A good soundtrack can really make a film

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When I think "soundtrack" and "movie" two films pop into my mind. Romeo and Juliet and Easy Rider. I love those two films because of the music. I can honestly say that without the music, the films would be fairly mediocre to me.
 
I love when the soundtrack stays in the background and doesn't tell you how you are supposed to feel.

And going with the original post--Pride and Prejudice fits the bill. It's a quiet soundtrack that's absolutely perfect in every single scene.

As for songs with lyrics---I love The Departed and Romeo and Juliet Soundtracks.
 
Original scores are usually more effective.

I don't really think an entire soundtrack can really make a film. I think that just one song in the movie can the film more entertaining and memorable. Star Wars and Rocky probably the best music ever especially with the Duel of the Fates in the new Star War movies. The end of Fight Club with that Pixies song is pretty good too.
 
Yes he did :) I believed he worked on many (if not all) of Speilberg's films
I'd have to look that up to be sure.

You know I don't know who did the The Godfather soundtrack
I have to look that up too :)



I agree with Unsilent on this
I think an original score is more effective.
I have some excpetions (like Moulin Rouge) But in most cases I perfer an original score.
esp for an epic story.


That would be way tooo weird :rotfl:
 
UnsilentMajority - I tend to agree with that argument.

As for Apocalypse Now - I can't believe you even put the idea of a remake into the cosmos! The horror! :D ;)

That is a truly horrendous idea...and sadly they'll probably do it.

When I taught the Film and Television class I showed Apocalypse Now as the ultimate war film - because it is. 18th, 19th, 20th-century war is just that - war - and the experiences will transcend the time period. It will always be in my top five films of all time, but then I adore Conrad.
 
Apocalypse now is one of the great American film classics, IMO. I might not seem very relevant to young(er) viewers because it takes place in the Vietnam war, but if you look at it as an essay on human madness (like the novel) and the effects any war can have on the human psyche then the film is timeless. I suppose in 10, 20 years another remake will be made and it will take place in Iraq, or a similar Middle-Eastern country knowing how Hollywood thinks :rolleyes:



In my opinion, an original score is more effective.

This is because it takes a lot more work and effort on the director and composer's parts to actually come up with the actual score... from nothing... To fit the film and the emotions they both want to convey.

Contrast this to where, like TV, you can literally just grab a pre-made vocal or instrumental track and use juxtaposition (most common usage) to evoke the same emotional response or message with half the effort because the music is already made and doing a lot of the convey for the director especially if it is a vocal song. This is not to say vocal track usage can't be effective given some of the examples on this thread like "Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "Apocalypse Now"... But the danger a film maker runs into is that the vocal song is going to bring possibly unwanted baggage to the film/scene that he/she doesn't have to worry about with a completely original score.

Of course, the other part of this question you don't ask, ShrrShrr, is would using a vocal track in palce of an original score be more or less effective given the context of the film.

For example, can you imagine a rock song, or rap tune over the opening scroll of "Star Wars?" Or how about just some instrumental score over the love scene in "Top Gun" that was defined by Berlin's "Take My Breath Away?" I believe we have to take the context and intent of the film into consideration with your question as well.
 
The Quick and The Dead
Jake Speed
Red Sonja
Black Moon Rising

These are the ones that I can remember right now. :)
 
Yes, that's it exactly. *nods*


Oh, yes - The Godfather soundtrack! All I have to do is hear those opening chords and I'm immediately thrown into that dark, brooding, moody family feeling, you know?

Who did that soundtrack? *goes to look it up*

And thanks! :)


I'd forgotten about that! That was an excellent way to open a film. Also, if you can handle dark, intense broody films you should definitely see Apocalypse Now. But be forewarned it can be rough, especially if you never read Heart of Darkness and don't know what's coming.

So, new question - which do you think is more effective: a soundtrack with original score, or a compilation of different artists' work (whether new or classic)?
 
Hey there - welcome to the boards! :wave: I hope you enjoy posting here. :)

So - do you remember what some of those films were? I totally agree with you, too, as I've seen films that were just mediocre or even forgettable but had fantastic soundtracks.
 
It truely does, there have been a few movies that I have seen where the movie was aweful or just O.K., but I Really loved the music.
 
I forgot about that one. Definitely Trevor Jones, Randy Edelman's best work by far.



