Danny Elfman Scoring ‘Terminator Salvation’
Jan 9, 2009 by Ross MillerChalk up another question about Terminator Salvation as answered, as Danny Elfman has revealed he will be composing the score for the much anticipated blockbuster …
Chalk up another question about Terminator Salvation as answered, as Danny Elfman has revealed he will be composing the score for the much anticipated blockbuster sequel/reboot. Speaking at the red carpet of the People’s Choice Awards, Elfman said that he’s “just started” on it, which is fine since it’s still 5 months away from its release.
An interesting item of note Elfman revealed is that Brad Fiedel’s original score for Terminator 2: Judgement Day, with that iconic sound hook (the one that was used to great effect in the first teaser trailer), is up in the air whether or not it will be used within the actual film:
I think if it comes up and it seems appropriate, we will [use it]. And if it doesn’t, we [won't]. I never really know what to expect when I begin other than I just kind of get into and have fun. Especially a movie like “T4″ – just have fun. So that’s what I intend to do.
I’m kind of torn on this one – on the one hand I like Elfman as a composer, always have (even if he’s not as good as he used to be). But on the other hand his usual style, the one that he’s identified with, doesn’t really suit what I think Terminator Salvation should be. He works with Tim Burton a lot, on such films as Batman, Batman Returns, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Big Fish, on and on, and his music, although somewhat dark, always has this fluttery, almost magical sound to it – a sound I, again, don’t see fitting right with what this new Terminator film should be.
Comic-book fans should note Elfman did the score for all three Spider-Man movies and although certainly not outright bad, I still don’t think he did the absolute best job with it either. It wasn’t memorable, in fact I strain to even recall it, and that’s something a score should never be.
Looking at his body of work it seems he really only does great things when working with Burton.
The score needs to embody what’s happening on-screen, it needs to accompany it and yet build upon it at the same time. And for Terminator Salvation the score then needs to be loud, powerful and one which leaves it’s mark (although ideally not taking precedent over what’s happening on-screen). Someone like Howard Shore (who did all the music for Lord of the Rings, and also did Se7en, The Fly and Scanners, amongst others) would be a better fit. His style is frequently very dark, grungy, and brooding – well suited for this new Terminator instalment.
So is Danny Elfman the right pick to compose the score for the film – or do you think someone else would’ve been a better choice?
Terminator Salvation hits theatres on May 22nd this year.
Source: MTV
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he scored and sang in nightmare B4 X-mas.
it should be a good score.
but im still i little scared that McGee is doing a terminator film.
i hope its good
Hey Ross, what about James Horner.
Yah, I am not sure about Elfman. I like his other work too, but it isn’t “mechanical” enough for Terminator I think…
*sigh*
Not using the classic original theme in this movie would be like making a new Star Wars flick without using the title music we all know and love.
…
Oh right. The Clone Wars.
Let’s hope he goes off in a new direction, similar to how Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard did with Batman. Something that hardly even resembles a score, but more so a brooding background thumping… not to forget the Duh-DUH-duh-Da-DUM! classic terminator sound as used so amazingly in the trailer.
I didn’t really like what he did with the Wanted soundtrack, I loved the build up he kept using, but the main violin music was almost like he just took the old batman music.
As far as I’m concerned he’s usually the best when it comes to him touching franchises. No one has been able to touch his Batman score yet.
Michael Giacchino is the one I would have gone after.
When Elfman’s on form he’s brilliant – when he isn’t his music stands out like a camel on an ice floe. I found his soundtrack for Hellboy 2 jarring, inappropriate and inescapable. Totally took me out of the picture. A friend of mine was an animator on The Corpse Bride and said that the minute the initial mixes of the songs came in, everyone there was shocked by how poor they were. Like someone doing an Elfman parody. It’s not that I don’t think he could handle T4, just that there are more suitable composers, and if he gets it wrong he’s gonna get it REALLY wrong.
Howard Shore is a great call. On LOTR he showed he can do ‘epic’, and his work on all the Cronenberg films plus Silence Of The Lambs and Seven has an almost subliminal quality: a kind of sick pulse that anchors a sense of unease and dread. Not unlike those parts of the T2 soundtrack whenever Robert Patrick shows up.
How about David Julyan? He did the scores for all Christopher Nolan’s non-Batman films plus The Descent. Good ‘n’ broody.
Why not just bring back T2′s composer? We all generally agree that he handled the Terminator theme pretty well…
I heard he got disillusioned with the whole movie business and stopped composing for films or TV, Ken. He certainly hasn’t done anything since the mid-’90s as far as I know.
I’m with The Big Dentist..
Howard Shore rules the roost.
Gotta say though, Elfman IS a musical genius. How many on this blog bat a 1000 every time?…Anybody?
This is obviously a new and different direction than anything he’s done before..He might surprise us all.
Personally, I thought he did a bang up job on the spidey movies. In fact, I think the ONLY good thing about Spidey3 WAS the music.
Elfman didnt score Spiderman 3, JessSayin.
I think it was christopher beck?
I AM worried about Elfman taking the musical reigns. When his music is good, it’s iconic.
But lets face it. He’s churned out an ENORMOUS amount of generic, dud scores.
If he throws Brad Fiedels theme in (not the duh duh, duh duh bit – im referring to the ‘hope of the future’ theme featured on the T2 opening and end credits) i’ll be happy enough!
*Correction it was Christopher Young