# Movies where you notice the music...in a good way **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 1, 2011, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-you-notice-the-music-in-a-good-way/590998 "2011-08-01T02:32:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-you-notice-the-music-in-a-good-way/590998/41 "2011-08-01T19:54:16Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > Also themes from Superman and Star Wars. With regard to the OP, I think Superman is especially good given how the heroic music isn’t really in play after he reassuringly catches Lois falling from the Daily Planet building – but then starts back up with a vengeance right _ **after** _ the helicopter starts plummeting and the big guy accelerates slightly to catch it just as easily. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-you-notice-the-music-in-a-good-way/590998/42 "2011-08-01T19:59:30Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > Claire de Lune playing over the scene in _Ocean’s 11_ after they have successfully pulled off the heist and they’re watching the fountains before going their separate ways. Oh hell yeah. I agree with just about everything in this thread, and will offer Hermann’s _North by Northwest_ in addition. Craig Armstrong’s _Love Actually_ was brilliant as well. Without the score, the stories were really pretty thin. The score conveyed emotions that the script could not. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-you-notice-the-music-in-a-good-way/590998/43 "2011-08-01T20:20:04Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Probably you are thinking of _Koyaanisquatsi_, scored by Philip Glass. Also used to very good effect during the Dr. Manhattan flashback scene in _Watchmen_. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-you-notice-the-music-in-a-good-way/590998/44 "2011-08-01T20:27:36Z")
I like Peter Gabriel’s [_Passion_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUF_3oKlX_U), compositions and arrangements for [_The Last Temptation of Christ_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPFZSuVydrk). The combination of score and film elevated the power of both. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-you-notice-the-music-in-a-good-way/590998/45 "2011-08-01T21:01:47Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Probably you are thinking of _Koyaanisquatsi_, scored by Philip Glass. Love that movie. Love the soundtrack. Heavily influenced the type of music I like and create. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-you-notice-the-music-in-a-good-way/590998/46 "2011-08-01T21:05:59Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Probably you are thinking of _Koyaanisquatsi_, scored by Philip Glass. Yep thats it, superb film, and a superb soundtrack, didn’t like the second much and have still yet to see the third. Have noticed parts of the music on many other televisual works . Thanks for reminding me of the name, it bugs me forgetting it but, its not a name that sticks in the memory easily, well for me anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-you-notice-the-music-in-a-good-way/590998/47 "2011-08-01T22:29:13Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Patrick Doyle’s music for the [St. Crispin’s Day](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-yZNMWFqvM) speech in Kenneth Branagh’s **Henry V** Yes. Sometimes I put the Dvd in and just jump to this scene. It makes me well up just thinking about it; the music and Branagh’s performance are a powerful combo. Also, I second the **Star Trek II** score. Many of the Trek movies have good scores (IV is also very good), but II is the best. I recently watched **Mirrormask** for the first time and really loved the music. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-you-notice-the-music-in-a-good-way/590998/48 "2011-08-01T22:32:25Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Also used to very good effect during the Dr. Manhattan flashback scene in _Watchmen_. You can hear a short snippet of it here: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apq\_2hNQ4ew&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apq_2hNQ4ew&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-you-notice-the-music-in-a-good-way/590998/49 "2011-08-01T22:59:24Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > Claire de Lune playing over the scene in _Ocean’s 11_ after they have successfully pulled off the heist and they’re watching the fountains before going their separate ways. A great scene, but it’s stolen directly from _The Right Stuff_. There’s even a thank you to Philip Kaufman (director of TRS) in the closing credits. Excellent use of period music in _Pleasantville_. For original music, though, I just don’t think it gets any better than Morricone’s [The Ecstasy of Gold](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObKgCaWyAig) while Tuco is running through the cemetery in _The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly_. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-you-notice-the-music-in-a-good-way/590998/50 "2011-08-01T23:05:55Z")
The fact that no one has mentioned _The Good , the Bad and the Ugly_ is making my teeth hurt. Best soundtrack ever. It’s practically a character. ETA: except for the post right above mine. And yes, _Ecstasy of Gold_ is the best piece. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-you-notice-the-music-in-a-good-way/590998/51 "2011-08-01T23:16:17Z")
