| movie soundtracks
Posted: 12/25/2007 10:51:52 PM | What do you think of movie soundtracks these days?
The use of music to enhance mood in movies is pretty much taken as a given. A screener with inappropriate background music had better be marketed as a comedy or scrapped (imagine "flight of the bumblebee" playing during the ship sinking scene in Titanic).
But can merely mediocre movies be magnified to massive multimedia - manufacturing mad money by the melodic melodies of marvelous music? (MMMMM  sorry, back on track now ). Can ordinary movies be elevated to a higher level by exteremly good music? Can excellently exhilarating examples of  - very good movies be laid low by bad or bland music? And what of the good movie/good music bad/bad combinations?
Personally, I think it matters alot. That said, I'd like to know what others think.
On the playlist right now - the soundtrack of Atonement which inspired this thread. | |
|
| movie soundtracks
Posted: 12/26/2007 5:05:55 AM | Two films that are my favorites "The Blues Brothers" and "The Wedding singer" give very good examples of how a great soundtrack more than helps to make a great movie.
Do believe with out the great music that is played in alot of movies, you would lose the feel good factor you get from these types of films, all together now "Love Stinks"  | |
|
| movie soundtracks
Posted: 12/26/2007 5:57:49 AM | Oh the art of the movie sound track, i have an extensive collection, (i work on firework displays and we are often looking for something different for pyro musicals) and i have come to see them not as just something to enhance our movie experience, but as classical music in their own right. Play anything, from Gone with the wind to Pirates of the caribbean, and it is instantly recognisable and inspiring, as Mozart (the shawshank redemption),and the other great classical geniuses of their time, so now we look at Hans Zimmer (pirates of the caribbean, the last samurai) Patrick Doyle (Henry V, Harry potter) and without James Horner's music for Titanic the movie would have sunk along with the plot!
Without these and the other classical composers of our time a lot of more movies would not make it to the big screen!
(please no one shout that i did not mention John Williams, so good he needs no introduction) | |
|
| movie soundtracks
Posted: 12/26/2007 10:26:31 AM | Don't forget Howard Shore! I had the pleasure of seeing him live, conducting selected compostions from "Lord of the Rings" a few years back, right after the last movie came out. I also got to see John Williams conduct a bunch of his songs from his various films over the years as well. Awe-inspiring, to say the least.
Personally, I always like it when rock stars are sometimes brought in to do soundtracks--such as when Toto did the music for "Dune" and the Rza did some songs for the first "Kill Bill" movie.
Good stuff. | |
|
| movie soundtracks
Posted: 12/26/2007 1:26:25 PM | Movie soundtracks are, along with lighting, photography, production design and directing, the most important aspect of filmmaking. a great soundrack can elevate an ordinary film just like a bad one can crash an otherwise fantastic film (i think of American Beauty, great film, but very poor soundtrack  )
in some cases, the scores are so powerful and intense, they create the films themselves. three films come to mind that can be placed in that category: Paris, Texas (Ry Cooder's score's got to be heard. you are litteraly travelling while you hear it), Ascenceur pour l'echaffaud (Miles Davis's score is the film in music), and Scorsese's ultimate masterpiece (that's debatable i know. but its my favourite, so up yours! LOL. j/k  )Taxi Driver (Bernard Herman did his best work... and died 24 hours after making that score O_O)
As much as i'm a fan of Sergio Leone (my favourite director ), i'm the first to admit, that without Ennio Morricone, his films wouldn't have the same feel and the same emotionnal impact that they still carry to THIS day. Leone's films are magic and they will be forever timeless classics that will never age. and a big part of that reason being the great music created from the greatest movie soundtrack composer that ever lived.
LONG LIVE ENNIO MORRICONEEEEEEEEE!  | |
|
| movie soundtracks
Posted: 12/26/2007 7:52:25 PM | | There's only one movie soundtrack worth listening to anymore, in my opinon. The new two CD deluxe edition of EASY RIDER, which coincided with the recent re-release of the 35th Anniversary of the movie's release on DVD. Best movie and best soundtrack ever! | |
|
| movie soundtracks
Posted: 12/26/2007 8:22:51 PM | These days since movies really are such big whole hearted encompassing productions a soundtrack can really make or break a film. Even a good narration like the one done in Radio Flyer by Tom Hanks which I just finished watching. Brought it alive! Very "Stand-by-Me"ish. Older flick (1992) that I don't think made into the theatre. Good family friendly movie.
Appropriate sound is everything and being SUBTLE with it unlike all the tacky horror movies which just hammer the sound into your skull. I don't go for that.
