MovieChat Forums > Dragonslayer (1981) Discussion > Does anyone else HATE the score to this ...

Does anyone else HATE the score to this film?

posted 16 years ago by TheSolarSailor
40 replies | jump to latest

The music provided by Alex North is, in my opinion, some of the worst music to accompany a film I have heard in quite some time. It's loud, abrasive, and inappropriate in several scenes. The end credits kicked in and I couldn't get to my DVD controls fast enough to put an end to it. I think this movie would have been a far more enjoyable experience without this unbearably irritating, nerve-grating music dragging it down. Well, that's just my opinion.

Agree or disagree??

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If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?

[–] ThereCanBonly1 13 years ago

Agree!!

Loud & abrasive is exactly how I felt too! I had to keep adjusting the volume when the obviously designed for emphasis fortissimo blasted in and then back up again to hear the dialogue. In the end just put up with the blaring through the rest of the movie.

And completely agree this really distracted and detracted from an otherwise excellent film, and also similar to Ladyhawke but its 80s electro-cheese wasn't as again irritating, nerve-grating or ear-aching as this one.

[–] nerhal1 12 years ago

Loved it. In fact it's one thing I remember most about it. Great movie with true imagination. Screw movies today catering to dumb people everywhere

[–] LJ27 12 years ago

I liked the score myself. I thought it was fitting.

[–] GoldenEye 12 years ago

I came on here to voice the same exact opinion! Dragonslayer could easily go from 6/10 to 8/10 if it had better music. It's just a loud mess, plain and simple. No real theme to speak of, just instruments being thrown together haphazardly. And the fact that Alex North got nominated for an Oscar blows my mind!

If James Horner or John Williams were to have scored this back in 1981, the film would probably be a bonafide classic instead of a cult favorite today. North's music is THAT bad.

[–] Slogutis 12 years ago

I disagree, I thought the score was very good. I actually thought it added to a lot of scenes. I noticed it while the movie was going and thought it added a dramatic touch.

[–] kramsey20 12 years ago

I actually like the score. It suckers you in with the lighthearted comedy leitmotif then all of a sudden OMIGODTHATDRAGONISTHEMOSTAWESOMETHINGEVER

[–] Slogutis 12 years ago

Yeah, completely. It was well done. I'm surprised anyone could dislike it.

[–] haynese_98 12 years ago

I don't see any reason to knock the score, it may or may not hold up well over the test of time but it's the way things were done back in 1981. I saw the movie at the theater when it came out and trust me, I didn't even think twice about the stupid score!

What this movie brings to us is a snapshot into how Hollywood was back in the late 70's/early 80's. It was the time where scifi and fantasy were at it's heights and the studios were trying hard to make hits within the genre. There were a lot of hits and misses but mainly misses. Dragonslayer is one of word of mouth movies because..well..because it was different and good and fun and unique with pretty decent special effects for those days.

Going to the movies back then was so much different than today. A friend would find out from another friend that some movie with a strange name was playing at the local cineplex and that it was really, really good. You'd ask your parents to take you to said cineplex and the movie would be in the smallest theater past all the big name movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark, Empire Strikes Back, and The Shining. These little gems were hard to find but that's what friends are for. Man, nothing beat going to the movies and being totally surprised and entertained by a kick a$$ unique movie with a lot of action, suspense and cool sfx!!!!

"There is no Hollywood any more, there's just a bunch of banks"

[–] apples42 11 years ago

Disagee. I love the score for this movie. It's a great score and it fits this movie perfectly.

[–] AccidntlTourist 11 years ago

It was annoying in spots, but I didn't let it ruin the movie for me. It happens less nowadays, but "back in the day" sometimes directors did get carried away with the musical score.

[–] steve51669 11 years ago

I personally loved the score to the film and own the soundtrack. It was on occasion a bit harsh and overpowering, but I'm sure that was the intent. I thought that it reflected not only the story but also the time period beautifully.