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You know,
I’m sure some of us (although we don’t want to admit it) have been thinking over the last few years that Elfman’s theme writing has begun to dwindel. He used to be the king of theme writing. Batman. Peewee. Scissorhands.When will we get our Danny back?
I’ve heard a few many people talking like that.Well,
screw that train of thought! I’ve been listening to Big Fish and it’s amazing. I mean, Jenny’s theme is the best thing he’s written since… I don’t even remember. It reminds me a little of Ginger’s motif from Black Beauty or (somehow even) that Love theme Waltz from Peewee. It’s the kind of thing you’ll hear the beginning of and quickly be able to hum the rest. It’s great and (better yet) Elfman doesn’t utilize it only once in the score. He builds whole cues around it (although not as much as I would have liked).He better get a damn oscar.
PS: I’ve been a bit busy with this orchestration crap. I’m going to write that “Elfman Strings” thing I promised a while back.
yeah! and it’s better that lord of the rings!
I don’t understand how people can say that he has dwindeled from theme writing. What about Hulk? Was there no established theme there? I found a theme for memories, Hulking out, and that 6-note thing he had throughout the movie. And Spider-Man. I found the themes for Peter, Mary Jane, Spider-Man, and the Green Goblin even before Danny Elfman explained his themes on the DVD. Just because these themes aren’t written on the soundtracks as “So-And-So’s Theme,” it doesn’t mean that there are no established themes in his scores.
Jenny’s Theme is great, I agree…but I believe the theme has a lot more to say than the score lets it. As I was saying on another board, I wish that this was the theme that the “Big Fish” score was built around, the heart and center of the score, developed to it’s fullest for the finale…but all we get are a few nice variations, most notably “Underwater” and the just under two minute statement, track 22, “Jenny’s Theme.” This theme reminds me a lot of Patty’s Theme from “The Frighteners,” though not as diabolical (at least they have the first 5 or so notes in common). But “Jenny’s Theme” has so much more to say…this is a theme that can be variated into a magnificent sweeping ballroom waltz, a circus tune, and definately and Edward Scissorhands-esque statement with a boy’s chorus. But what we have is nice, and will have to suffice.
Dylan
Jenny’s theme is good, but I think it had to stay simple for the purpose of Jenny’s role in the flick. You’ll see…
ok, we know you saw the movie.
yeah i got lucky…or maybe it was’t luck. eh….
even if you wait for it i think it’ll make the experience that much more powerful for you. Everyone who left that theater never made a ruckus during the movie, and left saying good things about it…Anybody who says this movie is a bomb seriously has emotional problems…or they’re just missing the point.
Hey i think it’s better than LOTR, but only because i’m not in the mood for a heavy battle between good and evil…Big Fish just fits my current disposition…
“What about Hulk? Was there no established theme there? I found a theme for memories, Hulking out, and that 6-note thing he had throughout the movie.”
I think he’s confusing a theme with melody.
All of Elfman’s recent efforts had used themes nicely, Spider-Man especially. Though, I don’t think we’ve had an Elfman score with a really strong melody since The Family Man. This is, of course, if Big Fish is better.
A theme is a reacurring motif… ahem…
Leitmotif.
Melody and Theme are the same damn thing. The same thing. The only difference is that a theme repeats it’s self.Now I am not saying that his new stuff doesn’t have themes or that his new stuff isn’t any good. Otherwise I wouldn’t be on this board. They do have themes and they are good. Planet of the Apes had a wonderful Bad Guy theme for Thade on Bassoon (pure early Elfman). I am only telling you what I’ve heard people say: that now he doesn’t build his themes as bold as, say, BATMAN. Score critics have said that now he is relying more on synth-beats and percussion than in his early days. That’s the main nitpic film nuts are having now-a-days with his stuff.
I said (or tried to with my post) that Elfman turned all that around with Big Fish and threw it back in those certain “people’s” faces. Jenny’s theme is as memorable as Batman (although less grandiose). It repeats nicely through the score to where you can hum it after the movie is over. The last time I found myself humming after a movie ended was after Batman Returns (not to take anything away from anything he did after that).
Just thought I’d add that I hold a masters degree in music.
I know what a theme is. I know what a sub-theme is.i meant to say “than” ok? full of **** i am
What’s the point? Theme this and motif that…if you’re going to be analyzing the music so damn much trying to figure it out then you just took away the whole experience of it’s initial purpose, which is to inspire…who the hell would wanna analyze that? Just enjoy it, already…
“Melody and Theme are the same … thing.”
Well, yes, essentially they are the same thing. However, I find that a theme can be referred to as a somewhat-vague musical statement, where a melody has a longer more aesthetic whole.
gee, i wonder how it would fare if this piece of music was only 30 seconds long…
I think I would have to agree with the original post, but on slightly different terms. Yes, ALL of Elfman’s work has a theme/melody if you hunt for it…but his more recent work is…how do I put this…”less hummable.”
With Batman, Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, and a few others (mostly early 90’s), I was able to leave the theater with the melody lodged in my head and humming it over and over (Oh, and Sleepy Hollow.)
Spider-Man, Hulk, et al, are just not quite the “catchy” little tunes I like from Elfman. Yes, good stuff, fits the movie, blah blah blah, but not “hummable.” In my mind.
So shoot me.
Brian is my new best friend.
i actually enjoy his changes…after all thats what life’s about. and that old saying about having too much of one thing is true…
whoa, somehow my name was Spider-Man on some recent posts…
I agree with tumbleweed. just enjoy it, who cares if it’s a theme, or a motif, or sub-theme, or melody, or whatever. it’s music that is very enjoyable. sure, some of Elfman’s earlier work was more hummable, but that applies to the style of music in the day. As more and more movies come about, more and more music must be created. nowadays, music has gotten more complex in order to avoid sounding like other works. that’s probably why there were more real recognizable themes in earlier times than now.
I think the theme from 1:47 to 2:18 in the Main Titles should have been used more than it did. It’s one of the most beautiful themes I’ve heard from a soundtrack.
You can mix a bit of Sleepy Hollow with the Jenny/Specter stuff, to make the pieces larger….
You can mix Big Top Pee Wee with the Sandra stuff…and the main theme stuff can go well with Sommersby…or Black Beauty…or any of his bass-textured stuff.
And you can also mix some of the anti-theramin war stuff from Mars Attacks! to go with the Journey home/Twin’s song stuff..it should keep you happy until a promo gets released…maybe when hell freezes over, i expect.
Just don’t use his other main film themes when mixing – just the bits that don’t have much main theme on it…and there you go – you just expanded 40 minutes to god knows how long……Interesting… Er, Anyway, I actually got here because I’m looking for a mp3, etc. I just really enjoyed the song, theme, melody, er, “music”. It was definitely my favorite peice. Please don’t get me wrong, I *do* plan on buying the soundtrack (when I get enough spendable money), I would just like to have it as a soundfile. Thank you!
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