Original Film Scores - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

Sleeping in EQ · 01-11-2007, 08:13 PM

One of the things I love about older and indi films are the scores produced specifically for the films. It's something of a declining art too, as lots of films nowadays are doing some marketing tie-in and fill the soundscape with radio-ready pop tunes instead.

Anyway...

While visiting my folks over the holidays my dad dug out "Dirty Harry." He was living in the bay area (Santa Clara, San Francisco, and Sunnyvale) during the Zodiac killings and was later trained at the police academy. He likes Clint Eastwood too, so this film is really a favorite of his. But that soundtrack is perfect! Just thinking about that spooky "Scorpio theme" makes chills run up my spine. The haunting wailing and the driving, predatory bass have the serial killer feel all over them. When I went to take the garbage to the street after dark (and after watching the film) that soundtrack was in my head and when I tripped the motion detector and the outside lights popped on I jumped a good two feet in the air and my heart was pounding. Sometimes it's fun to be scared.

Are there any original film scores that you really enjoy? I have lots of favorites, but would rather hear what you like.

mpfunk · 01-11-2007, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sleeping in EQ

One of the things I love about older and indi films are the scores produced specifically for the films. It's something of a declining art too, as lots of films nowadays are doing some marketing tie-in and fill the soundscape with radio-ready pop tunes instead.

Anyway...

While visiting my folks over the holidays my dad dug out "Dirty Harry." He was living in the bay area (Santa Clara, San Francisco, and Sunnyvale) during the Zodiac killings and was later trained at the police academy. He likes Clint Eastwood too, so this film is really a favorite of his. But that soundtrack is perfect! Just thinking about that spooky "Scorpio theme" makes chills run up my spine. The haunting wailing and the driving, predatory bass are perfect. When I went to take the garbage to the street after dark (and after watching the film) that soundtrack was in my head and when I tripped the motion detector and the outside lights popped on I jumped a good two feet in the air and my heart was pounding. Sometimes it's fun to be scared.

Are there any original film scores that you really enjoy? I have lots of favorites, but would rather hear what you like.

I think the best movie soundtrack out there is the Superfly soundtrack by Curtis Mayfield.

MikeWaters · 01-11-2007, 08:19 PM

I enjoyed hearing the opening part John Williams score for Star Wars I. Alight! We're back!

And then, seeing the sorriest piece of crap movie ever. What a letdown.

MikeWaters · 01-11-2007, 08:23 PM

Zulu451 was a big fan of the Last Mohican soundtrack.

Sleeping in EQ · 01-11-2007, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

I enjoyed hearing the opening part John Williams score for Star Wars I. Alight! We're back!

And then, seeing the sorriest piece of crap movie ever. What a letdown.

Agreed. John Williams has some great scores and the work he did for Star Wars deserves its renown. Phantom Menace, though, is terrible and has some of the worst dialogue I've ever suffered through. To hijack my own thread, I'd rank the Star Wars films thus:

1. The Empire Strikes Back
2. Revenge of the Sith
3. A New Hope
4. Attack of the Clones
5. Return of the Jedi
6. The Phantom Menace

BarbaraGordon · 01-11-2007, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sleeping in EQ

One of the things I love about older and indi films are the scores produced specifically for the films.

This is one respect in which I actually like the movie Titanic. Except for that dreadful Celine Dion song. Otherwise thought the score was outstanding.

I could list specific favorites but it's easier to list the composers.

My favorite film composers are (in this order):
1. Williams
2. Elfman
3. Horner

I don't really like the older (like pre-1970s) soundtracks because I always felt they were overdone and distracted from the movie.

creekster · 01-11-2007, 08:28 PM

Battle of Britain and Patton both have great soundtracks.

MikeWaters · 01-11-2007, 08:29 PM

None of the new films had any emotional impact. Sure they had bad scripts--predictable, with tinny dialogue. But the core problem was that no one cared about the characters.

It takes a true master to pull off somethign where the audience knows what the ending is going to be. Lucas is no master.

non sequitur · 01-11-2007, 08:54 PM

I always liked John Barry's score of Out of Africa.

OhioBlue · 01-11-2007, 10:18 PM

Just about anything John Williams.

Horner as well.

Anyone else notice that the Gladiator and Pirates scores sounded like they were done by the same composer? Similar instrumentation, style etc.

I liked Dances With Wolves, I think that was Barry.

LOTR soundtracks were good, although not always pleasant listening.

And don't laugh, but I really really like the music in Chariots of Fire (much of it done by Vangelis on synthesizers, but good nonetheless).

01-11-2007, 08:13 PM	#1
Sleeping in EQ Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The People's Republic of Monsanto Posts: 3,085	Original Film Scores One of the things I love about older and indi films are the scores produced specifically for the films. It's something of a declining art too, as lots of films nowadays are doing some marketing tie-in and fill the soundscape with radio-ready pop tunes instead. Anyway... While visiting my folks over the holidays my dad dug out "Dirty Harry." He was living in the bay area (Santa Clara, San Francisco, and Sunnyvale) during the Zodiac killings and was later trained at the police academy. He likes Clint Eastwood too, so this film is really a favorite of his. But that soundtrack is perfect! Just thinking about that spooky "Scorpio theme" makes chills run up my spine. The haunting wailing and the driving, predatory bass have the serial killer feel all over them. When I went to take the garbage to the street after dark (and after watching the film) that soundtrack was in my head and when I tripped the motion detector and the outside lights popped on I jumped a good two feet in the air and my heart was pounding. Sometimes it's fun to be scared. Are there any original film scores that you really enjoy? I have lots of favorites, but would rather hear what you like. __________________ "Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; " 1 Thess. 5:21 (NRSV) We all trust our own unorthodoxies. Last edited by Sleeping in EQ; 01-11-2007 at 08:22 PM.

01-11-2007, 08:28 PM	#7
creekster Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: the far corner of my mind Posts: 8,711	Battle of Britain and Patton both have great soundtracks. __________________ Sorry for th e tpyos.

01-11-2007, 08:54 PM	#9
non sequitur Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,964	I always liked John Barry's score of Out of Africa. __________________ ...You've been under attack for days, there's a soldier down, he's wounded, gangrene's setting in, 'Who's used all the penicillin?' 'Oh, Mark Paxson sir, he's got knob rot off of some tart.'" - Gareth Keenan

01-11-2007, 10:18 PM	#10
OhioBlue Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ames, IA Posts: 469	Just about anything John Williams. Horner as well. Anyone else notice that the Gladiator and Pirates scores sounded like they were done by the same composer? Similar instrumentation, style etc. I liked Dances With Wolves, I think that was Barry. LOTR soundtracks were good, although not always pleasant listening. And don't laugh, but I really really like the music in Chariots of Fire (much of it done by Vangelis on synthesizers, but good nonetheless). __________________ On the other hand, you have different fingers. -- Steven Wright

01-11-2007, 08:19 PM	#3
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,367	I enjoyed hearing the opening part John Williams score for Star Wars I. Alight! We're back! And then, seeing the sorriest piece of crap movie ever. What a letdown.

01-11-2007, 08:23 PM	#4
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,367	Zulu451 was a big fan of the Last Mohican soundtrack.

01-11-2007, 08:29 PM	#8
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,367	None of the new films had any emotional impact. Sure they had bad scripts--predictable, with tinny dialogue. But the core problem was that no one cared about the characters. It takes a true master to pull off somethign where the audience knows what the ending is going to be. Lucas is no master.