The List: #205- Massachusetts (5/50)

 Got to spend some of spooky season last year in a really spooky town. State number 5 was Massachusetts!

So, one of the only good things that came out of my Italy trip last year was, I got a little bit of credit for plans tickets. I had just enough to cover a round trip ticket to Boston, Massachusetts. Sarah, out friend Beth, and myself decided to go! 

So, we went to some great sites of the start of American history. Like the Boston Tea Party museum. This is also a big walking town, so we walked like 9-10 miles the first day. So, it was a lot, but we got to see so much of the city. 

They also have a great map of all of the historic sites in Boston, all you have to do is follow the red brick road.... not kidding it's really a red brick road! 

Since we went in October, we decided that we were going to go and see Salem, Mass! 

We got to see the Witch Museum, took a walking tour of the history of the Witch Trials, and other historical moments in Salem. I really loved that we got to see so many sites from the movie Hocus Pocus and found out that there was a history of the TV show Bewitched here as well. 

I really loved exploring a new part of the US and I am excited to one day go back and visit another state. 

The List: #205- Florida (4/50)

 Let's take a trip to the beach! State four is Florida!

So, we did something a little different to Christmas in 2025, we went to the beach! Now, I am really not a beach person, I have gotten better, but I do find the beach a bit boring. However, I had a pretty good time the last few times I have been to the beach. 

So, we went to St George Island, Florida. That last time I was here was in 2010 when one of my older brother's got married. Needless to say it's been a while. 

Now, we didn't get the chance to see both of my older brothers, but I did get to see one of them, my SIL, and my oldest Niece and Nephew. Now, as much as I want to share my family pic I am not going to, but I will show you where I ended up most of the time.

This is Tugger. This is my older brother's dog, this is the last trip he got to make to the beach. He passed away a few weeks ago, so I was glad I got to see him. He has been in their family since my Nephew was less than 10 (he is in his early 20s now), so he has been around for a while. 

He and I got to be couch potatoes together. 

Anyways, we had a love Christmas together, maybe next time we will get all of my siblings there, but we will see. 

The List: #205- Arizona (3/50)

 Well, here come state three!

So, like I said when we were talking about Nevada, the second day that we were in Vegas we went out of state, to Arizona! 

We found a wonderful bus tour that took us to see the Hover Dam and the Grand Canyon. It picked us up from our hotel, and took us to the the Las Vegas sign (not originally on the itinerary but we didn't plan on seeing it at all cause of time. So, it was a nice little God wink for me). 

The Hoover Dam was a quick, and fun first stop. we got to take all of the dam pictures, and make all of the dam jokes.

We got to eat a wonderful breakfast at a local place, and got to drive through Joshua Tree National Park. We then got to the Grand Canyon!

I have to say that it was one of the most beautiful sites I have ever gotten to see! 

The List: #205- Nevada (2/50)

 State two on the tour around the country is Nevada!

So, how in the world did I end up here? 

That would be thanks to my wonderful roommate, Sarah! She suggested, sometime last year, that I should go see The Wizard of Oz at the Sphere in Las Vegas. I told her that I had no one to go with, and she said she would go with me. So, we booked tickets, and off we went to VEGAS BABY!

Ok, I promise I won't say that again. However, I am in THE place that Frank Sinatra helped to build! I got to walk in his footsteps to this sign behind me in the picture here. I got to were the Rat Pack used to perform! It's was such a cool experience! 

This first day we were there, we got off the plane, and walked for eleven miles! Not kidding, everything hurt. The second day we went out of the state (more on that later), and the third day we walked the strip, and then we were in the Sphere to watch the Greatest movie ever made!

The Venetian still had their decor for the movie releasing, and I was so excited to be there! 

Now, I loved seeing the movie, I am still mad that they took away 30 minutes of the movie, but it was a great experience! I am so that that Sarah Suggested we go!

The List: #205- Tennessee (1/50)

 So, of course we are going to start with were I live, the great state of Tennessee!

