Great movies must have one necessary element: a killer soundtrack. Movies now are required to stimulate all our viewing senses as well as give us goose bumps from the mood setting sounds. We wouldn’t get half as scared in low-quality horror or thriller movies if it weren’t for the suspenseful low notes designed to warn us of our upcoming fright. Likewise, we wouldn’t cry if love scenes didn’t have the sweet, heart-wrenching scores designated to touch our inner-fuzzy. But that’s what makes movies great, even if it negates the fact the acting is under par.
Some of the not-so-arguably worst movies are the Twilight series. Bad acting, predictable story lines, silly makeup and thrown-together scenes can be overlooked by the fact that the first installment of the saga has an impeccable soundtrack.
“The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, having sold about 165,000 copies in its first week of release,” according to Billboard 200’s website.
The website also stated that this theatrical movie-soundtrack was the best-selling soundtrack since “Chicago.” Songs by Paramore, Muse and Collective Soul give the scenes in Twilight an emotional connection with the audience making them believe it is a good movie.
Robert Pattinson even had his own bit of music played in the film. The main score was composed by Carter Burwell who is also known for his scores in “Raising Arizona,” “Conspiracy Theory” and “The Blind Side.” Having a composer who can tap into the emotional and figurative aspects of a film can make all the difference.
John Williams, one of the most successful and well known composers for films, created some of the most recognizable classics we all hum today. From “E.T.,” “Indiana Jones,” “Jurassic Park,” “Hook,” “Harry Potter,” “Jaws” and “Star Wars” films, Williams has imprinted his talent on all of hearts and our brains with these scores so that they will forever be in our heads. Music from “Harry Potter” is strewn all over the world because of Williams and is played in national theme parks all over the globe.
Musicals also prove that music is a powerful story aid. Music moves a story and can even move a story from the stage to the big screen. When a musical is made into a movie the story has ready-made fans and the music is provided.
“When I was a kid, I actually loved the “Annie” soundtrack,”” said Dr. Arnett, assistant professor of professional writing. “Starting as a musical on Broadway made it so much more enjoyable to listen to.”
Movies like “Annie,” “Chicago” and “Hairspray” that were turned into movies from Broadway musicals had instant success with their catchy tunes and lyrical insights. Music puts us, no matter who we are, into certain moods and reminds us of times we thought we may have forgotten.
“Forrest Gump” has a soundtrack that perfectly places the viewer into Gump’s specific and memorable instances. From Gump teaching Elvis how to dance with “Hound Dog” to landing in hippie-strewn California with “San Francisco” to going back home with “Sweet Home Alabama,” viewers know exactly where they are in the film and how to feel. Songs that can take you back to another memory are an art in themselves.
“‘The Star Wars Episode 2” soundtrack is great because it is one of those that invokes and refreshes memories on an original movie,” said junior Matthew Walters, a theater and performance art major.
Bringing back scores in a series is essential to maintaining a similar feeling that lead the viewers to get involved with the series in the first place. “Star Wars,” “Star Trek” and “Lord of the Rings” have this in common. Once you hear the distinguishable tune of the “Shire” or the “Imperial March,” you are instantly in the familiar mood for adventure and excitement.
Mood setting is one thing composers know exactly how to implement. Alexandre Desplat won a Grammy last year for his composition in “The King’s Speech.” The movie was an emotional roller coaster and Desplat took the reins and guided us through the hard parts. Desplat was also the accredited composer for “The Queen,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “New Moon,” “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” – Part 1 and Part 2.
But we can’t forget about the reason most of us like musicals and catchy tunes: classic cartoons and Disney movies. These make up the basis of our cinematic musical intellect. “The Circle of Life,” “Under the Sea,” “When You Wish Upon a Star” and “Beauty and the Beast” are just some of the few masterpieces that have stuck around for decades putting us in better moods since we were throwing tantrums on the floor. Disney movies are still getting rewarded for their creativity and memorable tunes today. Last year at the Grammy awards Disney’s “Tangled” was given “Best Song Written for Visual Media.”
Throughout the test of time, music has given films and visual media an advantage over any other type of entertainment because it taps into our emotions, memories and stimulates our brains. Soundtracks are important. They give scenes substance, provide a façade for bad acting and define characters’ identities. Otherwise “ba na na na ba na na na BATMAN” would mean nothing to you and “buh duh buh duh” wouldn’t make you terrified of the ocean.
