Perhaps you should stop concentrating on blockbuster crap and make up your mind. There's
more excellent music out there, than you could ever listen to.

No idea why you insist on having a THEME. More than 50 years ago, Kurt Weill pointed out, that
scores that are based on themes, are completely outdated.

coma, June 20, 2008; 10:54 AM

I enjoyed the music to "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" by Carter Burwell but who knows if it will ever be released. Also PS I Love You by John Powell was enjoyable but make sure you listen to the score only version. I agree that the blockbusters have music that appeals to their target audiences which are teens and young adults who could care less about memorable themes. Many of the greats are no longer with us and most modern films have very forgettable scores. Brokeback Mountain had a few nice tracks. Fortunately John Williams is still with us and his Harry Potter scores were memorable. Thomas and Randy Newman's current scores do not compare with their earlier work in my opinion. Danny Elfman has an occasional good one. The original Shrek score was quite good. James Horner had A Beautiful Mind a few years back. But I agree most of the new music is very forgettable or noise or mostly pop songs arranged throughout. I guess this is the Tin Age of movie scores.

itsthenikita, June 20, 2008; 12:14 PM

But DEFINITELY the golden age of film score releases!!!

Best,
Burnie


blinddoc, June 20, 2008; 1:59 PM

The drive in theatre days of low budget in car entertainmnent was one of creative freedom. Independant films scored by persons who would have otherwise not found such an opportunity spawned many big name contemporary composers. Without David Cronenburg I would guess Howard Shore would not be one of the major names in scoring these days.

To this very day I remember some of the music and one theme in particular from "The Town That Dreaded Sundown" by Jaime Mendoza Nava.

My guess is that there is so much ass kissing going on in big money film making very few truly qualified people stand a chance. Plus, the tendency to cut corners so the fat boys at the top can make a few more bucks out of the deal might play a part.

victoravalentine, June 20, 2008; 4:28 PM

I know that it might sound unfamiliar to US citizens, but there is life outside the States. And
it's a more than ridiculous sort of ignorance to proclaim the death of film music, or to just
focus on guys like Horner and Elfman. There is an eneormous bunch of young and promising
composers from France, Italy, Poland, even Germany and Spain whose work is featured on
this site.
But therefore one would be forced to open up eyes and ears and that seems to be too much
pain for some geeks, who rather prefer to whine about their own limitations.

Do not mistake me! I'm grateful for anyone who is running with the pack, so the real gems
stay with those who really appreciate them and do not end up as pearls before swine.

coma, June 20, 2008; 4:39 PM

I have to partially agree....the "blockbuster" big movie scores all sound the same to me. I can't recall when I last bought a newer film score.....to me it seems as if the more memorable scores are coming from the smaller-budgeted films and lesser studios. All the major-studio scores today all seem to be only big and LOUD....and that's it.

kriegerg69, June 21, 2008; 1:38 AM

When I think of "bad" film music, the new, big budget H-wood films come to mind. It's a damn shame really as film music was born in the USA.

I don't care for the recent USA stuff that seems to be geared towards an audience of morons more often than not.

victoravalentine, June 21, 2008; 2:19 PM

That's news to me. I've always thought it began with the old pit piano players during the silents.

The wonder of early film music is Hollywood bringing the worlds greatest composers from around the world together. Hans Salter, Max Steiner, Franz Waxman, Dimitri Tiomkin, none are native born US citizens.

victoravalentine, June 23, 2008; 1:59 PM

The early pit pianists often composed original music for the silents. A have a recording of original silent film music composed by Jack Shaindlin used for old "Keystone Cops", and Mary Pickford films. I'm guessing that they often improvised to the screen.

victoravalentine, June 24, 2008; 12:42 AM