50 excellent film scores you never heard of

 

1. The Hurricane por Christopher Young

Christopher Young es famoso por sus bandas sonoras para las películas de horror (Hellraiser) pero en The Hurricane el compositor logra trascender de género y crear una banda sonora ideal para las reflexiones del personaje Hurricane Carter.

Recomendaciones: The Hurricane, Rube, Hate Put Me In Prison, Love’s Gonna Bust Me Out

2. Rescuers Down Under por Bruce Brogthon

Al igual que la película, esta banda sonora es un tesoro escondido. Bruce Brogthon, escritor del libro The Emerging Film Composer, es una figura aclamada dentro del arte de música de cine. Esta banda sonora es prueba de su talento.

Recomendaciones: Cody’s Flight y Message Montage

3. Batman Forever por Elliot Golthenthal

Batman Forever es desorden total que culmina en desastre. Sin emabrgo Goldenthal logra usar esto a su ventaja armonizando el caos y crear piezas memorables y efectivas. Hay rumores de que Goldenthal hizo creo la banda sonora con un paño tapándole los ojos. Jejeje…

Recomendaciones: Main Title, Fanfare, The Perlis Of Gotham, Chase Noir

4. Van Helsing por Alan Silvestri

Alan Silvestri es uno de los compositores más versátiles para la música de película. No hay ningún género que el no pueda trabajar. Tanto es su talento que puede crear una música espectacular a base de una película no tan buena. Esta es la forma que el fin del mundo se debe escuchar. Suban el volumen del home theater a lo máximo y escuchen esta música. Es impresionante.

Recomendaciones: Transylvania 1887, Burn it Down!, Journey to Transylvania, Reunited

5. The Village por James Newton Howard

Algunas veces el compositor decide utilizar un instrumento como protagonista principal de su música. En The Village, James Newton Howard crea una música magistral para la película utilizando el violín. No he escuchado un score que utilice el violín de mejor forma, con la excepción de The Red Violin (que esta en otra liga).

Recomendaciones: The Gravel Road, Noah Visits

6. Frost Nixon por Hans Zimmer

Hans Zimmer es uno de los compositores más famosos de Hollywood que cuenta con un sin numero de éxitos. Esta banda sonora, a pesar de tener todas la ventajas del talento de Hans Zimmer, logra destacarse de la librería de trabajos del compositor por tener un sonido y características inusuales del compositor.

Recomendaciones: Watergate

7. X-Men: The Last stand por James Powell

La tercera parte de la trilogía de X-Men fue un fracaso que terminó con la continuidad de la franquicia. Irónicamente la película contiene la mejor música creada para la franquicia.

Recomendaciones: Whirpool Of Love, Dark Phoenix’s Tragedy

8. Sabrina por John Williams

Muchos opinan que John Williams es el mejor compositor de música de cine. Seguramente es el más famoso con éxitos como Star Wars, Jaws, E.T, Schidler’s List, y muchos más. Pero con una carrera que expande cuatro décadas, el compositor tiene muchos tesoros escondidos que el público no conoce. Antes de comenzar como compositor de música de cine, John Williams era un pianista de Jazz. Sin embargo durante toda su carrera son contadas las veces que el compositor creo una banda sonora usando el género de Jazz. Aunque Sabrina no es catalogada como una banda sonora de género Jazz, si podemos apreciar el talento de John Williams como pianista en el tema principal.

Recomendaciones: Main Title

9. The Painted Veil por Alexandre Desplat

A pesar de varias nominaciones y premios de Golden Globes y Oscars, Alexandre Desplat no se ha podido llegar al nivel de fama como compositores como Hans Zimmer, John Williams y James Horner. Esta banda original le gano el Golden Globe por mejor banda sonora en el 2007.

Recomendaciones: The Painted Vail, River Waltz

10. Family Man por Danny Elfman

Un compositor bien famoso y frecuentemente criticado por un estilo marcado, esta banda original es prueba del talento genuino del compositor.

Recomendaciones: The Family Man (Main Title)

11. An American Tail: Fivel Goes West por James Horner

Ya sea la primera película, An American Tail, o la segunda Fivel Goes West, cualquiera de las dos bandas sonoras son un clásico del repertorio del aclamado compositor James Horner.