Definitely a cult-classic... As is any Queen soundtrack from the 1980s like "Highlander" and "Iron Eagle" :D

.....

I think what qualifies as a good soundtrack or score is if it stands by itself regardless of whether or not the movie is any good (which is what I think ShrrShrr started this thread for). The ones I and others have listed are great stand-alone albums even if no movie existed. This is the true test, IMO.

This is also why I have to add some more such as...

The Conan The Barbarian Films - Basil Poledorous. Although, I do consider the films guilty pleasures. Pure Arrrrrrnoooolllllddd in his hey day.

Days of Thunder - Hans Zimmer - Great modern synth score for the 1990s. Incredibly cheesy movie.

Ghostbusters - Various Artists - Great vocal songs "Cleanin' up the Town"; "Ghostbusters" as well as an effective other-worldly score with comedic overtones.

Streets of Fire - Various Artists - This is one of those rare Rock Opera-type soundtracks that is composed of great rock and roll tunes because the fictional era the movie takes place in is reminiscent of the rocking 1950s... But instead of going the typical bee-bop route, they used a lot of 1980s and contemporary influences (Jimmy Irvine was the music supervisor) to enhance the characters and story line in a timeless way that can still be listened to in 2006, and it sound like it came out yesterday, IMO.

I'll have to cheat on this one because it is a musical after all... But Phantom of the Opera - Various Productions. This is truly a timeless classic soundtrack/score that defies aging and has great music that ranges from rock to slow ballads to full orchestral pieces. This can stand alone based on the Andrew Loyd Weber music and lyrics by itself, regardless if there are plays or movies made about the subject matter.
 
I love soundtracks! I can say that the majority of my CDs are soundtracks!
However,I think that a soundtrack can be very powerful in a movie and I'm not talking only about musicals! Sometimes the soundtrack makes the film something special or it makes a mediocre film a good film. For instance,take "The devil wears Prada":that's a great film per se,but all those songs make it even more powerful,you're totally captured also because the score underlines all the important moments,the songs are just where they should be
(the protagonist's change of style,her strolling in the streets or the beginning itself). It totally strucks you!
There are many movies whose soundtrack is very evident and audible(A good year for example,just because it's the last movie I've seen),then there are some others where the soundtrack is in the background,you can't quite hear it,but it's something very necessary and without it the movie wouldn't be that movie.
I'm thinking of Gosford Park by the great Altman:a part from the scenes in which Novello(Northam)sings and plays the piano,there's a really beautiful soundtrack that you can really appreciate only listening to the CD,but without it the movie wouldn't be so magical!
 
True on John Williams, and didn't he do the theme for Jaws, too? Thanks for detailing all that! :)


I can't watch that film just once, and it's due in large part to the effect of the fantastic soundtrack. It's perfect - it's like riding a rollercoaster, non-stop with all sorts of twists and turns. Unfortunately it's so powerful that I honestly have to watch the film at least twice in a row (if not three-times, or more) every time I view it. REALLY.


Yes, exactly.


Noooooo! You've just put that in my head, you evil creature! :P

Don't get me wrong, Queen was seriously awesome, but there are few words to describe how much I now despise that film (and the soundtrack - something about the way it was recorded makes it too grainy and gives me a migraine). I loved it at the time, though - loads. :D

Okay, I want to respond to more but I'm tired - I'll be back tomorrow.
 
I think the soundtrack to Last of the Mohicans is the best ever. It underscores the tension, the freedom Hawkeye and his family had running and hunting in the beautifull forrests, the love story and the music to one of the best and most intense scenes ever in a film..the death of Cora's sister and Hawkeye's brother.

The Pomp of the Star Wars theme is brilliant and was a refreshing change to all the electrical music they used to do for sci-fi films.

And another favorite is the music to Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence. It makes me cry if I listen to it after a glass or two of wine.

Oh, and a guilty pleasure of mine (and my mums)! is the Queen soundtrack to Flash Gordon. "Flash..Ah-Aaaaaa saviour of the universe...dundundundundundun" etc. Very original and frankly the best thing about the film.
 
Oh, that reminds me of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind now, when the opening credits (which is quite a bit after the opening scene) has Jim Carrey crying in his car with Beck's 'Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometimes' playing - which fit the mood well. But because of the twistedness of the movie, that scene is actually from later on, but it's not the same as the the closing scene of Jim Carrey chasing Kate Winslet across the snowy beach as, yes, Beck's song plays again. And this time it is just so incredible, the way the scene and the song (the sound and the lyrics, the overall mood of the song) come together so perfectly.