"Wavelength" had an interesting soundtrack by Tangerine Dream that flowed well. They also did Risky Businesses ST and I wish they'd do more. In fact I would love to see more collaborative efforts like this bringing good rock groups together with good movies!
Oh they did a great one for a foreign film, a movie about trucking dynamite through the mountains, which has a foreign title I can't remember. I just tried to find it and realize netflix does not have them listed as a hyperlink as to who did the soundtrack. Dumb error on their part. I know they have the movie since I rented it through them but I'm not digging through years of films I've seen just to find it's name. imdb might have it. "Geradeaus bis zum Morgen (1972) (as Tangerine Dream) " maybe?
Luminous Visions (1998) (V) (as Tangerine Dream)
Memphis PD: War on the Streets (1996) (TV) (as Tangerine Dream)
Three Phase: Past, Present, Future (1993) (V)
The Switch (1993) (TV) (as Tangerine Dream)
"Tatort" (2 episodes, 1982-1991)
- Bis zum Hals im Dreck (1991) TV episode (as Tangerine Dream)
- Das Mädchen auf der Treppe (1982) TV episode (as Tangerine Dream)
Rainbow Drive (1990) (TV) (as Tangerine Dream)
The Man Inside (1990) (as Tangerine Dream)
... aka Affaire Walraff, L' (France)
Catch Me If You Can (1989) (as Tangerine Dream)
Dead Solid Perfect (1988) (TV) (as Tangerine Dream)
Miracle Mile (1988) (as Tangerine Dream)
Destination Berlin (1988) (as Tangerine Dream)
Red Nights (1988) (V) (as Tangerine Dream)
Three O'Clock High (1987) (as Tangerine Dream)
Near Dark (1987) (as Tangerine Dream)
Shy People (1987) (as Tangerine Dream)
Deadly Care (1987) (TV) (as Tangerine Dream)
Tonight's the Night (1987) (TV) (as Tangerine Dream)
... aka The Game of Love
Canyon Dreams (1987) (V) (as Tangerine Dream)
Zoning (1986) (as Tangerine Dream)
The Park Is Mine (1986) (TV) (as Tangerine Dream)
City of Shadows (1986) (as Tangerine Dream)
... aka Nightmare City (UK: video title)
Legend (1985) (as Tangerine Dream)
... aka Legend: Ultimate Edition (USA: reissue title (video title))
Red Heat (1985) (as Tangerine Dream)
... aka Red Heat - Unschuld hinter Gittern (West Germany)
Vision Quest (1985) (as Tangerine Dream)
... aka Crazy for You (Philippines: English title)
"Street Hawk" (1985) TV series (unknown episodes)
Forbidden (1984) (as Tangerine Dream)
... aka Forbidden (USA)
... aka Versteckt (West Germany)
Heartbreakers (1984) (as Tangerine Dream)
Flashpoint (1984) (as Tangerine Dream)
Firestarter (1984) (as Tangerine Dream)
The Keep (1983) (as Tangerine Dream)
Spasms (1983) (as Tangerine Dream)
... aka Death Bite
Wavelength (1983) (as Tangerine Dream)
Risky Business (1983) (as Tangerine Dream)
Brandmale (1983)
Rainer Werner Fassbinder - Letzte Arbeiten (1982) (TV)
Kamikaze 1989 (1982)
... aka Kamikaze 89 (USA)
The Soldier (1982) (as Tangerine Dream)
... aka Codename: The Soldier
Strange Behavior (1981) (as Tangerine Dream)
... aka Dead Kids (USA: video title)
... aka Human Experiments (UK: reissue title)
... aka Small Town Massacre
... aka Strange Behaviour (UK: DVD box title)
Thief (1981) (as Tangerine Dream)
... aka Violent Streets (UK)
Solomon's Nightmare: A Study in Gray (1981)
Daniel (1980) (TV)
Take It to the Limit (1980) (as Tangerine Dream)
Game Over (1978) (as Tangerine Dream)
Kneuss (1978) (as Tangerine Dream)
Sorcerer (1977) (as Tangerine Dream)
... aka Wages of Fear
Geradeaus bis zum Morgen (1972) (as Tangerine Dream)
Auf Scheißer schießt man nicht (1969)
Meteor, Der (1968) (TV) (uncredited)
Inferno, L' (1911)
... aka Dante's Inferno (USA)
... aka Inferno, L' (Italy: short title)
Luckily today soundtracks are paid a lot more attention to but still hard to find the ones whose use is so subtle that you experience the music integral to the film and forget that it is even music because it is such a part of the film experience. | |
|
| movie soundtracks
Posted: 12/26/2007 9:06:59 PM | Two of the best sound tracks that come to mind for me are.