Recomendaciones: Overture

12. Mrs. Doubtfire por Howard Shore

Antes de su trabajo maestral en la trilogía de Lord Of The Rings, Howard Shore creo un sin numero de bandas sonoras exitosas. Esta banda sonora hace un gran trabajo en complementar el tono emocional de la película.

Recomendaciones: Mrs. Doubtfire

13. Time Machine por Klaus Badlet

Famoso por su trabajo en Pirates Of The Caribbean: Curse Of The Black Pearl y amado por sus fanáticos por su trabajo en The Time Machin. Aunque la adaptación de este clásico literario haya sido un fracaso, la banda sonora fue un éxito.

Recomendaciones: The Time Machine, I Don’t Belong Here

14. 61 por Mark Sahiman

Película creada para HBO y dirigida por Billy Cristal, 61 es una excelente película que relata los triunfos y retos de los peloteros Mickey Mantle y Roger Maris en la temporada del 1961. La música hace un excelente trabajo en capturar el tono nostálgico, aventurismo y emocional de la película.

Recomendaciones: Flashback, One-Armed Homer

15. Superman Returns por John Ottman

Con el trabajo difícil de seguir en los pasos de John Williams, John Ottman logra complementar los temas originales de John Williams y a la misma vez creado temas nuevos y entretenidos.

Recomendaciones: Memories, Rough Flight, Little Secrets

16. Earth Days por Michael Giacchino

Michael Giacchino es un compositor que en los últimos años a llegado a la fama con éxitos como Up, Lost y The Incredibles. Esta banda sonora para el documental de Disney tiene el mismo nivel de creatividad y calidad visto en el resto de su repertorio de éxitos.

Recomendaciones: A Chance To Be

17. Girl With a Pearl Earing por Alexandre Desplat

El talento de este compositor estará capturado para siempre en esta banda sonora mágica. Recomendaciones: By the Canal With Pieter 18. March Of The Penguins por Alex Wurman Yo no se si esto es verdad, pero este soundtrack es un tesoro escondido. Al pensar en los mejores compositores de cine uno no piensa en Alex Wurman. Pero la pura verdad es que hizo un excelente trabajo en la película March Of The Penguins. Sin el uso de una orquesta tradicional, Wurman logra crear una música intima y emocional con una presencia magistral. Por más calor que haga en Puerto Rico, con solo este disco y aire acondicionado en high me puedo transportar a antártica.

Recomendaciones: The Harshest Place On Earth, The March, Found Love

19. Cutthroat Island por John Debney

Considerado un épico de aventura, Joh Debney aun no a recibido el aclamo merecido por su banda sonora épica.

Recomendaciones: The Battle/To Dawg’s Ship*/Morgan Battes Dawg*/Dawg’s Demise-The Triumph

20. Mouse Hunt por Alan Silvestri

Recomendaciones: Main Title

21. Simbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas por Harry Gregson Williams

Aunque el compositor sea conocido por su música en Chronicles Of Narnia, esta banda sonora es su mayor logro. Creando una de los mejores temas de aventura en los últimos años.

Recomendaciones: Let th Games Begin

22. Tetro por Osvaldo Golijov

Nadie se entero de la ultima película de Francis Ford Coppola ni tampoco del excelente trabajo que hizo el compositor

Recomendaciones: Tetro

23. The Crimson Wing: Mystery of The Flamingos por The Cinematic Orchestra

Otra excelente banda sonora de un documental.

Recomendaciones: The Dance

24. Lady The Water por James Newton Howard

Aunque la película marco el comienzo de fracasos taquilleros para el director M. Night Shamalan, el frecuente colaborador James Newton Howard hizo su parte.

Recomendaciones: Prologue

25. I Am Sam por John Debney

Mucha gente conoce la música de los Beatles que utilizaron en I am Sam pero pocos conocen la divertida y sensible música original compuesta por John Powell para la película.

Recomendaciones: Starbucks and Hospital

26. Rocketeer por James Horner

Aunque recientemente James Horner a realizado un numero limitado de trabajos todavía tiene una librería extensas de clásicos. The Rocketeer es uno de sus bandas sonoras divertidas y efectiva.

