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Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

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Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

Old 07-06-12, 07:50 PM
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Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

Listening to this, the main theme from Capricorn One

<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cIFSKotYdZ0?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cIFSKotYdZ0?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

I can't help but think that it's a real shame that such great theme music (by the late great Jerry Goldsmith) was wasted on a not-so-great movie. (Capricorn One has its fans, I know, but, IMO, it's not so great).

So now I'm wondering what other great music is wasted on not-so-great movies.
Old 07-06-12, 08:04 PM
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Re: Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

While I won't say the film is not so great, but I'm sure many will, I think John Barry's score for King Kong (1976) is incredible.
Old 07-06-12, 08:13 PM
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Re: Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

Elmer Bernstein's epic score was wasted in the awful movie Slipstream (1989)

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mqY8LdTgPeg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Old 07-06-12, 08:31 PM
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Re: Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

Vangelis' scores for both 1492 and Alexander. And let's face it , if it weren't for Queen, Flash Gordon would NOT have the cult status it enjoys today.
Old 07-06-12, 08:35 PM
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Re: Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

The Phantom Menace's score was very good.
Old 07-06-12, 08:50 PM
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Re: Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

Exodus
Old 07-06-12, 09:04 PM
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Re: Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BoOqFeSxPrE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Last edited by inri222; 07-07-12 at 11:08 AM.
Old 07-06-12, 09:55 PM
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Re: Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

Tales from Earthsea:
Old 07-06-12, 10:23 PM
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Re: Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

Magnolia. The film is pretentious garbage but the score by John Brion and the Aimee Mann's tracks are fantastic.
Old 07-07-12, 03:34 AM
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Re: Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

Not sure how most people feel about Legends of the Fall but I absolutely love Horner's score for it.
Old 07-07-12, 05:36 AM
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Re: Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

Since OP's asking for themes...

Experiment in Terror-Felt that the movie could've been a lot shorter, but no complaints about Mancini's badass music:
Spoiler:


Dunwich Horror-Movie's so-so, but kudos to Baxter for creating the greatest mix of martial arts/giallo/crime-music I've ever heard!
Spoiler:


A Bullet in the Head-Thought that the overblown action sequences hurt the movie, but I've never been able to forget the theme:
Spoiler:


Inferno-Ok, finally a real Not-So-Great Movie:
Spoiler:
Old 07-07-12, 06:59 AM
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Re: Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies



I think this may have the very first PG rated movie I ever saw in the theater, and it's theme has haunted me since.
Old 07-07-12, 07:44 AM
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Re: Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

Solaris. Crappy remake, awesome soundtrack.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_2S698Cs3aM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Old 07-07-12, 07:53 AM
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Re: Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

not a movie, but a boxing reality show, with an amazing theme.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EBLRM0xgnUM?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Old 07-07-12, 09:25 AM
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Re: Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/N5aU-MpnLBQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Old 07-07-12, 10:04 AM
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Re: Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

Originally Posted by Charlie Goose


I think this may have the very first PG rated movie I ever saw in the theater, and it's theme has haunted me since.
90% of Morricone's themes would qualify for this thread. But I'll pick one:

A FINE PAIR (1969)
Old 07-08-12, 04:32 AM
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Re: Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

The "Messiah" theme from the 1984 DUNE is pretty great. Too bad the movie is... Incomplete.
Old 07-08-12, 10:20 AM
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Re: Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

Originally Posted by KillerCannibal
While I won't say the film is not so great, but I'm sure many will, I think John Barry's score for King Kong (1976) is incredible.
John Barry did a ton of great scores for very bad/mediocre films.
Old 07-08-12, 10:27 AM
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Re: Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

The Mummy Returns Terrible script but Alan Silvestri knocks it out of the park with his best work ever.

Cutthroat Island - Absolutely putrid movie in every way except for John Debney's masterful action-packed score.

Pirates of the Caribbean At World End. Bloated and overlong but it has Hans Zimmer's best work to date.
Old 07-08-12, 01:16 PM
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Re: Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

Originally Posted by brianluvdvd
John Barry did a ton of great scores for very bad/mediocre films.
Hated this movie but really liked the theme.

<object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/paPFl5WMZqs?version=3&feature=player_detailpage"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/paPFl5WMZqs?version=3&feature=player_detailpage" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="360"></object>


Not Barry but a theme I liked to another shitty movie.

<object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cHthbtSbGLM?version=3&feature=player_detailpage"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cHthbtSbGLM?version=3&feature=player_detailpage" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="360"></object>
Old 07-08-12, 01:40 PM
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Re: Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

Originally Posted by Neeb
The "Messiah" theme from the 1984 DUNE is pretty great. Too bad the movie is... Incomplete.
You mean the Prophecy Theme?
Old 07-08-12, 01:49 PM
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Re: Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

Originally Posted by inri222
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BoOqFeSxPrE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
One of my all-time favorite soundtracks.
Old 07-08-12, 02:26 PM
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Re: Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

I always liked the main Batman theme from Batman Forever even though the movie itself isn't that great. I think the same theme was used in Batman & Robin if I remember correctly. It wasn't as good as the Elfman theme but I thought it was okay.
Old 07-09-12, 10:26 AM
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Re: Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

SUPERGIRL - Jerry Goldsmith
Old 07-09-12, 10:39 AM
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Re: Great Theme Music On Not-So-Great Movies

Plunkett & Macleane - Craig Armstrong

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HY-Rlfxp1ew" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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