"to the last I grapple with thee: from hell's heart I stab at thee: for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee." - what appropriate words to have Khan use, from when Captain Ahab's ship is destroyed. James Horner was a brilliant composer, and this music is genuinely epic.
"To the last I will grapple with thee. From hells heart I spit my last breath at thee" "Sir..the mains are back online" "Bless you Scotty. Go Sulu!" Probably the most quotable film of all the ST films. And a barnstorming soundtrack too.
James Horner is an amazing composer! I love this sound track. The music is epic and absolutely makes the movie. I wish that I could conduct this music some day. They don't compose music like this any more. So lyric, soaring and victorious. Congratulations Mr. Horner. You have given us so much beautiful music. It is an inspiration.
I saw the very first showing of this movie in Fresno Ca. When it was over, we stood up and cheered! We were so happy to see the Star Trek magic back! Simply awesome.
I left the theater with my tail between my legs like an ass-whipped puppy dog. My childhood hero JUST GOT KILLED. However, it was GREAT to see everyone back in character instead of like the first TOS movie.
It was the music for this film which turned me on to the genius of James Horner. I have now watched every movie he's scored, and I believe this score and The Search for Spock are his greatest accomplishments. I especially like his use of the upper register in the French horns and Trumpets to depict Khan. He is the master of using orchestral color to create tension. Studying this score would be a master class in how to write for movies.
If not for the work of John Williams on the first Star Wars film, there would be no need to even discuss the best movie soundtrack of all time. I dare say you could watch this film with no dialogue and the soundtrack would tell you the entire story. Thank you and Rest In Peace James Horner.
Quite probably my favorite movie score of all time, as it is all but constantly playing in my head 24/7. Each movement fits each scene in the movie and defines every dramatic moment. I love the strong Naval-like theme, as if it's a sea battle between a WWII Cruiser and a Destroyer....or perhaps a royal Galleon and a stolen pirate ship. Without James Horner's genius, Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan would not have been nearly as enjoying to experience.
the battle sequence part of the theme get me every time, movies these days have no where near the amount of pure emotion, you can feel khans hatred in the music its that piercing.
The best we get these days is Hans Zimmer's foghorn noises. I miss the days when they gave a shit about soundtracks. Although, say what you like about the Abrams reboot, it does have a decent sound track.
Joseph Glatz www.imdb.com/name/nm0002354/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 Nope, still a busy bee making the theme tracks to Star Wars sequels and the New Jurassic Park. I have to say the last theme track that has ever made me emotional was the Lord of the Rings.
Outside of the theme from Jaws, this is my fave theme of all time! Great movie, great villain, and Kirstie Alley was SO hot in this! I've seen this movie countless number of times, certainly one of my all-time favorite movies. The music is perfect here, the more I listen to it, the more I love it!
A masterpiece of a soundtrack, and an epic score. This should be played a lot more widely and regularly. I think it's one of the best movie soundtracks ever composed. Each track so effortlessly conveys the mood for the exact part of the film. It's a great forerunner for Star Trek III. RIP James Horner.
0:00 Main titles, 03:09 "It' the Reliant!", 08:18 "I have been and forever shall be your friend", 09:31 "Our Shields Are Dropping!", 13:34 "Khan..." and the Ceti Eels, 17:54 Departing for Regula One, 21:30 Red Alert/Mutara Nebula, 29:36 Genesis/Radiation/Newborn Planet, 36:13 "I'm proud to be your son."/ "I feel young."/Spock's monologue/End Creds
Back at that time he was 28 years old and the studio give him a maximal music orchestra with 92 players! What a big resposeble for a young composer/contucted like Jim Horner.
The music playing at the end when we were taken to the new Genesis planet was beautiful. The greenery and peacefulness of the environment combined with the music before showing Spock's final resting place on the planet was amazing.
To be honest I thought TNG's movies were good but.. Felt like they lacked something. A lot of people say that First Contact is the best but I didn't really enjoy that one as much. I enjoyed Insurrection though.
