Customer Reviews

Some Kind Of Wonderful (1987 Film)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A delightful film, matched by tracks that were obviously picked with scenes in mind. I have to agree with fellow reviewer Emily that the opening track is the cat's whiskers, but unfortunately, it doesn't appear on the album. The track is called Dr Mabuse by a German band called Propaganda, and the opening titles with Mary Stuart Masterson on drums listening to the track on headphones is excellent.

Nowadays soundtracks are issued as strict money makers. Gather together a bunch of superstars, have them contribute material that's "inspired" by the movie and collect millions. Soundtracks are supposed to convey the feeling of and set the mood for a movie. Martin Scorcese & Quentin Tarrentino do it, but maybe no one better than John Hughes. He uses the songs included on this cd and the ones in the movie but not included here as the spirit of the film. They all have a hard edge to them with lyrics about obession, fear and vulnerability which is what the movie is all about. The artists are basically made up of unknowns with some typically strange 80's band names (Lick The Tins, Flesh For Lulu to name two) and there are no hits among them. Taken as a whole, the music, like the film, is: wonderful.

there's a scene in the movie where a song is playing on a boombox and one of the characters walks over and presses "stop." No! I stopped the DVD and played those few seconds again and again to hear the song. it turned out to be furniture's "brilliant mind," a hard to find single from 1986 that made the british charts. it's an understated, moody, and sophisticated song in the mold of the lotus eaters, talk talk, late roxy music & bryan ferry, or seona dancing. it begins with a world weary lament: "I'm at the stage where everything I thought meant something seems so unappealing, I'm ready for the real thing but nobody's selling" the song portrays the stuggle to find life's offerings worthwhile, and to the advice everyone around him offers, the singer replies "you must be out of your brilliant mind." it's a masterpiece of romantic new wave crooning.

the rest of the CD also offers some hard to find songs that give a better sense of the depth of 80s music than your average 80s comp. especially great and rare is the song by australian group the apartments. the flesh for lulu, stephen "tin tin" duffy, and jesus and mary chain songs are also great. I'm not as enchanted by the march violets and lick the tins as others seem to be, but in just 10 songs this CD offers a nice corrective to stereotypical 80s comps (including other john hughes soundtracks).

The only thing that disappointed me about this soundtrack is the inclusion of the March Violets cover of the Stones' "Miss Amanda Jones", both of which are featured in the movie, but the original is not to be found here (check out the Stones' "Between The Buttons"). That is a shame, because it would have fit in perfectly with the rest of the tunes.

The JAMC's original version of "The Hardest Walk" is more abrasive than this one, but even a re-produced version is better than nothing. Stephen Duffy's "She Loves Me" is as essential as the Danny Hutton Hitters "Wouldn't It Be Good" was to the Pretty In Pink soundtrack.

But the absolute best track is "Can't Help Falling In Love" by Lick The Tins. To this day, I play it and I get asked by a bunch of people where it came from.

While the soundtrack is probably good enough to stand on its own, it's so much better if you've seen the movie. It's a great sampling of the music of 1987, as well as a deft illustration of the film itself. Tracks 2,4,8,9 and 10 are my favorites, probably because they were the most prominently featured in the film, and I can "see" the movie when I hear the music. The only thing I would change about this album would be to include MORE music. There is still a lot missing, such as the OTHER version of "Miss Amanda Jones" (played as Keith, Watts, and Amanda get ready for the date), as well as the musical score (i.e. the strong opening number to the film, the soft keyboard lullaby during the more tender moments, and the final ballad playing as Keith catches up with Watts). By the way, if anyone reading this happens to know where I can get this music, PLEASE let me know. But back to THIS album: a thoroughly enjoyable soundtrack, and a great companion to a great film.

This is one of the best 80's films and one of the best soundtracks, if you grow up in that decade you have to own this CD and buy the DVD.

Here is a classic example of Non-famous band music at his best, the only negative thing I have to say about is that they didn't include the Charlie Sexton - Beats So Lonely that play in the confrontation between Keith and Amanda Boyfriend at his House when Elias Koteas enters to fight and when Amanda and Keith enter the museum that plays Catch my Fall from The Hell raiser himself Billy Idol.

I love this CD and I especially like I Can't Help Falling in Love with You (why do I always like cover versions better than Elvis' orignials?). None of these bands were big in the 80s and that's odd for a John Hughes film. I always thought that maybe he was hoping one of these bands would make it huge based on their inclusion in the movie soundtrack. Alas, it was not to be. All of the songs are upbeat and different. One of my favorite soundtracks; second only to She's Having a Baby.

This movie was so good, but what really made this movie was the soundtrack. March Violets "Turn To The Sky" was amazing in the club scene! I definetely recomend this soundtrack, and while your at it, pick up the movie too!

I have had this soundtrack for 12 years now on cassette, and it never gets old. The only group I had heard on here was the Jesus and Mary Chain, and the rest were as obscure then as they are now. But each song is a jewel -- some, admittedly, are pure new-wave 1980s music. But others, such as "Do Anything," "She Loves Me," and "Brilliant Mind," are infectious. And the Lick the Tins version of "I Can't Help Falling in Love" is fantastic!

What memories this album brings back. It's a classic and every song on it is excellent; moreover, there isn't a bad song on this soundtrack. My favorite song at the time was "I Go Crazy", but now they are all my favorite. I wore this tape out from listening to it so much over the years. This soundtrack gives Pretty in Pink a run for its money, and in some ways is a much better soundtrack. It's too bad that Some Kind of Wonderful (soundtrack) didn't do as well, because it definately deserved to.