Film School Rejects » Movie Music

Transformers 2: Linkin Park ‘New Divide’ Music Video

Neil Miller — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:15:12 +0000

Paramount and MySpace have released the full-length music video for Linkin Park’s “New Divide,” which will be featured on the soundtrack for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Linkin Park has been very instrumental (literally) in the creation of the music for Transformers 2, and you will likely recognize some of this song from the early trailers. Have a look for yourself below.

I can dig it — Linkin Park has always been solid in my book and we all know how I feel about Transformers. The song has a good beat to it and the video mixes in some clips from the film. What more could you want? I know. A chance to tell me what you think about this music video.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen hits theaters on June 24, 2009.

What do you think about the new Linkin Park video off the Transformers 2 soundtrack?

Transformers 2 Soundtrack Has Got ‘The Touch’

Neil Miller — Fri, 15 May 2009 06:13:57 +0000

Our jolly friends over at Slashfilm (and TFW2005) have uncovered something that, if left uncovered, might result in a firestorm of bad karma for our site — it is a look at the remix of Stan Bush’s cult classic song “The Touch,” which was originally featured on the soundtrack for the 1986 animated film Transformers: The Movie. It has been given a modern upgrade or two and will now be called “The Touch: Sam’s Theme” (it always has to be about Sam, doesn’t it).

You can check out the new song via the embed below, along with the original video. I’ve also included — because it is yet another thing that I missed last week — the MySpace first look at Linkin Park in the studio, working on their new song “New Divide,” which will also be featured on the soundtrack for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen hits theaters on June 24, 2009.

The new version of “The Touch”:

The old version of “The Touch”:

Linkin Park’s preview of “The Divide”:

What do you think of the new version of ‘The Touch’?

NBC, Jason Katims to Rebuild The Land of ‘Oz’

Robert Levin — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:45:31 +0000

No work of the past century has been as frequently adapted to stage and screen as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum’s iconic novel. The most obvious example, the classic film version starring Judy Garland and a trip over the rainbow was actually the sixth film based on Baum’s work, and since then everyone from Sidney Lumet to anime filmmaker Fumihiko Takayama has taken a crack at it.

Now Variety brings word that Jason Katims, the head writer and executive producer of Friday Night Lights, will be modernizing Baum’s world for NBC. He’ll executive produce Dorothy Gale with Bridget Carpenter, a Friday Night Lights writer who created the new show, and Meryl Poster.

The very familiar premise follows Dorothy from Kansas as she moves to big, bad Manhattan (the Emerald City), gets a job in the art world and copes with having a mean boss. At first read, this sounds a bit too much like The Devil Wears Prada and countless other iterations of the age old small town girl conquers the big city motif.

However, the idea of translating Baum to modern NYC has some potency, if the creative team refuses to bury the story’s strangeness beneath a bland sitcom exterior. There’s no news yet of casting decisions or a targeted air date.

‘Lesbian Vampire Killers’ Music Video Cries Blood

Neil Miller — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:13:12 +0000

The following music video, which is of the song “Crying Blood” by V.V. Brown, will be featured as part of the soundtrack for the horror comedy Lesbian Vampire Killers, one of our favorite films from this year’s Fantastic Fest at SXSW line-up. Our Rob Hunter confirmed that the film does, in fact, deliver the “holy titular trinity of sexy lesbians, blood-sucking vampires, and multiple killings.” This video adds to that a little bit of pop, some bright lights, and more shots of lesbian vampires being, well, lesbian vampires. And I personally don’t see anything wrong with that. Also, does anyone else feel a little bit of “Monster Mash” in this song’s chorus? I’m hoping it isn’t just me.

Enjoy the video below, and don’t forget to check out Lesbian Vampire Killers in theaters, if you live in the U.K.

Film Score Double Shot: Elfman for T4, No Morricone for Basterds

Dr. Cole Abaius — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:37:08 +0000

This is either one of those situations where I give you the good news first followed by the bad news, or I just load you down with a double shot of bad news. So, here goes:

Your wife’s cheating on you.

