In previous posts, I have concentrated my attention on the intricacies that transform a movie into a classic. And while I have focused my attention not simply on the success of a movie (notice I have not written about Avatar, nor will I), I have neglected a vital portion of film making: the soundtrack. I believe Victor Hugo (some dead guy) once said "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent". In this way, music has the ability to elevate a movie to glory it could otherwise not achieve.
For instance, take the movie The Matrix. Some people enjoy it while others feel the plot is predictable and the action unrealistic. Personally I am drawn not by the acting, the action, or the graphics, but by its upbeat, techno-driven music. The songs seem to add energy to each and every scene, energy that it otherwise would not possess. Thus, The Matrix is transformed from clunker to classic.
In another slightly different case, The Lord of the Rings would not be as awe-inspiring as it is without its emotion evoking soundtrack. One can see this in the climax of The Two Towers, when the Rohirrim ride out of helm's deep to meet the orc army, to what they believe is their deaths. While this may be regarded as a somber moment, not a single person felt this way while watching the movie. Why, you ask? It is because of the music! The orchestra plays a score seething with excitement. Truly, I wish I was amidst the action alongside Aragorn at that moment. Then, as Gandolf leads the Rohirrim reinforcements on a devastating charge, one cannot help but rise to his feet and yell "YES!!! STICK IT TO EM GANDOLF!!!! WHOOOHOOO!!!" Now, while this action causes an equal an opposite reaction of several bags of popcorn and large Cokes to the face, it is clear to see the effect music has on one's moviegoing experience.
Although I am biased (I've been known to like music a bit), I believe that without music, movies are not worth watching. Regardless of the scene, the appropriate music enhances the experience. Personally, I cannot grasp the emotion unless the background is set for me. Which brings me to my next point. Why do I not have my own personally soundtrack on an everlasting loop? Would that not enhance my life in the same fashion? While I am not sure of the logistics, it is something to keep in mind.....
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P.S. Her voice echoes and reverberates throughout my soul. I completely forgot to put that line in there. I know it seems kind of stupid commenting with it now, but I really liked that line. Brownie points?
ReplyDeleteSome say water is what moves us, but I am convinced that "they" meant music. When you mentioned having a real-life personal soundtrack, it forced a certain Family Guy episode to mind when Peter wishes for his life to be set to his own soundtrack. As for your dilemma, Nick, I suggest you stick to an iPod and proceed to look crazy to the general public.
ReplyDeleteI loved your part about Victor Hugo and being some dead guy. haha! I think another movie that comes to mind is Forrest Gump. That movie has, without a doubt, the greatest soundtrack ever assembled. If you were to look at a soundtrack put together by a composer, say, like Lord of the Rings, the best would have to be the man himself, Hans Zimmer. He did the Pirates of the Caribbean movie's soundtracks, the Batman movies, and many other huge blockbusters. I wish he composed my life's soundtrack. It'd be better than anything ever made. Ever.
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