Recomendaciones: Main Title/Take Off

27. The Edge por Jerry Goldsmith

Unos de los compositores más talentosos de múscia de Cine, Goldsmith tiene una librería extensa de clásicos. Por esa razón puede ser que no conozcan esta banda sonora.

Recomendaciones: Main Title/Lost in the Wind

28. Che por Alberto Iglesias

29. Spanglish por Hans Zimmer

Aunque Hans Zimmer sea celebrado por sus bandas sonoras de épicas y de acción, Spanglish demuestra lo versátil que es este compositor.

Recomendaciones: Spanglish, Drunk and Disordely

30. Ed Wood por Howard Shore

La única película de Tim Burton que Danny Elfman no ha trabajo, Howard Shore tuvo la rara oportunidad de componer música original para este director. El resultado fue una banda sonora divertida y diferente a lo que los fanáticos de Tim Burton están acostumbrados.

Recomendaciones: Main Title

31. Jack The Bear por James Horner

Otra excelente banda sonora escondida en la librería extensa de james Horner.

Recomendaciones: Main Title

32. Cinderella Man por Thomas Newman

Muchas personas lo conocen por su trabajo maestro en American Beauty pero Cinderella Man prueba ser igual de efectiva y entretenida.

Recomendaciones: The Inside Out, The Hope of The Irish, Big Right

33. Hero por Tan Dun

Muchos recuerdan la excelente cinematografía y coreografía de la película. La banda sonora esta al mismo nivel de calidad.

Recomendaciones: Hero, For The World

34. The Fifth Element por Eric Serra

Igual que la película, esta banda sonora algunas veces se siente sobrecargada con diferentes elementos pero la mayoría de las veces cumple con ser entretenida y memorable.

Recomendaciones: Korben Dallas, Koolen, Five Millenia Later, Protect Life

35. The Terminal por John Williams

Prueba de aun en sus años posteriores John Williams sigue produciendo trabajos de la misma calidad de sus clásicos conocidos.

Recomendaciones: The Tale of Viktor Navorski, Dinner With Amelia, Viktor and His Friends, The Fountain Scene

36. Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm por Sherley Walker

El personaje de Batman no faya en brindarnos excelente bandas sonoras. En este filme animado la compositora Shirley Walker mantiene el nivel de calidad encontrado en las bandas sonoras de Batman y Batman Returns.

Recomendaciones: Main Title, First Love

37. Jeux D’enfants por Phillippe Rombi

Pocos conocen la película y aun menos conocen la banda sonora.

Recomendaciones: Overture

38. Tears Of The Sun por Hans Zimmer

39. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button por Alexandre Desplat

Quizás no sea un tesoro escondido ya que fue nominada para mejor banda sonora en los Oscars pero la calidad de esta banda sonora no puede pasar desapercibida.

Recomendaciones: Meeting Daisy, Sunrise On Pontchartrain, Daisy’s Ballet Career, Benjamin and Daisy

40. Father Of The Bride por Alan Silvestri

Alan Silvestri es uno de los compositores más versátiles de la música de cine. En Father of The Bride podemos apreciar melodías excepcionales acostumbradas por el compositor junto a sus arreglos de Jazz.

Recomendaciones: Annie’s Theme, End Credits

41. Volver por Alberto Iglesias Intensidad, nostalgia y misterio son unos de los varios temas reflexionados por la banda sonora de Alberto Iglesias.

Recomendaciones: Las Vecinas

42. The Fugitive por James Newton Howard

43. Speed por Mark Mancina

Aunque el único propósito de esta banda sonora sea complementar la acción de la película, Mark Mancina logra incorporar temas y secuencias musicales lo suficientemente memorable para existir fuera de la película.

Recomendaciones: Main Title, Rush Hour

44. Addams Family por Marc Shaiman

March Shaiman logra transmitir el tono cómico, oscuro, romántico y divertido de los personajes de la familia Adams a la banda sonora.

Recomendaciones: A Party…For Me?, The Rescue

45. The Prestige por David Julian

Antes de que el director Christopher Nolan colaborara con Hans Zimmer, David Julian era el compositor utilizado por Nolan en sus películas. La banda sonora de The prestige sobresale por tener un estilo minimalista que complementa efectivamente la película.