Just kidding. I’m sure you’re just imagining things. She’s probably totally faithful. The real bad news is that composing legend Ennio Morricone won’t be scoring Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds. According to The Playlist, a personal favorite of mine, Morricone is passing on the project because there won’t be enough time to do an adequate job – but mostly because he’ll be focusing on scoring for Giuseppe Tornatore’s new film, Baaria: La Porta del Vento. Apparently, Morricone doesn’t want to ruin his 41-year long streak of scoring for Tornatore’s films.

In other news, an established talent things QT’s pace is too quick. Someone had to say it.

In other other news, MTV Movies Blog is reporting that Danny Elfman will be bringing his talent to scoring Terminator: Salvation. The composer is unsure as to whether he’ll use the original Terminator Theme as of yet, but it seems like a no-brainer to include a subconscious tie to the other films in the minds of the audience.

This is either good news or bad news depending on your position on Elfman. While I’m not as sour on his work as others might be, I’m not sure he’s the right fit for Salvation. Original Terminator composer Brad Fiedel would have been great to have. Or Hans Zimmer. Or (if we’re dreamcasting) Jerry Smith (R.I.P.)would have knocked something like this out of the park.

What do you think? Is Danny Elfman a good match for Terminator: Salvation? Did anyone actually see Forbidden Zone? Did you just watch it because that cute, blonde girl is topless for most of it? Me neither. I watched it for Herve Villechaize.

Quantum of Solace Theme ‘Another Way to Die’ Music Video

Neil Miller — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:37:51 +0000

The music video for “Another Way to Die,” the theme song for the upcoming Bond movie Quantum of Solace, performed by Jack White and Alicia Keys, has hit the web today via Yahoo Music. The song, which was written and produced by Jack White, is the first duet in Bond soundtrack history. The film, Quantum of Solace, hits theaters on November 14th. Check out the music video below.

What do you think of the “Another Way to Die” music video?

‘My Name is Bruce’ Could Be Coming to Your Neighborhood

Neil Miller — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:07:32 +0000

There are very few things that I share with the countless throngs of horror aficionados out there. An unhealthy obsession with all things Bruce Campbell though, is certainly one of them. The fact that I can’t stand anything by Eli Roth and can’t sit through any of the Saw movies is one thing, but don’t mistake that with me not being a huge fan of the Evil Dead trilogy. And like many of you, I am eagerly anticipating the release of My Name is Bruce, the comedy that stars Bruce Campbell as Bruce Campbell — it is the best possible scenario.

So you can imagine the joy that overwhelmed my heart when I saw a listing over at Fangoria for the My Name is Bruce nationwide tour. Thats right, Bruce Campbell is going on tour with his film, and he’s going to screen it for eager audiences in the cities listed below. Each screening will involve a special appearance by Bruce and a post-screening Q&A. For more about the film, just scroll down to see the trailer and poster.

Oct. 26: Austin, TX (Alamo Drafthouse)

Oct. 31 – Nov. 2: New York City (Sunshine Cinema)

Nov. 5: Philadelphia, PA

Nov. 7: Boston, MA

Nov. 9: Hartford, CT

Nov. 12: New Haven, CT

Nov. 14: Baltimore, MD

Nov. 15: Washington D.C.

Nov. 19: Columbus, OH

Nov. 20: Toledo, OH

Nov. 21 – 23: Detroit, MI

Nov. 28 – 30: Chicago, IL

Dec. 3: Madison, WI

Dec. 5 – 7: Minneapolis, MN

Dec. 12: Seattle, WA

Dec. 13 – 14: Portland, OR

Dec. 15: Medford, OR

Dec. 17: San Francisco, CA

Dec. 18: Berkeley, CA

Dec. 19 – 21: Los Angeles, CA

And for those who are not familiar with My Name is Bruce, here is some more information that you might find useful, like the official plot synopsis: My Name is Bruce is the story of the residents of Gold Lick, Oregon, who decide to kidnap Evil Dead star Bruce Campbell, who surely can help them defeat the evil monster (the Chinese God of War) that is terrorizing their small town. Unfortunately, the belligerent, boozed up B-movie actor Bruce Campbell has no skills, so their shot at salvation seems to amount to nothing more than a monumentally bad idea. Yet, there may be hope for Campbell yet–if only he can find the faith in himself that the Gold Lickers have found.

