My Top 5 Movie Soundtracks
May 2 2008, 5:33am
Here’s a totally random blog post.
For those who know me intimately (very few people, and most of them went dead from madness) you’ll know that I have a thing for movie soundtracks. Not those compilations of pop songs and whatnot that are slung together and called soundtracks - I’m talking about original music, written specifically for a movie.
Number of reasons why - partly because I just love the idea of the “theme” in music - the often short, intensely recognisable main melodies that are then played upon in variations ranging from slow to fast, sad to triumphant. Also, I love music that tells a story and whilst most artists will say their music does in some way, music that has already been fused with a visual story with a beginning, middle and end is that much easier to relate to.
Here are 5 of my most favourite film soundtracks, some based on the thrill of the music, some more a result of how well it complimented the film.
Batman Begins, Hans Zimmer
I love what Hans Zimmer did with the soundtrack to one of my favourite comic heroes. He took some influence from Elfman’s memorable, comicbook gothic themes of the first 2 movies replacing whooping choruses with blasting brass and giving everything a much grittier and visceral sound.
The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Gregson Williams
I’m a big fan of HGW anyway. I think his work on the Metal Gear Solid franchise have helped immensely in turning it into the incredibly popular and valuable movie-like IP that it is today. The Narnia soundtrack is full of extremes - striding, poised battle songs like the above and delicate lullabies complete with medieval-sounding instruments.
The Fountain, Clint Mansell
One of the most beautiful contemporary films I’ve ever seen, with an amazing, contemplative and minimalist soundtrack often featuring just a solo piano or a string quartet. Hugh Jackman was absolutely incredible in this film. If you think Hugh Jackman is just that guy who plays Wolverine - you must watch this.
Fight Club, The Dust Brothers
Huge fan of the film and I hope Brad Pitt and Edward Norton collaborate on something else in the future. The Dust Brothers put together a quirky mix of chilled out beats, samples, grungey guitars and a dash of humour (the elevator muzak-stylee tracks) that really helped the movie to define itself as the fresh, satirical and misunderstood movie that it was.
Shaolin Soccer, Raymond Wong
People laugh at me for loving this film. I fail to understand why - it has EVERYTHING. Action, laughs, love, brotherhood and that whole triumph-over-adversity theme that many a great movie hath been made from (e.g. Karate Kid!1). The excellent, fitting soundtrack is a heady mix of traditional Chinese themes combined with swooping, brass-filled World Cup-esque fanfares and neat over-the-top touches such as crashing gongs and grunting male choruses. The film also features a spontaneous line-dance. What’s not to like?
So, anyone got any recommendations for me?
