My favorite movie soundtrack has to be Howard Shore’s score for the Lord of The Rings films. What makes this music iconic to me is not only does it compliment the film and its many moods/scenes/battles/scapes/etc. but it is also just great music. At times it is majestic, at times beautiful, occasionally brutal. This soundtrack can be listened to without any influence from the film and still be considered a masterpiece. It also compliments the film perfectly adding subtleties and emotion that would have been lost otherwise. Howard Shore uses beauty, dynamics, ambient, and booming sections to not only compliment a scene but to add a certain emotion; happiness, sadness, hope, joy, fear, doom, etc. When emphasizing joy in a certain scene Shore will use the orchestra and the higher register strings to play a light, happy melody and add a harp or flute for brightness. For more of the fear filled scenes Shore will use the Brass section to play a booming harmonic minor theme with a syncopated tympani and bass drum playing a war march to emphasize impending doom. Interestingly Shore also has someone banging on the strings of a piano to create a scary effect in some scenes as well. Howard Shore does the music for all the Lord of the Rings films and all the scores are excellent but if I had to choose I would probably say the best would be the Return of the King soundtrack because it has the most memorable pieces and they are longer too (more bang for your buck).
My favorite soundtrack from a film is the soundtrack from the Lincoln Lawyer. The film weaves a mysterious and dramatic story about a defense attorney who defends criminals and struggles to justify his job to the critical society around him. Essentially, there is a far more profound, emotional story at work beneath the Lawyer’s tough exterior. The soundtrack compliments this feeling so precisely that you don’t even have to watch the film to understand its message. The soundtrack in the Lincoln Lawyer includes an eclectic collection of Blues, Jazz, Old School Hip Hop, etc. Immediately, you feel like you’re strutting the streets of LA’s urban neighborhoods, where the setting of the film takes place. However, beneath the rap lyrics and monotonous beats lies a “bluesy” almost spiritual and inspirational melody, alluding to the Lawyer’s struggle to overcome the public’s negative perception of his occupation. I appreciate the universal message that the soundtrack portrays, that is, that humans are filled with emotion and no one, not even a stone-faced Lawyer, can run from them forever. The soundtrack appears to emphasize this throughout the entire film, revealing the Lawyer’s deepest emotions to the audience, through music, even when he doesn’t want to. When the Lawyer’s happy, the soundtrack is upbeat, fast-paced, and catchy. When he’s down in the dumps, the music expresses a more dramatic and serious melody. And when he’s in court defending a “criminal” he believes is innocent, the music is bold and pounding, almost deafening at times, reflecting the Lawyer’s and the criminal’s pounding hearts. Essentially, in the Lincoln Lawyer, the soundtrack plays the role of revealing clues to the audience that are otherwise not revealed in the film’s plot.
One of my recent favorite soundtracks to a movie would be from the Social Network. What I like about it is that it is a blend of electronic and melodic music. It works very well with the theme of the rise of the social media and technology in general. It also is somewhat dark and mysterious at times creating a perfect mood of seriousness and drama without being too over the top. It even won best soundtrack at the Academy Awards. One of my favorite songs in the movie was in the beginning when Mark was creating a site that compared girls hotness while blogging about his ex-girlfriend. While he is typing the code to create the site and describing to the audience how he broke into the Harvard system a beat is playing quietly slowly becoming louder and louder. As he keeps creating the site the beat gets faster and louder reflecting his excitement. When he finishes the site, the beat suddenly stops and all the audience hears is a note from a piano playing softly.
I found the soundtrack from Black Swan very interesting. Because the movie is focused around ballet, the soundtrack is appropriately inspired by classical music. Specifically, Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake is the core of the music for the film, but it has been dramatically altered and used in a new way. The classical music seems surprisingly new and fresh as it is reinterpreted into this modern film. The dramatic score by Tchaikovsky is the perfect backdrop to the intense, dark tone of the film, and the alterations serve to modernize and adjust the sound for a more modern audience. Soundtracks are one of the most important parts of creating the mood for a film, and this was really a clever way of creating the perfect soundtrack for this film in my opinion. What made me think of Black Swan right away was the different approach they took in their soundtrack, which was very effective and complimented this excellent film perfectly.
My favorite soundtrack is called Loverboy in Dirty Dancing. The movie is focused around their love and documents Baby (Jennifer Gray),teenage girl's rebellion against her father by starting a relation with a dance instructor,Johnny (Patrick Swayze)during their family vacation. The whole movie is based around this style of dancing called dirty dancing. It is one of the most sexual forms of dancing and requires a lot of emotion and relaxation. The director directed by Emile Ardolino chose specific songs for this film, using Bergstein's personal collection of gramophone records. The song Loverboy thats used fitted perfect with the scene. In the scene Baby is having one of her lesson with Johnny but this was a one on one session. At this point in the movie they know that their feelings for one another are mutual. Then the song comes on and Johnny can’t seem to keep his hands off of her. However, the roles switch and she begins to remind him that she is there to dance but in a teasing way; she says "you are invading my dancing space". What's interesting about that is the whole concept of dirty dancing is to not have any space between one another. As they start to get closer they start to become relaxed with one another. At this point in the scene they start singing to each other and playing the role of the people in the song. No one in the movie really knows that they are secret lovers so through dancing is the way she falls in love with Johnny because she is unable to see him any other time. The song fits perfectly with the scene and the plot of the movie in general.
