The Music of Our Lives

It seems to me that movie scoring is a truly under-appreciated art form. While I know very little of the technicalities of music, as a dancer I am highly sensitive to the emotional impact of instrumental scores. The absence of words in a song only makes it speak louder and more clearly in my opinion. What movie scorers do is tell stories through their music, making people feel something in addition to whatever they are seeing on the screen. If you don't believe me, try muting a scene in your favorite movie. Does it have the same impact? No. And how could it? Movies are so much more than just scripts, acting and filmography. It's the combination of all those things, and more, that makes a feature film- and music is one of the essential ingredients.

Think about the intense associationism of music with movies. When you hear the familiar tune of the theme from Star Wars, Harry Potter, or James Bond, you cannot help but think of the film itself, even if you haven't seen it. However, it doesn't work the other way around. You can't watch a clip of a movie and imagine what the background score would sound like, as we would all come up with something vastly different. That is the job of the composer. The score of a movie serves to unite the mood and understanding of the audience through sound.

Disney movies are particularly popular amongst my generation. People sing songs from the various animated musicals all the time. However, there is so much more to Aladdin than just "A Whole New World" (sung by Brad Kane and Lea Salonga). For me, some of the most resonant moments in Disney movies are scenes where there is nothing but an instrumental score, which can often be attributed to the one and only Mr. Alan Menken. From Beauty and the Beast to the more recent production Tangled, Menken's compositions have gradually compiled into what I call the soundtrack of my youth. However, only avid Disney fans seem to know this man's name.

Now, the great thing about animated movies in comparison to live action films, is that they are entirely choreographed. As a composer, what Menken does so well is embed his music within the animation itself. Every note goes hand in hand with some sort of visual cue. Next time you're watching a Disney movie, I encourage to pay special attention to the background music, and I hope that you'll appreciate it as much as I do. Personally, some of my favorite scores are:

"Kingdom Dance" Tangled, Alan Menken

"Skirmish" Pocahontas, Alan Menken

"The Little Mermaid Theme" The Little Mermaid, Alan Menken

I am not suggesting that all instrumental music goes unnoticed; that would be far from the truth. Look at John Williams for instance- he revolutionized what it meant to compose for film. Today it's rare to come across a person that doesn't know his name. What I am encouraging is that we attempt to appreciate the varied degrees of musical scoring and how sound brings stories to life. I will leave you with a handful of my favorite examples. Even if you haven't seen these movies, I urge you to listen to the songs and imagine what kind of a picture the music is painting. They are beautiful even without context.

"He's a Pirate" Pirates of the Caribbean, Klaus Badelt
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s17XDrKuqc4

I don't know what to say about this except that it's really the epitome of all modern theme songs. It reeks of adventure and makes me want to get up and dance and/or sword fight every time I hear it!

"London Calling" Star Trek Into Darkness, Michael Giacchino
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfP6o-61e2s

I love how this piece transitions in and out of the gentle piano sequence and then builds to the climactic ending. It fits perfectly within the movie, and as soon as I can find a clip of the scene on YouTube, I will post it because it really is worth a watch.

"Mind Heist" Inception, Zack Hempsey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JGHI4TAC5U

I have been in love with this song ever since seeing the trailer for Inception. It literally defines the word EPIC, it's as simple as that.

"Time" Inception, Hans Zimmer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOv4R3BXEHY
This piece is simple and repetitive, but very emotionally effective.

"Back to the Future III Theme" Back to the Future, Alan Silvestri
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zejzjnZvD2M

I absolutely love this song-particularly the beginning. Every time I watch the movie, I end up humming this tune for hours afterwards. It's crazy how the composer managed to create a piece of music appropriate for a film that deals with the past, present and the future simultaneously. You can almost hear the different temporal elements in the song.

"The Avengers Theme" The Avengers, Alan Silvestri
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VGJGXMUhmc

I have to be honest, this movie was so action packed that I never really noticed a background score at all, except for whenever this theme played. It's upbeat, iconic, recognizable and fits the film well.

"Volturi Waltz" New Moon, Alexandre Desplat
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK42smO5wYc

This song was the best thing about the entire movie! I don't know why, but it's really melodically catchy in addition to being a bit dark, mysterious and playful. I thought it was very effective.

I personally find it extremely inspiring to listen to movie scores when I do homework. Are there any songs you particularly enjoy?

Saving Mr. Banks

One upcoming movie that I am beyond excited for is the Walt Disney production Saving Mr. Banks. It will be monumental, and likely controversial, in that will mark the very first time Walt Disney himself has ever been portrayed in a theatrical film. Up to this point that idea has been carefully avoided, as there is great discrepancy in remembering who he really was as a person. Die hard Disney fans are extremely curious to see how award-winning actor Tom Hanks pulls off playing the man who brought such immeasurable magic to our modern world.

The movie itself is based on the true story of Walt's process in adapting and producing the well-known feature Mary Poppins. Based on the trailer that was recently released, it is looking to be a quality film. Saving Mr. Banks will premiere December 20th, 2013.

I Am _ _ _ _ LOCKED

One of my very favorite television series currently is the recent BBC adaptation of Sherlock. It puts a modern day twist on the classic Sherlock Holmes stories, and the actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are beyond brilliant in their roles as Sherlock and Watson. If you haven't heard their names before, I encourage you to watch the show because you are truly missing out on an entertainment gem.

