How is music used to enhance the visuals in a movie?

I disagree with Luigi on one point: I think it's okay if the music is noticed and remembered. Take the Jurassic Park theme; everyone can call it to mind and whenever you hear it you're reminded of a great adventure film. Same with Indiana Jones. Lots of movies had great themes that people might always remember (that's part of what makes them Oscar-worthy).

the music can either catch some1s attention, add to the drama, or in the case of a scary movie, make the "scare" really freak somebody out. music in movies is what really changes the mood, or adds to it.

if the film is truely created by an artist, then everything in the film will have meaning. With that , then the music is colaborated by the director- his feelings, his intentions with that of an orchestrator whom will blend movement and feeling into music that represents that feeling and course of the film.. Notice that when you 'notice' the music....that it doesn't relate. It has nothing to do with how good the music is. It has to do with 'fitting' the theme, in the human condition. The music may be ' up' and excellent, and will stand out because the film called for perhaps something in desperation, suffering.........the best music in a movie will actually not be remembered......the movie will be remembered.....if this is the result, then the orchestrator hit the mark

Music enhances the feeling and emotion in movies. Good music for movies makes the movie more alive and more terrifying, sad, fast-paced, or memorable.