My favorite soundtrack to a film would probably be to Tron: Legacy. Though not the typical movie that you would be likely to find good music in, this film's soundtrack had a special twist to it that made it interesting. It is mainly techno, with some pop and other genres in it, but it is extremely lively. It is the kind of music that does nothing but add to the suspense, keeping tht viewer interested the entire length of the movie. The variance of speeds vs volume vs type of music for each scene kept the viewers watching the film, and it made them feel more "involved" with the movie as it was happening. Some people may disagree because the music was mostly techno, but as I watched this film I thought to myself "I want this soundtrack".
My favorite soundtrack from a film is by far the legendary Lion King. When i was little i memorized all of the songs, and went to see the play in Toronto. To this day I can still recite most of the songs after a few attempts. The reason it is my favorite is because the film goes perfect with each song, always being able to relate in some way. It has songs that are very happy and exciting, uplifting, and songs that are sad and can make one cry. The music has a R&B twist too it, a disney twist to it, and a classical twist to it as well, making it easy for all ages to connect to the music. This soundtrack in my opinion is one of the greatest of all time that brings back many childhood memories for many people in my generation. When many think of Lion King, the first thing that comes to many minds is the famous like, "Hakuna Matata."
The soundtrack from Avatar is my personal favorite. The way that it conveys such emotion through instrumentation is incredible but stays connected throughout. By using vocals to compliment the instruments, we hear an innovative sound throughout and the contrast between the female vocals in some standard scenes, and the male vocals in more intense scenes makes for a simple yet passionate feeling when heard. Because the movie has a futuristic feel, the choice of instruments is also important and was well done, creating a futuristic but natural sound that compliments the movie well. Consistent with the goal of most films, the soundtrack is also tuneful and leaves the audience with something to hum after the movie is over. Having an innovative sound while maintaining a simple melodic form is what makes the soundtrack to Avatar so great.
My favorite movie soundtrack has to be Howard Shore’s score for the Lord of The Rings films. What makes this music iconic to me is not only does it compliment the film and its many moods/scenes/battles/scapes/etc. but it is also just great music. At times it is majestic, at times beautiful, occasionally brutal. This soundtrack can be listened to without any influence from the film and still be considered a masterpiece. It also compliments the film perfectly adding subtleties and emotion that would have been lost otherwise. Howard Shore uses beauty, dynamics, ambient, and booming sections to not only compliment a scene but to add a certain emotion; happiness, sadness, hope, joy, fear, doom, etc. When emphasizing joy in a certain scene Shore will use the orchestra and the higher register strings to play a light, happy melody and add a harp or flute for brightness. For more of the fear filled scenes Shore will use the Brass section to play a booming harmonic minor theme with a syncopated tympani and bass drum playing a war march to emphasize impending doom. Interestingly Shore also has someone banging on the strings of a piano to create a scary effect in some scenes as well. Howard Shore does the music for all the Lord of the Rings films and all the scores are excellent but if I had to choose I would probably say the best would be the Return of the King soundtrack because it has the most memorable pieces and they are longer too (more bang for your buck).
ReplyDeleteMy favorite soundtrack from a film is the soundtrack from the Lincoln Lawyer. The film weaves a mysterious and dramatic story about a defense attorney who defends criminals and struggles to justify his job to the critical society around him. Essentially, there is a far more profound, emotional story at work beneath the Lawyer’s tough exterior. The soundtrack compliments this feeling so precisely that you don’t even have to watch the film to understand its message. The soundtrack in the Lincoln Lawyer includes an eclectic collection of Blues, Jazz, Old School Hip Hop, etc. Immediately, you feel like you’re strutting the streets of LA’s urban neighborhoods, where the setting of the film takes place. However, beneath the rap lyrics and monotonous beats lies a “bluesy” almost spiritual and inspirational melody, alluding to the Lawyer’s struggle to overcome the public’s negative perception of his occupation. I appreciate the universal message that the soundtrack portrays, that is, that humans are filled with emotion and no one, not even a stone-faced Lawyer, can run from them forever. The soundtrack appears to emphasize this throughout the entire film, revealing the Lawyer’s deepest emotions to the audience, through music, even when he doesn’t want to. When the Lawyer’s happy, the soundtrack is upbeat, fast-paced, and catchy. When he’s down in the dumps, the music expresses a more dramatic and serious melody. And when he’s in court defending a “criminal” he believes is innocent, the music is bold and pounding, almost deafening at times, reflecting the Lawyer’s and the criminal’s pounding hearts. Essentially, in the Lincoln Lawyer, the soundtrack plays the role of revealing clues to the audience that are otherwise not revealed in the film’s plot.
