Let the anti-recycling movement begin -- with movie trailers!

Wed, May 28, 2008 at 06:10 PM EST

Please kindly vote A United States Democratic President on November 4, 2008.

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Mrs. Elmira Fei V. Que Mon, Sep 17, 2007 at 06:28 PM EST

Please tell me sir or madam where to buy the D V D Movie entitle " Dark Tide " Starring Richard Tyson, Chris Sarandon Brigitte Bako.

Elmira " Fei" V. Que Fri, Sep 7, 2007 at 08:39 AM EST

Where can I buy the D V D Movie Dark Tide Starring Richard Tyson, Chris Sarandon, Brigitte Bako.

Tue, Sep 4, 2007 at 10:20 AM EST

Forget the trailers. In recent years, I made a more frightening discovery. The feature films THEMSELVES are recycling the same music - often within the same year!! And I'm not talking about "period pieces," either. What happened to a filmmaker's true creativity in selecting music. Whatever the filmmaking merits of either a Crooklyn or the original Hairspray, at least films like these had original selections (or lineups or whatever) for their soundtracks. Too many films don't. Is it any wonder they all seem the same?

Ross Tipo Mon, Jul 30, 2007 at 03:11 AM EST

Thomas Newman gets positively RAPED by movie trailers every year. Most recently his Series Of Unfortunate Events was terribly misplaced in the No Reservations trailer. Also a few pieces of his from different movies (American Beauty, Finding Nemo) were randomly inserted into Michael Moore's Sicko earlier this year. Quite a bizarre choice.

liz Thu, Jul 26, 2007 at 11:32 PM EST

whatever music starts Without a Trace (tv show) is used EVERYWHERE.

Sara Thu, Jul 26, 2007 at 01:27 PM EST

Legends of the Fall, Braveheart, Gladiator. Everywhere, everywhere, everywhere.

sanduskytwilight Thu, Jul 26, 2007 at 11:18 AM EST

i think i can crawl out from under the rock now...I never thought about the music in the trailors. ..Thanks for the heads up.

Cariann Thu, Jul 26, 2007 at 09:06 AM EST

Carmina Burana is used a ton... even in tv shows, and I think it showed up in the South Park movie trailer.

boredatwork Thu, Jul 26, 2007 at 09:04 AM EST

it's been mentioned a couple of times, but it annoys the heck out of me when i hear the score from Gladiator, especially for subpar films. i've also heard tracks from the last samurai...for that matter, several hans zimmer scores seem to make their way into different films. also...does anyone else think that the theme from pirates of the caribbean is a shameless rip-off of gladiator?

Abby Thu, Jul 26, 2007 at 08:54 AM EST

I know that I have heard the score from The Rock in other movies, it's hard not to notice since the song is used in almost every scene.

Joshua Rhodes Thu, Jul 26, 2007 at 08:03 AM EST

The score to "Dances With Wolves," and "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" are used alot. Also, even though it's not a movie score, the first movement to "Carmina Burana" is used ALOT.

Kate Tue, Jul 17, 2007 at 11:12 AM EST

This issue has been bugging me for years! Glad I'm not the only one.

Another frequent repeat is the music from Glory. And, while it's not "from" one film in particular, I'm pretty sick of Carmina Burana trailers.

CineRam Mon, Jul 16, 2007 at 05:47 PM EST

I'd like to hear that beautiful, all-strings piece at the end of Gladiator's opening battle scene in a few trailers. Don't know why nobody ever uses that one. The "Munich" trailer used a very nice theme from "The Life of David Gale".

kriselda jarnsaxa Sun, Jul 15, 2007 at 11:11 PM EST

[b]Henry[/b], That wasn't The Who doing "Comfortably Numb," it was a remake featuring Van Morrison, The Band and Roger Waters. In spite of Waters appearance on the track (he did help write the Pink Floyd original), it's STILL a complete abomination and I can only hope that one day something will cause it to be erased from the face of the earth - and may it take the Scissor Sisters rendition with it!

As for the question at hand, there's a track from an obscure movie called "Plunkett & MacLeane" that is very reminiscent of "Carmina Burana" (which is such a magnificant piece of music, but is also solely overused)which gets used quite a bit. It's beautiful and powerful and way too often.