Recomendaciones: Borden Meets Sarah

46. Dark Water por Angelo Badalamenti

47. Hook por John Williams Aunque la banda sonora de Hook no sea tan famosa como E.T, Jaws y Star Wars, esta es considerada por varios fanáticos como una de sus mejores. John Williams caracterizado por crear temas musicales para personajes y temas, esta banda sonora cuenta con alrededor de catorce temas musicales asociados con distintos temas y personajes.

Recomendaciones: Granny Wendy, The Face Of Pan, The Never Feast, Remembering Childhood, End Credits

48. Syriana por Alexandre Desplat

Es divertido escuchar a este compositor demostrando su versatilidad con instrumentos apropiados para una banda sonora que acompaña una película situada en el medio oriente.

Recomendaciones: Driving in Geneva, Syriana (paino solo)

49. Catch Me If You Can por John Williams

De las pocas bandas sonoras de genero de Jazz del compositor John Williams. Divertida, aventurera, melancólica y emocionante.

Recomendaciones: Catch Me If You Can, The Float, Father and Son

50. Back To The Future III por Alan Silvestri

La banda sonora de Back To The future es un clásico pero para la ultima parte de la trilogía Alan Silvesti reinvento el tema adaptándolo al género del western y creando secuencias de música consideradas de las mejores de la trilogía.

Recomendaciones: Main Title, Point of No Return, End Credits

(En ningún order particular)

Day 04: Rear Window

Day fourth of my movie mission featured Rear Window. I’m no stranger to Hitchcock film, but I’m no expert either.  The Hitchcock films that I’ve seen are Vertigo, North by Northwest, Dial M for Murder and Birds; and I loved them all.  Although I would have to revisit Birds because it’s been a long time since I watched it.  I always sensed that the best is yet to come in regards to Hitchcock.  I think Rear Window was just the case.

Rear Window presents the story of a photographer who is stuck in his sweltering apartment with his broken leg.  With nothing to do in his apartment Jeff becomes quite observant of his neighbors life.  After strange events at one of his neighbor’s home, Jeff becomes suspicious and starts to think that of one his neighbors killed his wife.  After gathering what he thinks is clear evidence, Jeff manages to convince his girlfriend, played by Grace Kelly, which his dumping because he thinks she is spoiled.

The premise of the film is really interesting but the acting and characters of the film are great too.  Grace Kelly and James Stewart’s chemistry is really great and carries the romance sub-plot really well that adds a whole other dimension to the film.

I got to admit the films starts a bit slow.  But Hitchcock makes a great job of giving us bits of information which later on come in play.  I liked how I was always guessing whether the neighbored did it or not.  At no time in the film did I think I knew how everything was going to play out.  The climax is flawless.  I certainly know why they call him the master of suspense.  Out of all his movies this one was the one that had me on the edge of my seat.  Its incredible how he manages to sustain a suspenseful moment for such a long time.

One of the most things I enjoyed of the movie was the soundtrack.  I’m not talking about the score I mean the sound design.  I love how the neighborhood is always present with sound.  You always have a sense of the window thought the audio design.  I can’t wait for a Bluray release with HD surround sound audio track.

This movie was lots of fun.  I really like Hitchcock films.  At the time I haven’t seen one I don’t like.  What really impresses me about Hitchcock is that I don’t get the filling he has one excellent technique and uses it all the time.  He always surprises me in his films.  Rear Window is easily one of my favorite Hitchcock films.

Day 03: Bonnie and Clyde

When I started my movie mission it never occurred to me that I would stumble upon a classic that I didn’t like.  I fear that may be the case with Bonnie and Clyde.

Like most people know (without seeing the film), the film chronicles the story of the famous real time bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde.  But what most people don’t know is that the movie involves three other characters that complete the gang.

Bonnie and Clyde meet at the begging of the film.  Bonnie, bored from her failed every day life, takes a liking to recently release from prison Clyde.  He offers her an exciting life running from the law and Bonnie accepts without hesitation.   Later on they recruit one of the stupidest characters I’ve meet, C.W. Moss.  After that they join with Clyde’s brother Buck played by Gene Hackman, and his wife Blanche played by Estelle Parson.

Fist I’ll start with what I didn’t like and it comes in the form of Blanche.  This is truly one of the most annoying characters I have ever seen.  Every shooting scene I hoped she got left behind.  But just as the car was getting away, there she would appear.  I can’t believe Estelle Parson got an Oscar for this.  I’ll probably get lots of heat for this, but I got to be honest.

