When Popular Musicians Make Movie Soundtracks

There was a time when your favourite rock guitarist stayed exactly that, and when your dance music makers stuck to the dancefloor anthems. Not anymore, this is the 21st century, and huge amounts of equipment are available readily to even modest guitarists and songwriters, combine this with the fact that the movie industry holds much more authority (and cash) than the music industry, and you can see why more and more musicians are turning their hand to composing for the silver screen. This article explores some examples of movie soundtracks specifically made for films, and the glastonbury headliners and dancefloor fillers who created them. You might be surprised.

Jonny Greenwood - There Will Be Blood

The Radiohead guitarist was tasked with writing a score for Paul Thomas Andersson's Oil barron drama based on the novel by Upton Sinclair. The soundtrack was nominated for numerous awards and is a million miles away from 'Creep'.

Chemical Brothers - Hanna

The Chemical Brothers are more widely known for their hugely popular dance tracks, but in 2011 they composed the score for Joe Wright's action movie 'Hanna'. Full of synths and beats as you would expect, the twosome provide a great soundtrack to this thriller.

Movies to Get You In the Mood for Football Season

Football season is right around the corner. In fact, the pre-season is already underway. Get in the mood for the excitement of football season with these movies.

Little Giants
Football isn't just about professional players, it's also about the little ones just starting out and playing pee-wee football. A pair of brothers take their sibling rivalry onto the football field in this movie. The town's existing team, the Cowboys, battles it out with the newly formed Little Giants. Both teams learn that football is about more than winning; it is also about friendship and teamwork.

The Blind Side
In the Blind side, Michael Oher touches us with his kindness and his ability to rise above his difficult childhood with the help of a loving new family and his abilities on the football field. The Blind Side is based partially on the true story of offensive lineman, Michael Oher.

We Are Marshall
We are Marshall is based on the tragic true story of the plane crash that took the lives of most of the Marshall University football players and coaching staff in 1970. The movie is full of sadness and grief, but also a beautiful display of courage as a new team is formed with the few remaining players along with some new inexperienced players. Amazingly, after a crushing loss at the first game, this team wins at its first home game of the season. This movie is a wonderful example of the way football can bring people together, even following a terrible tragedy.

Gloria Swanson and Hollywood's Greatest Comeback

When Gloria Swanson starred in 'Sunset Boulevard' in 1950, it was heralded as one of the greatest comebacks in cinema history. 25 years earlier, as a silent movie star, she had been one of the best known women in the world, not only treated like royalty but she had created a sensation by actually marrying the Marquis de la Falaise de la Coudraye, part of the Hennessy drinks family, and a member of one of the noble families of France. When Gloria and her husband returned to America after their wedding they were given ticker-tape parades through New York and Los Angeles and were treated as genuine royalty. Gloria's career was at its peak. She was the highest paid woman in movies and she was a fashion icon for women everywhere.

But her movies had not fared well with the advent of sound in 1929, and her extravagant lifestyle, once the envy of women the world over, grated on the sensibilities of a world undergoing the indignities and deprivations of the Great Depression. At the start of the 1930's she made four Talkies in quick succession, ' What a Widow!' in 1930, 'Indiscreet' the following year, 'Perfect Understanding' in 1933, and 'Music in the Air' in 1934 but they all flopped. Audiences were no longer flocking to her films and as her career went into decline, Gloria went into voluntary semi-retirement. In 1941, after 7 years off screen, she appeared in another movie, the musical comedy 'Father Takes A Wife' which was heavily promoted as her comeback film but it did not do well at the box office and was critically panned. Gloria returned to her self-imposed movie retirement although she continued to appear on stage and also began to try the new medium of television

So, by the late 1940's, for twenty years little had been heard of Gloria Swanson. A complete generation of cinema-goers had grown up without seeing one of her movies or knowing the impact she had once had. All that was about to be changed by one man - director Billy Wilder and his masterly film 'Sunset Boulevard'.

Why Go to An Outdoor Movie Event?

Going out to see a movie a tradition that is enjoyed by individuals, families, groups of friends, and couples out on dates. If you have seen advertising for outdoor movies in your area, you might be curious about what these events are like. Here is why you should consider skipping the movie theater next time you head out to see a movie and giving a movie in the park a try.

Human Interaction
Going out to see a movie is a very social event; one of the reasons you might choose to go out and see a movie, rather than renting a DVD, is because of the chance to meet and interact with new people. Outdoor movies are made for socializing. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, without the need to be quiet like in a movie theater. You can bring a picnic, eat, and play cards with friends before the movie begins. In addition, a typical movie theater holds about 200 people, while some outdoor events host up to 10,000 people.

Comfort
No need to be confined to one seat the way you would be in a busy movie theater. At an open air cinema event you have the freedom to stretch out and sit however you would like. Bring a comfortable chair, a blanket, or even an air mattress to lay down on. You also won't have anyone kicking your seat like you might in a movie theater. Children are typically also more comfortable in an outdoor setting.

How Would a Guardians of the Galaxy Movie Work?