And the trailer:

And the film’s newly released poster:

Sam Taylor-Wood Twists and Shouts with John Lennon

Adam Sweeney — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:43:19 +0000

Hot off the success of Love You More at the Cannes Film Festival, director Sam Taylor-Wood hopes to strike a chord in the hearts of John Lennon fans with Nowhere Boy.

Set for a March 2009 shoot in Liverpool, the story about the most controversial Beatle will “chart the influence Lennon’s aunt and mother played on the youngster’s life and recounts how tragedy strikes in the early days of his friendship with Paul McCartney,” Screendaily reports.

Personally unfamiliar with Taylor-Wood’s work, I do find it promising that the director is so passionate about the film. “I knew as I closed the final page that this was the film I had been looking to direct following Love You More,” Taylor-Wood said. “The story spoke to me on so many levels- both personal and artistic.” Funny, George Lucas said the same thing about the Howard the Duck script.

Taylor-Wood continued, saying “The women in John’s early life truly shaped who he became and the strengths and weaknesses of their relationships are central to this film.”

We’ve seen a lot of different interpretations of the Beatles story, such as the 1994 film Backbeat, but a focus on Lennon, a brilliant singer/songwriter and aloof personality, as a youth is something I would definitely be interested in seeing.

Are you interested in seeing Nowhere Boy? Who’s your favorite Beatle and what’s your favorite Beatles song?

The Dark Knight Returns in the Mind of Fans

Neil Miller — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:54:59 +0000

So far the battle lines have been drawn and the draw-bridge is up on the castle that holds all the answers for fans of The Dark Knight — no one is talking about another film. No one, including the keymaster, director Christopher Nolan has said word one about what they plan to do in the next installment, assuming of course, that a next installment comes to pass. What we do know is that many of the principal players, including Christian Bale, Gary Oldman and co-writer David S. Goyer have expressed interest, saying collectively ‘If Chris wants to do another one, we are in.’

Apparently, that is not good enough for some fans, who have been hitting the web with a vengeance, speculating on potential villains, driving casting rumors into the headlines and analyzing every press appearance by anyone who could possibly be involved in a third film. At this point though, it is all fan-driven and “inside source” filibuster. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. And in the case of the poster below, which was sent to me by our always reliable source PatientZero, it is also very creative. Have a look for yourself below.

This poster, along with many fans, makes the assumption that the villain in the next film would be The Riddler, something which would seem reasonable enough, as everyone from Gary Oldman to David Goyer have said that The Riddler would be a good choice, but nothing is certain. In fact, when we had a chance to sit down with writers David S. Goyer and Jonah Nolan back in July at The Dark Knight press junket, they were quick to point out that there are hundreds of villains in the Batman mythos, many of which could fit right into Chris Nolan’s vision of Gotham City. So at this point, while we are still confident that The Dark Knight will return, we don’t really see it starting with this poster.

Quantum of Solace Theme Song Leaks Online… Kind Of

Rob Hunter — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:34:38 +0000

The world was thrilled to learn recently that the theme song for the upcoming Bond film, Quantum of Solace, would be a collaboration between Alicia Keys and Jack White. The excitement was due in part to the quality of talent lined up for the song, but also in appreciation of the class and allure Keys will be restoring to the franchise’s troubled theme song history. The damage done by Madonna, Garbage, and Sheryl Crow will hopefully be forgotten with Keys’ rendition as she represents a return to the sexy and sultry stylings of songbirds past like Carly Simon, Shirley Bassey, and Simon Le Bon.

Well thanks to the wonders of the internet and the scruple-less folks who traverse it, YouTube has a leaked copy of the theme song three months before the film’s release. Keys’ voice is substantially deeper than expected, and White’s lyrics are surprisingly humorous, but it’s probably the best Bond theme you’ve never heard. Enjoy this delightful musical nugget before MGM gets wind and it disappears from YouTube all together.

Nick and Norah’s Infinite Trailer

Ashley Demma — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 20:38:10 +0000

Can’t get enough of loveable geek Michael Cera? Love music and feel-good comedies? Look no further than the October 3^rd release of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. A newly released trailer debuts the charming story.

