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John Williams turned 80 last week and unlike the vast majority of people with artistic talent, the quality of his work seemingly hasn't diminished as he has got older. This is possibly because a lot of his famous tunes are actually quite simple, but you can't fault his ability to take a few basic notes and create the most stirring and ageless music ever heard in cinema.

So what's your favourite John William's theme? I'm going to have to go with Superman. It never fails to put a big silly grin on my face and can shake me out of the most foulest of moods. An article on the Empire website last week suggested (quite rightly) that if America had any sense, they'd make it their national anthem. For me, the music is now so synonmous with the character, I really can't fathom how anyone could conceive making a Superman film without it. Good luck with that Zack Snyder

Honourable mention to "Into the Trap" from Return of the Jedi. I love how the same tense notes start relatively quietly but quickly build into a crescendo as Admiral Ackbar and the rebel fleet realise that... well, you know

So many, so so many. I can't have a favorite. Star Wars, Raider of the Lost Ark, JAWS They are iconic and known worldwide for generations.

Jaws resulted in people being terrified of the beach... in Iowa.

Hell, that theme makes me crap myself if I'm in the bathtub.

There is only one correct answer, and it is Jaws.

sourclams wrote:
Hell, that theme makes me crap myself if I'm in the bathtub.

Gross.

His most famous theme is one of the original star wars ones.

Of course, as for the man himself, I wouldn't know his face if I ran into him at an award show and he told me he was John Williams

Imperial March.

sourclams wrote:Jaws resulted in people being terrified of the beach... in Iowa.

Hell, that theme makes me crap myself if I'm in the bathtub.

There is only one correct answer, and it is Jaws.

Yea I still have issues about the ocean, until someone puts an underwater chainsaw in my hands and then its gonna be "who's you daddy!" time to all the wee fishy beasties.

Oops, forgot E.T. Now added

What a tough, tough call. I had to say Jaws, but only because I could only choose one. I have to say Imperial March and Indy are right up there too.

Jurassic Park every day all day!

His work is fantastic. He is the most consistent thing in Star Wars that Lucas can't ruin.

The music that plays when Luke is fighting Vader in Jedi gives me chills.

Brilliant composer.

I thought for sure I'd be a minority saying Jurassic Park 'round these parts.

Jaws is my favorite movie ever, but Jurassic Park has the most epic (in the actual sense of the term, not in the internet sense) score of all time.

The Imperial March, of course!

Jurassic Park. The movie may be forgettable, the score is not.

I didn't vote for Jurasic Park's theme as I could not remember it off hand so it must not have been all that?
Raiders theme ftw!

Zakiriel wrote:I didn't vote for Jurasic Park's theme as I could not remember it off hand so it must not have been all that?
Raiders theme ftw!

The main Jurassic Park piece is in two parts with a quieter relaxing theme for the "wow, look at all the dinosaurs" moments and then some music of a more rousing nature for the triumphant scrapes and escapes. The latter theme is memorably played when the T-Rex appears at the end and grabs the Velociraptor mid jump.

Kind of surprised at the number of votes for JP so far actually. Less surprised that Imperial March is winning

Jurassic Park, if for no other reason than it was my favorite to play as a trumpet player, though that high D gave me problems until it was cut from the performance Still loved it till the day it got scratched. That's not to say the Star Wars theme wasn't fun, got to play that one all by my lonesome.

The Olympic Games theme.

It's just.... Breathtaking.

It really is a tough call. He has composed so much great and memorable music.

I voted for Battle of Heroes. I could have easily voted for Imperial March or the others in the list.