I'm sure Beethoven would not be impressed with his music being used in mindless violent films, can't imagine Bruce Willis in the remake of Pride and Prejudice , starring as Mr. Dacry, Can't stand B.Willis. I'm sorry but American actors just don't have it for me, the dialogue is usually quite perfunctory. Aren't they sickened enough by violence after the 9/11 attacks! There is a world of difference between European and US cinema.
The "Ode to Joy" theme was used extensively in the first Die Hard movie. It hasn't appeared in any of the others, and I suspect they are using it only in the trailer.
I quite like the Die Hard movies. And "Pride and Prejudice". And the "Ode to Joy".
Various bits and pieces of B's Ninth were used in Stanley Kubrick's Clockwork Orange, but then I suppose that film is not considered as mindlessly violent, though it does treat mindless ('yahoo') violence as a central theme.
The use of classical music in films is usually pointless and chosen without any real meaning - would it matter what they played in Die Hard? An example of where it was done well is Visconti's 'Death in Venice' where the music (Mahler) is really suited and integral to the story, but Visconti was also a director of opera and knew about music.
Hmm. Begs the question of the use of music (whatever the genre) in films as a general principle. I rather take exception to the use of classical music in advertising.
Perhaps (to return to Die Hard, which I have not seen, so really I shouldn't dare make a comment until I have done so), one could (stretching it a bit) argue that the director chose to juxtapose the supposed 'civility' (= rational = civilized = human) one tends to associate with classical music with brutal mindless violence.
In any case, I am reminded of Francis Ford Coppola's superbly apt use of Wagner in his film Apocalypse Now.
Last edited by Quijote; 11-22-2012, 09:28 PM.
Reason: Biblical confusion.
Perhaps (to return to Die Hard, which I have not seen, so really I shouldn't dare make a comment until I have done so), one could (stretching it a bit) argue that the director chose to juxtapose the supposed 'civility' (= rational = civilized = human) one tends to associate with classical music with brutal mindless violence.
I think that is common in films. It's quite explicit Clockwork Orange.
I think that is common in films. It's quite explicit Clockwork Orange.
An especially violent scene in the above movie is set to the tune of "Singing in the Rain". However, the action is very stylised and unrealistic - in fact, so is the whole film, in spite of its reputation.
The really distressing part of the film (for me anyway) was the sight of Hitler's thugs goose-stepping to the alla marcia section of the finale of the Ninth Symphony. It's a mental image I do not want to retain.
Hmm. Begs the question of the use of music (whatever the genre) in films as a general principle. I rather take exception to the use of classical music in advertising.
I take exception to advertising with or without music!
Anyway, I'm still going to see Die Hard 2013. Sometimes I like to relax with mindless 'chewing gum for the eyes'.
Not chewing for the eyes, I saw extracts the other day (on YouTube) of Far From the Madding Crowd, with a great film score by Richard Rodney Bennet. Such a super, haunting 'leitmotif' melody (flute, sometimes oboe).
Anyway, I'm still going to see Die Hard 2013. Sometimes I like to relax with mindless 'chewing gum for the eyes'.
Not chewing for the eyes, I saw extracts the other day (on YouTube) of Far From the Madding Crowd, with a great film score by Richard Rodney Bennet. Such a super, haunting 'leitmotif' melody (flute, sometimes oboe).
Ah that could have been in the next teaser! Love the film and the book is pretty good to!!
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