John Sun, Jul 15, 2007 at 09:22 AM EST

The trailer for "In the Valley of Elah" has the music from Syriana and (I think) Flags of Our Fathers

Jarett Fri, Jul 13, 2007 at 03:47 PM EST

Stephen--Come on, you should know better than to say Kevin Williamson, who wrote Scream also wrote Halloween H20. Scream is a top-notch genre busting script while H20 is pure shlock written by some dude I haven't heard from since.

kevin bacon Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 10:37 PM EST

The song mentioned above in the 28 Weeks Later trailer is also recycled in the new trailer for "Death Sentence"

stephen Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 08:57 PM EST

I could give a flying f*** about trailer songs, but the score bothers me. Watch "Scream" blindfolded, and then do the same for "Halloween: H2O," and you will same the score is exactly the same. I know both had the same screenwriter, but c'mon, at least try a little.

Kat from SC Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 08:31 PM EST

Oops! I'm sorry, BC. You mentioned that earlier.

Kat from SC Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 08:28 PM EST

Don't forget the music in the ending credits to "Shawshank Redemption." I've heard that one in countless trailers for "based on a true story" or "person overcomes extreme adversity to become great" movies.

Raven_Moon Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 07:34 PM EST

I've heard the theme from "American Beauty" in other trailers on different occassions.

William Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 06:08 PM EST

im with you, i was pissssseeeedd when i saw that preview, the John Murphy score is amazing and that song, In the House-In a Heartbeat is frequently played on my ipod.

JT Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 05:14 PM EST

Bonus points for anyone who recognizes music from "Unearthed" by e.s. Posthumus... it is repeatedly used in trailers, especially action movies.

Josh Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 04:45 PM EST

I hear Dragonheart a lot, but I love that score so I probably tend to notice it more often. Lately I've been hearing Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events in several trailers, specifically in the one for No Reservations.

meg Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 04:15 PM EST

Breathe by Michelle Branch was used in a bunch of trailers a year or two ago... talk about tiring a song out.

Will Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 02:47 PM EST

Watch the "I Am Legend" trailer. Cool looking movie, but the trailer completely rips off the ubiquitous Requiem for a Dream music.

lindsay Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 02:47 PM EST

Don't forget that officey-typewriter song (sorry don't know the actual title) from Brazil. It's in Bee Movie Trailer AND Wall-E Teaser. I really like the song, but it's gettin' a little old!

Plus, if you want to talk recycled, why does every comedy have big fat shiny red graphics over a white background, i.e. Wedding Crashers, Dr. Doolittle, License to Wed, Daddy Day Camp, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry...Text is not funny, people!

John Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 02:09 PM EST

I hear the score from the movie "Dave" in just about every other light romantic comedy trailer.

Dannielle Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 02:06 PM EST

I saw the movie Goodbye Lenin and the music from Amelie was in it. I was a bit shocked about it, until, at the end, I saw that the music was from Yann Tiersen. So the guy composed the music for both those films, and used the same song. But, generally, for the trailers, when they used the music from Requiem, I always notice, must be because that movie troubled me a little...

jeremy Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 01:55 PM EST

what about Enya's "book of days"? Remember when that song was in just about every trailer?

jeremy Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 01:53 PM EST

did anyone else catch the "Bladerunner: final cut" trailer aired during AFI's latest TV special? The music was from Clint Mansell's score of "the Fountain" - the track "death is the road to awe" I believe. Actually, I dug the lift - it worked really well with the Bladerunner images, and gave the whole thing a far more contemporary feel, unlike Bladerunner's original, very dated, score.

Jakeem Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 01:49 PM EST

The best trailer I ever saw was for "The Natural," using Vangelis' haunting theme from "Missing."

Adam Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 01:40 PM EST

Anyone remember the SNL skit where two guys are trapped in a movie theater that keeps playing trailers using James Brown's "I Feel Good"?

Simone Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 01:36 PM EST

everyone who uses the love actually theme music, including the latest pride and prejudice movie and the no reservations.

Harry Pecker Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 01:24 PM EST

Someone said it, but the You're So Cool is everywhere- trailers, commercials, etc. Also, lately, the version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow by the fat Hawaiian. Great track, but used in three or four movies, two commercials, and Scrubs.

Chris Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 01:01 PM EST

I know someone has already mentioned "Gladiator," but seriously, I hear that film's score on every other trailer. The other score I heard all the time was from "Aliens." You know, the music used at the end when they are trying to escape the planet. That used to be the "look-how-exciting-this-movie-will-be" trailer music.

jimzale Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 12:45 PM EST

Lemony Snicket's score has shown up on a few trailers recently.

megan Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 12:17 PM EST

i've noticed that the new catherine zeta jones movie "no resevervations" uses the "love actually" music.

Orlando Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 12:03 PM EST

Who can forget the David Bowie and Freddy Mercury classic 'Under Pressure'? Now that is one overused song in trailers!

