Let me just say that honestly it doesn't take alot for me to dislike a score. IF that were merely the case I would NOT have posted anything here about it. I simply disliked the score because I thought it was distracting throughout. At times that needed an orchestra we were given riffs with guitars and drum beats.

IMO it should have just been rejected or used better alternate cues if they existed.

Now Mission to Mars's score I remember was distracting to me as well. I know people who dont pay attention to scores and told me that MtoM's music was odd and seemed out of place. I kinda liked it. I know I liked it better than Red Planet's music.

My ratings for both the films and the scores...

Mission to Mars film - 3 out of 10
Mission to Mars score - 7 out of 10

--Kyp
Writer/Editor

NP: The Grinch! Suite (****)
HORNER RULES, I LOVE HIS MUSIC

I thought Red Planet was a good old fashioned, thought-provoking sci-fi film at its heart.

Mission to Mars was just plain bad, and it's attempts at depth and philosophical profundity are lame.

Red Planet asked a few questions about faith and God, and spoke to the human need to learn and grow. Boy, I thought the landscapes were also stunning.

not that it was much more profound than M2M, but that's what I took from it.

From the first notes Revell's music was completely distracting. It was yelling "LISTEN TO ME, LISTEN TO ME, I'M THE SCORE, PAY ATTENTION, DON'T WATCH THE MOVIE".

I thing that there was more than 80 minutes of score but that were just about 10 or so that really fit the movie. The rest was completely out of place.

As for the score apart from the movie, I would not buy it even if there was a full score release at a really low price. It was not worth it and it was Revell at his lowest point in years.

I was really looking forward to this movie and Revell's work. But I have to say that sadly I was slightly disappointed with the movie, but very disappointed with the score.

There were only a few moments during Mission to Mars where I was distracted by Morricone, and it was mainly towards the end, and mostly because the sound was too loud in the theatre.

I'm not sure which movie was better, I think they were just about equal, but Mission to Mars is without a doubt the better music.

strange but true.

And although Revell's score was either understated or over the top...I must say that its better than "organs in space."

Morricone far outshines Revell..but his style is not suited for a sci-fi picture, albeit one that is human and emotionally grounded.

I thought the movie was mediocre, overall. Interesting photography and premise,
but it lacked authentic suspense. While M2M was flawed, I at least
cared for the characters. I didn’t attach myself to anyone except the savvy, cool
lady captain in Red Planet. Morricone’s score is one I listen to often. It didn’t
fit in a few places, but overall, it was effective and one of the year’s best IMO.

(Look at me, I'm crying like a Star Wars fan thinking about the Sony release. )

quote:

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THERE'S NO COMPARISON. MORRICONE IS AN ARTIST, REVELL HAS TURNED INTO A MIDI DRONE! - SPQR

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I couldn't agree more.

Mission to Mars is a better listen on CD...but that should always be secondary to how it functions in the film.

Only a true artist like Morricone is able to skip the obvious cliché suspense music that less skilled composers would have used on that scene.

I also love the sarcastic way Morricone scored the scene where the astronauts raise the USA flag from the ground...

MISSION TO MARS
Movie: ***
Score: *****

The music was so incredible effective and touching. In fact it just carried the movie on its back.

Without Morricone's outstanding score, M2M would be just another laughable space opera filled with banal and cliché dialogues and cheesy resolutions...

By the way, yes, where is Pitch Black???????!!!!!!!

BTW, Graeme Revell's name is all around, but never heard any of his scores that could deserve any attention, except maybe THE SAINT. It is always the usual drone drum machine marchs (cloned from Zimmer and cia) mixed with some out of place ethnic instruments and voice...

I saw PITCH BLACK a few months ago. A bizarre and somehow inventive B-movie, with some memorable scenes and plot twists.
But the score didn't help the movie in any way.
In fact, it detracts the movie, particulary the ridiculous "heroic theme" which Ravell insisted in attaching to the main character of the movie - a vicious criminal!

Thumbs down to this guy.

quote:

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Originally posted by DjC:
and come on people, just because someone is an artist, everything they do is amazing and original?

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In one word: yes!

But what else is news...

N.P.: MISSION TO MARS (Ennio, the artist) *****

Also, maybe the score by itself is okay, but with the film it failed, horribly,in a burning heap, hence why it is one of the worst scores in years...

If M2M had a different score, perhaps it could have been a decent try at a film, but I say the score made the film that much more cheasy, lame, and annoying...taste, is a different thing for everyone, but I tend towards scores that WORKED in a film.

quote:

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Originally posted by DjC:
Also, maybe the score by itself is okay, but with the film it failed, horribly,in a burning heap, hence why it is one of the worst scores in years...

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You know DJc, you forgot to add IN MY (NOT SO) HUMBLE OPINION at the end of your last angry message.

BTW, I don't have 300,000 bucks to spend on that canvas, but if I had I would surely do!

By the way, MOST of the people's opinions about Mission to Mars do not matter to me. But a lot of people's opinions seem to matter to you, because it looks like one of the main reasons you are leaving this board.

Well, remember we all were teenagers one day...

I have a question for the folks out there...the finale of Red Planet (featuring the planet escape and rescue) features one of the most powerful cues of music I have heard......of course its not on the wretched score/song release. Is it available anywhere and did Revell write it.

While my opinion on the overall scores of these films has changed over the years (I have found some things to like it MtM)...Red Planet stands out as a much more enjoyable film to watch.