Soundtracks and how important they really are

There's a lot of different ways to rate a soundtrack. If it's fitting, great, then it's at least adequate. If it's not fitting, but sounds good on its own, then it's at least fine musically. If it fits but is boring as a stand alone listen, then it's boring. Etc etc you get the idea. But a truly great soundtrack isn't just fitting and fun to listen to. It's more than the movie. A truly great soundtrack transcends the movie. It becomes so much more than background filler noise. A truly great soundtrack makes the entire thing work. A truly great soundtrack can create an entirely different emotional feel.

Take the American Beauty soundtrack. Without it, the movie is cliché, artsy bullshit. The paper bag scene would be pointless, and all the peace and quiet in the movie would be draggy. With the music, everything becomes actual art. The long scenes are magical and the bag scene is the most beautiful thing you've ever seen.

Better example, Halo. Don't start bitching, stay with me.

Halo is nothing but a generic shooter. Faceless human soldier VS hordes of evil aliens on a strange planet. This game has nothing going for it in the ways of creativity or story or whatever. However, and most people experienced this subconsciously, the incredibly modest and calm soundtrack turns the game from a generic fragfest into something much more substantial. The monk choir turns the main menu into something beautiful, and puts the player's mind at ease. But, more importantly, the music is always sad. Even the most epic of battle songs always have this hint of loss and sadness to them. This gives the player the feeling that even though he's kicking ass, it's all going to be for nothing. The war is almost lost, humanity is screwed. All throughout the game the music  is reminding you that there's a true sense of urgency towards what you're doing. You truly are mankind's last hope.

A good soundtrack doesn't sound like it was written for the movie/game.

A truly good soundtrack sounds like the movie/game was written around the music.