The flick tells the tale of Nick, a high school guitar player who has just been dumped by his girlfriend Tris. At Nick’s band’s show, Tris is there on the arm of a new guy. Norah is also at the show, taking care of a friend. Nick is trying to avoid Tris, as is Norah. The two pretend to be lovers for five minutes to show Tris how not uncool they are, and the story takes off from there.

Set in Manhattan against the whirlwind of the city lights and excitement, Nick and Norah have an unforgettable adventure sure to win over the hearts of audiences everywhere. Much like indie-hit Juno, this film is just as much about music as it is about storyline, featuring great talent such as: Band of Horses, The Ravonettes, Modest Mouse, and Vampire Weekend, amongst others on the soundtrack.

Starring in Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist are Michael Cera (Nick), Kat Dennings (Norah), Alexis Dziena (Tris), and a crew of other up-and-coming young actors. Based on the novel by young adult author extraordinaire Rachel Cohn (Gingerbread, Shrimp, Cupcake) and David Levithan, this story is surely not one to miss.

Have a look at the trailer below or see it in high definition over on MySpace:

What do you think of the first look at Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist?

The Dark Knight Box Office: Down Goes the Midnight Record

Neil Miller — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:27:13 +0000

Going into this weekend, there was no question that The Dark Knight, director Christopher Nolan’s infinitely praised and super-highly anticipated follow-up to his 2005 Batman franchise reboot Batman Begins, was going to make a lot of money. In fact, I believe the proper metaphor would be that it is going to drive away with truck-loads of cash at the box office.

That said, it should come as no surprise to anyone that it is being reported this afternoon that the film has set the all-time box office record for a midnight opening, bringing in an estimated $18.5 million. This number, however, doesn’t include any of the 3:00 a.m. or 6:00 a.m. shows that were being run in theaters across the country. And as I experienced very early this morning as I exited one of the midnight shows in town, the 3:00 a.m. shows were filling up quite nicely as well.

For those keeping score at home, this marks two box office records thus far for The Dark Knight — the widest opening ever (4,366 theaters) and now the largest midnight opening gross, beating out Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, which made $16.9 million in its midnight release. That film, which opened on a Thursday, went on to make $50 million in its first day. The current all-time record for highest single day opening is Spider-Man 3, which made $59.8 million. While we will have to wait until sometime very late this evening or early tomorrow to see whether Batman can add another notch on his utility belt, for now we can safely say that things are going well for the caped crusader.

Did you go to a midnight screening of The Dark Knight? If so, did anything fun/crazy/interesting happen?

Photo courtesy of Flickr

Huey Lewis’ Pinneapple Express Theme Song Revealed!

Neil Miller — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:55:55 +0000

When we spoke with Pineapple Express director David Gordon Green back in April, he was glowing when he described to us the awesome brilliance that was the film’s theme song, created by Huey Lewis. And though he refused to give us a little preview, he did say that it would be awesome. Since then we have been waiting on the edge of our collective computer chair to hear this damn song — and today is the day.

The song, performed by Huey Lewis and the News has been launched over on the Pineapple Express Soundtrack MySpace page, along with a bunch of other cool songs from the soundtrack. They also give a listing of songs that will appear:

Huey Lewis, Cypress Hill, Peter Tosh and Public Enemy all on the same soundtrack? In a stoner comedy from David Gordon Green and Judd Apatow, starring Seth Rogen, Danny McBride and James Franco… Oh yeah, this one is going to rock out pretty hard. If you aren’t getting a little pumped for Pineapple Express, you might be in need of a doctor’s visit. Have a listen to some of the tracks off of the soundtrack over at the Pineapple Express Soundtrack MySpace Page or it’s Facebook Page.

Pineapple Express hits theaters on August 8th.

What do you think of the Huey Lewis theme song for Pineapple Express? Is it everything you wanted it to be?

Film School Rejects » Movie Music

Transformers 2: Linkin Park ‘New Divide’ Music Video

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Transformers 2 Soundtrack Has Got ‘The Touch’

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Quantum of Solace Theme ‘Another Way to Die’ Music Video

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‘My Name is Bruce’ Could Be Coming to Your Neighborhood

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Sam Taylor-Wood Twists and Shouts with John Lennon

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