I love my home state! There is, truly, no place in the world that I would rather live. I surrounded by mountains and all of the outdoor activities, and all the of the wonderful theater that I could see. I have a great church, great family, and great groups of friends that make living here ever better. I have been active in volunteering, site seeing, and exploring my hometown and other cities around here. 

While I could go on and on of the list of things I have done in the last year, like with how many times I have been to the Tennessee Theatre. I have decided to choose a different activity, that I drove out of my city for, last July. 

Last year, and I have mentioned a few times in the last little bit, SUCKED! There wasn't I was much interested in doing anything, seeing anyone or going anywhere. I was a little bit broken, a WHOLE lot of depressed, and really felt like I wasn't allowed to have fun anymore. That is until July 11,  2025. 

I had other plans that day, and I was hoping they would work out, but I knew deep down they weren't going to. I have to thank God for His divine intervention because the timing could not have worked out better. The week before July 11th, I didn't know what I as going to do if these plans fell through. Then I was watching WWE and saw that Smackdown was going to be live at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville that very same day. Now, I didn't want to cancel that plans that I had, but decided if the other person canceled, than I wouldn't be upset and just go to WWE instead. 

Well, wouldn't you know it? That plans got canceled the night before, like almost totally last minute. So, I woke up on the Friday and bought me a ticket, front row on the balcony across from the entrance! 

This was the night the Jellyroll was live in the ring. It set up his tag team fight with him and THE Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul at Summer Slam. I got to see Jey and Jimmy Uso, LA Night, Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, and Trish Stratus! 

It was the first time since since my awful Italy trip that I felt like there was hope on feeling better. I was very blessed that the rational side of my brain was good and reminded me that things were going to get better, but this was the first thing that made me feel like I was going to get better. I got to yell, boo, cheer, celebrate, and be pissed off for over two ours, with several thousand other people. I got to be in the room where everyone was booing Logan Paul, and that was a crazy energy to be around! 

I am so thankful that I got the chance to go on this adventure last year, and WWE is going to be in my own back yard here in a few weeks, and I can not wait to go again! 

Did it still take months to heal? Yes! Am I still healing? Yes! Was WWE a very big part of that? Yes! The reason being, I had a place that I could safely place my anger. Every single time in the last year the Logan Paul has shown his face, I have YELLED at my tv! I was allowed to be frustrated and mad at a man I have never met, because he is doing his job very well by playing a great heel! 

Like I said, I could praise Tennessee in many, many ways, and in all of that things I have gotten to do here. However, this was the first sign of life I found in myself last year and I felt like it needs it's moment in the sun. 

So, I may do another post about something more "Tennessee" related later this year, but for now, WWE gong the three count for the win this time. 

The List: #205 - Go to all 50 States

 So we have a new thing to cross off from "The List" but it comes with it own sub-list. 

So #205 is to go to all 50 states. Since every state will require it's own blog post, the titles are going to be weird. I decided to do this last year, and I have been to a few states last year, but there are going to be a few rules. 

1. I must do an activity in whatever state that I am in. I don't have to stay the night, but I need to go to the state for a reason. It does not need to be somethin that the state is known for,  just have to do an activity there.

2. Though I have been to several states already, I am going to try and "start over". An example of this is I was in Oklahoma when I was a very small child and I don't remember it. I was also in New York last year when I flew to Italy, but I never left the airport, so that doesn't count either. So, we are going to start from like 2025 and go from there. 

3. Washington D.C., though not a state, will be counted as part of this. 

So, I think that is all. Now to play a little bit of catch up. 

Brian Tyler Takeover: Partition

 We get a historical fiction for the first time this challenge! 

Partition is a 2007 movie about the time when India was divided between by religious views. Muslims and secular India were separated. When the partition happened, thousands of Muslims fled to the news boarders of the perspective counties in order to flee from persecution. Gian, a former soldier who only wants peace and is dealing with his own guilt, finds a woman, Naseem, hiding after refugee she was traveling with where attacked, and killed. Instead of attacking, like she expected, Gian takes her back to his home to protect her from those that would want to kill her. While in his car, Gian, with the help of friends, start looking to see if her family survived and where they might be living. This information takes years to find, and during that time Gian and Naseem fall in love, much to the chagrin of the other people in the village. They soon marry, and get word that her family is alive, and makes the trip to visit them. The only problem is, once they find out who she married, her family will not let her go. Gian now must try to reunite him family that most people don't think should exists in the first place. 

