Retro Reviews & More

Tombstone  vs.   Wyatt Earp : A Comparison of Actors For the third and final time: Two movies were released six months apart during the western boom of the 1990s about the real-life and legendary Wyatt Earp. The makers of the first to be released,  Tombstone , focus their story on the events leading up to the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and the aftermath. Wyatt Earp , on the other hand , tells a more complete story, still centered around that historic event, but provides much more detail before he ever arrived in the Arizona mining town. Undeniably,  Tombstone  is a tighter and also more factually accurate film (for some elaboration on this, please see its entry in each  SEVENSES: Westerns  and  SEVENSES: Biopics ). Aside from the larger span of its figure's life,  Wyatt Earp is yet a very good film on its own merit, much of which is due to its ensemble cast, also a part of what makes Tombstone so engaging. That is the concluded subject ...

Tombstone  vs.   Wyatt Earp : A Comparison of Actors Similar to how this three-part article was introduced last week, two movies were released a mere six months apart in the mid-1990s about the same real-life figure, Wyatt Earp. The makers of  Tombstone , released Christmas Day 1993, chose to focus the story around the events occurring in and around the now historic mining camp turned town. The creators of  Wyatt Earp , released during the summer of 1994, made a film about most of his life, including things of importance personally and professionally, building up to the so-called Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. While  Tombstone  is the better film with an entry in both  SEVENSES: Westerns  and  SEVENSES: Biopics , Wyatt Earp  is underrated, likely due to the shadow cast by Tombstone . Both films contain an ensemble cast, and that is the continued subject here. The goal is not to negatively criticize but merely to state what the actors bring...

Tombstone vs. Wyatt Earp : A Comparison of Actors Two movies were released a mere six months apart in the 1990s about the same real-life figure, a figure many legends grew up around, then and since. That figure is none other than Wyatt Earp, mostly famous for being a lawman. The makers of Tombstone , the first, chose to focus the story on Earp's time in and around the titular historic mining camp turned town. The creators of  Wyatt Earp made a film encompassing a larger span of his life, centered around the crucial events in Tombstone but included other things of importance such as the marriage to his first wife, Urilla, her untimely passing, and his time in Wichita and Dodge City, Kansas. While Tombstone is the superior film (it has an entry in both  SEVENSES: Westerns and SEVENSES: Biopics ), that is not to say that Wyatt Earp has nothing to offer. Both are well cast with an ensemble of players, and that is the subject today. The goal is not to negatively criticize but mere...

Welcome to the fourth and final post in a series on film music. It began with Famous Instrumental Themes of John Williams , proceeded to Famous Instrumental Themes (Various) , and last time, Famous Soundtrack Songs . Like Famous Movie & TV Cars  before them, there is no theory, no review, and no trivia (or maybe a little). Famous Soundtrack Songs (Repurposed) Continuing on the other side of movie music, there is also another side of soundtrack songs. Sometimes a song already exists that fits a scene well. Sometimes it carries its own connotations. Sometimes it's to subvert expectations. That is today's subject, songs that already existed and were repurposed for use in a film. It is important to define parameters for what I mean by repurposed, as it might be supposed that I inadvertently included " As Time Goes By " in Famous Soundtrack Songs . To be repurposed for this objective, the song must have been significant in previous release. Significance can be due to e...

This is the third in a four-part series of posts on the music featured in films. It will be much like Famous Vehicles from Film and Television , in that it is not theory, not review, and not trivia. The past two have been instrumental themes, first on those by John Williams and then by various composers . Famous Soundtrack Songs The other side of film music from instrumental scores are the soundtrack albums that contain songs typically meant to be radio-friendly, typically by multiple artists, typically in genres and styles contemporary to the film's release. For clarity, this post is devoted to songs written specifically for a film (and not a musical). They are like a cool uncle who breezes into town, disrupts life for a bit in a good way before breezing right back out. In this metaphor, the film score is the steady parent, always there when needed, and probably not fully appreciated until one matures. That is not to say the cool uncle cannot mature, too, and also be appreciated ...

This will both be a similar post to Famous Movie & TV Cars and continuation of a four-part series that began with Famous Instrumental Themes of John Williams . It is simply commentary, with no theory, no review, and little to no trivia. Famous Instrumental Themes (Various) As I began to formulate the idea for this series, I quickly realized John Williams would require his own post because of his contributions to the film industry. Full disclosure, besides the obvious fact that he deserved it, I discussed Williams' themes first because I wanted to avoid any question of "What about Jaws ?" or "What about Star Wars ?" These and others a re so iconic, after all. Touching on what I discussed about movie scores last week, music directs the audience how to feel, what to expect, etc.  While some may not notice a soundtrack note by note, almost everyone will notice the absence of one. A notable example is  Cloverfield . Being a "found footage" film, a full...

This will be a similar post like Famous Vehicles from Film and Television . It is also the first in a series of four. Again, no theory, no review, not even trivia (well, maybe a little). Simply commentary, and I lean towards calling it celebration. Famous Instrumental Themes of John Williams Perhaps not everyone who watches a lot of screen media notices all the "little" things. The more I watch, the more I take it all in. The music of a film can instantly direct how the audience is supposed to feel. If you watch anything with captions for very long you will see phrases like "foreboding music" or "soothing music".  Particularly when thinking of scores consisting of classical music, one name comes to mind first: John Williams. Besides those discussed here, he composed for more serious fare such as Schindler's List , and a surprising turn or two including  Home Alone , Willliams has been as, *ahem*, instrumental in many a film's success as more promin...