Top 10 Scores Turning 10 in 2022

Back to our musical score time machine! For this edition, we're looking back to 2012!  Here's a look back at the scores of the year with my list of the 10 Best Scores Turning 10!

Let's start the ranking!

10. The Master (Jonny Greenwood)

Greenwood provides an unsettling score that digs at the dangerous underbelly of the characters.  It's simple, yet complex with some hypnotic qualities - much like the film itself.

9. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Howard Shore)

One of the most anticipated scores, Shore added lighter moments and a book's worth of new motifs that blend into his Middle Earth sound.  It's a smaller adventure than LOTR, but still works in the sweeping adventure and nice character moments. 

8. Skyfall (Thomas Newman)

Newman added his own intriguing style to the moody atmosphere of the film.  We get plenty of action and emotional weight with interesting ways of including the musical Bond references.

7. The Amazing Spider-Man (James Horner)

Horner made a big splash into superhero scoring and his Spider-Man theme is the strongest aspect of the score. He throws everything at the film - love theme, action and suspense with enough triumphant moments.

6. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (Andrew Lockington)

What a delight to hear a full adventure score with large intertwining themes. The orchestra and choir get to really show off with the majestic writing and energetic action sequences. More Andrew Lockington please!

5. The Impossible (Fernando Velazquez)

Velazquez's achingly beautiful score starts right at the powerful main title theme which is used throughout the score. His somber theme is lovely on strings and piano and adds so much humanity to a film about a horrific tragedy.

4. Brave (Patrick Doyle)

Doyle's score captures the independent spirit of Merida with Celtic flair and instrumentation. His lilting melodies mix wonderfully with the sentimental music that culminates in the touching finale.

3. John Carter (Michael Giacchino)

Giacchino's score conjures up the Martian characters, epic set pieces and heroic adventure. Similar to his Star Trek scores, we get a large orchestra and choir action score full of intriguing themes. It's worth the listen, even without the mediocre film.

2. The Life of Pi (Mychael Danna)

Danna's Oscar winning score features lovely and oftentimes subtle melodies like Pi's Lullaby. Much of the score is emotional storytelling, with majestic choir and Indian influences. It's a spiritual score that matches with the film's beautiful imagery

1. Lincoln (John Williams)

Williams stirs up his sentimental side with heavy doses of Americana melodies and harmonies. His stoic melodies for strings and soloists (with some great trumpet solos) are able to shine among the film's moving speeches. His introspective score is one of his finest and most intimate.

Honorable Mentions:
Beasts of the Southern Wild (Dan Romer, Benh Zeitlin)
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (Thomas Newman)
The Hunger Games (James Newton Howard)
Rise of the Guardians (Alexandre Desplat)
W.E. (Abel Korzeniowski)

Any personal favorites of yours from 2012 that I didn't include?