I have never heard of this movie before, and I am very glad that I watched it. I love historical fiction because I get to learn about things I never knew about while also following well written characters of the period. 

This is the movie Brian Tyler becomes Brian Tyler. there was so much of this film that made me think of his work in Thor: The Dark World. This is the movie that make me realized that Mr. Tyler has a wonderful talent to write music for characters in the situations, not just the place or situation as a whole. There was some feel of what music from India would include, but also his use of strings in this film made my heart ache along with the characters. This is start what I already know Brian Tyler to be 

Brian Tyler Takeover: The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift

 No this movie comes with an unexpected movie watching challenge. So, Brian Tyler has done several of the Fast and Furious movies in the franchise. Since I will be watching a good deal of them for this challenge, I figured that I need to know what the heck is actually happening, so I decided that I will be watching all of the movie in the franchise this year. Now, for the sake of my own sanity, I will not be writing around all of the movies, just the one that Mr. Tyler has composed for. So, let's talk about this first one he composed for, from 2006, The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift.

 Sean is a high schooler who is always getting in trouble, and has finally come to the end of the line with his mom. He cause a catastrophic amount of damage while street racing, and now his is being shipped off to his Military Father while he is serving in Tokyo. There is learns about drift racing and gets himself into more trouble then he thought possible. Now he has a massive amount to debt to clear, along with keeping the peace with his peers. 

Now, I will say that the first Fast movie I have ever seen was Fast X. I watched it like a dozen times in the theater because I hated my apartment and it was the only movie worth going to in order to escape where I was living. I also found the movie really fun, and and great popcorn movie. Since I did like it so much, and finding out Brian Tyle did the music, made me want to watch the rest of the films. So, I like that I have an excuse to do so. 

Now, I have to say, that after watching the other two, I have no idea what happening. Like we had two movies that seemed to follow one person, and plot, to have everything just be thrown out the window, and the only thing connecting the three movies is Vin Diesel's camo at the end of the film. However, since I have seen the tenth movie, I know Han is alive, and somehow part of Dom's crew at some point. Which makes less sense cause Han is a high school teenager, so how in the world did he roll with Dom back in the day? So, I hope I get some real answers and not just a "drink the cool-aid and shut up" situation. 

Mr. Tyler's music is starting to shine! This is the first time that I feel like he composed for characters in situations and not just "this is how you compose an action scene". Since I know what coming for the music in the Tenth movie, I can't wait to see if there any any connections of music with the characters as the movies go on. 

Brian Tyler Takeover: Annapolis

 So, I thought we were onto some good movies, and 2006's Annapolis was not what I was thinking it was going to be. 

James Franco stars at Jake Huard, a young man whose goal is to join the military academy. When he does get the chance of a lifetime to join, he is excited but finds that it's not fully what he expected. 

Now, this is not the worst movie, but name was it lost in it's own lessons. It's the usual troupe of "someone who doesn't belong here defies the odd and proves everyone wrong" but with one big "oops". The "oops" is that the start of the movie they make a big deal that Huard is good a boxing, and that how he likes to solve conflicts for the most part. It's like two thirds of the way through the movie before they introduce the fact that there is a huge boxing competition at the end of the year. It's a mess of movie to be honest.

Mr. Tyler music also got caught up in a little lack of creativity in this movie, and I don't think it's his fault. The problem with military movies is that there is ALWAYS a lot of military style marching snares in the music. This is no exception, however, there wasn't nearly as much snare drum as most military movie provide. So, I was thankful that he did not fall fully into the troupe. Hopefully, the next movie we can not be pigeon holed into a troupe.  

Brian Tyler Takeover: the Greatest Game Ever Played

 Finally! Finally, a movie the delivers the start of what Brian Tyler's music can do, and it's actually a good movie! From 2005, The Greatest Game Ever Played.

