How important is the soundtrack??

So, It's Friday night. You and your "hot date" are going to the movies!
You're going to see the new motion picture by "so and so" based of the CLASSIC series by "that one guy." You've read the books a million times! You cannot wait to see how well the script follows the original plot. You hope they portray your favorite romance scene perfectly, and if they mess up the duel between "Attractive protagonist" and "Attractive antagonist" you'll get up and walk out! You're worried about the acting skills, the scenes, the staging, the timing etc etc. Right? we've all been there....but chances are there is one thing that hasn't crossed your anxious thoughts. The SOUNDTRACK. It's that part of the movie that many people don't even recognize. Is it even important?? Perhaps we could take out the soundtrack and save money on orchestras and recordings.

Ok, So lets put Williams back into the picture...and agree that movie soundtracks are important.

Music brings life to movies. It adds action, humor, romance, etc.

A very important aspect to a soundtrack, in my opinion, is a catchy motive. Something that the movie can be known by, and that people will leave the theater humming.

Often, a movie score is written specifically for a movie. For example, Pirates of the Caribbean by Hans Zimmer.  The same motive/theme is heard in different variations throughout the whole movie. It's just one big piece with different movements. Sometimes it brings humor, and sometimes it brings action....but it's really just several variations of the same motive. Pretty cool, really. This part is dramatic...but also quite humorous.

Other times, music that was written previously is inserted into a scene of a movie. The movie may often still have a general soundtrack....but also uses other works to bring the desired feeling and response. My favorite example of this is a funny scene from the Pixar motion picture 'UP'. The producers used 'Habanera' from the famous opera "Carmen" by Bizet. It is set to a scene where the main character, Carl, rides his way down the stairs. Funny stuff. 

All three of these examples have a catchy motive.

1. Star wars:


2. Pirates:


3. Up:

(Dictated examples of motives should have been inserted....but I have no idea how to do that from finale. So use your ears, I guess :))