In my opinion ST2 is still the best ST film, and I think this soundtrack is a significant part of that. Any soundtrack that can give you goosebumps when you hear it again after a few years is definitely a winner.
Without James Horner's soundtrack , this film would be half as good as it is . The attacks scenes he adds so much excitement to them with his rousing music .
I love how the music seems to dance. The way it jumps from heroic and triumphant to a "horror" sounding and villainous score is amazing. It really captures the personalities of the two warriors as they duel. This movie could have no dialogue and the music would clearly tell this story. Probably my favorite movie soundtrack of all time.
I remember actually reading the screenplay/novel before I saw the movie - so I knew Spock died. Broke my heart for 24 hours (I was in high school, so the idea of no more Spock boggled my mind.) Now, no more of Spock Prime, but I love how Mr. Quinto has stepped into the role (although this new/alternate timeline doesn't make me too happy.)
Even though 4 different artists scored the first 6 movies, I love that they all kept consistent with the general "sound" of Star Trek. I love how both Goldsmith and Horner employed that "blaster beam" too :)
He tasks me, he tasks me and I shall have him! I'll chase him 'round the moons of Nibia and 'round the Antares Maelstrom and 'round perdition's flames before I give him up!
OMG, that is so going on my list! Thank you. I just want to share that, at my age I went back to school for a Master's and landed an internship at the Smithsonian Nat'l Air & Space Museum. Thus I moved to DC for 3 months, and what do I encounter but an outdoor Star Trek film series! I stood in the rain to see this film the nth time and to yell, "Kahn!" with hundreds of others, then texted my former prof, a science geek and sci fi nerd herself, to brag. I never tire of this wonderful music!
thank you gene for allowing all fans to do whatever and let people watch a vhs version. Dear disney. I want to watch an unmolested starwars trilogy when greedo fired before george.
I totally agree. This score is literally the best movie soundtrack ever...hands down. It really isn't even close as this score literally tells the story all by itself. I know exactly where all the dialog and scenes are in relation to this music and have also had times where this score runs continuously thru my head. Movies just aren't scored like this so perfectly anymore. It is unfortunate that Mr. Horner is no longer with us to bring his genius to movie soundscspes anymore. RIP James Horner.
0:00 Main Titles 03:09 The Wrath of Khan 08:18 Spock's Theme 09:31 Kirk's Explosive Reply 13:34 Doomed Souls 17:54 Clear All Moorings 21:30 Battle in the Mutara Nebula 29:36 Genesis Countdown 26:13 Epilogue and End Titles
Thank you so much for posting this - I find myself listening to this over and over again at work, in the background. One of my all time favourite Horner scores! It's just so grand and majestic, dark and mysterious, nautical and classical! I know people say Horner plagiarizes himself(which he does), but I just happen to love what he creates, so it's all good! Thanks again!!!
"...I'm laughing at your superior intellect." "(filled with anger) Full impulse power." Congratulations, Kirk! You just pissed Khan Noonien Singh off .
39.04 Leonard Nimoy says those immortal words.. "Space the final frontier". It is exciting to see things that were dreams when Star Trek was created now turn into reality. Hyperspray, space flight, many medical tech improvements. The list is amazing and it was all due to the dreamers who wanted to create a better world.
The moment I found this RU-vid video (huge Trekkie, owned and lost the original cassette tape of this soundtrack, so I came searching for it here) I was wondering the titles. Thanks, luv. You freaking rock.
Oh, I was so disappointed with the first movie, since it was directed by one of my favorites, Robert Wise ("The Haunting," "West Side Story"). I was not a Star Trek fan at the time, but I agreed to go to "Wrath of Khan" with my older sister, who was - and yes, after our initial trepidation, those first three notes set the tone and the hair stood up on my neck. This is the film that got me into Star Trek at last.
“They are requesting communication” “Let them eat static” “They are still running with shields down” “Of course! We are one big happy fleet! Ah Kirk, do you know the old Klingon proverb that tells us revenge is a dish that is best served cold? It’s very cold in space…..”
Read somewhere, nimoy and others were played out, till someone told them they had to hear the score, maybe resurrection music in particular, they were rejuvenated