What bothered me the most was the lack of Bonnie and Clyde in this movie.  The chemistry between Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway was outstanding.  Every scene between the two of them was what I most enjoyed from the film.  I got tired of the other characters.  I’m not saying they shouldn’t have any part in the film, but more Bonnie and Clyde moments would have been great.

I think the movie is so important because of Bonnie.  There are some scenes involving sex and nudity that you can get a sense of how controversial they may have been for their time.  But no matter close I come to understand it, I’ll never know its true impact at the time.

Throughout my movie mission I think this will be a common problem.  Because I’m dealing with famous and classic movies, in some cases I’ll simply have too much hype. I like the film and there are certainly one or two scenes that I’ll always remember.  But when I think of my classic movies I won’t think of Bonnie and Clyde.

Day 02: How Green Was My Valley

How Green was my Valley was the second film of my movie mission.  It won an Oscar for best picture in 1941 beating out Citizen Kane.  So yeah, you can say I had high expectations.

The film takes place in South Wales during the great depression and tells the story of the Morgans.  The film evolves around Hew Morgan, the youngest of the Morgans.  One of the things I didn’t like about the film was the narration.  At the beginning of the film Hew Morgan starts narrating the film.  But after that, he just comes and goes throughout the film.  I felt the narration didn’t add much to the movie and in some cases took me away from the moment.

Some of the issues that the Morgans dealt with in the film felt a little outdated for me (great depression, immigration).  But I can certainly see why the film had such an impact at the time.  People could certainly relate to those problems and nowadays the films serves as portrait of its time.

I interpreted the film as a refexion of how life is.  Life is full of good times and bad times. At times in the film, I felt that life for the Morgans couldn’t be happier as they extravagantly celebrated with the whole town.  But in any moment tragic can strike instantaneously and you just have to keep living.  Tomorrow it will be another day.  I felt this is what Hue Morgan comes to realize as he grows from a kid into a man.  When you realize this, sometimes you appreciate the good and simple times at a whole other level.  Some people interpret this as negative others as positive.  In this case John Ford demonstrates a tragic interpretation.

Again, this is my interpretation of the film.  You may view this film and view it in a whole other way.  But that’s what is great about this movie, I think.  Overall I enjoyed the film but for me it doesn’t come even close to Citizen Kane.  And as for John Ford, I enjoyed more The Searchers.

Anybody here agrees with me?

Day 01: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

First on my movie mission is The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.  Yesterday I went to Costco and picked up the bluray for twelve dollars.  Great way to start my mission.  I should mention that I’m a huge film music fan.  Even though I hadn’t seen the film, I knew Ennio Morricone’s score from top to bottom.  In a sense I was exited to finally see the effect of the music on the film.  On the other hand I was worried that I wouldn’t like the movie as much as the score.  Boy was I in for a treat.

I started my mission with a bang, literally.  The Good, The Bad and the Ugly tells the story of three characters in search of gold hidden by a man name Bill Carson.  The Bad, played by Lee Van Cliff, knows about the gold from the beginning and is in search of Bill Carson from the start. Just by staring at this man’s face you know his up to no good.  Opposite of The Bad is The Good, played by Clint Eastwood.  At the beginning of the film The Good, also know as Blondie, is pared up with The Ugly; also known as Tuco.  They are running a moneymaking scheme but when Blondie decides to cut ties, he and Tuco become enemies.  At the climax of their affairs, Blondie and Tuco stumble upon a wounded Bill Carson that tells Tuco the name off the graveyard where the gold is hidden and tells Blondie the name of the grave where the gold lies.  Blondie and Tuco are forced to form an alliance until one of them gets the gold.  When The Bad finds out they know where the gold is then all hell brakes out.

From the opening titles throughout the whole film I was at awe with the directors style.  Got to confess that I hadn’t seen any Sergio Leone film from start to finish.  I certainly knew about his work, its importance in film history and all of that.  Apparently Sergio didn’t get much love at the time because Spaghetti Westerns weren’t highly though of.  But as time passed, people started to give the respect it deserves.