Shia LeBeouf stars at Francis Ouimet in this Disney Biopic. Francis grew up loving golf, but was never really allowed to play, since only gentleman that are part of the golf club can really play. He did caddie for most of these gentleman since he lives across the street from The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. However, during the 1913 US Open, the club decides to let an amateur enter the competition. Francis is given the chance to enter, and become the first amateur to win the US Open. 

This movie has all of the earmark of a classis Disney biopic The only real critique I have for the film is there are some very weird editing choices that were made that, had they not been allowed to happen, would have made it a near perfect film. The story was interesting and tense enough to keep you attention but also not so heavy with the drama that makes you eyes roll. For someone who is not interested in golf, I think that the tension felt in this movie is how a golf game should be reflected to those who do enjoy golf. 

Mr. Tyler is finally here! I still can't tell you why I feel a connection with this man's compositions, but this is the first time I feel like I have really heard a Brian Tyler score since we have started. There have been plenty of bits a pieces of him here and there, but this is the first time I felt like he arrived! I'm very much excited for what is next!

Brian Tyler Takeover: Paparazzi

 We are back to a terrible movie from 2004, Paparazzi.

I'm not going to spend much time here. New big time actor gets mad at the paparazzi for taking his picture. The paparazzi are mob like and start like chasing the actor and causes a wreck that nearly kills his wife and kid. The actor goes on a killing spree of the revenge against the men.

Look this movie was so bad that I barley paid attention to it. I doubt the if this was Mr. Tyler's best work (thank goodness its not) it would have improved anything. 

Brian Tyler Takeover: The Final Cut

 This movie from 2004 is one that shocked me that I haven't heard or seen before, and it has Robin Williams in it! The Final Cut. 

The future is here in this movie! Robin Williams is what is known as a "cutter" for people who have an implanted memory storage in their head. All visual and audio of their lives are recorded. The purpose is to be able to reflect at the end of the persons life and cutter is the one who watches their lives and put together the best part of the lives. This is done and shown to friends and family at the 'Remembery". When a big wig at the corporation that makes the implants dies, everyone wants to get their hands on the unedited version of his life so the true plots of these devices are implanted. Williams character takes great pride in being the best cutter of the business, until he finds out that his parents had an implant installed into him at birth. Now, not only does he carry all the memories of his own life, but of all those whose lives he has reviewed. Which makes him the biggest target. 

Now, I can totally understand why this movie is a little under the radar, but really it's closer to what the world is coming to than a lot of other movies out there. 

Brian Tyler's composition for this film was subtle but, I think it was more over shadowed by the movie.    

Brian Tyler Takeover: Perfect Opposites

 We finally have ourselves a cute little love story! From 2004, Perfect Opposites. 

A young couple that meets in college decide to move to LA on a whim after they graduate from college. Big dreams and expectations come to a head when nothing goes how either of them thought it would. 

So, this was a cute movie, but not remarkable. As for the music. I don't remember anything from it at all. Sorry Mr. Tyler, I hope I can see some your wonderful hand work in the other films that you have soon!

Brian Tyler Takeover: Timeline

 We are still a little bit into the "odd" movie era here today. Today, from 2003, Timeline.

In the modern times of 2003, a group of archeologists are exploring the ruins of a battlefield in ancient France. When a secret Government group of time travelers come to them for help when on the men comes back from the past and dies, leaving behind lots of questions with no answers. They ask the archeologists help, because they would be the best group of people to ask to navigate the time era that they are dealing with. 

I honestly have no idea why anyone thought that this movie was a good idea? I mean, I get they it has both Paul Walker and Gerard Butler, but man was the plot of this movie week. 

We aren't here to talk about the plot of this movie, it's the music that is the focal point of this year. I don't find the music of this movie something to be worth remembering. I feel like there were moments during the battle scene toward the end that are the starts of the magic the Brian Tyler has. However, it's wasn't quite there yet. 

 

Brian Tyler Takeover: The Big Empty

   We are talking about an odd movie today, The Big Empty.