Derek Dubois Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 11:51 AM EST

speaking of Requiem's score...it doesn't so much irk me when some billion dollar advertising agency rips off other music for their adds but the climax of One Hour Photo lifted the Requiem music completely taking me out of the movie (which was probably a blessing in disguise). To use another's score in the film itself is utterly unforgivable.

Tino Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 11:51 AM EST

I second True Romance. Nice ditty it is.

Cay Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 11:46 AM EST

A few years ago, I swear a ton of trailers used "you're so cool" by Hans Zimmer from True Romance.

Joe P. Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 11:35 AM EST

Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, and Pee-Wee's Big Adventure get used a lot for trailers, as well as ordinary product commercials.

BC Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 11:26 AM EST

The score from "Shawshank Redemption" gets a ton of play in previews. Nice calling out of the music from "Dragon"!

Brad Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 11:12 AM EST

"For Love of a Princess", from Braveheart, was used for the trailers for Castaway. It was played so much that I actually think of that song as the Castaway music, even though it is not even in the movie.

NineDaves Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 11:12 AM EST

I hear the music used in the Unfaithful trailer every few months.

Henry Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 11:02 AM EST

Haha... I blame the use of Requiem...'s score in the Two Towers trailer for getting this trend noticed. I watched Sunshine's trailer, heard the score, and still heard Christopher Lee's "There will be no dawn... for men" in my head while the trailer was going (looks great, by the way so check it out). I have the score stuck in my head now.

Dom Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 10:59 AM EST

The music from Fight Club, one of my all-time favorite movies, is used in a lot of trailers, too. The worst was for National Treasure, a movie I very much hate.

nathan Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 10:55 AM EST

Transformers pretty much ripped off the Batman Begins score and used it throughout the entire 2 1/2 hours of bad movie they put together. Too bad they didn't steal a good script too.

Hamburger Royal Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 10:51 AM EST

"The music from Crimson Tide was used for a lot of movie trailers for several years after that movie came out." Isn't the entire Jerry Bruckheimer lineup comprised of Crimson Tide soundalikes? Everytime I see Jonny Depp - sorry, *Captain* Jack Sparrow - on the deck of the Black Pearl I swear I hear Gene Hackman yell "I am the commander of this f----n' ship! Gimme the goddamn key!" in the background...

Henry Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 10:50 AM EST

The score for Gladiator (by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard) is/was popular in subsequent trailers for a while after it won Best Picture and whatnot.

FLGrl Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 10:36 AM EST

Switch to a caffeine-free beverage, Marc Vera!

Jack Fear Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 10:33 AM EST

@ Jenny P: "...historically, composers have stolen themes from each other, and even from themselves. Did anyone else notice how the romantic theme in "Attack of the Clones" was just like the "Hook" theme, except maybe played backwards? Composers have been doing that since Copland..."

And of course HOOK and CLONES were both composed by the same guy. Johnny Williams, take a bow!

Henry Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 10:31 AM EST

I was watching the trailer for The Departed on its DVD and it occurred to me that use of songs with lyrics are better in most cases than using the original score from other movies. That one used "Gimme Shelter" by The Rolling Stones, "Comfortably Numb" by The Who, "I'm Shipping Out to Boston" by The Dropkick Murphys (which transitions into this great driving and dark score). Great music... Remember that Marie Antoinette's trailer caused a big stir by its use of The Ramones during its trailer (and in the movie itself).

Henry Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 10:25 AM EST

Yeah, nearly every relevant theme from the past 15 years has been covered in comments.
Glory: "Charging Fort Wagner" (James Horner); Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story: "The Dragon's Heartbeat" (Randy Edelman); Requiem For a Dream: "Summer Overture" (Clint Mansell); American Beauty: "Dead Already" (Thomas Newman). I personally like all of those. Doesn't make me throw popcorn at the screen (which I don't think has happened in like ten years of my going to the movie theater).

Henry Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 10:25 AM EST

Yeah, nearly every relevant theme from the past 15 years has been covered in comments.
Glory: "Charging Fort Wagner" (James Horner); Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story: "The Dragon's Heartbeat" (Randy Edelman); Requiem For a Dream: "Summer Overture" (Clint Mansell); American Beauty: "Dead Already" (Thomas Newman). I personally like all of those. Doesn't make me throw popcorn at the screen (which I don't think has happened in like ten years of my going to the movie theater.

Manda Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 10:16 AM EST

I don't understand... What music do you want them to use instead? Trailers are made long before a film's score is completed.

