40 QUESTIONS TIME - 04/06/07

[6079SmithW]

But he doesn't do much for me as a composer.  He seems to have only one style -- carnival funhouse on meth -- and he applies it to every movie.  Admittedly, when that style is a good fit for the movie ("Beetlejuice", "Pee Wee") it works brilliantly, but I'd just like to hear the guy stretch out a little and try something different.  As it is, I suspect if you picked random tracks from a handful of his scores, I would be unable to match them to the films or, for that matter, tell them apart.

For the ump-teenth time, you've hit the nail on the head Steve-O.

I remember sitting in the theater when Spiderman 1 came out, and during the opening credits I said to my friend, "must be a Danny Elfman score".  Then his credit came up.  And it's not like I'm a Danny Elfman aficionado or something, it's just that his scores are so trademarked with his "sound"....I agree that they all kinda sound the same.  Elfman scores have their place, and his sound is perfect for certain material.  But overall Elfman is over-used in Hollywood.

I love how certain threads can get this far off-topic.   

DAnny ELFman DAnny ELFman this part sounds like DAnny ELFman

[Sharktopus]

I love Danny Elfman's movie scores when his goofy goth style fits - Nightmare Before Christmas, Men In Black, Batman - but then there's the ones that feel phoned in, like Spider-Man and Hulk. Quick, hum the Spider-Man theme.

[AmazingThor]

Quick, hum the Spider-Man theme.

All I can muster is the Clash version of the old 70s theme.

[J-Proof]

Dann Elfman wrote MIB -- oh yeah... that's another good one.

Truth be told, what composer /doesn't/ have a trademark sound? I can tell a Hans Zimmer score almost immediately.... And I always know a John Williams score cuz they're just TOO dang good hehe.....

But even the finest film composers can feel out of place in certain movies.

[6079SmithW]

Dann Elfman wrote MIB -- oh yeah... that's another good one.

Truth be told, what composer /doesn't/ have a trademark sound? I can tell a Hans Zimmer score almost immediately.... And I always know a John Williams score cuz they're just TOO dang good hehe.....

But even the finest film composers can feel out of place in certain movies.

Williams is almost always overblown with lots of catchy little hooks. It's not a bad thing, necessarily, but he's pretty much making orchestral pop music.

Howard Shore can be hard to spot sometimes- I think he did Ed Wood, for instance, but I wouldn't have guessed from watching the movie.

[Compound]

Quick, hum the Spider-Man theme.

All I can muster is the Clash version of the old 70s theme.

You mean The Ramones version, right?

[AmazingThor]

Quick, hum the Spider-Man theme.

All I can muster is the Clash version of the old 70s theme.

You mean The Ramones version, right?

Probably. Somehow it got on my ipod and somehow it was labeled as the Clash. Go figure.

[Long Tall Jodie]

I love Danny Elfman's movie scores when his goofy goth style fits - Nightmare Before Christmas, Men In Black, Batman - but then there's the ones that feel phoned in, like Spider-Man and Hulk. Quick, hum the Spider-Man theme.

I'd be quick to point out that Elfman's work on Spidey (and especially Spidey 2) is fantastic.  While they don't contain instantly hummable themes, they're extremely listenable soundtracks.  I especially like the Doc Ock motifs in the sequel.

[AmazingThor]

I wonder if we're gonna get another 40 questions. Bring on the guest riffers!

[SmilinJackRoss]

I wonder if we're gonna get another 40 questions. Bring on the guest riffers!

Unfortunately not:
http://www.rifftrax.com/smf/index.php/topic,3108.0.html

[NickE]

If Ron Grainer did nothing else but the themes to "The Prisoner" and "Dr. Who," he'd be near the top of my list of Canonical Composers.

Um ... actually, now that I think of it, did he do anything else besides those two themes?

[Minnesota]

so how many hours until this one is available?
I think the three day Danny Elfman conversation might have run its course

[Conor]

so how many hours until this one is available?
I think the three day Danny Elfman conversation might have run its course

Just a few more minutes!

[SaucyRossy]

Ok I just watched the sample clip and I almost pissed myself.

I wanna embed that on my myspace page....but I have never done that before. Any suggestions anyone?

[PlayMSTie]

Great sample! NPH sounds like he's gonna be good. A little startled to find out we've got another member of the Anti-Rachael-Ray League in our midst, but whatever. We've all got our pet peeves. 

What I really want to know, just from that short clip of this movie, is how on earth did ANYONE ever think it was good?? (Sorry, "Wonka" fans, but holy moly!  )