I was having a conversation with a friend the other day about movie soundtracks. He seemed to think that big soundtracks can ruin a good movie and prefers the more 'arty' films which don't rely as heavily on music to convey feelings.
I totally disagreed. I think soundtracks are extremely important in creating different atmospheres in a movie and can think of hundereds of movies that wouldn't be half as good had it not been for their soundtrack.
What`s your views on this

It depends what we're calling big soundtracks. If a big band are tacked onto a movie soundtrack to sell it then I agree but the score can make a huge difference to scene setting. Tarantino is a good one to look at for that, with lots of reasonably well known songs like You never can tell, Little green bag and Stick in the middle becoming synonymous with the films because they've been put in so perfectly to convey the spirit of a scene.

I was having a conversation with a friend the other day about movie soundtracks. He seemed to think that big soundtracks can ruin a good movie and prefers the more 'arty' films which don't rely as heavily on music to convey feelings.
I totally disagreed. I think soundtracks are extremely important in creating different atmospheres in a movie and can think of hundereds of movies that wouldn't be half as good had it not been for their soundtrack.
What`s your views on thisHorses for courses, surely.

Your friend has a point though, if she means the corporate cynicism in chucking out a soundrack full of old pop hits, which in some cases aren't even in the film they're supposedly promoting (M:I got into to trouble with this). Ultimately it's easy money - the sort they like best.

But the use of old music can be used very intelligently. Look at 2001. Many people noted how various classical pieces were presented as a sort of celestial muzak, but more interesting is the relationship it plays with what we hear in the rest of the film - the shrieking apes, the hum of machinery, the stunted communications between people. Clever, that.

btw - best soundtrack I've heard of recent is from Birth. Patchy film, but the music is outstanding.

I still can't believe we don't have the soundtrack to "Pretty in Pink" all those wonderfull songs, so evocative of both the film and the era

Horses for courses, surely.

Yes, it depends on the type of film. Some films simply don't need music and can survive on the scenes alone whilst others need music to invoke the mood of the scenes.

The Bond movies, for example, MUST have music, especially the signature theme followed by the (usually) pop or rock track; the best of which is surely 'Live and Let Die'.

One of my favourite movie soundtracks is that to 'The Wicker Man' in which most of the music is written specially for the film and really sets the Gaelic/pagan atmosphere of the island on which the film is set. The erotic dance scene with Britt Ekland (or her body double) is electric mainly because of the song played throughout.

I've recently watched a film called 'The Bangkok Hilton' edited down from the Australian mini-series of the same name in which music is played way too much. All but the most mundane scenes have music playing over them and it detracts from what is otherwise a very good film, not to mention Denholm Elliot's finest performance.

I do love a good soundtrack, what ever about them possibly ruining a movie, they can also make it a very memorable thing.
I've always loved the soundtracks to the starwars movies.

Have a thing for tv soundtracks too, regardless of what some think, I love the soundtracks to the new Battlestar Galactica. Very nicely composed music, hearing it certainly reminds you clearly of moments of the show.

Its an intergral part of a decent film innit?
Sunshine of the spotless mind would be a different film altogether would it not?.... not to mention 'The Doors'!

Its an intergral part of a decent film innit?


Bang on. Requiem for a Dream and Magnolia wouldn't be the films they are without the excellent Soundtracks.

:stupid:

random example - imagine the good, the bad & the ugly without ennio morricone's soundtrack building the tension until you're screaming at the screen "somebody pull a gun for fecks sake!!"....wouldn't really be the same imo

Bang on. Requiem for a Dream and Magnolia wouldn't be the films they are without the excellent Soundtracks.

I actually watched Requiem for Dream last night, and tbh I didn't even notice a soundtrack. But some of the best soundtracks just fit so perfectly you don't see them as a separate entity, but they still enhance the film.

Or I didn't notice the soundtrack because I was too busy feeling bleak. Very sad movie.

Its an intergral part of a decent film innit?
Sunshine of the spotless mind would be a different film altogether would it not?.... not to mention 'The Doors'!

:stupid:

music builds emotional tension and creates a vibe that isnt there. part of the cinema experience is the fact is almost more real than reality... youre being carried to a world of fiction so they need to connect you to it. music does this wonderfully.

The score has its own cinematic language that needs no translation it’s universally recognised if one should hear Bernard Herrmann, John Williams John Barry Jerry Goldsmith and James Horner, it stands out instantly.

The new Bond film Casino Royale, I like only small portion of that score haven’t come across any of the above composers new works to my ears, that is I have plenty to listen to when watching the film or just the CD I have yet few more of there classical pieces to buy and discover the richness of a full orchestra beating it out.

Bernard Herrmann’s North by Northwest is pretty darn good for the open while Leo roars cool opening just the first few seconds play it loud and you’ll get the picture.

My all time favorite soundtracks are for "The Shining" and "The Wizard of Oz."

Past that, try the soundtracks to "A Company of Wolves" (poignant, creepy and unearthly); "Heathers" (malicious, unnerving and bizarre); and "Return to Oz" (a strange movie with one of the saddest soundtracks ever written--you'd think Dorothy died at the end of the bubonic plague).

Fav Hitchcock soundtrack is the one to "The Birds." No music except for the song the children sing in the school and the sounds of the birds themselves.

Mnem--I feel your pain regarding "Pretty in Pink." It's available stateside, though.

And yes, Bond films mean Bond themes.

Actually can't think of an excruciatingly bad Bond song. Madonna's "Die Another Day" is not great, I guess. And I'm not a Tom Jones fan. But "Time Enough for Love," "Baby You're the Best," "You Only Live Twice" and "Diamonds Are Forever" are all top-notch.

I even like "Tomorrow Never Dies."

No , you've got it all wrong.

A lot of arthouse film also have a sountrack that are subliminal , (that is we don't realise they are there) , but if we take another listen they suddennly appear. The Boards of Canada are experts at sublimal arty soundtracks.

There are times in wierd films ,especially ,when a dark corridor is involved ,when we don't realise we are listening to a soundtrack , but think we are listening to the ambience of a dark corridor.Genious.

But it is horses for courses, nontheless .

I suppose my favourite film genre is Musicals , where its impossible to get away from the fact there is music going on ,my favourites being 'Oh,What a Lovely War' & ' Showboat'.

And you can kiss my arse , if you did not think the Soundtrack to 'Once Upon A time in America' didn't help make the movie a 10/10.,experience.

Ennio Morricone is shere class.

On the popular front, I would say ,that My Best Friend Wedding has a nice score.

It's all down to how the music is used in the film.

Scorsesee is the master at taking tunes and adding to the film. Tarantino is also pretty good in this respect

Examples of music composed specifically for the film which genuinely transform the film...

Psycho - Bernard Hermann
Jaws - John Williams

Plenty of examples here.....

Observer Music Monthly Top 50 Film Soundtracks of all time (http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,,2032992,00.html)

Can't believe "Vertigo" didn't make that top 50 list. Superb score.

N by NW is another favourite. Hermmann really is the daddy!

It depends on the type/style/genre of film. Star Wars is a pulp classic. Imagine EMpire Strikes Back without the Imperial March!

On the other hand, it's very clever how Dr Strangelove has almost no music, other than the endlessly repeated military theme