i don't really understand movie soundtracks

[oranthal]

the point of a movie soundtrack is when you listen to it, it is supposed to remind of the movie and perhaps enjoy it a little bit more; however, most soundtracks have maybe a 2 or 3 three songs that were actually played during the course of the movie while the other songs were thrown into the soundtrack that really had nothing to do with the movie. if the other songs were not in the movie, how is it suuposed to remind you of a scene in the movie. am i making any sesne here?

[ClarkKent]

Give an example, because most of the movie soundtracks I own, most of the songs are played at some point in the movie. Now, it may not be the full version of the song, but more than likely it was played at sometime. :cool:

[Failure]

Well for a lot of soundtracks now, it's just another pure money-making vehicle. No other purpose. They try to get as many high profile musicians as they can and just package the songs together. It becomes a compilation with the flimsiest of links to the movie.

[James Harvey]

There are alot of soundtracks just there to make money (Mission: Impossible 2 comes to mind), but there are some authentic ones. I thought the soundtrack for Magnolia was perfectly done. Granted, those are two completely different movies in just about everyway. Soundtracks should be better, that's a given, though. There have been some preatty lousy ones released lately just to cash in on the movie and nothing more.

[Terminatah]

I like it when soundtracks have music inspired by the movie, that way the whole thing has a more uniformed tone. It's all about one subject, or all in one specific style. I usually prefer that to random music thrown together because it happened to be featured in the movie (one-hit wonders and flavors of the moment pop up in this category quite a bit). If a soundtrack can give me both of those things, that's OK too.

-Terminatah

[RogueMartian]

I like the M:I2 soundtrack. The movie sucked, but the soundtrack was good. I usually like to buy soundtracks rather than band cds because soundtracks have a good mix, while a cd by one band is often monotonous. Don't get me wrong, I have some regular albums as well, soundtracks just have that advantage. Another reason to get soundtracks is because sometimes the movie has a very good orignal soundtrack. I personally LOVE the soundtrack to gladiator and little women. Do soundtracks exist simply to make money? Of course, this is the US, everything exists to make money that doesn't make it less enjoyable.

[Maxie Zeus]

I'm not sure what you mean by "soundtrack," and what exactly your complaint is.

Are you talking about soundtracks that are loaded up with pop songs, and then released as a tie-in?

Or are you talking about genuine "soundtracks" by composers such as Williams and Goldsmith and Horner and Elfman and Herrmann and Korngold and Newmann and Steiner?

[RogueMartian]

I was talking about both. Since the ones loaded with popular songs are loaded that way because the popular songs played somewhere in the movie (even if it was in the background of a bar during a dialogue). Original soundtracks (e.g. John Williams's music) are good too.

[Batmex]

Here's the best one:

Ghost Busters 1 and 2, it's one of those movies were ALL the songs are pretty good.

[Lonestarr]

Most "Music from and Inspired By" soundtracks are total crap. The only purpose to their existence is to make money for the record companies. It's like the cretins don't even know what "Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" means. It means the score composed for the film. Nowadays, they put songs on soundtracks that were only in the film for 10 seconds. It's inexcusable!

[Bird Boy]

I never liked Movie Soundtracks. Instrumental ones..yes, I like, but, the "Based on" or "inspired by" soundtracks w/ vocals over the music usually stink...

The Scorpion King soundtrack looks to be a good one though...at least ONE song on it is about the Scorpion King ("I Stand Alone"-Godsmack [yes, I mention Godsmack alot, so sue me.. :p])...

-BB

[The Game]

See I agree with oranthal to an extent. Movies that have songs "inspired by" really have nothing to do with the movie, which is knind of annoying, but then again, who really cares?

The songs are on the back, so if you like the music in the first place, buy it. If you don't, don't bother.

[Samhaine]

The Lost Highway Soundtrack was probably one of the best I've bought that wasn't a score disc. Now, it's been a few years since I've seen the flick, but I know a bunch of the songs were used in it, and there was a great flow to the music, too, thanks to the production work of Trent Reznor. Plus, it contained the first new NIN song in 3 years, so I was excited for that, too.

[RogueMartian]

I love the lost highway soundtrack, it has the best smashing pumpkins song ever made on it. I sometimes get the soundtracks to movies I didn't like though, good music doesn't always mean good movie.

[Nightwing]

Oh yeah. Men in Black comes to mind. The themes and Will Smith's song are good, but the rest is just rap or something.

It's funny though, back when I was like 14 I bought mostly soundtracks before I got into like regular music or whatever. They were my favorite. Mostly disney or movie soundtracks. Like the MIB one, although it didn't exactly live up. :p

[Karkull]

Originally posted by Jim Harvey
There are alot of soundtracks just there to make money (Mission: Impossible 2 comes to mind),

I hated that one. I would have had nothing to do with it, but Tori Amos released a B-side on it! I had to keep up my collection!

My favorite soundtrack is Hannibal. It really creepy and I love to listen to it when I write.