“Watching old movies is like spending an evening with those people next door. They bore us, and we wouldn't go out of our way to see them; we drop in on them because they're so close. If it took some effort to see old movies, we might try to find out which were the good ones, and if people saw only the good ones maybe they would still respect old movies. As it is, people sit and watch movies that audiences walked out on thirty years ago. Like Lot's wife, we are tempted to take another look, attracted not by evil but by something that seems much more shameful -- our own innocence.”
-Pauline Kael

"How far are you going?"
"About thirty years."
-Back to the Future teaser trailer

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Intermezzo: Chariots of Fire


 While I disagree with the Academy's choice of rewarding Vangelis with the Best Score Oscar of 1981, I can't deny the haunting, almost hypnotic effect of the movie's opening theme. Unfortunately what starts off as a promising theme degrades into a series of badly synthesized musical cues through out the movie. Admittedly my ear prefers the more acoustical presentation of music, but this electronic cacophony felt completely out of place in this film. Vangelis would, of course, redeem himself with his much better score for Blade Runner.

Still the opening theme accompanied with the opening credits of the film gave promise to what could have been but unfortunately wasn't.

Also of interest, keep a look out for Vangelis' full name in the credits and discover why he shortened his name to just his first name.
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1 comment:

  1. Alan HomOctober 26, 2011 at 12:20 PM

    Vangelis's score for Blade Runner fit perfectly: it sounded both dystopian and dreamy.

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