Debt will make you do some crazy things. When a struggling actor gets the chance to get debt free, he takes that chance. He is asked to take a suitcase to a small town in the desert and give it to someone named Cowboy. The town he gets to is strange. There is a man who hold John at gunpoint to try and get his girl back, a conspiracy theorist who believes in aliens, and the FBI trying to find 75 people who have gone missing from this town. 

No this time I got to really enjoy the music of this movie differently. I really got to listen to this movie more than watch because I was ripping up carpet in the living room. So, watching wasn't really happening. However, the music was great... until I got to one part of the film and I was having many questions about why the composition was done the way that it was. It really didn't match the red of the score, or the movie, at all. However, I do feel like the music matched the movie very well  

Brian Tyler Takeover: The Hunted

 So, we finally get to watch one of the earlier movies in Mr. Tyler's career. From 2003, The Hunted.

When a former special operation officer is found to be murdering people in a State Park in Oregon, his former survival instructor is forced to locate him. 

So, this movie is not overall the great in my opinion. It was kind of slow and very easy to  no pay attention. Which is odd because when you have the cast of Tommy Lee Jones and Benicio Del Toro, you asking for a pretty great film. I think that for a thriller action movie it might have needed more of both.

As for the musical score. For the record again, I know nothing about music so I have no clue what I am really talking about. 

It could be that I had a hard time paying attention to this movie, but I don't remember there being so much of a musical score. There was one point of the end of the film that I felt like it was prominent, but I am not sure. That one point of the movie the score felt like it was movie and well placed. 

Hopefully, the further we go down the line the more it will hear and understand. 

Best Picture Challenge: Anora

 So, I took me long enough!

The 2025 Best Picture Winner: Anora

This 2024 film is about a woman named Anora. She is a call girl/stripper that ends up meeting a man, Vanya, who comes from money and is about to go back to Russia to start working. In an attempt to have fun the last two weeks he is here, he hires her to be his fake girlfriend for that time. In the process thy goes to Vegas, get married, and they both think they are going to have it made in their new life together. However, when his parents find out, they come to the states to make them get an annulment. Vanya runs away from the three bodyguards that his parents sent to keeps him there, and this leads guards and Anora on an all night man hunt to find him. 

So, I didn't even hear of this movie last year before is was announced for Best Picture Nominee. Now that I have seen it.. I have no clue why it was nominated or how in the world that it won. 

It starts off like it's going to be some sort of "Cinderella" type deal. That she doesn't have to be a prostitute anymore, and can change her life. She gets like 25,000 total at the end of the film, ends up with and annulment, thinking that the man-child actually was in love with her. I'm watching this going that someone who is that line of work can not be that stupid to think that She was going to get a happy ever after that way. With a "man" like that. I mean he is spoiled boy whose parents all of a sudden expect him to grow up and start working, when he never had to before. He those money at everything, money that is not his and says so at the start of the film. 

So, this is a going into the category of never going to watch again, next to most of the Best Picture winners from the 70s.

Now Fly! Fly!: Marry Poppins

 So, Obedience only works when you actually listen and follow through on the actions. Sometime the rules don't make sense, or the things asked of you make less sense. Like snapping you fingers and it cleans your room. 

Marry Poppins is a 1964 film about a seemingly magical Nanny that comes the Banks House to take care of Jane and Michael. She expect everything to be "spit spot" and for the children to listen to her when asks them to do something. She seems rather stern with the kids, but really she cares for them and know that sometimes following rules can actually make your life better, even when not listening seems like more fun. Really, she is there to make the Bank's family closer, since Mr. Banks and Mrs. Banks seem to not see much past the end of their own nose. 

This, or course, is a classic film that I have seen many times in my life. I have quoted it, and wished that I could laugh to hard that I could float. Every time I hear someone with a unique laugh, I always hear the different ways Marry Poppins and Bert laugh to show how many different types there are. 

However, asked myself what is the lesson about obedience should I take away from this movie? Well thankfully, the movie gave me  direct quote.