Basically I loved the film.  I didn’t mind at all the length of the movie and Sergio Leone’s long takes.  The climax of the film is in a league of its own.  Sergio may take his time to get there but boy does it pay off.  The Ecstasy of Gold scene is jaw dropping.  I’ve known for years the Ecstasy of Gold theme, but  it’s a whole other thing in the context of the film.  Apart from the brilliant and groundbreaking music, I enjoyed the characters.  Yeah Clint Eastwood’s character is the man, but Tuco is really my favorite character of the film.  He is a very complex character.  At times his as bad as The Bad and as good as The Good.  There’s really a unique scene in the film that features Tuco and his brother.  I really enjoyed that scene.   I got to say, I was rooting for Tuco to get the gold.

Overall The Good, The Bad and The Ugly deserves to be called a classic.  Its music, style and characters deserves to be compared with the best of them.  No doubt this movie has inspired countless movies and directors.  Great way to start things off!

Movie Mission

For the past few days I came to a disappointing conclusion, I haven’t seen lots of classic films.  You may think its no big deal, but for me it is.  And what is worst about it is that I know most of them. For example, I haven’t seen Spartacus, but I know the famous scene where everybody stands up and starts claiming that their name is Spartacus.  I haven’t seen The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, but I know Ennio Morricone’s score by heart.  To be honest I thought I knew the films because I’ve known about their history and important scenes, but that is not the same.  So instead of being mad about it, I decided to tackle the problem head on.  I’m going on a mission!

The mission consist of two parts:

1)   A film per day – from know on I will TRY to see one film everyday.  First I’ll start with classic movies that I haven’t seen.  By the way I’m talking about all types of film, American films, European films, Japanese films, etc.  First I’ll start with the classics then I’ll work my way down to cult classics and lesser-known films.

2)   A review per day – Phase two consist of sharing my viewing experience with you.  After every film I view, the next day I’ll write a review sharing my thoughts on the movie.

I know, it won’t be an easy mission but it sure is going to be fun.  Pretty difficult to see a film everyday but if I caught down on the PS3 and TV viewing I think I can manage.

What do you guys think?  I’m I in over my head?

Which movies do you recommend me?

Get Him to the Greek Review

Today I spent my Sunday at the movies.  I watched two back to back.  It’s been quite some time since I’ve done that.  Love it!  The first one I saw was Get Him To the Greek and the second one Robin Hood.  I’ve got to be honest and tell you upfront that I’m a huge fan of Judd Apatow.  I recently tried to make a list of my favorite films from de past decade and Superbad was one of them.  I enjoy every movie Apatow and his group make. I loved 40-year-old virgin, Knocked Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Funny People, Role Models, you name it.  I am also a huge fan of Freaks and Geeks, short-lived television series from Apatow featuring Seth Rogen, Jason Seigel and James Franco.  So, that’s why I went to see this movie on its opening weekend.

In Get Him to the Greek, we are paired up with Jonah Hill and Russell Brand. Russell returns as the hilarious rock star that we saw in Forgetting Sarah Marshall.  Sadly, Russell’s performance is one of the reasons the movie didn’t work for me.  It’s a surprise because I really enjoyed him on Forgetting Sarah Marshall (“please take my eyes, but not the shirt”).  I don’t think it’s the material because if you think of it, he says some pretty funny jokes in the movie.  I think it’s his delivery.  He seemed so lifeless compared to Forgetting Sarah Marshall.  Then again, Alex Snow is pretty depressed through out the whole film.  I still haven’t really figured out why it didn’t work.

Besides from Russell Brand, the main reason why the movie didn’t work for me was because it sacrificed story for jokes.  All those movies I mentioned worked because they focused on the characters and their journeys.  This movie is filled with scenes that consist of a long joke that really didn’t add to the story, like the sex scene between Alex, Aaron and Daphne.  It’s really sad because they could have developed great chemistry between Russell and Jonah.  We got a glimpse of that in the scene where they run away from Puff Daddy.

And speaking of Puff Daddy, yes, there are some positives.  Puff Daddy really gave a great comedy performance.  At the first two scenes, I really didn’t buy into him.  But as the movie went on I enjoyed his performance.

