Bill Wrobel's DVD - Film Score Rundowns

-Laura Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) **
http://www.amazon.com/Lara-Croft-Raider-Special-
Collectors/dp/B00003CXZ1/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1292885347&sr=1-1
-Laura Croft: The Cradle of Life (2003) **
http://www.amazon.com/Lara-Croft-Tomb-Raider-
Collectors/dp/B0000CABE5/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1292992237&sr=1-1
-Laura (1944) **1/2 [music **]
http://www.amazon.com/Laura-Film-Noir-Gene-
Tierney/dp/B00008LDNZ/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1292885427&sr=1-1
This movie is ok but I never cared much for it. This includes the score by David
Raksin, even though many people enjoy that tune (and I appreciate Raksin’s skill). It’s
just that I am not “into” Raksin’s style of music, much as I don’t care for Friedhofer’s
music. They are well-trained craftsmen but I do not “resonate” with their music. As for
the movie, it was directed by Otto Preminger, and I never much care for his un-stylized,
“realistic” deadpan approach. But if you are interested in the making of this movie, then
the dvd has several special features (including a partial commentary by the composer).
-It’s Alive (1973) ** 1/2 [music ***]
http://www.amazon.com/Its-Alive-John-P-
Ryan/dp/B0002KQNKY/ref=sr_1_2?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1292885499&sr=1-2
I remember seeing this movie when it first came out. I believe I watched it at an
old theater in downtown Long Beach (long gone!). It was exciting to hear new Herrmann
music, although this was not exactly a quality horror movie! Still I liked it, especially the
main star, John Ryan. I actually enjoyed this score although it is rather lower-drawer
work for him, almost on autopilot (good but not great). I suggest to listen to Larry
Cohen’s very informative, laid back audio commentary. He talks a lot about Bernard
Herrmann.
I already did a chord profile treatment of it:
http://www.filmscorerundowns.net/herrmann/chordprofile7.pdf
-Deep Impact (1998) *** [music ** 1/2]
http://www.amazon.com/Impact-Special-Collectors-Robert-
Duvall/dp/B0002V7OI8/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1292886621&sr=1-1
[reviewed Friday, June 03, 2011]
This movie made an impact on me in various isolated scenes or sections but
overall not a deep impact! The title is “Deep Impact” but the emotional impact is shallow.
I’ll still give it a three *** star “good” rating but it certainly is not a classic film! There
167