Concerning the genre spectrum, Big Fish and Cold Mountain are miles apart. The first is a magical assortment of reality and fantasy driven by a man running from a loved one; the second is a historical fiction propelled by a man seeking a loved one. In addition to the dramatic and thematic differences, the underscoring of both films is opposing in the methods used to achieve similar ends; namely, serving the five functions. Danny Elfman, the composer for this Tim Burton film, interlaced an intricate and organized underscoring for the film, forming a piece that rivals that of Edward Scissor Hands.

A first noticeable difference between the two films is the sheer amount of underscoring and source music used in one film as compared to another. Big Fish uses abounding amounts of film music, varied in nature from jovial to disheartening. The tall-tell film required the necessary amounts...