With The Avengers come and gone, Marvel Studios prepare to enter 'Phase 2′ of their cinematic universe. With Iron Man, Thor and Captain America all due sequels, it was tough to see what Marvel's mystery project in 2014 could be. Was it Black Panther, Ant-Man? Well our questions have been answered, and Marvel's first film away from the Avengers universe is set to be Guardians of the Galaxy!

But wait? Who are the Guardians of the Galaxy and how would a movie work? The team originally debuted in 1969, although far less familiar than the modern team seen today. Dwelling on the 31st Century, the original team focused on obscure characters like Starhawk and Major Victory. It wasn't until 2008; when sci-fi writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning (or DNA for short) took the team into new heights post Marvel's mega-cosmic event 'Annihilation'.

Essentially making the team 'Space Avengers' DNA made GOTG one of Marvel's best books, featuring iconic characters such as Adam Warlock, Drax the Destroyer and talking rodent Rocket Racoon. It was a high-adrenaline affair that had been missing from comics since the 90′s. The Avengers books had long focused on street heroes and New York, while Thor was in the process of being rebooted after a brief hiatus. Marvel was missing a cosmic universe, and DNA responded by creating one that easily rivalled DC's own Green Lantern universe.

1) Control the humour.

One of the main reasons Avengers worked is because it took a tricky concept, and grounded it in reality by using humour. How else would icons such as Iron Man, Thor and Cap work together if there wasn't some bickering involved? The problem with GOTG is that it's a much more grand concept, and over-using the humour could almost make the film more self-parody than action-blockbuster.

That doesn't mean limit the jokes altogether though. After all, it's a film featuring a talking racoon.

Movie Review of The Lucky One

Call me crazy, but I'm starting to think that Nicholas Sparks needs to either: A) stop turning his books into movies, or B) locate and keep on speed dial the person who was responsible for the screen adaptation of 'The Notebook', because frankly, you can only expect audiences to hope for a life changing love story so many times before they stop giving you the benefit of the doubt.

THE GOOD: A grown up and---if I may be perfectly frank---smoking hot Zac Efron plays Logan Thibault, a young Marine who has survived three tours of duty in Iraq, when many around him haven't been as fortunate. He believes he owes this miracle to the photo of a young woman-Beth (played by Taylor Schilling) that he stumbled across in combat. When his tour is over, he sets out to find her and thank her for saving his life. It's a simple thing to say, really, when he finally locates her, yet for some reason that's never quite clear, he can't do it. Instead he ends up working for her and her grandmother at the dog shelter and obedience school they own. By the time she learns about the real purpose of his appearance in her life, his explanation seems flimsy. Throw in Beth's bully of an ex-husband, Keith (played by Jay R. Ferguson), along with a steamy shower scene and Efron flexing his biceps as he lifts bags of dog food, and you have the makings of a great love story.....right? Well, not particularly.

THE BAD: I need to point out here that, although I don't always read a book before it's made into a movie, I did with this one... and that might have been a mistake, because I couldn't help but feel irritated at how WRONG they got it. The casting was pretty solid, although I never felt much chemistry between Logan and Beth---but that may have just been because I was thinking the whole time how much I would have liked to play Schilling's part. But I suppose that's not integral to this review.

Romantic Movies for a Modern Age

Ah, the romantic comedy, it's an enduring genre that truly has stood the test of time. Many of us have grown up with classics like Breakfast at Tiffany's or colourful musicals such as Easter Parade or My Fair Lady. These movies capture the beauty of romance. They have idealised ideas about finding 'the one'; Boy meets girl on a chance encounter, boy and girl must overcome obstacles to be together, girl is eventually swept off her feet - cue long, lingering Hollywood kiss.

Romantic comedies today adopt a similar plot structure. However, the 'boy meets girl' part is shown to be decidedly more difficult. Modern romantic comedies take a more cynical view of the trials and tribulations of finding someone to love. Below are some of the best modern romance movies.

No.1 - Bridget Jones (2001)

When Bridget Jones was adapted to the big screen from Helen Fielding's book of the same name, it seemed to define an entire generation of thirty-something women haunted by their loudly ticking biological clock and 'smug married' friends. Bridget, played by Renee Zellweger, is single and desperately looking for love. She's overweight, her biological clock is ticking and she records her hopes, dreams, frustrations and failings in a journal. She also sleeps with her philandering boss, blinded by his charm. She then meets a handsome family friend, the aptly named Mr (Mark) Darcy (Colin Firth), a man she immediately detests, but who she comes to realise is just the kind of man she was searching for all along.

Bridget's search for love demonstrates how hard it can be to meet people in a modern society and the stigma once attached to single men and women of a certain age, while simultaneously liberating them to embrace their singleness - which if we're to believe Bridget, will eventually lead to love. After all, she makes many mistakes along the way, but she still gets her man in the end!

Zombie Horror Movies

Ultimately, zombies are terrifying for a number of reasons. Unlike vampires, there is nothing romantic about them. Zombies are simply there to not only destroy humanity but to convert it. After all, the end result of a zombie apocalypse is that a population of people who were once alive are transformed into the bloodthirsty walking dead.