Good Fellas and Apocalypse now.Also Forrest Gump.And for the holiday season I'll throw in one of my favorite old time X-mas flicks."White Christmas".
| |
|
| movie soundtracks
Posted: 12/27/2007 7:21:24 AM | such is the power of music, another question to throw into the pot is, if the score was different would you still like the film? this is something that i was pondering last night, having just watched Blade Runner (again) i did consider that if it was not for vangellis i would find the film a lot harder to watch, it is a good example of how the music is used to set the scene, while two chase sequences have no music at all, which gives a definite "being there" feel.
i wonder how many of us are now going through the day with some of these pieces of music going though our heads | |
|
| movie soundtracks
Posted: 12/27/2007 3:54:35 PM | | I never enjoyed Bladerunner but I did see it on a cheap TV. Hearing the new one is out, being rereleased, I really should give it a proper chance as it's become almost a cult classic. | |
|
| movie soundtracks
Posted: 12/27/2007 4:58:20 PM | When I was about 9 I really flipped over the soundtrack to the movie the Big Chill. I remember begging my mother to buy it for me. The ironic thing was that she ended up playing it more than I did. Whenever she had company that would always go on the turntable. I got so many compliments like "I like that record of yours".
Lately the soundtracks I really get into are from films from the 50's and 60's that have either a jazz, big band, or classical score. Like Henry Mancini for instance. My all time favorite movie music composer. The B movies from the 60's have cool soundtracks as well(if you can find them), loaded with rock and jazz stuff and fun to listen to. | |
|
| |
| movie soundtracks
Posted: 12/28/2007 11:41:11 PM | Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence and Hunt for the red October soundtrack!
Hymn to the sea is a very powerful song! | |
|
| movie soundtracks
Posted: 12/29/2007 12:26:47 AM | I dare say the soundtrack to any Quinten Tarantino movie is going to be good... that guy has some good choices... and it seems to fit the characters well...
Most mainstream movies are cheeze... either it is slow overly dramatic violin music.. some sort of death metal, or the ever popular crap-rap...
But in the sea of crap there are some good ones | |
|
| movie soundtracks
Posted: 12/29/2007 1:04:13 AM | When "Where's My Mind" starts at the end of Fight Club is just about my favorite movie/song moment. 
 | |
|
| movie soundtracks
Posted: 12/29/2007 10:32:58 AM | | soundtrack to the moviea "high art" and "chasing amy" .......................awesome. | |
|
| movie soundtracks
Posted: 12/30/2007 11:47:00 AM | Soundtracks definitely help make the movie...sure some miss the mark but I've got some for ya's to give a chance...a few ya might've missed that kick some serious butt.....
#1. Threesome (the U2 cover of Joni Mitchell's "Dancing Barefoot" is awesome)
#2. Empire Records (just a great mix of sounds and styles from the '90s)
#3. Cruel Intentions (sure the movie's just plain twisted but that soundtrack is just about perfect especially "Colorblind" from The Counting Crows and a song called "This Love" which features vocals by a singer named Elizabeth Fraser (would love to hear more from her) over the piano play of Craig Armstrong...discover this one, you'll thank me!)
#4. 10 Things I Hate About You (great little flick that launched the careers of both Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger...not a bad song in the bunch)
#5. ANY of the American Pie soundtracks...especially songs like "Drive" and "Sway" by Bic Runga, "Bouncing off the Walls Again" by Sugarcult, or Blue October's "Calling You" (ummm how did it take 4 YEARS for that song to make it's way on to the radio???)
Try imagining any John Hughes film without those song selections??? Or Blade without New Order's "Confusion" during that opening scene at the Vampire rave. And what would the Audrey Hepburn classic Breakfast at Tiffany's be without those songs & scores???
...Wow after devulging that lil chick flick tidbit of information I feel the need to go do something either extremely masculine or just bloody stupid and dangerous ehehehehe
If anyone needs me I'll be running with scissors to the gym to lift entirely too much weight so I can throw out my back or tear a bicep!  | |
|
| movie soundtracks
Posted: 12/30/2007 1:21:58 PM | | I like fast, stimulating movie soundtracks....like the ones John Powers wrote for the Bourne movies. Played by Fluke, etc. | |
|
| movie soundtracks
Posted: 12/31/2007 2:21:02 AM | Like many Sci-Fi fans, I was a Bernard Herrmann freak for many years.
