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Answers: ... for instance, John Williams, Howard Shore, Harry Gregson-Williams, etc... on par with the more "classical" composers of yesteryear? Can they be judged alongside such greats as Beethoven and Mozart, or would they just be incomparable, like apples and oranges (albeit apples and oranges that all produce very listenable scores?)

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Film scores can't be compared to classical works. It IS apples and oranges indeed. But, people may listen to more symphonic/orchestral music thanks to John Williams and others because of their use in films. Perhaps this has led them to listen to classical music.

It's so odd that people avoid the classics because, as children, most of us have listened to a lot of it in cartoons and probably had it played by teachers. In grade school, I can remember us gathering in what also served as our lunchroom to listen to records. A number of those pieces haunted me for years before I could find out titles.

I DO think some of these composers can "graduate" to more-complex works. After all, Paul McCartney successfully composed a classical piece titled "Standing Stone" that was received quite well:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_McCart...

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there is no comparison at all , I am afraid.

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If I were to give an analogy, I would say that they are like foie gras and hot dogs rather than apples and oranges. The greats produce more complex and refined music when compared with the modern composers you refer to.
steve

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only time will truly tell ... what I find interesting is that most odd people don't mention Danny Elfman in this mix ... undoubtedly the most creative and original of the movie music composers ... now back to the question I would put them mostly on a par with composers like Meyerbeer, Gustav Charpentier and Ponchielli ... not to be forgotten but basically one hit wonders

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