After seeing the movie now I really could take a full grasp on the score itself. It actually works quite beautifully throughout the film! To my surprise, the goofy drum beats I stated earlier were much more hidden and really contributed a fair amount to the film. As a score on it’s own, I still wouldn’t give it more than a 7/10, as I stated before. However due to how well it works with the film I think a 7.98 is required. Not quite an 8/10 yet, but kudos nonetheless! A well working score in a well working film!
This year of 2012 Danny Elfman has composed a score for the upcoming MIB movie, in theaters now. I have listened to the score in its entirety and am not very impressed.
Let me begin by stating that I have not yet seen the movie, so I am assuming this score will work much better with the movie. This critique is strictly on how the score holds on its own.
The score isn’t awful, though nothing really impressed me and it’s very far from being a score I will regularly listen to, it’s by no means an awful score. It has a lot of usual Danny Elfman riffs and chord progressions, which in my opinion usually has a place in the movies he’s composing for.
I’m only going to talk about overall feels and maybe bring ideas from a que or two.
So the first que, being the main titles: There’s a lack of a theme. Honestly there’s no hook and nothing to come back to. Granted the theme we think of when we hear Men in Black is the Will Smith rap/hip-hop song, but still some sort of theme would be nice. In relations to this, the entire score really didn’t have much of a melodic theme. There was a rhythmic theme that came in and out through the entirety of the score, but this wasn’t a theme you’re going to be humming in your head for the rest of the day…or hour for that matter.
Later in the score, which includes the ques: Spiky Bulba, and The Set-Up, we have some bongos coming in. You can tell their bongos due the tighter sound and higher pitches than what Congas would usually produce. However you never know with Danny Elfman.
I’m going to hit a little tangent real quick so if you’re not interested in some rating skip this paragraph.
Elfman uses a large amount of drum set in this score, and honestly I am not a fan at all. It sounds cheesy, and at times almost looped. First of all, I don’t know if it’s actual drum player, it could be loops brought in. It’s very eighties style, and oingo boingo comes to mind. The que the drumset is really bad in would have to be labeled: Headquarters. It just seems so cliche and goofy of a line. I find it to be unneeded in the score itself. However seeing as he is using maybe two rhythmic themes in the entire score he must be using these rather boring drum beats to “spice things up.” Which honestly fails in my opinion.
Speaking of the que Headquarters, I love his use of Marimba and Vibraphone. That was actually very pleasing and a great mixture of sound. Another great part was the bassoon’s solo lines coming over the strings rhythmic grooves. Lame drum beat aside, the Headquarters que is a nice piece.
This score has an absence of very many slow moving melodies and themes. However, the que Regret isn’t half bad. I’m unsure why he would change the instrument dong the melody between horn and guitar and into flute, but that’s just me. Horn and Flute fantastic, guitar seemed a little out of place. However this all may connect in the film itself.
Overall the Score:
It has a large amount of impact moments and anti-climatic moments. There is an abundance of push and pull with build. As said before it’s really not a bad score, I just wouldn’t call it a great score. There’s really not much to it, but you can tell from the score that there will be an extreme amount of rushing around and looking for things, and a few great fight/battle scenes.
Rating: 7/10
As far as I am concerned no matter how old I get, or how busy, or how involved with a composition project, Star Wars will always be there for me. Holding and caressing me with love and affection. Even at the ripe age of twenty-one I still embrace my goofy smile and giddy feeling when around anything Star Wars. Even when holding a lightsaber prop, whether it be an FX, parks saber, or just a cheap toy, something inside me dreams again. I can’t help but wonder if the new age Star Wars fan feels this. Before it was cool to love Star Wars, before it was ok to want to stay home your Jedi robe and watch all the movies in sequence. (Back then this was only three movies, until I was a little older then we had four with episode I)
Star Wars is a hero of the greatest kind.
It was there when I was sitting by myself,
It was there when I started being more charismatic,
And it remains with me now even when so many have joined the love of Star Wars.
I don’t look down on those who have “jumped the bandwagon,” in fact quite the opposite. I am excited for them! Seeing that Star Wars is such an exciting and fun part of my life, without obsession of course, it’s great to see it touching others!
Not sure where I was going with all of this, just felt like typing out some thoughts.
Great to be back Tumblr!
I have been guilty of not posting anything worth while in quite a time.
False senses of security only increase the plumpness of the owners skull.
- Ashley: Listening to the Star Trek: The Motion Picture, by Goldsmith and hearing composition brilliance spill from my speakers: magic
- Jon: +5
- Ashley: Thank Steve :) he turned me onto it
- Jon: I like Steve. He's good to me.
- Ashley: Treats you well an gives you pretty things?
- Jon: He makes me feel pretty
- Ashley: He's a good man.
I am constantly misunderstood where I reside and can’t help but wonder why it’s so hard to grasp. I may be talking through a large head at this moment, but I feel I understand their ideas fine and can’t help but wonder maybe it’s my speech that is the confusing part. Is it my concepts? I am frustrated with this place and am sick of being laughed at like I am the one without logic…
As I sit in one of my least favorite classes I can’t help but wonder…how in the hell do some of these people function? I mean seriously…is this university accepting everyone with a heartbeat. I have seen circus bears with more potential than some of these people…
I sound very judgemental and snobbish, I know…but honestly university is an establishment for higher learning and education. Outside of this environment I have no problem with people like this, however when it is in this learning space I can’t help but ask…
WHAT THE HELL!!!
I can’t wait to get out of here…5 year Music Degree is miserable.
One more year…
Dark boxes held in sight,
keys hidden away for fright
or sharing such a gloomy frost,
chilling to the mind
so distraught.
Inexorable need to scream
cry
yell
but it is the mind that shatters
glass
and opens
boxes
And drool drips down the face
showing no sign
of distaste
with an open cry
a whisper,
mentality overrun.
One of the greatest film composers who has ever walked this earth. So many movies were made that much better due to his fantastic scores. Which is your favorite?
