ROTTEN TOMATOES: Danny Elfman Leaves The Wolfman Comments

Danny Elfman Leaves The Wolfman

by | November 10, 2009

Summary

Looking for another reason to doubt Joe Johnston's "The Wolfman"? Danny Elfman has departed the project, reportedly due to scheduling conflicts, and it'll now be scored by Paul Halsinger ("Death Race 2000"). Back to Article

(1-20 of 29 posts) | Reply

Bigbrother writes:
on Nov 10 2009 04:20 AM

I always kinda thought of Danny Elfman as a poor man's John Williams.

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De4ective Detectiv3 writes:
on Nov 10 2009 04:41 AM

No Way - poor man's John Williams? They have two different, distinct styles, Williams is all about being epic and Elfman is a little more playful w/ sounds, almost quirky imo. Elfman gave us the simpson's theme song, for that alone I applaud the man. I couldn't imgagine Tim Burton's movies being scored by anyone else, but I do think his work on terminator 4 was kind of weak. All John Williams ever does is work w/ Spielberg and Lucas.

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Gordon Franklin Terry Sr writes:
on Nov 10 2009 04:45 AM

so now we have another rejected score to "score" as a bootleg on CD.
Jerry Goldsmith's rejected score for LEGEND

James Horner's rejected score for THE WOLFEN

Alex North's rejected score for 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY

Lalo Sherifin's rejected score for THE EXORCIST

Michael Kamen's "additional score" for Henry Mancini's LIFEFORCE.

Fabio Frizzi's and Ugo Tucci's score for GODZILLA (Italy)

(c'mon where are my fellow film-buffs out there:)

what other rejected scores or "re-scores" are out there?

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Bigbrother writes:
on Nov 10 2009 05:13 AM

In reply to this comment (#2560013)
Don't get me wrong I like Danny Elfman, it just always seemed like he was the guy you got if you couldn't get who you really wanted. Not really that into the whole music scene in movies so I'll take your word for it.

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Evan_H writes:
on Nov 10 2009 05:38 AM

"This composer casting choice seems to make sense when you consider the second trailer for The Wolf Man, which eschews atmospheric chills for rhythmic music propelling quick cuts of creature effects and CGI transformations."

I think the 1st trailer was much better than the second trailer! It really did go from "Bram Stoker%u2019s Dracula" to "Underworld".

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Dexter Morgan writes:
on Nov 10 2009 05:52 AM

Damn. I was really excited for this film, which I still am, but love Elfman to no end so... eh. I doubt they can get anyone better then him, but we'll see.

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Looselycult writes:
on Nov 10 2009 06:01 AM

I think that this change is a pretty good indicator of where people's priorities really are. We go from contextually appropriate gothic classical score to dated warmed over 'hip" goth industrial metal. Yeah this movie went from possibly being a really cool throwback to Gothic atmosheric horror to just another dumbed down action gore fest to appeal to the "Hostel" lowest common denominator crowd. What a disappointment, my excitement just dropped into the toilet. I hate Hollywood.

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Bloody Mathias writes:
on Nov 10 2009 06:21 AM

Elfman gone and in steps the guy who does Crank, Underworld and Death Race?

Talk about a major downgrade.

This film just can't get a break.

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Escapefromalcatraz writes:
on Nov 10 2009 07:35 AM

Bloody Mathias - I was thinking the same thing!

On another note- my favorite concert of all time was Oingo Boingo back in '87! Danny Elfman and crew rocked the house!

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sandpaperslam s. writes:
on Nov 10 2009 08:03 AM

Another BRILLIANT decision from the powers at Universal. All of their failure is deserved with the crap they're putting out. With such a great cast why would they keep chipping away at it with more CGIFX and now this kinda score.....what coulda been an intelligent and really mesmerizing thriller is heading toward Van Helsing status.

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sandpaperslam s. writes:
on Nov 10 2009 08:04 AM

Another BRILLIANT decision from the powers at Universal. All of their failure is deserved with the crap they're putting out. With such a great cast why would they keep chipping away at it with more CGIFX and now this kinda score.....what coulda been an intelligent and really mesmerizing thriller is heading toward Van Helsing status.

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Racer Z writes:
on Nov 10 2009 09:09 AM

In reply to this comment (#2560013)
"All John Williams ever does is work w/ Spielberg and Lucas."

Yeah, what a disappointment that career choice must have been. ;)

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frogboy writes:
on Nov 10 2009 09:23 AM

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" (music & score), "Batman" score, "The Simpsons" theme, "Beetle Juice" score, "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" score, "Edward Scissorhands" score and many, many countless other film scores have very DISTINCT sounds SPECIFIC to Elfman's skillset.

John Williams' work is great, but didn't invent film scores! Elfman has many followers in his own right and is usually selected BECAUSE of his style, not because Williams was unavailable. What a strange accusation! The decision is really an aesthetic one. Wolfman has just fallen down several pegs after losing Elfman.

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aawolve writes:
on Nov 10 2009 11:55 AM

Sadly, the werewolves look much better in that crappy New Moon movie than the one in wolfman. The horrible look of the werewolf is something I would expect if budget was a problem, it looks like Benecio del Toro with hair glued to his face.

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Dave J. writes:
on Nov 10 2009 12:22 PM

Danny Elfman had other commitments and thought that "Wolfman" could be done back in time since he has other commitments, I feel he should at least receive some pay for doing the work in the first place. I can understand his frustration.

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Gordon Franklin Terry Sr writes:
on Nov 10 2009 12:35 PM

You know Elfman will get paid . . . Hollywood Symphony Orchestra Society Society of Composers & Lyricists or some other union will Get The Money for Elfman.

or they can go cheap and not give Elfman the money and only guarantee him a future contract.

"They" will do ANYTHING to get out of paying money.

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Dave J. writes:
on Nov 10 2009 12:43 PM

This all depends whether Wolfman will use Elfman's stuff once the movie hits theatres!!!!!

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De4ective Detectiv3 writes:
on Nov 10 2009 12:47 PM

In reply to this comment (#2560068)
All Williams does is work w/ Spielberg and Lucas - my point being Elfman is more versatile because he works with several directors instead of just a few.

Williams really doesn't have to do anything half the time - Star Wars, Indiana Jones, etc - a lot of his stuff has already been recorded. Elfman actually did the score for MIB though.

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Bigbrother writes:
on Nov 10 2009 01:22 PM

Yeah, I stated my point badly, let me try to make sense. What I meant by the comment was that as a child of the 80's it seemed like when I went to huge movies that rocked peoples worlds you'd see "Score by John Williams" at the end and when you'd see "Score by Danny Elfman" it was more for movie's you were likely to go "Oh, how quaint". Just always seemed like in the 80's he was that notch below Williams, so that's how I always tend to think of him. Obviously he's had a brilliant career in his own right. Just growing up, right or wrong, I had this impression of him as Saliari to William's Mozart.

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Cory B. writes:
on Nov 10 2009 04:15 PM

In reply to this comment (#2560076)
Hey, don't forget his work on the Men In Black and Spider-Man films. Those scores were pretty good too.

(Reply to this)

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