Zombies are apocalyptic, which also conjures up certain nightmares in our psyche. People are obsessed with the end of the world. Writers, religious scholars, scientists, etc., have all theorized since the early days of civilization about how the world will eventually end. Zombie horror movies represent one more theory that while obviously fictional still appeals to that certain yearning for apocalyptic fantasy that seems to exist in most people. While outlandish, the thought of a world in which the living return to consume the dead is both terrifying and wildly imaginative. And it really isn't any more fantastical than those believed by numerous societies and religious devotees.

As a fan of zombie movies, I particularly enjoy the claustrophobic feelings that a good zombie film can create. To watch as a group of survivors have to fend for themselves while fighting off hordes of the dead makes for excellent drama, which accounts for the success of the genre to begin with.

Of course, not all zombie films focus on the survival aspects of a potential epidemic. Some zombie movies are comedies. So what is the appeal there? Well, I think zombies are a way for us to shatter the taboo of death. After all, we're all going to die eventually. Those are the grim facts. By watching zombie movies, we can assuage our anxieties about the inevitable end. Perhaps some of use even wish to become zombies ourselves.

Fortunately, there is a wide range of zombie movies available for fans of the genre. First, there is the hardcore survivalist movies, followed by the action-comedy variety and then the offbeat comedy films. There is always something new on the horizon as well, since filmmakers are constantly trying to re-imagine the traditional zombie movie. Zombies have changed a lot since the release of Romero's 1968 classic Night of the Living Dead, and will probably continue to change well into the future. Our desire to see these lumbering, hungry dead folks on the big screen seems to have no end, as well. So we can all look forward to a brighter future with more undead entertainment coming our way.

Free Streaming Movies to Find Some of the Best Movies of the Past

For the younger generation, they are exposed to movies that are mostly computer animated. There are 3D movies that are more of a presentation than a journey into the story. Sometimes the stories do not even have to be meaningful to become a hit. This art that used to be the main reason for movies before is slowly disappearing. This is why the technological advancement of being able to watch free streaming movies has greatly helped the appreciation of past films.

As an example, Martin Scorsese is a film director, screenwriter and producer. He has made a lot of movies since he became active in 1963. His taste in movies has revolved more on action films and mafia films which has garnered many different accolades over the years. Some of his movies have been considered part of the list of the best movies in the world. These movies are a prime example of the difference between movies then and now. Something that people can enjoy with the technology they have.

One might ask: What are the best Martin Scorsese films? And though there are many opinions about the matter, below are four of the best works by Mr. Scorsese.

Top 10 Boxing Movies

Mark your calendars. Odd as it may seem, today may be the day that Marky Mark (sans the Funky Bunch) joins the company of such greats as Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone, Will Smith, Russell Crowe and so on. Today, The Fighter opens up in theaters across the country. With as much buzz and acclaim the movie has been receiving, this could very well end up going down as one of the best boxing movies of all-time.

In light of The Fighter's release, I thought now would be an appropriate time to make that list. My top boxing movies. The sport has been visited many a times throughout the history of cinema. Here, though, we narrow it down to the top 10. So without further ado, my Top 10 Boxing Movies.

10. Play It To the Bone
Play It To the Bone was written and directed by Ron Shelton. The movie stars Antonio Banderas and Woody Harrelson. Lolita Davidovich co-stars.

The movie is the story of two aging fighters, Cesar (Banderas) and Vincent (Harrelson), who are close friends. In the twilight of their careers, the two are given one last fight with a title shot up for grabs. The kicker: they'll be fighting each other. The two boxers and friends set out to Vegas for their undercard bout, accompanied by Grace (Davidovich); Cesar's girlfriend and Vincent's ex. Along the way, we get a look into their past careers and their competitive friendship. Come fight time, what should have been a typical bout that no one has interest in, soon becomes the fight of the night as the two beat the hell out of each other. Cesar and Vincent leave it all in the ring, with something to prove to themselves and each other, they "play it to the bone". A definite fight to remember.

Now, Play It To the Bone was pretty much critically-panned. Call it my like for Woody Harrelson, or my sappy underdog side, but I enjoyed it. There's plenty of humor, a fun road trip and one hell of a fight. Granted it's not the greatest of movies, but definitely one of my more favorite boxing movies.

Why People Love Science Fiction Movies

Science fiction movies are one of those genres that people just cannot get enough of. They appeal to the need that people have to believe that there is something else out there besides us. When people need something to believe in they either lean towards religion or science. Those that lean towards science love these types of films.

People also like to ask, "what if..." in different ways. Science fiction movies allow people to open up their imaginations to all sorts of possibilities. What if there is life on other planets? What if that life came here to Earth? What if that life form was bad? What if that life form was good? All of these questions are things we ask ourselves and these types of movies allow us to explore the possibilities.

Science fiction movies are often full of things that we like in movies. There is suspense and excitement. There are battle scenes and sometimes even romance. The storytelling is often of high quality and thought provoking questions are addressed. These films often address issues like ethics and philosophy and can make us think for days on end.