I still like and appreciate his stuff, though through the years most of his scores all seem to have merged into one continuous "movie"... hard to distinguish one from another, except for a few notable exceptions: Psycho, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Mysterious Island, Vertigo, etc.
My favorite score of all time, though, is The Dead Zone, by Michael Kamen. Absolutely haunting.  | |
|
| movie soundtracks
Posted: 1/1/2008 8:15:13 AM | | Grosse Pointe Blank had a fantastic soundtrack. Joe Stummer was the man responsible for it, too.. so no wonder it was great. | |
|
| movie soundtracks
Posted: 1/1/2008 9:49:45 AM | | Michael Kamen did one of my favorite soundtracks of all time in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. The main theme was so recognizable the production company used it for their title screen afterwards. Staying on the Kevin Costner theme, one movie I can't imagine even existing without it's soundtrack is The Bodyguard. It's basically the greatest album Whitney Houston ever made wrapped in the disguise of a movie, but with songs like "I Will Always Love You" you don't mind. | |
|
| movie soundtracks
Posted: 1/5/2008 8:41:55 PM | | I adore the work Michael Kamen did for the amazing mini-series "Band of Brothers". His score is a perfect accompaniment to the happenings on screen, and help them stick that much more in your mind and heart. | |
|
| movie soundtracks
Posted: 1/6/2008 4:47:34 PM | What do you think of movie soundtracks these days?
Since I haven't purchased one in awhile I would say that I dont think much about soundtracks these days. Last soundtrack I bought was "Philadelphia" (awesome) I still listen to it. | |
|
| movie soundtracks
Posted: 1/6/2008 6:22:34 PM | These days? I don't know. I sort of take it for granted when I see a film on the big screen esp if its modern, I am so focused on the action and dialogue.
I think for the majority of films, you don't want the music to be upstaging the other main parts EXCEPT I believe in romantic era films.
I especially like it when a good film brings to life or the forefront a previously unheard of or neglected piece of music, like Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings" in the Vietnam war film Platoon.
But it is amazing how much a role music DOES play though I agree with that. Just shut off or mute
the sound with the clicker the next time you're watching Harrison Ford almost fall off the roof of a building in 'Frantic' and see how much tension you feel.
I was watching 'In Love and War' once, the biopic of Ernest Hemingway, and the film towards the end is very touching. The score is by James Newton Howard. My mother was in the room watching and I can say the music was just overwhelming and I can say even my mother couldn't help but commenting on how beautiful the music was. I guess it at this big scene near the end where a pivotal event occurred where she says shes loves him and he doesn't hear or something and everyone knows thats where Ernest is deeply hurt and will go on to become this world reknown writer adventurer and larger than life figure before eventually dying in an accidental death/suicide.
So, without that music component and rich compelling soundtrack, there would be no real gravitas to that final conversation/ dialogue. So I think yes its an example of a mediocre effort of a film made more palatable with the contribution of a great score composer.
The Warren Beatty vehicle 'Bugsy' w/ Soundtrack composed by Ennio Morricone might be one where the film would just NOT stand up on its alone or have ANY value whatsoever WITHOUT Ennio. Its simply just that good. Evocative, haunting, are a couple of adjectives that come to mind. Beautiful sound to the music.
I recently watched Miami Vice the movie for the big screen on DVD and was amazed at the extreme talent that crew has for blending so seamlessly noise, music and dialogue together. Really liked the soundtrack for Collateral.
Although my favored composer I am biased towards John Barry. I also have an extremely soft spot for Rachel Portman :)
But I like how in movies of the past you could get away with playing a whole song during the film but you rarely see that these days if ever. I mean like a segue style sequence to introduce the theme song middle of the film or so and not the re-emergence of musicals like Phantom of the Opera, Evita,Chicago,Moulin Rouge, Grease etc. Its be great to see more films released with REALLY GREAT hit songs to aid in promotion.
Doesnt anyone remember the way 'One Tin Soldier Rides Away' was on the radio when Billy Jack was out? Didn't think so but ANYWAY.... | |
|
| movie soundtracks
Posted: 1/6/2008 10:22:24 PM | Most music soundtracks released today are just a collection of songs.
They usually aren't in the order that appear in the film and some are not even in the film.(???)
A great movie soundtracks (Grease,Saturday Night Fever.Shaft.Superfly to name a few) evoke the spirit of the movie and transport you in your mind back to the best parts.
Today's soundtracks are merely ancillary profit centers for the film's producers and the movie company.
I haven't purchased a soundtrack in years and unless there was movie made w/ as many strong songs as the above soundtracks have, I won't. | |
|
Home
login 
