Why are theme songs of movies based on cartoons so generic or nonexistant?

toddly6666 · 07-29-07, 09:04 AM

Ever since the trend of releasing good movies (starting off with Marvel's 1998 Blade) created from cartoons/comic books, why have the theme songs either been:

1. Not the same ones based on their famous cartoons.
2. Some forgettable, generic rock song

The only ones that used the famous theme song was in Superman Returns and a parady of one in the first Spiderman (the street performer). Actually the only sort of memorable one is the one used in the Spiderman movies, but it's just music. I'm assuming many of the movies can't use the original cartoon songs or re-inventing the cartoon song due to cartoon producer rights. But still, why do they always opt for either no theme song, or some generic rock song?

I just watched the highly entertaining Transformers movie and surprisingly good Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and I was waiting for some type of song during the movie and even during the credits for some type of reference to the cartoon song.

When I think of the recent crop of superhero/comic book movies, such as X-Mens, Blades, Hellboy, Batman Begins, Avengers cartoon movies, Hulk, Iron Man cartoon movie, Daredevil, The Punisher, Transformers, TMNT, Ghost Rider, Fantastic Fours, etc, none of these movies have a theme song, whether it be vocal or music.

Do producers think it's cheesy to have a theme song for these films because comic book movies are considered to be taken more seriously now? Or they are ashamed of its cheesy past? The main attraction of watching these cartoons (for the ones with a cartoon) growing up was the appeal of the opening theme song or the theme song when the heros do their thing "a la James Bond song."

Even during the Transformers movie, I think I only heard the famous "transforming sound" maybe twice. It should have been every time an Autobot or Decepticon transformed.

RyoHazuki · 07-29-07, 11:53 AM

I'm gonna boycott IronMan unless it features this over the opening credits

RichC2 · 07-29-07, 12:55 PM

rw2516 · 07-29-07, 01:01 PM

Pretty sure the first Spiderman has the 1967 theme song on the end credits. Original recording too.

Drexl · 07-29-07, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toddly6666

Do producers think it's cheesy to have a theme song for these films because comic book movies are considered to be taken more seriously now?

I think that's it.

jjcool · 07-29-07, 01:51 PM

As I was watching the new Transformers movie, I was thinking the same thing. Where is the theme song? Kept waiting for it to come in in the beginning, then when the end credits rolled. but NO luck.

grim_tales · 07-29-07, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rw2516

Pretty sure the first Spiderman has the 1967 theme song on the end credits. Original recording too.

It does

Doesn't Spider-Man 2 have a bit where the Japanese lady plays the classic 1967 theme on the violin?

toddly6666 · 07-29-07, 02:47 PM

I didn't even know of that Iron Man theme song, and it was awesome! Do they also shy away from a lyrical theme song because they think it will get worse reviews? I just can't believe it that they would rather play it safe by having none, then to try and have an original or use the original theme song.

And yes, as I posted earlier, the street performer (japanese girl) was singing the original Spiderman theme song in one of the Spidey flicks...

07-29-07, 09:04 AM	#1
toddly6666 DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 4,133	Why are theme songs of movies based on cartoons so generic or nonexistant? Ever since the trend of releasing good movies (starting off with Marvel's 1998 Blade) created from cartoons/comic books, why have the theme songs either been: 1. Not the same ones based on their famous cartoons. 2. Some forgettable, generic rock song The only ones that used the famous theme song was in Superman Returns and a parady of one in the first Spiderman (the street performer). Actually the only sort of memorable one is the one used in the Spiderman movies, but it's just music. I'm assuming many of the movies can't use the original cartoon songs or re-inventing the cartoon song due to cartoon producer rights. But still, why do they always opt for either no theme song, or some generic rock song? I just watched the highly entertaining Transformers movie and surprisingly good Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and I was waiting for some type of song during the movie and even during the credits for some type of reference to the cartoon song. When I think of the recent crop of superhero/comic book movies, such as X-Mens, Blades, Hellboy, Batman Begins, Avengers cartoon movies, Hulk, Iron Man cartoon movie, Daredevil, The Punisher, Transformers, TMNT, Ghost Rider, Fantastic Fours, etc, none of these movies have a theme song, whether it be vocal or music. Do producers think it's cheesy to have a theme song for these films because comic book movies are considered to be taken more seriously now? Or they are ashamed of its cheesy past? The main attraction of watching these cartoons (for the ones with a cartoon) growing up was the appeal of the opening theme song or the theme song when the heros do their thing "a la James Bond song." Even during the Transformers movie, I think I only heard the famous "transforming sound" maybe twice. It should have been every time an Autobot or Decepticon transformed.

07-29-07, 11:53 AM	#2
RyoHazuki DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Phoenix Posts: 7,795	I'm gonna boycott IronMan unless it features this over the opening credits __________________ When in Rome, go back home and get real dome from a well known crack gnome. Xbox Live: CookinBooks

07-29-07, 12:55 PM	#3
RichC2 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 11,160

07-29-07, 01:01 PM	#4
rw2516 DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,734	Pretty sure the first Spiderman has the 1967 theme song on the end credits. Original recording too.

07-29-07, 01:51 PM	#6
jjcool DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: CT Posts: 2,566	As I was watching the new Transformers movie, I was thinking the same thing. Where is the theme song? Kept waiting for it to come in in the beginning, then when the end credits rolled. but NO luck.

07-29-07, 02:47 PM	#8
toddly6666 DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 4,133	I didn't even know of that Iron Man theme song, and it was awesome! Do they also shy away from a lyrical theme song because they think it will get worse reviews? I just can't believe it that they would rather play it safe by having none, then to try and have an original or use the original theme song. And yes, as I posted earlier, the street performer (japanese girl) was singing the original Spiderman theme song in one of the Spidey flicks...