I’d nominate \*Easy Rider \*and _O Brother, Where Art Thou?_ ---
**Author:** ![gladtobeblazed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@gladtobeblazed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gladtobeblazed)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-you-notice-the-music-in-a-good-way/590998/52 "2011-08-01T23:27:34Z")
I really liked the low-key style of **The Last Picture Show**. There’s a lot of music in that film, but it’s all in the background being played on radios and jukeboxes. The music sounds more natural and makes the scenes more immersive. ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-you-notice-the-music-in-a-good-way/590998/53 "2011-08-02T00:32:03Z")
Most of my favourites have been mentioned already. But a recent one I really liked was _Suckerpunch_. I know a lot of people don’t rate it as a movie in its own right (I liked it) but the soundtrack for it was just fantastic. Some of the score from from Schindlers List, really added to the atmosphere at times there as well. I don’t know about whole movie soundtracks, but some key scenes in some movies always resonate for me like _Adagio for Strings_ in _Platoon_ over Sgt Elias’s death scene. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-you-notice-the-music-in-a-good-way/590998/54 "2011-08-02T00:36:23Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > And also the music to a sort of visual documentary with a name I can’t remember or pronounce but is the Navaho word for chaos > [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Probably you are thinking of _Koyaanisquatsi_, scored by Philip Glass. And it’s a Hopi word. > [@Lust4Life](#): > > Yep thats it, superb film, and a superb soundtrack, didn’t like the second much and have still yet to see the third. > > Have noticed parts of the music on many other televisual works . > > Thanks for reminding me of the name, it bugs me forgetting it but, its not a name that sticks in the memory easily, well for me anyway. If you like _Koyaanisquatsi_, check out _Baraka_. Made by Koyaa’s cinematographer. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-you-notice-the-music-in-a-good-way/590998/55 "2011-08-02T00:39:16Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > A great scene, but it’s stolen directly from _The Right Stuff_. There’s even a thank you to Philip Kaufman (director of TRS) in the closing credits. :smack: I can’t believe I never made that connection before! _The Right Stuff_ is my favorite movie and I love that scene–the astronauts silently sharing that moment at the barbeque as the fan dancer performs. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-you-notice-the-music-in-a-good-way/590998/56 "2011-08-02T00:57:55Z")
An even earlier movie that really poured on the Debussy was _A Portrait of Jenny,_ (which was arranged by Dimitry Tiomkin, whose own scores for _Giant_ and _The Guns of Navarrone_ are as different from that as can be). ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Incognito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guy_incognito/32/3920_2.png) [@Guy\_Incognito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Incognito)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-you-notice-the-music-in-a-good-way/590998/57 "2011-08-02T03:07:40Z")
Another vote for Vangelis’s soundtrack to _Blade Runner_. Peter Gabriel’s soundtrack for The Last Temptation of Christ was another good call. How about some love for Thomas Newman’s score for \*Shawshank Redemption \*and Morricone’s work on _Once Upon a Time In America_? ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-you-notice-the-music-in-a-good-way/590998/58 "2011-08-02T03:13:42Z")
The soundtrack to Martin Scorsese’s movie _Kundun_ was also quite striking. And, perhaps obvious, but the music from _The Piano_ was integral to the film as well as very listenable in its own right. (I actually bought the soundtrack CD.) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-you-notice-the-music-in-a-good-way/590998/59 "2011-08-02T06:52:53Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > :smack: I can’t believe I never made that connection before! _The Right Stuff_ is my favorite movie and I love that scene–the astronauts silently sharing that moment at the barbeque as the fan dancer performs. You have excellent taste, _The Right Stuff_ is my favorite, too. (And _Ocean’s 11_ would be close to the top ten, as well.) I didn’t notice the connection myself, though; I think it’s mentioned in the DVD commentary on Ocean’s. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-you-notice-the-music-in-a-good-way/590998/60 "2011-08-02T11:44:22Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > The fact that no one has mentioned _The Good , the Bad and the Ugly_ is making my teeth hurt. > > Best soundtrack ever. It’s practically a character. > > ETA: except for the post right above mine. And yes, _Ecstasy of Gold_ is the best piece. I want to get one of those watches that running on clockwork plays a tune that goes on and on with an incredible volume, and STILL fits in your pocket. I half expected one of the characters at the end to say “for gods sake hurry it up”, that or when its tune actually finishes everyones drifted off into a reverie and nothing happens. Still enjoyed the movie though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-you-notice-the-music-in-a-good-way/590998.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-you-notice-the-music-in-a-good-way/590998.md?page=4)