Hello,

I own just over 900 scores and only have seen about half the movies from them. I don't think you need to see the films of the scores you love to hear. Some scores work well for many films , But are not so good to listen to as music alone. I guess I am more of a music lover than a film buff.

Best Regards,
David Phoenix, AZ.

deg63iami, January 4, 2008; 2:40 AM

I own many many scores and I have seen almost every movie where the score is present. some scores work well in film, but are terrible on cd. on the other hand, many scores work great in film and on cd as well, e.g. LOTR, many Horner scores, most of Goldsmith scores.

Yes, I like to watch the film with the music. Several times happended that I began to like the score after having seen the movie, e.g. Perfect Storm.

I think it is a kind of harmony when I can associate the music cues with the scenes in the movie. It helps me to enjoy the music a lot more. and the movie is more enjoyable when I know the music already.

take care!



red.bprd, January 4, 2008; 7:13 AM

Although one can certainly appreciate a score without having seen the film, it doesn't seem very logical to collect soundtracks that way. A score is mainly there to accompany images (or an entire story) created by someone else. Therefore, the composer doesn't have full creative freedom and often has to work inside a certain genre or on a restricted budget.
When failing to produce a score that is approved by the director, the composer can and will be replaced.

My point is that it's almost impossible to know beforehand what a certain score will sound like. Gifted composers can work within any genre and produce a different sound or theme or motif, because they're not making a solo album here, they contribute to a larger whole.
Granted, the most experienced ones can somehow still maintain their own recognizable unique style.

Some scores only make sense if you've seen the film. Some scores only work within the film and not so much on CD, and others are far more brilliant than the movies they were written for.

On what term would you otherwise decide what score to buy? By movie genre? By composer? By director? On a hunch? Through reading reviews? ...


rinse_dream, January 4, 2008; 10:56 AM

I am mainly interested in the music. So I seek out movie music of a romantic persuasion. I will try and find other people's opinion of the scores as well. If I like a composer's score then I will usually seek out his other scores.

Occasionally, where the film soundtrack is quite expensive like Solaris or Fried Green Tomatoes I will watch the film first to decide whether to get the music.

Otherwise, if I rate the score highly I then seek out the film to watch.

Andrew

andrewdbaird, January 4, 2008; 3:13 PM

Sound and vision is too closely linked for me. That's why I'd never allow a score on my
shelves, when I dislike the movie. So you'll never find a war movie score, or anything that
was written for a Van Damme flick for instance, on my shelves.

And to answer Rinse's rhetoric question: yes, I buy scores by genre (Film Noir and French
Crime) as well as by director (Antonioni, Fellini, Godard, Melville..).

There are lots of movies I enjoyed, but disliked the score, as well as there are numerous
scores I appreciated, but the memory of the mediocre movie turned the music sour in my
ears.
But I'm glad I'm not aiming at completion, otherwise I'd have to buy Dances With Wolves
from my alltime favourite composer... ;)

coma, January 5, 2008; 11:36 AM

Makes no difference to me. "Sleeping With The Enemy" is probably one of the worst films made yet the Goldsmith score is exceptional. I like it a lot so long as I bookmark over the Van Morrison song that doesn't belong on the recording.
Several times I passed on it for the simple reason I didn't want anything with Julia Roberts face or name on it anywhere near me. I made an exception this time due to the music of Jerry Goldsmith.
I also avoid anything with Kurt Russell associated with it. Made an exception with "Executive Decision". My bias towards Kurt Russell goes back to my days of working at a Southern California gas station and being treated rudely and disrespectfully by that prick two or three times a week.

Many low quality films have great scores. That's part of the business those guys are in I guess. I've worked many jobs in my life which I have despised. I don't see why it would be any different in any other occupation.

At the same Chevron station I met Alex North and his wife. Cool people. His wife was a very kind and decent woman. Rest in peace Alex North.

I've always said... You can tell a lot about a person by the way they treat the guys working at the gas station.



victoravalentine, January 5, 2008; 2:11 PM

Well, I have to watch the movie in order to appreciate a soundtrack. That's just my opinion.

scoreloverII, January 5, 2008; 3:27 PM