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Post by rberman on Feb 20, 2018 15:09:47 GMT -5
Here are two fascinating videos about how film scores are composed, especially for superhero movies, and why the process leads us away from memorable melodies. The second video is a partial rebuttal of the first, but together they provide a valuable window into the process.
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Post by codystarbuck on Feb 22, 2018 18:56:26 GMT -5
I still think it boils down to the individuals involved. Hans Zimmer's superhero movie music and that of Gladiator is similar; but used differently. I think that is due to Ridley Scott's input vs Christopher Nolan. Christophe Franke scored babylon 5 electronically, yet it has an emotional, symphonic sound. Now, he used actuals instruments and artists in recording the music, and mixed it digitally. He also came from the pop world, with Tangerine Dream. Eric Serra, who scored Luc Besson's films had heavy bass and percussion, since he was a bass player. he had synthesizers throughout his films, yet he had memorable melodies, especially in La Femme Nikita. It is very much in service to the emotion of the scene.
I also think the use of pre-existing pop music is another factor. The filmmakers draw more musical influence from popular music, as it has been used more and more in contemporary films, until you forget that there was also an original score, such as it was. Lucas was one of the first of his generation to turn the film into a video jukebox, in American Graffiti.
The spot on comment is about "safe." Hollywood is all about "safe," in all aspects. They don't take chances on story, presentation, casting, music, any aspect of filmmaking. They do studies and analyze successes and copy the same formulas. Evolution comes from change and it takes kicking over the ant hill, from time to time, to spur things on.
TV and literature are much the same and comics certainly are. This sold X units, lets have more of that. Comics have the same technological problems. Computer coloring and other digital platforms don't deliver the same experience as more organic media. You can trace a line on a drawing pad and the computer can simulate the texture of graphite; but, the eye detects the artiface. Digital color allows for more effects and shading; but not necessarily the same emotional content. It depends on who is using the tools.
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Post by rberman on Feb 23, 2018 0:33:28 GMT -5
I still think it boils down to the individuals involved. Hans Zimmer's superhero movie music and that of Gladiator is similar; but used differently. I think that is due to Ridley Scott's input vs Christopher Nolan. Christophe Franke scored babylon 5 electronically, yet it has an emotional, symphonic sound. Now, he used actuals instruments and artists in recording the music, and mixed it digitally. He also came from the pop world, with Tangerine Dream. Eric Serra, who scored Luc Besson's films had heavy bass and percussion, since he was a bass player. he had synthesizers throughout his films, yet he had memorable melodies, especially in La Femme Nikita. It is very much in service to the emotion of the scene. I was watching another response/rebuttal video which pointed out that one reason we remember the Star Wars theme is that we heard it so many times. The Luke leitmotif (also known as "The Force") appears over a dozen times in the original film as well. A disco version of the Star Wars main title music was a hit soon after the first movie came out. It featured in toy ads and ads for the sequels, as well as being incidental music in the sequels thmselves. But Marvel has failed to make prominent use of, say, The Avengers theme in toy ads or even ads for sequel films. Of course, the reason the Star Wars theme was a disco hit in the first place was that it's a memorable composition with a clear melody line, which is true of some of Franke's work for Babylon 5 (say, the main title, or the Battle of the Line ostinato) which we heard week after week in the opening credits. |
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Post by codystarbuck on Feb 23, 2018 0:54:46 GMT -5
There is that; but, you don't hear the theme to the Magnificent Seven everyday, though if you start the intro, a lot of people will recognize it. Or the Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Now, the films are classics; but, it is very much that the music adds the emotional element that is missing from modern films, in many cases, which is part of what made the music memorable. Main title themes are a much bigger deal, and part of what people remember most. That's what they remember from Star wars and the Imperial March, from Empire. Those of us from the 70s know the Cantina Band song, especially thanks to Meco.
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