For those of you unfamiliar with Sherlock, here is the trailer for the first series:

Masterpiece Mystery Sherlock Series 1

Aside from the acting, however, it's the writing that is especially mind-blowing. Creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss (who have both been involved in the British phenomenon that is Doctor Who), are largely responsible for writing the scripts. Mark Gatiss also plays Mycroft Holmes in the show itself. If you aren't familiar with these men, then you should know that they are quite well known for breaking fan's hearts. Their plots are complex, engaging, and all-too-often, heartbreaking. While there have only been six movie-length episodes since the series premiered in 2010, what the show lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality. The witty dialogue is hilarious and manages to achieve a perfect balance between comedy and the seriousness of the show's premise.

Some of my favorite moments include:

Benedict Cumberbatch is stunning in his portrayal of the vastly intelligent and emotionless Sherlock. He delivers his lines with such speed and precision that it's hard to believe he isn't in fact a genius detective in reality. This was really a break-out role for him, and has led to both his and the show's immense popularity throughout the world recently. One of Benedict's other prominent roles is the villain John Harrison in the 2013 J.J.Abrams film Star Trek Into Darkness (which I will be talking about in a later post). 

The show is currently going on it's third series, which is set to debut sometime late in 2013 or early in 2014. The date is indefinite. If you're aren't already an avid watcher, get on it! I've yet to hear a severely negative reaction to this show. It may very well be the best thing I've ever seen on television.

For the Love of Loki

In my recent ventures through that virtual abyss that is the internet, I've seen a profound interest in some character called Loki. For a long while, I just ignored it, but after seeing the footage from this year's Comic Con, the excitement surrounding this Loki only seemed to increase exponentially. That's when I decided my curiosity could be contained no longer! I did what any normal person of this generation would do and googled his name. 

Upon discovering that Loki was a major character in both Thor and The Avengers (two blockbuster movies that I don't know how I ever missed, but I did), I decided to watch them and find out just what all the excitement was about.

Now, I'd be lying if I didn't say I took an immediate liking to Loki's character in Thor. His wounded villain story is by no means unfamiliar, and yet I fell for it- entirely. I was, and am still, consumed by this character. If you ask me, the film would've been more appropriately titled Loki, not Thor. Now, that's just my personal opinion, but judging by the enormous fan base surrounding Loki, I'd say I'm not alone in this. The question though, is why? Why is this man, this fictional character, this villain so admired? Well, after doing my "research" (if it can be called that), this is my analysis:

Why is Loki Loved?

1) Well, perhaps the most obvious reason is that he is emotionally wounded. While Loki is not particularly frightening or even overly evil as a villain, he does have reasonable and relate-able motivation to support his actions.

 

His unfortunate situation humanizes him, and leaves people feeling sorry for him. I can't deny that I am one of those people. Come on, you'd have to be heartless not to feel the slightest pang of despair when Loki falls at the end of Thor. Behind that mask of villainy, there's an innocent child just trying to prove himself and begging to be loved and accepted.

(no matter how many times I see that, it still breaks my heart)

I'd even go so far as to argue that Loki is not a villain at all in Thor. I think this scene is the turning point which leads into his more obviously aggressive role in The Avengers.

2) The second thing Loki has going for him is the actor behind his character: the one and only Tom Hiddleston. For starters, he's English (and not bad looking). That in itself is reason enough for some people to like Loki. However, for others, it's his deeply resonant acting that wins over in the end. Tom plays Loki with such calm, casual, and deliberate demeanor, that the dynamic of his powerful character becomes truly enchanting. Everything about Loki feels very natural. He's extremely confident- which can be seen in the way he walks and holds himself- but quite introverted compared to other villains. You can see his mind at work constantly, and his eyes often speak louder than his words. If you don't follow me, just take a look at this clip and tell me that Loki isn't a smooth-as-silk villain:

And then there's the fact that Tom Hiddleston doesn't play Loki at all, he becomes Loki, taking the performance to an entirely different level of entertainment. It's quite easy to obsess over such incredible talent and dedication to a part. Take his appearance at Comic Con for instance:

(can you imagine how chilling must it have been to hear that voice as you're sitting there in the dark)

3) Another one of the great things about Loki is the humor that surrounds him. While the character himself is quite amusing,

even the ways in which he gets defeated are hilarious!

4) The last thing that makes Loki so interesting (and don't get me wrong, this list could go on forever, but I had to stop somewhere) is that he isn't human, which makes him an immediate object of intrigue. Now, of course, Thor isn't human either, but Thor is the more predictable hero archetype. As the God of Mischief, Loki is mysterious and dubious. His character is thrilling, keeping people on the edge of their seats, always curious.

Personally, I'm a big fan of Loki and his roles in both Thor and The Avengers. I've heard it said that Loki is the weakest of the Marvel villains, and while that's one way of looking at it, I disagree. Loki is simply different. He has an entirely unique motivation and personality. His power resides more with his mind and his trickery than with brute force, and I think that's the beauty of his character. In fact, the actor Tom Hiddleston himself sums it all up quite nicely when he says "what Marvel is so clever at is that they make their heroes flawed and their villains heroic" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWiRNhtvbr0).


Now that I've talked about what I think of Loki, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts. Leave a comment telling me if you like or dislike Loki and why you think that is!