Zimmer. From Star Trek and The Land Before Time in the early days of his career, to Titanic and A Beautiful Mind, to the more recent Spider Man and Avatar (maybe not so much Avatar), I am constantly moved and inspired by James Horner; I can listen to his scores all day, every day. However I do feel that recently he has had really great opportunities to impress, but just hasn’t been hitting the mark like he used to do. I’m waiting for the next one eagerly but they come so infrequently these days.

    James Horner’s Spiderman score was perfect. It gave a more unique feel to a super hero film.. the simplicity of only using a piano at times left the bare emotions of the actors exposed, and complimented the ‘man behind the mask’ side to our hero. The theme was bold and heroic, and in my opinion sounded hopeful, but it wasn’t overpowering. It echoed Danny Elfman’s Spiderman score too, which fans would have surely picked up on (the fast electric beats with a steady, proud theme); a nice, familiar link to a new re-booted story.

    … don’t get me wrong, I do like Zimmer- but as of recent years it seems he’s only interested in making a big noise. While his scores are possibly bridging the gap between orchestral and electric, he sometimes neglects the use of melody or theme to set the mood of a movie- it’s all about the synthetic drums. Interestingly, I’ve found his scores to animated movies really enjoyable. He does posses the musicianship, undoubtedly, it’s just a shame he feels he has to always give ‘epic’ crowd pleasers these days.

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