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Famous music from movies is almost instantly recognizable worldwide and can evoke strong emotions as they’re matched perfectly with the action on screen.  However, not many people know much about the music composers who create these pieces of audio artwork that manage to bring a movie to life.  Here’s a list of just some of the extremely talented film music composers.

John Williams

A true giant in the world of music, John Williams has composed pieces of music for all but two of the legendary director Steven Spielberg’s films.  With over forty prestigious awards to his name, including five Oscars and seven BAFTAs, there’s no shortage of recognition for this talented musician.  His list of movies is extensive with Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Superman, Saving Private Ryan and E.T. under his belt, to name just a few.  Judging by that impressive list, you don’t need to be told how incredibly talented he is and how in-demand his music is.

Maurice-Alexis Jarre

Maurice Jarre was unusual in that he only began learning music when he was in his late teens, as opposed to many musicians who begin from a very young age.  He is known for his favored use of percussive instruments.  In 1961, Jarre’s breakthrough came when he was asked to compose the score for Lawrence of Arabia, earning him his first Oscar.  Three years later he won his second Oscar by composing the music for Doctor Zhivago.  Needless to say, this music composer reaped the rewards for his hard work.

Hans Zimmer

One of the most diverse and innovative film movie composers in cinema history, here are just some of the movies Hans Zimmer has composed for:  The Lion King, Rain Man, Gladiator, The Last Samurai and The Dark Knight.  He has been nominated for seven Oscars, seven Golden Globes and seven Grammys; not bad to be able to put down on your CV.  His score for Gladiator became one of the best selling film score albums ever.

Howard Shore

With his trademark dark, ominous themed music, Shore often works with film directors Peter Jackson and David Cronenberg.  With well-known films such as The Lord of the Rings and The Silence of the Lambs to his name, Howard shore has proved himself time and time again as a very talented and reliable music composer.

James Newton Howard

Howard’s trademark seems to be that he will never conduct his own pieces of music.  Often collaborating with Hans Zimmer, Howard has been nominated for eight Academy Awards.  He has even toured with Elton John.  With his reputation as a very fast worker, Howard is often asked to provide last-minute soundtracks or to improve existing ones.

Danny Elfman

Of course the composer of The Simpsons’ theme tune is going to be on this list.  Although The Simpsons isn’t a movie, Danny Elfman has composed more than his fair share of well-known pieces of music for incredibly famous films.  These films include Batman, Spiderman, Mission: Impossible and Men in Black.  Quite an impressive list which is why he has cemented his position as one of the best music composers in Hollywood

Featured images:

•  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Conductor.png

This article was written by Alex Girardi, who recommends www.envisionsound.com if you need a top quality music score composed.

Today’s post may seem a little unconventional to all my bookworm friends. I realize that by stating my opinions today, some people may not think of me as highly in the book nerd world, but I’m going to say what I think anyway. Cause, you know, I’m just that kind of person. 🙂

I’ve been watching a lot of movies lately that are based off of books. I think it’s great that the movie industry has found a niche for movies to be adapted from books. I always get excited when I hear that they’re going to make a movie out of a book that I’ve read and enjoyed so much. (I’ve been waiting for them to make the movie Ender’s Game since I was in 6th grade – it’s finally here!) It’s one of the reasons I like to write blogs that compare the movie to the book.

But I’ve been noticing a trend in these movies the last few years. They are trying really hard to stay as close to the story as possible. But let’s be real here, shall we? That doesn’t actually work. If someone sees this movie who has never read the book, they’re probably going to be bored and not enjoy it very much because the movie is so focused on following the book that it’s not as comprehensive of a movie anymore. I thought this as I’ve watched Hunger Games, The Host, Beautiful Creatures, and a gazillion others, but it would take too long to name them all. The movies (in my opinion) were pretty lame, didn’t keep me enthralled, and I would never watch them again. But the concepts for these movies are fantastic.

So what’s the problem? It’s that you can’t fit a book into a movie. It simply doesn’t work. That’s why these movies are referred to as adaptations. The filmmakers need to “Hollywood-ize” them so that movie goers everywhere will be fully entertained with a 2-3 hour flick.

Some examples of movies based off of books, but were adapted to entertain movie goers, are such as: Jack Reacher, Count of Monte Cristo, The Pelican Brief, The Princess Bride, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and Lord of the Rings. I think that these movies were able to capture the essence of the story and characters, but they didn’t follow the book too closely. In many cases, they changed several things (took out characters, changed the plotline a little) so it would fit better in the movie.

No matter how hard a movie tries to follow the book, everyone will almost always agree that the book was better anyway. I always say this – I even want a shirt that says it (It’s from ThinkGeek, if any of you are thinking of getting me something – that would be perfect! ;)). So why not stop trying to copy the book exactly, and use the great elements of movie studios to do what they do best: make it a real movie.

