Thursday, January 17, 2008
Why Darth Decimatus?
I know for anyone who has visited my blog, you are most likely wondering why the hell my blog is entitled Darth Decimatus. To answer your question. Yes, I am a loser... But there actually is a story behind it. When I was growing up, like many young nerds I was a huge Star Wars fan. I collected all of the toys and loved the story. However, as I got older, I began to see how poorly done the new films were. They lacked depth and production quality was low. Well because I was still a kid with a wild imagination, I began to think of what my take on Star Wars would be. I started designing a Sith Lord. With Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith coming out, my friends and myself were planning on going to the premier. When they had seen my design, many also requested that I design them one as well. Each one was named and looked totally different than the last. This provided more fuel for my nerdy fire. I kept working on my own story. My result was a story centered around a dark lord named Darth Decimatus. I began to develop his character and create a story around him. I drew dozens of designs for starships and other characters. It became a whole production. Each ship in he story has been designed and each character developed and designed. The result is a deep story of betrayal and darkness. After my creation was complete, obviously I couldn't really do anything with it. However, Darth Decimatus ended up becoming a sort of alias for me. It became my aim screenname and email address for example (yes I am still a huge loser...)Years later, even though my liking of Star Wars has significantly diminished, I still use the character's name from time to time. I guess even when you have outgrown something, you never can outgrow your imagination and never stop loving some of the products of it. For as much as I criticize George Lucas for creating the prequel trilogy (mostly because the films were bad...) I can see why he did it. It is really cool to see a product of your imagination come to life.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Ten Great Score Composers
I started to think recently about how much a good score affects the movie. (You can see on the right side of of this page a list of some of my personal favorite scores and the composers that made them.) Too often people, including even the best directors, forget how much a great score can impact their film. When establishing a scene, a score sets the mood. For example, slow strings bring emotion (like Zimmer's Last Samurai score), heavy drum beats bring war (like Silvestri's Beowulf score), and a chorus adds intensity (like James Dooley's Trinity or Prophecy). A movie truly loses a lot of depth without the right music. So with this said, here is the list of my favorite composers.
1. Hans Zimmer (Gladiator, King Arthur, Pirates of the Caribbean, Batman Begins, Pearl Harbor...) Zimmer is a truly gifted composer. He is extremely diverse in what movies he scores. He has done everything from Pirates of the Carribean to The Simpson's Movie. Each score includes something fresh and innovative. He is especially not afraid to try new approaches to score production. Zimmer often works with Jerry Bruckheimer
2. Danny Elfman (Batman, Spider-Man, Sleepy Hollow, Good Will Hunting, Men in Black...)
Danny Elfman is a classic composer, and much like Zimmer he is very diverse in the films that he scores for. Also like Zimmer he comes from a rock and roll background ans had little prior knowledge before scoring films. His music is very original and often uses grand themes. Sometimes these themes can push the limits of overuse however they always seem to still work well. Elfman often works with Tim Burton
3. Harry-Gregson-Williams (Narnia, Kingdom of Heaven, Team America...)
Harry Gregson-Williams has seemed to grow in popularity the last few years. He is an excellent composer that gets some of his music experience from working with Remote Control Productions alongside Hans Zimmer. His style is very epic and often reflects the cultures present in the film. He creates some excellent scores
4. Klaus Badelt (K-19 Widow Maker, Pirates of the Caribbean 1 (COTBP), Equilibrium...)
Few composers are diverse as Klaus Badelt. Like Gregson-Williams, he also worked with Remote Control Productions. His first really recognized film was Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in which he worked with Hans Zimmer and team of other composers to create a score in little time. His music always seems to fit the scene, no matter how simple the piece or scene may be.
5. John Williams (Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Minority Report, Home Alone, Empire of the Sun...) Perhaps, one of the most recognized composers among the general public, John Williams is very gifted. As a modern traditional composer there are few who compare. However sometimes Williams music is very traditional and doesn't quite have the necessary feel to it. It often needs to be darker for example. But this is his style and traditional orchestra fans love Williams like no other.
