Film Meme

[redfiona99]

Day 9 - The best soundtrack/score to a film

No, you can't make me choose.

As can be seen from that statement, I'm very fond of a lot of soundtracks. They're such an important part of the film, I mean, I've known good films ruined by a bad soundtrack (Ladyhawke, I'm looking at you) and, if not good films made by them, then at least improved by them.

I dispute the claim that they're faceless and bland, because there are lots of film composers with distinctive styles, to the point where Housemate P and I play the composer game - without looking at the box or any film-related literature, can we guess who wrote the soundtrack.

The soundtrack is the only part of the new Tron film that I have any interest in.

Film scores come in such different styles too, which makes it even harder to judge. Do I disregard films that use pre-written songs for their soundtrack e.g. Trainspotting? Should I include musicals?

Disregarding both groups, I'm still left with a large number of films.

You've got your war films with rousing themes (Dambusters - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7Si2H479Es), your wonderful Western themes (Rio Bravo - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR-KbvXvBd8, For A Few Dollars More - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLXQltR7vUQ), the ones that are more famous than the films they're from (Gabriel's Oboe from The Mission - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmax47l2hLU), even some that have been turned into suites (The Piano - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSC9GprSEbg).

I'm very tempted to put the Lord of the Rings soundtrack, for its sheer complexity, and the way different tones and sounds are used for the different people. It tells a story and changes with the characters, for instance the subtle changes between the Hobbits theme at the beginning and at the end.

Or those wonderful John Williams themes (Superman - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qHDWdGPomw, Star Wars - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjMNNpIksaI I just love the way it trails off to mix in with the start of the film music.) I have to admit I'm a sucker for sneaky jokes so I love little touches like Draco Malfoy's theme in the early Potter films being a kiddiefied version of Vader's march. Which is probably why my favourite film composer at the moment is Hans Zimmer. For all that he rips off Holst (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnLu-JCwMNo), and himself, because yeah, there bits of Pirates that are wholesale ripped from his previous stuff (however, given Holst did that for Jupiter and I Vow To Thee My Country, I think it's a thing). He seems to be able to judge the tone of a thing right, the stuff he does for Ridley Scott's work is totally different to the stuff he does for Christopher Nolan, and the stuff for Inception was clever.

My favourite of his is a toss up between two pirate-related tunes:

Shiver My Timbers - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RisL9l8HzmM

Pirates of the Caribbean main theme - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVoFymy3IMU Now, if I can just find a ship to ransack and a star to steer her by ...

Now We Are Free is not on this list, because if I hear it I burst into tears. It's not that it's not brilliant and effective, but wah! However, if you're willing to run the risk of looking silly in front of your computer, here it is - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHAvjaHtlMA)



Day 1 - Favourite Foreign Language Film
Day 2 - A film that is underrated
Day 3 - A Film That Brings Me Unadulterated Happiness
Day 4- A film cliché that you love
Day 5 - Favourite love story in a film
Day 6 - Favorite actor/actress
Day 7 - Most surprising plot twist/ending
Day 8 - Best Opening/Closing Credits

Day 10 - Favorite classic film
Day 11 - Favorite black-and-white film
Day 12 - A film that permanently altered your point-of-view
Day 13 - A guilty pleasure...
Day 14 - A film that you used to love but now hate
Day 15 - Favorite film sequel
Day 16 - Favorite film character
Day 17 - Favorite film quote
Day 18 - The best overall cast in a film
Day 19 - The most hilarious film you've seen
Day 20 - A moving (emotional) scene
Day 21 - Favorite film from your favorite actor/actress
Day 22 - Favorite Academy Award acceptance speech
Day 23 - A character who you can relate to the most
Day 24 - The best page-to-screen film adaptation
Day 25 - Favorite film villain
Day 26 - Favorite film poster
Day 27 - A film that you wish you had seen in theaters
Day 28 - Favorite film from your favorite director
Day 29 - A piece of trivia from a favorite film
Day 30 - Your favorite film of all-time

Comments

[idleleaves.livejournal.com]

I love the soundtracks to the Lord of the Rings films, for the reasons you mentioned.

Don't think I could even really answer this question if I did the meme--there are too, too many scores that I adore.