Serenity: Was music disappointing to you too?

POSTED BY: mali
UPDATED: Wednesday, October 12, 2005 13:20
VIEWED: 12767
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SAFFY

Monday, October 10, 2005 10:43 PM

Guys, that soundtrack was out before opening night. I saw it at Borders and another store at the mall (a music and video store).

BRUISERSMOM

Monday, October 10, 2005 11:16 PM

I don't remember the music. Does that say anything?

"You can keep a dog; but it is the cat who keeps people, because cats find humans useful domestic animals."--George Mikes

MRPACO

Tuesday, October 11, 2005 3:00 AM

Are you sure you didn't see the Serenity soundtrack? 'Cause we're talking about the Firefly (series) one...which according to the website, ain't out yet.

-Patrick

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TENTHCREWMEMBER

Tuesday, October 11, 2005 3:41 AM

The music was some of the best ever. Not monumental like an imperial march theme or anything, but it did it's job by accenting the scenes and staying out of the way of the movie.

How do I know the movie did its job? My 3 year old daughter tells me so.

*pauses*

Now if you've finised laughing at me , I'll explain.

I took my whole family to see the movie on opening night, including my daughter. She was as excited as anyone, and watched the whole thing, even the "scary parts" because she apparently finds monsters "cool".

Now I own the soundtrack, and mostly I have played it in my truck as I drive, but yesterday, I put it in the home stereo and set it to repeat.

My daughter walks into the room right as the music that defined the initial reaver attack is playing. She stops, cocks her head to the side and says "Daddy...the scary monsters are coming! She should get away!" (by "she" she meant River...disturbingly my 3 year old has made a connection with River ) and then I had to pause. She was right! So I told her she was right, and she smiled with a giggle and toddled off to do whatever playing she was off to do.

If my 3 year old can envision the scene in her mind simply by the music that was in the background, then the music CLEARLY did its job. Especially considering the oddness of the setting, which involved western AND eastern music needs combined with action and story telling that arrives as quickly as it leaves. I commend Mr. Newman for the job he did, and I am compelled to look into other work he has done as a result.

Is it the "in your face" memorable of the Imperial March? No, but then that wasn't called for. Our heroes are the kind TRYING to go unnoticed, and enjoy their lives. The music did that. The music was only important to be heard when there was nothing else to be heard in space. It coregraphed perfectly during the scene where Mal shoots the Reaver ship and doesn't come of forced.

It is genius in its creation, and I am amazed at how fluid it runs with the film.

No catchy "pop song" to rot my brain...well, save for the "Fruity Oaty Bar" song (how is it I crave a snack that isn't even real? Or mandatory? LOL!).

It's as good as the music from the series, which most people also did not notice.

BWAH!
TCM

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PAINISSCARY

Tuesday, October 11, 2005 4:28 AM

I was disappointed by the "Serenity" music. It was functional, but forgettable, a pale imitation of the show's score. The closest it ever came to matching the beauty of Greg Edmonson's Firefly score was the string piece that plays over the first shot of Serenity (the ship, not the movie), before she enters atmo.

Edmonson's music was so perfect in capturing the feel of the show, echoing its clever and nuanced blend of genres and cultures with an equally complex and varied series of cues. The jaunty fiddle music and the twangy guitar riffs that frequently accompanied episode openings and ship fly-bys was joyous and warm and instantly gets you into the Firefly vibe (e.g., "Safe," "Ariel"...).

There's not a single episode of the show that doesn't bring tears to my eyes (yeah, okay, I'm a wuss... but in a manly way) thanks to the brilliant combination of performances, writing, directing, and the phenomenal music... Cues like the haunting piano theme that most often accompanied scenes of River and Simon, the closing theme of "Bushwhacked" as the settlers' ship is being destroyed, the opening theme of "Out of Gas" and the music that plays as the shuttles depart the ship, leaving Mal behind, the cue from the end of "The Message"...

For whatever reason Edmonson was not brought aboard to do the score for "Serenity," I think it was a big mistake and a major compromise. David Newman's certainly a talented composer, but he had the unenviable position of taking over for a property that already had such a distinct and perfect established sound, that anything different that tried in any way to capture the quality of the original would fall short.

"Hamsters is nice."

MALI

Tuesday, October 11, 2005 5:23 AM

Well, after my third viewing of the finished film, I have to say the music is growing on me much more than when I first saw it, and started this thread. I think it definitely is much more low-key, but when you focus in on it, it's really beautiful, elegant. Just twangy enough to be linked to the Firefly score. Don't know that I'd buy the soundtrack, but I definitely appreciate it more than before....

m.

~ Scootch over, Wash! ~

FREMDFIRMA

Tuesday, October 11, 2005 5:29 PM

I second painisscary's opinion completely.

Greg's music REALLY added a serious creepy-factor to Objects in Space as well.

What Newman gave us was the typical, unremarkable, not at all memorable, instantly-forgotten and easily-dismissed "movie soundtrack".

What Greg gave us was pure magic, a sorcery of emotions sparked by creative use of music.

Sorry Dave, ya just didn't cut it.

-F

UNCHARTEDOUTLAW

Tuesday, October 11, 2005 6:04 PM

I dunno about y'all, but I loved the music in the movie! It's fantastic! :D

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FUGITIVE

Wednesday, October 12, 2005 1:20 AM

I have the CD already and if it was an LP (that's vinyl to you young'uns ) I would have to had to replace it by now. The longest track on the CD is 3:56. The tracks don't last long enough for me like some musical scores "Gladiator", "Star Wars", etc. However the scores are awesome while they last. My favorites are: Trk 3 "Serenity", Trk 20 "Funeral/Rebuilding Serenity" Trk 21 "Prep for Flight" Trk 22 "Love"
"Love" is so moving in the movie, listening to track brings chills all over again. The violin is very heavy kind of like "Schindler's List". The acoustic guitar, banjo, and violin are great together in "Rebuilding Serenity".

I do also like the music from the series.

FUGITIVE

Wednesday, October 12, 2005 1:26 AM

BTW I picked up the CD at Walmart of all places, while getting wiper blades.

"I'll be in my bunk."

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