Back to Old Habits
A long time ago, when I first started collecting film scores, I had a rule. A rule that steadfastly adhered to, and intended to keep the film experience and the musical experience both pristine. The rule was never to buy (or at least listen to) the soundtrack of a movie before actually seeing that movie.
Now, in 1996, Trey broke me of that rule by recommending that I purchase the score to The Phantom, an early comic book adaptation movie. The only problem was that I hadn’t seen the film yet. I wanted to, even though it wasn’t that successful of a movie. But on Trey’s recommendation I bought the CD and loved it. From then on I stopped following my rule, and would eagerly listen to anything from a movie that I was eagerly anticipating — especially if it was by a favorite composer as well.
Well, now, twelve years later I’m going to go back to that rule — if only for the weekend. For the release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull I’m not going to listen to any of its score, no matter what. I’ve already had to turn off the soundtrack channel on my XM radio when they started a segment on the movie.
Now, to be completely honest, I’ve already bought the soundtrack (courtesy of Amazon.com’s MP3 download store … 256 megabit-per-second mp3s without DRM). And courtesy of Fandango I’ve already got a ticket for the 1pm matinee on Friday, May 23. I’m ready, but I’m forcing myself to wait.
This is the first new Indiana Jones film I will have seen in theaters (I did see Raiders of the Lost Ark in 2001, or so, with some friends — it was an un-advertised special screening at a Nashville theater — and very much fun).
Now the question remains: do I have the resolve to resist for the next day or so? Knowing that I’ve got that arrangement of bits sitting on my hard drive, just waiting to be played … can I do it?
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:50 am
you have more self control than anyone i know. the answer is yes.
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:24 pm
…Sadness fills me.
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Don’t be sad.