6. John Barry (James Bond, Dances with Wolves...)
John Barry is an innovator. He has been doing scores for generations. His work is present in many films from the 60's on and he has won several academy awards.
7. James Dooley (When a Stranger Calls, Spider-Man 3 trailer, Golden Compass trailer)
My personal favorite composer, Dooley is still up and coming in the movie score industry. The reason I rank him at 7 is that very reason. However, at the rate he is going it is only a matter of time before he is well renowned. Especially after his work with Hans Zimmer on several big budget films.
8. Alan Silvestri (Forrest Gump, Beowulf, Back to the Future, Polar Express)
Alan Silvestri is a very popular composer. He has delivered several big movie scores. He often works with Robert Zemeckis on his films.
9. Steve Jablonsky (Transformers, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Island)
Jablonsky is relatively unknown, but Transformers really helped to put him into the spotlight some more. His score for the film was really well done and helped to truly capture the feel of the movie. It made a film of a questionably serious nature much more serious.
10. John Powell (X-Men 3 (TLS), The Bourne Trilogy, The Italian Job ,United 93...)
John Powell has really come to the spotlight in the last decade. His scoring is often subtle like in (The Bourne Identity) or can be over the top (like in X-Men 3). One of the most fascinating things about Powell is a lack of consistent style from film to film. This is perhaps what makes him effective. He can really give a new approach to a new film.
1. Hans Zimmer (Gladiator, King Arthur, Pirates of the Caribbean, Batman Begins, Pearl Harbor...) Zimmer is a truly gifted composer. He is extremely diverse in what movies he scores. He has done everything from Pirates of the Carribean to The Simpson's Movie. Each score includes something fresh and innovative. He is especially not afraid to try new approaches to score production. Zimmer often works with Jerry Bruckheimer
2. Danny Elfman (Batman, Spider-Man, Sleepy Hollow, Good Will Hunting, Men in Black...)
Danny Elfman is a classic composer, and much like Zimmer he is very diverse in the films that he scores for. Also like Zimmer he comes from a rock and roll background ans had little prior knowledge before scoring films. His music is very original and often uses grand themes. Sometimes these themes can push the limits of overuse however they always seem to still work well. Elfman often works with Tim Burton
3. Harry-Gregson-Williams (Narnia, Kingdom of Heaven, Team America...)
Harry Gregson-Williams has seemed to grow in popularity the last few years. He is an excellent composer that gets some of his music experience from working with Remote Control Productions alongside Hans Zimmer. His style is very epic and often reflects the cultures present in the film. He creates some excellent scores
4. Klaus Badelt (K-19 Widow Maker, Pirates of the Caribbean 1 (COTBP), Equilibrium...)
Few composers are diverse as Klaus Badelt. Like Gregson-Williams, he also worked with Remote Control Productions. His first really recognized film was Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in which he worked with Hans Zimmer and team of other composers to create a score in little time. His music always seems to fit the scene, no matter how simple the piece or scene may be.
5. John Williams (Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Minority Report, Home Alone, Empire of the Sun...) Perhaps, one of the most recognized composers among the general public, John Williams is very gifted. As a modern traditional composer there are few who compare. However sometimes Williams music is very traditional and doesn't quite have the necessary feel to it. It often needs to be darker for example. But this is his style and traditional orchestra fans love Williams like no other.
6. John Barry (James Bond, Dances with Wolves...)
John Barry is an innovator. He has been doing scores for generations. His work is present in many films from the 60's on and he has won several academy awards.
7. James Dooley (When a Stranger Calls, Spider-Man 3 trailer, Golden Compass trailer)
My personal favorite composer, Dooley is still up and coming in the movie score industry. The reason I rank him at 7 is that very reason. However, at the rate he is going it is only a matter of time before he is well renowned. Especially after his work with Hans Zimmer on several big budget films.
8. Alan Silvestri (Forrest Gump, Beowulf, Back to the Future, Polar Express)
Alan Silvestri is a very popular composer. He has delivered several big movie scores. He often works with Robert Zemeckis on his films.
