Discuss: Good Music From Mediocre Films
Filed under: Music & Musicals, DIY/Filmmaking, Trailers and Clips
In the wee hours of the morning, one has little energy to do anything constructive -- which is how I ended up exchanging YouTube music links with Dave Chen and then realizing, "Hey -- this would make a good post for a slow news day!"Like any film fan, I love soundtracks. When I was a young teen, I bought nothing but film soundtracks because I thought it was cooler than buying popular music. I wasn't discriminating, and bought soundtracks whenever I had enjoyed a film or a bit of flute music that played. This resulted in my owning a few appalling choices like The Man in the Iron Mask, but hey, we've all bought embarrassing albums.
But over the years, I have found that some really lovely pieces of music have been wasted on middling films. I thought I'd list a few of them here so they receive a small moment of recognition -- and in order that you'll share a few lost themes with me. Or you can just chide me for liking really obvious, sweeping pieces.
If there's a piece that defines what I'm talking about, it's probably that oft-used theme to DragonHeart -- the film wasn't great, the piece might even be a little cheesy, but it gets used for every trailer with mountains or a sword in it. I think they even played it at President Obama's Inauguration:
A completely forgotten piece is John Williams' theme for Seven Years in Tibet -- I believe I bought the score thinking the theme would actually be what played in the trailer. Probably a bit "typical" of Williams and a little repetitive, but undeniably sweeping:
Another one I find rather hypnotic is the Kyrie for the Magdalene from The DaVinci Code. I find it amazing that someone (Richard Harvey, apparently, not Hans Zimmer) actually wrote a kyrie prayer for a Dan Brown adaptation:
So, those are some of my selections -- time to share yours. Remember, we want to rescue scores from mediocre or forgotten films, not just highlight good ones from films that deserved them.
Spin-ematical: New on DVD for 11/10
Fun with Math: The Huge Box Office Numbers for 'Precious'
Girls on Film: Domestic Violence and Media
'Spider-Man 4' Villain Rumor: Rachel McAdams as Black Cat
Original A-Team Making Cameos in New Movie?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
2-27-2009 @ 9:48PM
Ben P said...
How 'bout Bruce Broughton's "The Boy Who Could Fly?" I'm a sucker for cheesy scores, especially in an '80s flick. Actually I liked the movie too.
Reply
2-27-2009 @ 9:49PM
Sahil said...
this is tough. All the soundtracks i have (and boy do I have a lot, i guess i was just like you as a kid/young adult-now) are of stuff that I enjoyed but these are what i could dish out:
1. Congo: "Spirit of Africa" by Jerry Goldsmith
Now I know most people will say this was a decent film, but c'mon, compared to Jurassic Park etc it wasn't even close... I especially loved this, having grown up in Africa it was very fun.
2. The Butterfly Effect: "Main Theme" by Michael Suby
This was a terrible attempt at a great idea for a film, very mysterious and haunting soundtrack.
3. Atlantis (animated film): "The Crystal Chamber" by James Newton Howard
The movie was okay, but this totally could have been used for a live action movie about the same thing... slightly wasted.
4. Lady in the Water: "Prologue" by James Newton Howard
Now I really actually kinda enjoyed this film, I think I have the inability to dislike M K Shyamalan's films :-P (and no The Happening doesn't qualify as a film, i hated it). This film was pretty decent, but the soundtrack was filled with beautifully eerie themes... I loved the prologue, i just listen to it sometimes to feel inspired and reminiscent.
Reply
2-28-2009 @ 7:26PM
eggplantq said...
I've always thought that the score to 'Creepshow' was a neglected classic.
Reply
2-27-2009 @ 10:54PM
Peter Hall said...
Well everyone seems to deem it sub-mediocre, but I love every track of Michael Giacchino's score for SPEED RACER. Not often can one hear colors without the aid of a hallucinogenic toad.
Reply
2-27-2009 @ 11:17PM
Thomas said...
The love theme from "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story" composed by Randy Edelman, who also did the music for "Dragonheart."
Reply
2-28-2009 @ 12:19AM
Roy said...
Some of my favorite themes are the oft used " I do believe in fairies" from the live action Peter Pan (2003) and "12 years later" From disney's " Treasure Planet" and " The Egg Travels" from Dinosaur. All of which happen to be James Newton Howard.
