Haven't I Heard This Before?

So sorry I haven't posted anything lately guys!

Basically all I've been thinking about these past few days is how much awesome Trailers 3.0 is going to be, which is why I think I may have procrastinated in getting this one up. I have a list tttttttttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiissssssssssssssss long of previews I think you are going to like, and I can't wait to share them with you!

Until then, this posting is going to be music related. Read on!

I would like you to watch (mainly listen though) these few videos, right in order as they are presented, and see if you can figure out what makes them all similar.

Okay, now this:

(wait till the end for the relevance for this one. . .)

And last but not least. . .

(basically, relevance at the beginning. . . but feel free to keep watching Sam Worthington-awesomeness!)

Thoughts, anyone?

I first realized something was "up" when I watched the Conviction trailer and thought to myself, I've heard that music somewhere.

After a surprisingly satisfyingly conclusive Google search, I realized the song was originally composed by a man, Steve Jablonsky, and the song is called My Name Is Lincoln, used for the 2005 movie The Island, starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson, directed by Michael Bay (Transformers. . .).

Well.

I also distinctly remembered hearing a song like that to Avatar, and turns out I was right! It was a little harder finding a legit Avatar trailer, but I did, thus my proof: Yes, blog-readers, you are not the only ones who may be experiencing deja entendu (that's a real thing). As in:

Two (and possibly others) major Hollywood movies have used the same music originally written for one major Hollywood movie! In the words of Kenan Thompson's Deandre Cole: What up with that?!

What do you think? Did the directors figure audiences would remember the tune and say, "Since it was used in The Island, a film I liked, I think I'm going to go see Avatar/Conviction" (chrono order and all. . .)?

If that were so, then that's some seriously flawed thinking, because I saw The Island and I don't remember liking it. I might have, but I was younger and probably distracted by Mr. McGregor (he is the main character, after all). So what gives?

This brings me to another music-film related bit, even more trivia you can use to impress your friends with tomorrow. Check out this trailer for Joe Wright's acclaimed, award-winning film Atonement (or just listen)

(You should see this film. As in, watch the entire trailer.)

Further research indicates that the score to this fine film was composed by Dario Marianelli, the same guy who did Wright's other fabulous and award-winning movie Pride & Prejudice. Only problem?

Half of the music in the trailer above was not written by Mr. Marianelli!

If you listen to the trailer (and I implore you, please do) note that the beginning stuff (soft piano, slowly meshing with a typewriter) is indeed Dario Marianelli work, but then. . .

At 1:20, it becomes a new theme, a very light and plain sad piano melody as poor Keira Knightley witnesses her beloved James McAvoy be wrongly apprehended by the police for a terrible deed he did not commit. Drama ensues, naturally.

There are some strings and crashes in the middle (which I'm not sure about) but at about 2:12 there are new strings and a new theme that is terribly, terribly heart-wrenching and emotionally driven. These two spots, 1:20 and 2:12, are not Dario Marianelli, but have instead been composed by a company called X-Ray Dog. The music at 1:20 is called "Breathing Space" and at 2:12, "The Vision." All supplied by X-Ray Dog, and never once mentioned on the soundtrack.

What is X-Ray Dog, you ask?

Simple. According to watching the video under their "About" page, I infer that X-Ray Dog is the in-between source of music available to directors when their hired composer has not yet completed the entire score. You have a trailer done and want people to see it, but don't have music ready for it yet. Go, X-Ray Dog, go!

(I only infer this because nowhere does it say that music by X-Ray Dog is used by directors for the purpose of fitting suitable music into their trailers. But honestly, what other explanation makes sense other than mine?)

In addition to Atonement, music from X-Ray Dog has also been used in films like Harry Potter, Iron Man, Prince Of Persia, Robin Hood, Alice In Wonderland, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring. Interesting, no?

I'm looking for thoughts here, people. Should the film industry continue to use other people's music in trailers unrelated to their own movie? I mean, it's kind of leading folks on, isn't it? Like, one of my favorite composers is Hans Zimmer, whom I wrote about some posts back. If I watched a trailer to a film that I know he did the music for, and I liked the music, I would assume that the music was his. But then say it wasn't. Wouldn't you be upset? I know I would.

Leading movie-goers on is everywhere, though. Check out this trailer for The Informant!. I watched it last night:

(POSSIBLE SPOILER? BELOW)

At 0:45 Damon raises his arm and says, "Good morning, Liz Taylor, secretary" but in the actual movie, he's in a completely different suit when he says it. Leading us on.

Well, I think I've gone on enough. Thoughts on any of this? Did anyone even understand what I was talking about? Did anyone even like any of the music I mentioned? I want comments! Trailers 3.0 on Wednesday! It's the end of June, Inception here we come!