The movie also has some good jokes.  The problem here isn’t about funny material, it’s about characters and story.  Overall, if you are an Apatow fan like me, worst case scenario is that you won’t laugh much and you will have a film that you can’t put in the same category as Superbad, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and 40 Year old virgin.  If you’re not an Apatow fan, beware you might get brain fucked.

Top 10 soundtracks of 2000-2009

Well 2010 ended and everybody is making their list of favorite movies of the decade.  I’ve made mine two, but I have chosen the ten best soundtracks of the decade.  First, I have to explain the rules of my list so that you don’t hate me by the time you finish reading it.  My list consists of my favorite soundtracks, not the ones that I think are the best.  However, I would probably include a few of them in my attempt to make a list of the ten best.  Two important factors for my picks were: 1) Effectiveness of the score within the movie and 2) Replay value of the score without the film.  Also it’s important for me to say that I’m not even close at hearing every score made.  As a fan of original scores, I try to at least to give one listen to most of the movies that hit theaters.  Well, enough protecting myself, let’s get to it.

10) Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl by Klaus Badlet

I also enjoyed Hans Zimmer’s score for Dead Man’s Chest, but Black Pearl is a better score overall.  It’s impossible to listen to this soundtrack without having the spirit of adventure embody you.

9) The Village by James Newton Howard

Sometimes a composer decides to use an instrument as the main instrument for his score.  In The Village, James Newton Howard creates a powerful score for the movie by using the violin.  I haven’t heard a score that utilizes the violin in a better way, with the obvious exception of The Red Violin (which is in a league of its own).

8) Van Helsing by Alan Silvestri

Alan Silvestri is one of the most versatile composers for movie music.   There is no movie genre he cannot work with.  He is so talented that he can create great music with a very bad film.  This is how the end of the world should sound like.  Set your home theater volume to the max and listen, if you dare.

7) Memoirs of a Geisha by John Williams

This is one of the first soundtracks that led me to discover film music.  The only thing I have to say is Yo-Yo Ma on the cello and Izak Pearlman on the violin playing music written by John Williams.  Anything else?

6) Gladiator by Hans Zimmer

Have you heard this music? Incredible!  The melodies written for voice by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrad left me speechless.  It always been difficult for me to identify Hans Zimmer’s place among the greats because this score is arguably his best work but it’s a collaboration.  Lisa Gerrard style is very noticeable and easy to spot.  Still, it is one of the best soundtracks there is.   It’s one of those soundtracks you can find in the music collection of people who don’t listen to film music.

5) March of the Penguins by Alex Wurman

I don’t know if its true, but this soundtrack is a hidden genre.  When you think of the best composer of film music you don’t necessary think of Alex Wurman.  But you can’t argue that he did an amazing job on March of the Penguins.  Without the use of a traditional orchestra,  Wurman succeeds in creating an intimate music with a magisterial presence.  No matter how hot it may get in Puerto Rico, with only this soundtrack and lots of air conditioning I am instantly transported to the Antarctic.

4) The Terminal by John Williams

Again, John Williams is a genius.  Although this score may not be that famous, it doesn’t mean it’s lacking quality.  Once more, John Williams creating melodies equally special to the characters he is working with.

3) Star Wars (Episode II and II) by John Williams

Just with Across the Universe and Battle of Heroes this music deserves to be in my top ten.  It’s incredible that this composer can create so many classic.  Or is it me that’s too much of a fan?

2) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by Alexandre Desplat

Since the first time I heard this music I haven’t stopped listening to it.  Desplat creates melodies so simple but yet somehow achieved to tell us a different story every time we listen to them.  You can hear how some melodies he just plays in reverse and still work.  That’s the level in which Desplat’s talent is.  There is no doubt he was robbed at the Oscar’s when he lost to Slumdog Millionare (which is more like a soundtrack not an original score).  Sadly the best original score category has become a complement for the best pictures nominees front runners.

1) Lord of the Rings Trilogy by Howard Shore

I have no problem with you not liking the films, but the music is a whole other issue.  This is some of the best music written for film throughout history.  Howard Shore succeeds in creating music that sound epic, spectacular, emotional, incredible, okay I can say adjectives all night long.  It’s true that The Lord of the Rings films are filled with scenes and excellent characters that allow a composer such creative freedom.  But still, you got to be impressed with the quality and detail of Howard Shore’s scores.  I really enjoyed the way he utilizes the human voice.  For example, he created choir pieces for children, men or women’s voice only; and sometimes creating music in the language created by J.R.R Tolkein.  I really think this music belongs among the top twenty five all time film music.