ReplyDeleteOne of my recent favorite soundtracks to a movie would be from the Social Network. What I like about it is that it is a blend of electronic and melodic music. It works very well with the theme of the rise of the social media and technology in general. It also is somewhat dark and mysterious at times creating a perfect mood of seriousness and drama without being too over the top. It even won best soundtrack at the Academy Awards. One of my favorite songs in the movie was in the beginning when Mark was creating a site that compared girls hotness while blogging about his ex-girlfriend. While he is typing the code to create the site and describing to the audience how he broke into the Harvard system a beat is playing quietly slowly becoming louder and louder. As he keeps creating the site the beat gets faster and louder reflecting his excitement. When he finishes the site, the beat suddenly stops and all the audience hears is a note from a piano playing softly.
ReplyDeleteI found the soundtrack from Black Swan very interesting. Because the movie is focused around ballet, the soundtrack is appropriately inspired by classical music. Specifically, Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake is the core of the music for the film, but it has been dramatically altered and used in a new way. The classical music seems surprisingly new and fresh as it is reinterpreted into this modern film. The dramatic score by Tchaikovsky is the perfect backdrop to the intense, dark tone of the film, and the alterations serve to modernize and adjust the sound for a more modern audience. Soundtracks are one of the most important parts of creating the mood for a film, and this was really a clever way of creating the perfect soundtrack for this film in my opinion. What made me think of Black Swan right away was the different approach they took in their soundtrack, which was very effective and complimented this excellent film perfectly.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite soundtrack is called Loverboy in Dirty Dancing. The movie is focused around their love and documents Baby (Jennifer Gray),teenage girl's rebellion against her father by starting a relation with a dance instructor,Johnny (Patrick Swayze)during their family vacation. The whole movie is based around this style of dancing called dirty dancing. It is one of the most sexual forms of dancing and requires a lot of emotion and relaxation. The director directed by Emile Ardolino chose specific songs for this film, using Bergstein's personal collection of gramophone records. The song Loverboy thats used fitted perfect with the scene. In the scene Baby is having one of her lesson with Johnny but this was a one on one session. At this point in the movie they know that their feelings for one another are mutual. Then the song comes on and Johnny can’t seem to keep his hands off of her. However, the roles switch and she begins to remind him that she is there to dance but in a teasing way; she says "you are invading my dancing space". What's interesting about that is the whole concept of dirty dancing is to not have any space between one another. As they start to get closer they start to become relaxed with one another. At this point in the scene they start singing to each other and playing the role of the people in the song. No one in the movie really knows that they are secret lovers so through dancing is the way she falls in love with Johnny because she is unable to see him any other time. The song fits perfectly with the scene and the plot of the movie in general.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite soundtrack to a film would probably be to Tron: Legacy. Though not the typical movie that you would be likely to find good music in, this film's soundtrack had a special twist to it that made it interesting. It is mainly techno, with some pop and other genres in it, but it is extremely lively. It is the kind of music that does nothing but add to the suspense, keeping tht viewer interested the entire length of the movie. The variance of speeds vs volume vs type of music for each scene kept the viewers watching the film, and it made them feel more "involved" with the movie as it was happening. Some people may disagree because the music was mostly techno, but as I watched this film I thought to myself "I want this soundtrack".
ReplyDeleteMy favorite soundtrack from a film is by far the legendary Lion King. When i was little i memorized all of the songs, and went to see the play in Toronto. To this day I can still recite most of the songs after a few attempts. The reason it is my favorite is because the film goes perfect with each song, always being able to relate in some way. It has songs that are very happy and exciting, uplifting, and songs that are sad and can make one cry. The music has a R&B twist too it, a disney twist to it, and a classical twist to it as well, making it easy for all ages to connect to the music. This soundtrack in my opinion is one of the greatest of all time that brings back many childhood memories for many people in my generation. When many think of Lion King, the first thing that comes to many minds is the famous like, "Hakuna Matata."
ReplyDeleteThe soundtrack from Avatar is my personal favorite. The way that it conveys such emotion through instrumentation is incredible but stays connected throughout. By using vocals to compliment the instruments, we hear an innovative sound throughout and the contrast between the female vocals in some standard scenes, and the male vocals in more intense scenes makes for a simple yet passionate feeling when heard. Because the movie has a futuristic feel, the choice of instruments is also important and was well done, creating a futuristic but natural sound that compliments the movie well. Consistent with the goal of most films, the soundtrack is also tuneful and leaves the audience with something to hum after the movie is over. Having an innovative sound while maintaining a simple melodic form is what makes the soundtrack to Avatar so great.
ReplyDelete