Mind you, I’m addressing movies that come out in the theater and are promoted as Blockbuster releases. I do know that there are some great mini-series based off of books that are able to follow the story closely while still capturing a wide audience. Even regular series, like HBO’s Game of Thrones, can pull that off amazingly well. But if you want to sit and be entertained for two hours, there is no way a movie can follow the book that closely. What will happen is that most people won’t like it and the movie will tank.

So Hollywood, I guess I’m asking you to go back to your older methods of adapting a movie from a book. Because what I‘ve been seeing lately really isn’t working for me.

Thoughts, anyone?

 With the movie (obviously, based on the book) coming out next week, I decided I had to pick this up and start the popular trilogy. So, the following is my review of the book. A comparison of the book to the movie will follow next month.

My overall impression is positive. I felt that the characters were well portrayed and that the author did a great job of covering darker themes while sticking to a YA standard. There was a little bit of swearing, sexual innuendo, and moderate violence. I know it sounds weird, but I appreciate that the book wasn’t squeaky clean, as that feels contrived to me. I remember what it was like being a teenager, and some of the things I heard at school would fall into a rated R genre. But as I said, the material wasn’t offensive or graphic and fit in perfectly with the story and characters, which made it feel like a more alive/realistic story. Another thing I appreciated is that things weren’t simplified too much (one of my biggest pet peeves when reading YA literature. Teenagers aren’t that dumb and can understand an intricate plot with three dimensional characters if we’d give them a chance! Okay, rant over. Moving on…).

The author also did a great job of setting up the characters and the plot. Everything was tied together nicely by the end and came full circle. The ending was a bit abrupt, but I would still like to read the next book of the trilogy.

The writing itself was really polished and tight. I don’t think an editor would be able to do much more to make it clean and impeccable.

A couple of things I didn’t love:

It seemed to me that almost everyone they ran into in New York City – in the middle of the night – were the same age as them (15-16). I’m not saying teens aren’t out late at night getting into trouble, but really? Every character they happen to meet on the streets is their same age? I get that this is YA, but not everyone they would meet would be 15 years old. What’s wrong with making a random character 18 or 19 every once in a while?

The author does put a love triangle in the story. I really am sick of reading about them, but it wasn’t enough to detract from the story, and (as I said above) I still want to finish the rest of the trilogy.

I also think it’s odd that so many teenagers were able to do whatever they wanted with no parental supervision. The main character is covered because her mother is missing and her dad died a long time ago. However, her friend who apparently comes from a normal family with a decent mother, is out at all hours of the night and sometimes did not go home for days at a time. It just seemed odd to me that his mother wasn’t worried about him or something. Even if the author had the friend call home to check in, I could have swallowed that more easily than him acting like he’s already in college.

Out of five stars, I give it three and a half. I think I may even like the next book better. I’ll let you know after I’ve finished reading it.

 

1: Would you rather listen to the Beatles or Green Day?
Green Day Monday through Friday, the Beatles on Saturday, and then my favorite hymn, Nearer My God to Thee, on the Sabbath. I try to live the words of the Hymn most days, but that’s not what you asked. It’s a tough thing choosing something over John, Paul, Ringo, and George, but Green Day freaking rocks! I have to be in a mellow mood to enjoy the Beatles. By comparison Billie Joe Armstrong and Green Day’s music is so vibrant and alive I usually hit replay to hear it again.
2: How long did it take you to write your book?
I wrote the first draft in a little over two months. Active verbs were an endangered species, and telly language was as pervasive as weeds in an untended garden. I joined a critique group through the League of Utah Writers, and with their help started cleaning up my beginner mistakes. Over the next three years, I rewrote The Samaritan’s Pistol eight times. While every word and sentence was changed, the story remained ninety percent the same. As writers say: it is “shown” better.