Reply
2-28-2009 @ 2:26AM
Star22 said...
Well, Peter Pan (2003) wouldn't count on this list because it is actually a good movie. It certainly is more faithful to the original than any other version, and it is very well done.
2-28-2009 @ 12:46AM
Mike D. said...
Here's some more great music that go with blah movies...
The Journey from "Tears of the Sun." - Hans Zimmer
The whole score to "Black Beauty" - Danny Elfman
King Richard from "Lionheart" - Jerry Goldsmith
Montana from "The Horse Whisperer" - Thomas Newman
Conquest of Paradise from "1492" - Vangelis
Reply
2-28-2009 @ 1:38AM
Jen said...
The "Hook" soundtrack. All of it.
Reply
2-28-2009 @ 3:15AM
uforeader said...
I gotta agree on the Lady in the Water score. The fact is wasn't nominated for an Oscar is a crime. It's absolutely haunting. As is the score for The Village - both Shyamalan movies, both James Newton Howard. They make an incredible pair.
The score for Sunshine is amazing as well.
Reply
2-28-2009 @ 5:36AM
oliver said...
Funny, this was a great post! I've always thought about this very idea, nice work Ms. Rappe.
Two films people seem to heep hate on (I actually quite like both) The libetine and the Duchess, both have remarkable scores, really compelling artful and in some cases, breath taking music.
Libertine was Michael Nyman, who I guess is always reliable but the duchess was done by Rachel Portman whose music usually falls into sud par films, 'Bagger Vance', "Human Stain' 'Sisterhood of the travelling pants'
It was nice to see her contrabution to the film recognized by name at the oscar ceremony, during the costume design speech.
Reply
2-28-2009 @ 5:46AM
harmacy said...
"Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait" soundtrack by Scotland's mighty Mogwai. Atmospheric, dynamic, brooding, epic – you'll be hard pressed to find instrumental post-rock soundscapes done this well.
"Half-Cocked" soundtrack, showcasing some seriously solid indie rock action. Featuring some of mid-late 90s heavyweight independent acts.
Reply
2-28-2009 @ 6:37AM
Steve Bennett said...
Alex and Jake Parker's "Almost Martyrs" from The Life of David Gale.
Angelo Badalamenti's score from the remake of The Wicker Man... the only good thing about that movie.
Reply
2-28-2009 @ 8:32AM
Meredith said...
The entire "Red Planet" soundtrack was wonderful, but the movie itself was abysmally stupid.
Reply
2-28-2009 @ 1:10PM
Christopher Campbell said...
Elisabeth, you and I think alike -- eerily and coincidentally in fact. Yesterday I was completely thinking about coming up with a list of great scores to bad movies.
But unlike you, I have never been a big score collector and so scrapped the idea. However, one of my all time favorite scores is Jerry Goldsmith's for Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend. A movie I doubt most Cinematical readers have seen.
Also, I've currently been listening to Goldsmith's similar score to Legend, a film I kind of love but also feel is mediocre. I'd much rather listen to the music than watch it again.
Reply
2-28-2009 @ 5:00PM
Elisabeth said...
That IS eerie! I wish you'd beat me to it, I bet your list would be classier than mine. :P
"Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend" officially wins the discussion, though. I suspect even Jerry Goldsmith may have forgotten about that film...
2-28-2009 @ 1:41PM
Brodie said...
David Newman's music for "The Mighty Ducks" was actually pretty good. As is James Newton Howard's work on "Waterworld"
Reply
2-28-2009 @ 2:17PM
Jason said...
Journey to Transylvania by Alan Silvestri from Van Helsing.
Voyage to Avalon by Kenji Kawai (I am not sure if this qualifies as a "mediocre " movie or not.)
Reply
2-28-2009 @ 2:28PM
ggg said...
Rudy - Jerry Goldsmith
Last of the Mohicans - Trevor Jones & Randy Edelman
Forest Gump - Alan Silvestri
Terminator 2 - Brad Fiedel
And one from way back...
Mutiny on the Bounty (Marlon Brando) - Branislau Kaper
There are so many...
ggg
Reply
2-28-2009 @ 2:32PM
bex said...
Mediocre article by a mediocre writer.
Reply