The Worst Music Scores/Soundtracks For Otherwise Decent Films....

[The Dark Elf]

I was watching Ladyhawke yesterday on cable, and it struck me how ridiculously bad the Andrew Powell/Alan Parsons score was. So bad, in fact, that it actually made it difficult to watch the movie. The movie itself isn't terrible, not Oscar-worthy, but Michelle Pfeiffer is as stunningly beautiful as ever and Rutger Hauer is, well, Rutger Hauer, and the actual cinematography is quite pleasing. It's just that horrid, incongruous to the time period, synthesized 1980's crap invading every scene simply destroyed my suspension of disbelief. Every time the music came around I was reminded this was a campy 1980s movie, and, Oh Lord! Please make it stop!

So, what's your crappy score or soundtrack?

[-=RTFR666=-]

Rick Wakeman's s/t for Ken Russell's Crimes of Passion was fairly cheese-tastic, IMO...

[Sturgeon's Lawyer]

Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo

[interbellum]

I was watching Ladyhawke yesterday on cable, and it struck me how ridiculously bad the Andrew Powell/Alan Parsons score was. So bad, in fact, that it actually made it difficult to watch the movie. The movie itself isn't terrible, not Oscar-worthy, but Michelle Pfeiffer is as stunningly beautiful as ever and Rutger Hauer is, well, Rutger Hauer, and the actual cinematography is quite pleasing. It's just that horrid, incongruous to the time period, synthesized 1980's crap invading every scene simply destroyed my suspension of disbelief. Every time the music came around I was reminded this was a campy 1980s movie, and, Oh Lord! Please make it stop!

So, what's your crappy score or soundtrack?

Well, it's a matter of taste I guess. The score was made this way on purpose, as you can read in the liner notes of the La La Land Records-rerelease.

[musiclife]

Mr lawyer know's what he is talkign about

[Enid]

Plenty of 80's films with cheesy synth parts. I have to give it more thought and yes it is a distraction. Sex, Lies, and Videotape..(IMO)...had a creepy soundtrack. It created a mysterious vibe more relative to what Jeff Grienke or Brian Eno would do. The movie was sometimes annoying....specifically the script, but some of the pieces were perfect for a horror film that would create mystery. Artist name was Cliff Martinez.

[Supersonic Scientist]

On a slightly different note:

I watched the 3-part mini-series Harley & the Davidsons last week.

Knowing almost nothing about motorcycles I was impressed with all of the hardships they endured to finally become a successful company.

While watching the series, I made a mental-note several times that the accompanying music sounded very out-of-step with the time period. Some incidental music sounded WAY TOO modern where a simple innocuous rag-time piece of music would have been more fitting. After I realized this, it really started to bother me and I began paying more attention to the soundtrack for "appropriateness"....It didn't really lessen my enjoyment of the story...I thought it was well done but the music "mismatch" was something I detected.

[tom unbound]

The soundtrack for 'Forbidden Planet'.

Absolutely awful. I know they were trying for a 'modern' sound, but their use of the Theremin absolutely SUCKED. It's just noise effects to me.

(rant over)

[Supersonic Scientist]

The soundtrack for 'Forbidden Planet'.

Absolutely awful. I know they were trying for a 'modern' sound, but their use of the Theremin absolutely SUCKED. It's just noise effects to me.

(rant over)

I believe that the FP soundtrack was the very first major motion picture that had a 100% electronic soundtrack (No acoustic instruments used at all)

[Progbear]

That horrible 90s tendency to have shitty rap songs on the soundtrack of a comedy film, whether it was appropriate to the film or not. I liked both Addams Family movies, but the theme songs were dreadful. Especially the one by Tag Team for Addams Family Values, which I swear is called “Whoomp! The Addams Family! There It Is!”

[Dave (in MA)]

The soundtrack for 'Forbidden Planet'.

Absolutely awful. I know they were trying for a 'modern' sound, but their use of the Theremin absolutely SUCKED. It's just noise effects to me.

(rant over)

I don't think there's Theremin on the FP soundtrack. http://www.synthtopia.com/content/20...-by-ben-burtt/

[Rarebird]

I don't think there's Theremin on the FP soundtrack. http://www.synthtopia.com/content/20...-by-ben-burtt/

Fascinating stuff.

[interbellum]

I don't think there's Theremin on the FP soundtrack. http://www.synthtopia.com/content/20...-by-ben-burtt/

Thanks for that link. Fine stuff indeed, but I can imagine that people confuse the sound with a Theremin.

[tom unbound]

I don't think there's Theremin on the FP soundtrack. http://www.synthtopia.com/content/20...-by-ben-burtt/

Yes ! No Theremin involved ! Thanks for the correction.

[mogrooves]

Innumerable scores that attempt to emulate "exotic" non-western music.

[Jerjo]

There was music in the film Ladyhawke? I've watched this movie several times and never noticed. Hmm, what could have distracted me?

michelle_pfeiffer1.jpg

[JKL2000]

I finally had to answer "that" question from my 18-year-old son yesterday. Yes, that one: "Toto did the soundtrack for Dune?" I didn't know how to explain why. All I could do was acknowledge it, and say I didn't know why it wasn't done by someone like Brian Eno. He's seen the movie, but I guess he hadn't known or forgot that Toto was somehow involved. It was a little awkward.

[hFx]

I believe that the FP soundtrack was the very first major motion picture that had a 100% electronic soundtrack (No acoustic instruments used at all)

...and amazing it is!!