Music in Movies - A Powerful Tool or Nickelback Promotion Machine?
The summer blockbuster series is coming to a close, most likely after
this weekend with the release of Inglorious Basterds. I have tried to
see most of them, the bigger the budget, seems to be indicative of a
worse soundtrack.
I have my own feelings about why this phenomenon, but I only know the music industry works, not the movie industry. In the music industry, record companies will pay to get their latest slop on the soundtrack of the summer blockbuster. I would guess the money would help pay for some part of the movie.
Some directors use music they want, see Rob Zombie and Chris Nolan, and Tarratino. But Michael Bay will use whatever music makes him the most money. The problem with the latter scenario is you get a soundtrack full of Nickelback, Theory of a Deadman, and Hoobastank (Transformers).
Music is a powerful tool in movies. In horror movies, it can really heighten the suspense and emotion of the scene. It can signal when a character is going to be on the screen (The Joker in the Dark Knight has a theme). But it is chick flicks where I think music is used most effectively.
The chick flicks are based around a story of love and emotion and the use of music is done very well in these movies. The powerful buildup to the character meeting the first time, the slow, sad music as the one character loses the other, or whatever.
This weekend, you can see Inglorious Basterds, which has a lot of Ennio Marcone songs in it or you can check out The Time Travelers Wife. I won't tell you which one you should go and see but The Time Travelers Wife is a story about two lovers, the dude jumps through time, gets frostbite, jumps back to the present and dies in the girls arms. Aww, but he leaves a note for her saying they will meet again and they do when he is 43 and she is 83. So it's kind of sappy because he shows up exactly as she remembers him and he gets to plow an 83 year old version of the wife he remembers. But the creepy part is, he's been dead for 20 years. I never really figured out how it was romantic, but I never really understood women.
I read the book because it was assigned for a class when I was at the university. The only question I had was if I were to jump back in time and meet my 15 year old self would it be considered masturbation if I gave myself a blowjob? Technically, I am blowing myself. I could never really reconcile that thought.
Whatever movie you choose, listen to the soundtrack and see if it heightens or hurts the movie.
I have my own feelings about why this phenomenon, but I only know the music industry works, not the movie industry. In the music industry, record companies will pay to get their latest slop on the soundtrack of the summer blockbuster. I would guess the money would help pay for some part of the movie.
Some directors use music they want, see Rob Zombie and Chris Nolan, and Tarratino. But Michael Bay will use whatever music makes him the most money. The problem with the latter scenario is you get a soundtrack full of Nickelback, Theory of a Deadman, and Hoobastank (Transformers).
Music is a powerful tool in movies. In horror movies, it can really heighten the suspense and emotion of the scene. It can signal when a character is going to be on the screen (The Joker in the Dark Knight has a theme). But it is chick flicks where I think music is used most effectively.
The chick flicks are based around a story of love and emotion and the use of music is done very well in these movies. The powerful buildup to the character meeting the first time, the slow, sad music as the one character loses the other, or whatever.
This weekend, you can see Inglorious Basterds, which has a lot of Ennio Marcone songs in it or you can check out The Time Travelers Wife. I won't tell you which one you should go and see but The Time Travelers Wife is a story about two lovers, the dude jumps through time, gets frostbite, jumps back to the present and dies in the girls arms. Aww, but he leaves a note for her saying they will meet again and they do when he is 43 and she is 83. So it's kind of sappy because he shows up exactly as she remembers him and he gets to plow an 83 year old version of the wife he remembers. But the creepy part is, he's been dead for 20 years. I never really figured out how it was romantic, but I never really understood women.
I read the book because it was assigned for a class when I was at the university. The only question I had was if I were to jump back in time and meet my 15 year old self would it be considered masturbation if I gave myself a blowjob? Technically, I am blowing myself. I could never really reconcile that thought.
Whatever movie you choose, listen to the soundtrack and see if it heightens or hurts the movie.
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