9. Steve Jablonsky (Transformers, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Island)
Jablonsky is relatively unknown, but Transformers really helped to put him into the spotlight some more. His score for the film was really well done and helped to truly capture the feel of the movie. It made a film of a questionably serious nature much more serious.
10. John Powell (X-Men 3 (TLS), The Bourne Trilogy, The Italian Job ,United 93...)
John Powell has really come to the spotlight in the last decade. His scoring is often subtle like in (The Bourne Identity) or can be over the top (like in X-Men 3). One of the most fascinating things about Powell is a lack of consistent style from film to film. This is perhaps what makes him effective. He can really give a new approach to a new film.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Why Are Summer Blockbusters So Hyped Over?
Every summer brings the release of the summer blockbusters. This year we seen several movies with big hype. Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End, Spider-Man 3, and Transformers were three that had excessive hype and were warmly received that the box office. Personally, I did not think any of the films stood out as being spectacular. Spider-Man 3 was cheesy and over the top. Especially with the dance scenes. I think Director Sam Raimi was trying for "Spider-Man the Musical". It was poorly done overall. The movie did have some redeeming moments but really failed to deliver based on the hype surrounding it. Transformers was not much better. It was another movie that had considerable hype surrounding it. However, I honestly don't think anyone actually expected Transformers to be revolutionary. Overall, it was not a terrible movie. However, the Sector 7 part could have totally been left out as it really lowered the quality of the film. It certainly had some very cleaver writing at spots and intense special effects. However, like all showy summer blockbusters, it uses its special effects to carry it. Pirates 3 was probably the best out of the bunch with regard to overall quality. However, it was certainly a let down in many ways. Primarily because its was poorly marketed. I think most people went in expecting a lot out of the Pirate Lords. When, in actuality they just kinda sat and watched everything happen.
It seems like Summer Blockbusters are just a chance for production companies to display awesome special effects. However, sometimes a great plot and creative story along with these special effects wouldn't hurt. I would argue that movies like all great art are composed of a formula. When you take excellent writing, excellent acting, excellent editing, excellent directing, and excellent special effects and combine them together in one film you will get an excellent movie. It seems logical. However, with blockbusters, it seems like at least one of the prior mentioned categories is lost. Unfortunately it is usually writing, editing or both. I personally think with a little more effort, these blockbusters could be much better films.
~Decimatus
It seems like Summer Blockbusters are just a chance for production companies to display awesome special effects. However, sometimes a great plot and creative story along with these special effects wouldn't hurt. I would argue that movies like all great art are composed of a formula. When you take excellent writing, excellent acting, excellent editing, excellent directing, and excellent special effects and combine them together in one film you will get an excellent movie. It seems logical. However, with blockbusters, it seems like at least one of the prior mentioned categories is lost. Unfortunately it is usually writing, editing or both. I personally think with a little more effort, these blockbusters could be much better films.
~Decimatus
The Dark Knight
On July 18th "The Dark Knight" will hit theaters and IMAX. The film features Christian Bale as Batman once again and Heath Ledger in his first ever villain role as the Joker. The film is already receiving accolades before its release. Christopher Nolan, the director of the new film, was hired on to do Batman Begins as a franchise reboot after Director Joel Schumacher nearly destroyed the franchise with the campy Batman and Robin film. Nolan's approach to Batman takes a much more realistic approach than previously seen before. This new film will be no different. Don't expect to the see the wild and laughing Jack Nicholson Joker. This Joker is going to be much different. Nolan's realistic approach and seeming fascination with psychological thrillers (look at his film Memento) makes this Joker much darker than ever before. Ledger will be playing a mysterious knife wielding mass murderer which takes pleasure from his victims and wears a smile as his actual identity. Two scars on his face poorly applied paint make up this Joker's appearance. The Joker is truly psychotic in this film. It will be interesting to see the conflicts that emerge as this new installment hits theaters this summer.
~Decimatus
~Decimatus
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