"In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and snap, the job's a game."

In reality when it comes to my faith, there have been times where I am getting up in the morning and follow a schedule. It allows for time for me to read my Bible, Pray, and spend some very much needed time with God. When I do follow it I feel so at peace, and like walking into the world focused and not stressed. It's not a game but there is an element of fun when I am obedient in my walk. 

Like I have said, this last year has been heartbreaking and I  can't get myself to do much more than what I need to do. However, here is the truth. I need to have that time more than I need anything else. I am not just now sure why I mentally dread it now. 

I know that that was in issue before last year's drama started, but it's only escalated. The times in the last year that I have made myself get up and do everything I feel so much better! Then something happen and I skip and it all goes down hill. 

I know that consistency is something that I need to really focus on this coming month.  

Brian Tyler Takeover: There Are None

 So, Plot twist, I didn't watch any Brian Tyler movies this month. 

Why?

Well, none of the first seven films were available to stream. 

List of Movies:

1. Bartender

2. Six String Samurai

3. The Settlement

4. Simon Sez

5. Shadow Hours

6. Panic

7. Four Dogs Playing Poker

In years past I would normally find the movies and buy them so I can make everything happen. Well, I decided that I am going to be smart, and not do that. The things is I know that it would ultimately be note a good use of my money. I would watch the movies once, never watch them again, and then either give sell them, or trade them in at Mckay's. Both would be for less money than I would have bought them for. So, February will have to be the month that I watch and report. 

However, my Music for the Movies Class starts this coming week, and I know there are movies that Brian Tyler has composed for that I can watch. So, Hopefully whatever I learn for the class will be applied for when I do watch his movies!

Welcome To 2026!!!

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

What a crazy ride that 2025 was, but it's honestly the first time in a long time that I have been happy to see a year go! It's been crazy but I now that this year has to be better than last. I don't know how but I think it will be.

This year I do have some cool projects that I will be doing, and I already have plans that I have coming that I know are going to be so much fun! However, This year marks 10 years since my first successful project My Year Of Review. It's been 10 years since I watched 100 movies in the theaters! I can't believe that it' been that long! So many changes have happened not only in Movies in general but in my life. Would I love to watch 100 movies in the theater again? Yes, but I am not going to because I have so much going on already. However, I am so thankful for that year because it's one of the best years of my life, but it's also lead me here. I never thought I would try, and experience, so many wonderful things just because movies inspired me to do it. 

So, what are this year's project? 

Well, we are talking Obedience and... music?

So, I have done several projects over the years that have dealt with my faith. However, it's just part of it. In the last few years I have struggled with Obedience, and this year that is going to be my focus. Now, I am not going to like do a whole big excel sheet, or a step by step process of what I need to do. I already know what I need to do, I have just not been doing it. Whether that is out of laziness, heartbreak, or any excuse that I can come up with, it needs to change. I need to change. So, I will be starting my normal mourning routine again, and I am sure when I start being obedient in the everyday then I am sure God will ask me to do something I find CRAZY! 

If/when God asks me to do something crazy, I will write about it here through that year as it happens. If nothing else, I will be writing how I am feeling and if I have been keeping up with talking to God on the daily. I will be continuing the Bible Recap with Tara-Light Cobble and I have another year long bible reading plan that looks really good that I will try to get through as well. I have spent all of last year listening to books written by R.C. Sproul and I have enjoyed them. However, listening to a book doesn't stick to me like reading it with my eyes does. So, this year I want to start my way through the Bible Recap's study books. They are like 10 week long courses so I hope to start that in the next few months, because I have a Bible study I have been neglecting called Braved and Beloved by Meredith Storrs. I have done the first two lessons and I really want to see that through before in over my head. 