Fans of trailer music will love this site: http://www.soundtrack.net/trailers/

Carrie Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 10:09 AM EST

It's not really a score, but I hear The Commitments' cover of "Treat Her Right" on a ridiculous number of trailers.

Jenny P Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 10:08 AM EST

They used "Edward Scissorhands" for the trailer for "A Series of Unfortunate Events," which kind of pissed me off because the music for that movie is nearly perfect. I hear Dragon Heart all the time, but historically, composers have stolen themes from each other, and even from themselves. Did anyone else notice how the romantic theme in "Attack of the Clones" was just like the "Hook" theme, except maybe played backwards? Composers have been doing that since Copland.

Kimberly Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 10:04 AM EST

I hear Dragon a lot too. But I also hear the theme from Rudy often.

bburlew Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 10:03 AM EST

Happens all the time-used to hear the soundtrack from 'Little Women' all the time (one of my faves)
Doesn't bother me, in fact I like trying to identify where it's from.

Mozz Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 09:50 AM EST

I hear DragonHeart a lot. Especially for those Triumph over Adversion sorta films. It's a soaring score, and no matter how crappy a movie is, if you use the score for DRAGON - the Bruce Lee Story, I'm gonna go see it.

Eliz Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 09:46 AM EST

I hear that one bit from American Beauty a lot.

Kevin Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 09:14 AM EST

The music to Last of the Mohicans used to show up in the previews of any epic-type movie...haven't heard it in a while though, which is good because I love that soundtrack.

Lauren Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 09:12 AM EST

The music from Glory and Bram Stoker's Dracula used to get used a lot. I heard the music from Oscar and Lucinda on something from Pixar the other day.

EP Sato Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 09:09 AM EST

After "Friday" beat the song "I want to get next to you" into submission by playing it over and over, it really surprised me when they used that same song for the romantic scene in "Harold and Kumar go to White Castle".

Oh, and Gustav's "Mars, the Ruler of Planets" has been overused so much (Predator, Gladiator, The Right Stuff, etc) that the VENTURE BROTHERS featured a scene where the Monarch's henchmen hum the tune while getting their costumes on. F'ing brilliant man!

Stacey Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 08:59 AM EST

Dragonheart and Love Actually are a couple of others that get the recycling treatment. I only really started noticing this when the trailers for The Two Towers came out and I realized it was the Requiem theme reconfigured to be slightly less menacing. Now that I realize that the reason behind this is usually that the real score isn't complete yet, it doesn't bother me that much. But I do hate it when they take music from a really good movie and put it together with a trailer for a movie that is clearly bad. It's like it's tainting the original movie. FYI, if you want a good place to find where trailer music is coming from, the forums at adtunes.com is a good place to start. They have a dedicated thread for movie trailer music.

bpage Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 08:52 AM EST

I hear music from Danny Elfman's "Nightmare Before Christmas" score used all time-- usually for Xmas-related things (of course) but not exclusively. They've certainly gotten their money's worth out of this score.

marie-elaine Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 08:43 AM EST

I find it especially aggravating when they use music from good movies to promote really bad ones. For example, a certain track from the American Beauty soundtrack is used all the time, most recently in the Reservations trailer. Made me throw up in my mouth a little...

The theme from Unfaithful also makes it way into almost all the trailers for so-called "sexy thrillers". But I don't mind as much.

Me Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 08:22 AM EST

I hear the song 'Time' by Chantal Kreviazuk a lot in chick flicks. A great song, but there are lots of other choices out there.

No offense Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 08:15 AM EST

No offense, but who cares? Trailers are always using music that has nothing to do with the film itself. It's a little strange, but aren't we all used to it by now?

Craig S Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 08:13 AM EST

The music from Crimson Tide was used for a lot of movie trailers for several years after that movie came out.

Crystal Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 08:08 AM EST

Pretty sure I've heard the score to Beetlejuice in a lot of stuff. Also, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves....that seems to get thrown into darn near every movie trailer there is.

bakerboy Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 08:05 AM EST

Although it I haven't heard it in a while it seemed that 2-3 years ago every other live action movie trailer aimed at tweens used the Edward Scissorhands theme as a "haunting" backdrop. Elfman truly outdid himself with that score.

Dave Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 07:59 AM EST

The trailer for "The Notebook" used the scores from both "The Cider House Rules" and "Pleasantville". I have also heard TCHR in many other places cuz it is so beautiful. Also, heard Edward Scissorhands a lot, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and of course, the classic To Kill a Mockingbird. I know hearing those wonderful pieces always makes the new movie look more interesting to me. They reel me in everytime!