3: Who is your favorite character in your book and why?
There’s an elderly ranch hand named Brody that I patterned after a dairy farmer I worked for as a teenager named Oscar. Oscar died a few years ago, and he never would have done what Brody does in the book. But the persona is the same. Brody is a tough, no nonsense guy who has a moral code all his own. By comparison the protagonist is a choir boy. Without giving too much away, there’s a scene with some bear traps in the book that most people have enjoyed.
4: Do you prefer salty or sweet snacks?
I have a sweet tooth for everything but raisins.
5: What authors do you look up to and why?
I’m drawn to authors who can say much in few words. Brevity and lean will keep me reading longer than flowery prose. As a reader, I want the author to let me in, allow me fill in some details. Here’s the list: Steinbeck, Hemingway, Cormac McCarthy, Andrew Smith, Elmore Leonard, Stephen King, and Mark Twain. I’m amazed by Utah’s Lehua Parker who has only one published book. She let me read her second manuscript, which she wrote during a Diet Coke fueled, two week insomnia binge. I struggled to find any errors from pacing to sentence structure.
6: Which author do you think you write like the most?
I’d never claim to be close to any on my list, but I’m grateful to each of them for their influence. If I could choose who I’d like to eventually be compared to it would be Elmore Leonard. His wit, sarcasm and lean writing is as good as any.
7: What’s your favorite food?
My wife’s Lasagna. My willpower fades when Janilee makes it. I crave the leftovers, because it just gets better for a few days.
8: What’s your favorite movie?
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. It’s laborious and long, and I love every second. I even have the extended version they released a few years ago when they found additional footage. Clint Eastwood and Eli Wallach came back to do the audio. Their voices have aged, which all adds to my enjoyment. Like Janilee’s Lasagna, the movie gets better with time.
9: If your book was turned into a movie, who would you cast for the main characters?
While writing, I was hooked on the television series Lost, so Josh Holloway was who I pictured as the protagonist. My favorite character, the elderly ranch hand Brody, was Clint Eastwood, but I’d love to see Kris Kristofferson in the role.
10: Describe your book in one sentence.
A wilderness guide shoots three to save one, and his life is forever changed.
11: What kind of interaction do you hope to see from your fans?
I like people. I like to entertain. I hope they like the things I write enough to buy them.
12: Would you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert?
I’m a huge extrovert. Each day I wake and do my best to listen more and talk less. Mostly I fail, but at least I make the attempt.
13: If you could meet anyone in the world, alive or dead, who would it be and why?
Clint Eastwood. Nobody does the gray areas better. I love how the characters in his movies, especially over the last twenty years, aren’t totally good or bad. Unforgiven was a masterpiece. Clint’s character stayed true to his dead wife’s memory but had no problem killing once he got liquored up. In contrast, Morgan Freeman’s character would cheat on his wife at every opportunity, but probably wouldn’t swat a mosquito. I love movies or books that examine nuances in morals. When the audience has to ask “who’s on first?” like the Laurel and Hardy skit, when puzzling over the villain, victim, and hero the movie maker or author has done their job!

ERIC BISHOP is known to to his friends and family as an “author
version of Clint Eastwood.” As the owner of a successful marketing firm,
Bishop spends most of his time on his Utah ranch writing with the music
of his adolescence bouncing off the walls. When he’s not writing, Bishop
enjoys spending time with his wife and four lovely daughters at his
home in Nibley, Utah. Unlike Jim, Bishop hasn’t had any run-ins with the
Mafia. Yet. Find him on Facebook, or Twitter. His book is available on Barnes&Noble and Amazon.

Okay, I have another rant for ya’ll.

Have you noticed that friends and family around you can be incredibly supportive at times? For instance, I don’t drink alcoholic beverages. When I inform people of my decision, they don’t really get it, but totally respect me for it. There have been times when I’ll go to a party and someone will offer me a beer or something, and someone else will pipe up for me: “Don’t give her that crap! She doesn’t drink, man!” It’s great to be around people who love and respect me for who I am and I really feel like I get a lot of support.

However, I’ve noticed a complete opposite reaction when I tell people that I’m dieting. They all understand why I’m doing it. Just about anyone can relate to having goals to lose weight and get healthier, right? But then the problem occurs when they try to tempt me anyway.

“Just one brownie. You need to indulge every once in a while.”

“One cookie won’t hurt.”

“But these are SO good! You have to try a little.”

Seriously? Maybe it’s just me, but I have to abstain completely when I’m dieting. I actually believe that I’m addicted to unhealthy food. Because if I have that one little portion everyone is trying to convince me to have, it’s like falling off the wagon. And it’s not just for that one time, either. Oh, no! I become this ravenous, compulsive eater for two to five days before I’m so disgusted with myself for yo-yoing my weight (yet again!) that I bring myself under control and get back into the game of dieting.

And even if I try to explain this to others, they still do whatever they can to try and tempt me. I’ve had people bake goodies, put them on a plate, and drop them off at my house. And of course, my kids are so excited to get them that I have to accept them. Sometimes I’m able to hold out and don’t eat any, but other times I break.

So I ask you, what is up with this? Because it’s sugar that I’m trying to stay away from, my friends have suddenly created this sadistic game of “Let’s See How we can Tempt Adrienne”? Because it really is mean, even though it appears that they’re being oh-so very nice by baking me goodies. If I wanted cookies that bad, I can make them for myself! (Seriously, I’m very talented in the baking department.)

The interesting part is that I don’t think they realize how difficult they’re making it for me. They see it as something fun and lighthearted.

And, I am not seriously bothered by the behavior, myself. I can laugh along with this whole scenario and roll my eyes at my friends. But I really think I would have lost a good twenty pounds by now if it wasn’t for people trying to steer me off the path of healthiness.

What experiences have other dieters out there had? Do your friends and family try to bring healthy dishes at a get together just for you, or do they see if they can bring you to the dark side once again? Why do you think people do that anyway?