This project is still based in a character from The Wizard of Oz and that would be the Flying Monkeys. They do not speak in the film, but The Wicked Witch of the West tells them "Now Fly! Fly!". In the book the monkey are controlled by a golden helmet that I forget how the Wicked Witch attains. They Monkeys are forced to be Obedient. Now, this year is not meant to see if being Obedient to God is good or bad, because I already know that it's good. I have walked long enough with the Lord to know that. However, sometimes we are obedient to the wrong person, and that's bad. Sometimes we can't help it, because of a curse, we are scared not to be, or because we tricked. The Devil doesn't want us to be obedient to anyone, so we can unknowingly follow him to our death without knowing Jesus. What I want to explore is what does the obedience that character are follow, or forced to follow, looks like and how we can be tricked that it's a good or a bad thing. 

The next project is going with a theme I didn't plan for this year but it's falling into place on it's own. 

The Brian Tyler Takeover. 

So what is this all about? Well, Brian Tyler is a composer to has TAKEN OVER MY HEAD! 

Back in like 2018, I was at work watching a movie on my phone listening to it with my headphones. The movie was Now You See Me 2. It was where Morgan Freeman is on the plan with Mark Ruffalo going to China to get the Horseman. Now, I turned my head and I heard fives notes. Just five. The scene that was now in my head from these five notes is not what is playing on the phone. It was a scene Thor: The Dark World. This Thor movie is my all time favorite stand alone Marvel film of all time. I love the soundtrack to that film. The violins when Frigga is sent off for her burial at sea and her soul float ups to the stars pinches my heart ever single time I hear it. Finding out he did both of these movies was shocking. I have never been able to pick out a composer of a film before. There was something about this fact that altered my brain.

Little did I know just how much until 2023. 

Picture it.. April 2023, me sitting in the movie theater watching Super Mario Bros. and the last battle scene is coming on, it just hits me out no where that the musical score of this film is brilliant! I didn't play many Mario games when I was young but I have played enough to know what the video game sounds are like. I can recognize sounds from the game even if I don't know what sound means what. However, this music that was so wonderfully epic fit so well into the film. It incorporated the video game sounds and the insane adventure of the world in a way I didn't know that any could. It was like the music was not just there to help you feel what you needed to feel in the moments that you needed to feel it, but it was there as part of the world building. 

It was Brian Tyler. 

May 2023... Fast X.... same thing happens

June 2024... Transformers One... THE SAME THING HAPPENS.

I tell my best friend Alaina about this craziness in 2025. I tell her that I have this weird ear to pick up on Brian Tyler's compositions and I don't know why. She laughs and agrees that it's weird. 

We are currently watching all of the Marvel films in release order. We get to Thor: The Dark World and I tell her like what I love about the music and tell her again on this weird thing. Fast forward a few months and are watching Avengers: Age of Ultron....

I tell Alaina the music is really good..... 

BRIAN FREAKING TYLER!!!! 

You think 2025 I would be left alone cause there is no way that this is happening. Then Now You See Me Now You Don't comes out and I figured that Mr. Tyler has done the other two films it's very possible that he is doing this one as well. He is.... no big deal I saw it coming. 

Then my roommate and I go and see Nuremberg. It was during the part where the Nazi general is about to take his own life, because he was found guilty during the trials, that there was something about the moment where just a few notes his and the Brian Tyler bell went off in the back of my head. I tried to deny it. I really did because I have not known Mr. Tyler to do a film that was historically based. It was just odd to me..... 

The credits rolled... as did my eyes.... Brian Tyler. 

I thought I was done till I started watching Yellowstone for the first time a few weeks ago, and yet again Brian Tyler is now following me to the small screen as well. 

So, I give up. I am goin to watch this man's filmography. Now, I know that there seem to be a good number of scary films under his belt so I am not sure what to do about that. However, I will watch all of the other movies that he has done. I will say where I thought that music was just perfect and why, and then we will see if I can still pick him out of a random movie I see during the week still. 

The other reason that I love that I am doing something with music this year is because I just signed up for a Music for the Movies class at the University of Tennessee. It a just for fun class but I think everything is aligning for me to to do something with music and why not the man whose music has been surprising me for the past seven years?

So, there we are. We have the year set up and ready to go... Well at least the plan, I still need to hammer some stuff out but we are getting there. 

I am looking forward to all the things that this year has coming up and I can't wait to see what God has in store!