Soundtrack

In-Context is a new series where I will deliver my thoughts on how an well original score functions within its specific context:  feature film, television program, or video game!   Our first stop is Matt Reeves' DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES with an original score by MICHAEL GIACCHINO.  You can watch this series on our Youtube channel and/or read the text version here on our blog!  Either way, let us know what you thought of the Giacchino's score as it performed in-context or what you think of this new series.

Over the last year, my expectations for Marvel's most daring comic-to-film endeavour to date, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, has been keenly on the rise.  It truly started with the news that director, James Gunn, had had composer TYLER BATES write music early enough to actually be used on stage during filming in order to hopefully enhance the actors performance that much more.  Later, the teaser trailer made it clear that this Marvel film was going to double-down on Marvel's propensity for making sure "fun" was a significant ingredient of the film's tone.  Then, just days ago, the deluxe soundtrack was released giving us both all of the songs from the Seventies and Eighties used strategically throughout the film as well as TYLER BATES' original score.  Being quite pleased with both, I went into GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY with as high of expectations as I dare to try these days.

So how does the soundtrack work in context? ....