I really would like to know what are you thoughts about my list and what are your picks.

Honorable mentions:

Finding Neverland

A Beautiful Mind

Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone

The Dark Knight

Volver

Pride and Prejudice

Babel

Frost/Nixon

Amélie

The Fountain

Cinderella Man

X-Men 3: The Last Stand

Catch Me if You Can

3:10 to Yuma

Up

Earth Days

The Incredibles

Hero

Star Trek

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

Wall-E

United 93

Elf

Superman Returns

Aviator

Cast Away

James McAvoy is Professor X

It was recently announced that James McAvoy will be playing Professor X in the upcoming X-Men: The First Class movie which is well under pre-production and will be released the next summer.  A great actor involved in one of my favorite Marvel’s comic, working with Matthew Vaughn (director of Kick Ass) and yet I’m not exited. Why? I’ll tell you why.

X-Men is one of my favorite Marvel’s comic.  So I am a fan.  I liked the first two films and gave X-Men: The Last Stand a pass because I am a fan.  But I’m tired of Hollywood milking every drop out of comic books, graphic novel, sequels, prequel, etc.  It seems as if they ran out of idea.  Remakes and sequels are making so much money that they don’t care whether they have something or not.  Oh and by the way, it doesn’t matter if the movie fails, they wait two years and then reboot.  Reboot?  Really?  Just look at the upcoming movies from today until 2012.  Its all filled with sequels, remakes, reboot, and whatever excuse they can come up with to make another movie.  The worst part is that for every successful superheroes movie we get ten bad movies.

That is why I read this type of news and don’t get exited.  Is it me?  I’m I being a hater?  Anybody out there feels the way I do?

You can read the full story at:

http://screenrant.com/james-mcavoy-professor-x-xmen-first-class-rob-62216/

LOST Review

Okay, so last week finally marked the end of LOST.  A day I’ve been dreading since I became a fan of LOST.  I have to admit that I didn’t spend six years watching it every Tuesday.  I discovered the series last summer and watched all five seasons in two weeks.  But this season I watched it every Tuesday and like the rest of you, I anxiously waited for the end.  Was it a waste of time?

CUT TO BLACK

I’ll start by explaining what I interpreted as the end.  I think everything that happened on the island really happened.  I believe the airplane Jack saw as he was dying was the plane that carried the survivors out of the island.    The side flashes that we saw all season is a journey you have to go when you die so that you can pass to the after life.  We followed each character on their journey and culminated with Jack’s journey.

The reason I believe this is the end is because of the conversation Jack had with his father.  In this conversation his father told Jack: “All of them are dead.  Some died before you, some long after”.  Based on this comment I concluded that those who survived the island went on and lived the rest of their lives.  Another important thing that Jack’s father said was “the moment you spent with this people was the most important time of your lives.  That’s why you all choose this place to meet”.  Although the survivors kept living their lives, this is the reason they all met on the church to pass to the after life.  Another comment that reinforced my theory that life kept on going after Jack died, is when Hugo marked to Ben as he entered the church “You were a great number two”.

When all is said and done what impressed me the most was the poetic interpretation of death by Lost.  I was moved by each scene where the character reconnected with each other as they made themselves ready to pass on.  Mostly in part thanks to the acting and Michael Giacchino score.  I was moved by the characters acceptance and overwhelmed of the concept of death instead of being sad or scared.  I myself, like most human beings, think a lot about death and after life.  Whether it exists, will it hurt what it would be like?  Honestly I can say that what LOST put on screen was pretty close to what I hope it would be.

I know there are many holes in my theory, but probably as many as yours too.  But what I hope we can agree on is the fact that you can interpret an event in so many ways. I can sustain my theory with facts and enjoy my interpretation and so you can.  I think that was the creator’s goal.  It was a very difficult goal I might add.

I would like to know what are your theories and what do you think of mine, so fill free to add.

Favorite LOST episode:

Charlie’s greatest hits

Favorite LOST moment:

Exodus part 2.  Michael Giacchino’s score as Sawyer, Walt and Michael leave on the raft and everybody waves them goodbye.