2009 First Half Roundup Part 3: The Worst!
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Even though I quite like, nay love it so far, there has been a few scores that rubbed me the wrong way.
I admit that it’s hard to pick out the 5 worst film or TV scores. Ok, the nr. 1 and nr. 2 stood out for me, but the next 3 was much harder. The scores could easily have been replaced by other equally mediocre scores.
But before we go with my choices, here’s the critics choice of the worst 5 scores so far:
05. The Last House on the Left by John Murphy (53/100)
“Supposed action cues Looking For Krug and John V Krug are let down by repetitive string dirges and relentless buzzing.” – Danny Graydon, Empire
Well it’s a decent score I think. Nothing special about it and certainly not John Murphy’s best score. If you want a great horror John Murphy score, go with La-La Land’s recent release 28 Weeks Later instead.
Best cues: Opening Titles, The Pool, The Boathouse
My Rating: 60/100
04. Watchmen by Tyler Bates (51/100)
“A score-only album of 45 minutes of material meanders between genres indiscriminately, likely limiting its appeal to concept loyalists.” – Filmtracks
Well well… I could have guessed the critics didn’t like this one. I on the other hand quite enjoyed this. It had some good cues in there to keep the quality quite high.
Best cues: Rescue Mission, Prison Fight, I Love You Mom
My Rating: 70/100
03. The Unborn by Ramin Djawadi (50/100)
“The album as a whole turns into the same sort of dull ambiance that defines the vast majority of modern horror music.” – Clark Douglas, Movie Music UK
Again, I don’t really agree. There’s some ambience there, but it has to be. You can’t score a horror movie without ambience. Besides, some of the ambience is quite nice and scary. There’s a good theme in there as well.
Best cues: The Unborn, The Glove, Twins
My Rating: 60/100
02. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (49/100)
“This seems to be a case of just going through the motions – there’s nothing even vaguely unique about it.” – James Southall, Movie-Wave
That sentence from James says it all really. It’s just going through the motions without really going anywhere. At the first listen I thought that it wasn’t so bad, but I soon realize that my high hopes for this score got in the way of my better judgment. Sadly not near Harry Gregson-Williams best…
Best cues: Logan Through Time, Wade Goes to Work, Kayla
My Rating: 50/100
01. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans by Paul Haslinger (39/100)
“Underdeveloped and underachieving. Those are two words I would use to describe this soundtrack.” – Jørn Tillnes, Soundtrackgeek
This is the clear winner so far in the worst of the worst. It isn’t my choice of worst, but it’s a very disappointing score with hardly much to shout about.
Best cues: Lucian and Sonja’s Love Theme, The Wolve’s Den, Per Aspera Ad Astra
My Rating: 40/100
So that was the critics choice for the worst of the worst. Agree or disagree?
Here’s my top (bottom) five:
05. Super Capers by Nathan Lanier
The score itself is fine, but almost all the cues are ruined by talking. I’m sure it’s supposed to be funny, but it is really annoying. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t and this is one of those times.
Best cues: Main Theme, The Throne Room, The Bridge
Critics Say: Don’t know and couldn’t care less…
My Review: Ain’t gonna happen…
04. JCVD by Gast Waltzing
I do love Jean Claude Van Damme… back in the 80s! Coupled with composer Paul Hertzog he was invincible. This film is supposed to be an artsy comedy and it’s enjoyable, but I simply can’t like the jazzy/funky score.
Best cues: JCVD Theme, JCVD Theme II, JCVD Theme III
Critics say: Only one review that I’ve seen from KQEK and they seemed to like it. Hmmm…
My Review: Nah… but some of his 80s/90s scores might appear…
03. My Bloody Valentine 3D by Michael Wandmacher
Not my favorite horror score to put it mildly. It felt like a big step backwards after scores like Marco Beltrami’s The Eye for example. It was hard to get through it all without hitting the volume button down a few notches. It’s noisy, loud and simply too complex. Then again, maybe I’m not smart enough to judge it.
Best cues: Buried Alive (Main Titles), Prodigal Son, First Responder
Critics say: I’m the only one who has reviewed it (to my knowledge)
My Review: My Bloody Valentine 3D Soundtrack Review
02. Crank: High Voltage by Mike Patton
Mike Patton is too experimental for me. I don’t really know what to do with a score like this. Is it funny? Yeah it can be, but it’s also painfully strange and weird and strange and weird! If you’re a fan of Mike Patton, then this will give you a kick I’m sure.
Best cues: Sweet Cream (Redux), Tourettes Romance, Epilogue in My Dreams
Critics say: IGN loved it while FSM disliked it. That’s true of this score. You either love it or hate it.
My Review: Nope
01. He’s Just Not That Into You by Cliff Eidelman
I’m usually a fan of Eidelman’s work, but I just don’t like this score. Sorry Cliff! The things I don’t like about it is that it doesn’t really go anywhere, but keeps up with the light comedy cues. There seems to be no real purpose. It doesn’t entertain or evoke any emotions…
Best cues: Not to be Trusted, Are you going to marry me, End Credit Suite
Critics Say: No reviews… probably for the best.
My Review: Doesn’t look like it’s happening…
So there you have it… the worst of the bunch. Have your say… what do you think is the worst of 2009 so far?
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