The score for the first film is very nice, the kind of Elfman that really appeals to me, away from the big orchestra fantasy stuff. Darker drama suits him .
Plus, it's the only score I own with a track titled "A Spanking". So, hell yeah
The first film was one of the worst films of the year, but Elfman's score was OK. The highlight, though, was not an Elfman composition -- "Bliss" by Richard Harvey, I believe.
I didn't like the movie, but I thought the score, on CD, had several dynamite moments:
"Shades Of Grey" (the unused MT), "Did That Hurt?"... that super creepy last 90 seconds of "Show Me" and the awesome "Variations Of A Shade" end piece.
I, too, am way more excited about Elfman doing movies like this than movies like GOOSEBUMPS, where he's much more on familiar territory.
I'm with you guys -- the first "Shades" got a lot more play from me than something like "Goosebumps" (which I may never listen to again). And honestly, I wasn't a huge fan of that "Bliss" cue.
I liked the score but the themes proved a bit elusive. They are more like general sounds rather than themes. If there are themes I found them a bit difficult to register.
The movie -- just like the book -- was ludicrous. I mean, I know it's based on fan fiction turned erotic novel, but that is exactly how it feels: fan fiction. :-) I did enjoy it though in a perverse "I can't believe they play this straight" sort of way. The music in the film -- both score and songs -- worked very well though.