Didn't watch Apocalypse Now, but it sounds good :)
 
Thanks. I'm not fond of lists either but I was a little lazy to write out things but I'll do that now (however they're not indepth):

Pride & Prejudice- The music for this one was very simple yet elegant enough to where you could really feel the scenes in the movie.

Star Wars (all of them but especially 3, 5, 6.)- What can I say about this one? No one can beat John Williams! His scores are just incredible. And I think he really out did himself in Revenge of the Sith.

Superman Returns- John Ottman really did a good job for this one. My favorite music piece was when Superman took Lois flying abover the Daily Planet. When I heard the music I was just mystified and it flowed well.

The Mists of Avalon- Lee Holdridge did a very nice job. When there was despair, you could really feel it. The music would go from happy and joyful to solumn and blue. The flow between the different tones was perfect.

Deep Blue Sea- All I can say for this one was that it was intense. The music had a shock feeling to it and fit perfectly with the movie.

Jaws- Not much to say about this one except for the memorable sound every time the shark was near.

A Walk to Remember- Many great artists to put this soundtrack together. The songs flowed also.

The Prince of Egypt- Really loved the songs that were sung in this one.

TAKEN- What can I say about this one? Laura Karpman did an outstanding job! Definately one of my favorite soundtracks. To the Rescue is such a great track. The opening song; pure...enlightenment would have to be the word I choose. It really brings you into the "alien" world that the viewer is about to enter.
 
Lots of good mentions
I esp agree with Pride and Prejustice. I am so in love with that movie. Been watching it all week.
and John Willaims is a genious and but I esp love the music in Star Wars. Esp the scene in Empire Strikes Back when they are being chased through the astroid field. That scene would not have been the same without the score.

Same with ET when Eliot is on the bike.

I have to mention The Godfather esp the baptisim/murder scene.
That's the most memorble scenes for me in this film and the music adds to the hypocracy of Michael's lines.

Back to the Future.What a way to get the suspense going even more - THE Music! still makes me nervous to this day.

That's off the top of my head for now
Great thread BTW
 
I love reading all your responses! :)

Jezebel In Hell - I agree that a score can absolutely bring more tension to a film. I always know something horrible's going to happen when the music stops and it gets eerily quiet! :lol:

goodnightboy - I agree with you, too. Your post also reminded me of the opening scenes to Apocalpse Now, with The Doors' "The End." It's the opening scene, which also happens to be the last scene, and the lyrics are the haunting voice of Jim Morrison singing, "This is the end..." It's genius.

But you're right and I absolutely noticed the Garden State and Romeo + Juliet songs, too - which made me go out and buy the soundtracks because they were so effective. I don't often buy soundtracks, but I did for them.

UnsilentMajority - absolutely! Those are excellent examples that I completely agree with. I saw Chariots of Fire when it came out and my friends and I were travelling for a track meet. It was so inspiring - the music more than anything - the three of staying together went out and not only won all our races, but made State requirements. I can't hear the themes to this day without them invoking those same feelings of physical freedom.

I'd add the score to Midnight Express, to that, too - the first time a Moog Synthesizer was used to create a full score.

R2Roswell - *nods* That's a good list and one I agree with (and I don't like lists! Hee!). I think many of those scores and soundtracks are exceptional, and in some cases (like Star Wars), ground-breaking.

barelylegal - I'd have to agree to a certain extent except that I don't care for most of his films so I'm a bit resreved in my praise. ;) That being said, the soundtracks certainly took the world by storm and there's no denying they had a strong impact on the mood of the films.
 
In my opinion a perfect movie with a perfect soundtrack is Almost Famous. To be quite honest, Cameron Crowe knows how to make excellent soundtracks to his great feature film creations.

:sigh:
 
I agree, I think it's the music that can help make or break a film. These are some of the good ones that stood out in my mind:

-Pride & Prejudice
-Star Wars (all of them but especially 3, 5, 6.)
-Superman Returns
-The Mists of Avalon
-Deep Blue Sea
-Jaws
-A Walk to Remember
-The Prince of Egypt
-Armageddon
-Friday Night Lights
 
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