The Kite Runner

The music within the film "The Kite Runner" is a fusion between East and West and it invokes both the excitement and joy reflected in elements of the story as well as the terrible sadness represented in others.

The opening credit is underscored with lively Middle Eastern music with woodwinds, strings, and percussion. In the beginning scenes in Afghanistan there is a sort of mystic Middle Eastern sounding chant as the camera pans over the landscape. This conveys the beauty of Afghanistan in the 1970s and is in contrast with the desolate wasteland that Amir returns to later in the film. Several elements of classical Hollywood score are also used is this film; for example, when the boys run after the kite in the first scene (the kite scene before Amir wins the tournament) the drum pounds in time with their feet and serves as an example of illustration. During the second tournament illustration is used again as the kite takes off the music goes up in pitch as if it is also "taking off".

Unlike a traditional Hollywood score, the music within "Kite Runner" is not wall to wall. During dialogue there are many moments of silence. One can notice that during the more serious scenes silence is used to convey the heaviness of situations while lively music is used during scenes of excitement or danger.

While most of the music is underscoring, there are also several examples of diegetic music. At young Amir's birthday party the band plays traditional Middle Eastern Music, which is played at older Amir's wedding. When Amir graduates from college, however, the music played at the bar on the jukebox is eighties American pop music. The differences between traditional culture and American culture serves as an interesting contrast in Amir's life, especially when he returns to Afghanistan and the music reflects that.

The end credits of the film are also Middle Eastern sounding as where the beginning credits, but it is a much more soulful representation which illustrates a maturity and wealth of experiences, some happy others sad. Strings allow this soul and depth to come through.

The music within "The Kite Runner" is a good reflection of both the joy and sadness of the film and the conflict between two different cultures.

Big Fish

Danny Elfman's score for "Big Fish" has elements of the classic Hollywood score. The music is primarily underscoring and is wall to wall during the fantasy "flashback scenes" but is not wall to wall during the scenes in real life except when the story is being told. The score differs from the classical Hollywood score in that it is not a full orchestra, only subtle strings and piano. There is a slight fairy tale aspect of the film, and the music reflects that invoking elements of mystery, awe, and wonder.

Music also establishes time and place in scenes where popular music is used it is music of an era to establish that time. For example, the Siamese twins are singing a typical lounge type song that establishes the setting. In addition, in the circus scenes, there is an amount of typical circus music one would expect to hear which establishes the scene.

The coolest element about the music in "Big Fish" is it's ability to connect the reality of life with the mystical story through the music. While the score differs from whimsical to somber, like the story, it is able to tie them together to create a really seamless transition between reality and fantasy.