The Phantom of the Opera [HD DVD] Review
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Phantom of the Opera--I enjoyed this movie, considerably more than the Broadway and theater versions. Somehow, from the movie, I understood in a deeper sense the plot of the play.
I could emphasize with the Phantom, the poor disfigured creature and his hopeless love for the young Christine Daae. I could say, "Poor Phantom", while still not wanting him to get the girl.
Emmy Rossum, actually about 18 years old herself, played the 16 year old Christine beautifully, both in terms of acting and operatic voice.
The climax of the film was touching indeed. Her terminally ill husband lays flowers on her grave. He is struck by the flowers and ring, obviously deposited by the Phantom, still alive and still grieving himself for his lost love, Christine.
Although Phantom has been acclaimed for its music, I found the score so-so. It was the depth of the plot that got me. In another film, Billy Crystal expressed his disdain for the Phantom's live theater musical version, paraphrasing as follows: "This guy has a mask, covering his pizza for a face. The main melody of the play is a copycat version of `School Days, School Days.'" Maybe it was plagiarized, but in the film version, I didn't mind one bit.
The Phantom of the Opera [HD DVD] Feature
The Phantom of the Opera [HD DVD] Overview
Warner Brothers The Phantom Of The Opera - HD DVDMusical Dramabased on Andrew Lloyd Webber's celebrated musicalphenomenon. "The Phantom Of The Opera" tells the story of a disfigured musical genius (Gerard Butler) who haunts the catacombs beneath the Paris Opera, waging a reign of terror over its occupants. When he falls fatally in love with the lovely Christine (Emmy Rossum), the Phantom devotes himself to creating a new star for the Opera, exerting a strange sense of control over the young soprano as he nurtures her extraordinary talents.
The Phantom of the Opera [HD DVD] Specifications
Although it's not as bold as Oscar darling Chicago, The Phantom of the Opera continues the resuscitation of the movie musical with a faithful adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's blockbuster stage musical. Emmy Rossum glows in a breakout role as opera ingénue Christine Daae, and if phantom Gerard Butler isn't Rossum's match vocally, he does convey menace and sensuality in such numbers as "The Music of the Night." The most experienced musical theater veteran in the cast, romantic lead Patrick Wilson, sings sweetly but seems wooden. The biggest name in the cast, Minnie Driver, hams it up as diva Carlotta, and she's the only principal whose voice was dubbed (though she does sing the closing-credit number, "Learn to Be Lonely," which is also the only new song).
Director Joel Schumacher, no stranger to visual spectacle, seems to have found a good match in Lloyd Webber's larger-than-life vision of Gaston LeRoux's Gothic horror-romance. His weakness is cuing too many audience-reaction shots and showing too much of the lurking Phantom, but when he calms down and lets Rossum sings "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" alone in a silent graveyard, it's exquisite.
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DVD Features
The special edition of The Phantom of the Opera has two major extras. "Behind the Mask: The Story of The Phantom of the Opera" is an hourlong documentary tracing the genesis of the stage show, with interviews of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, director Harold Prince, producer Cameron Macintosh, lyricists Richard Stilgoe and Charles Hart, choreographer Gillian Lynne, and others. Conspicuously absent are stars Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford. Both do appear in video clips, including Brightman performing with Colm Wilkinson at an early workshop, and Crawford is the subject of a casting segment. Other brief scenes from the show are represented by a 2001 production. The other major feature is the 45-minute making-of focusing on the movie, including casting and the selection of director Joel Schumacher Both are well-done productions by Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group.
The deleted scene is a new song written by Lloyd Webber and Charles Hart, "No One Would Listen," sung by the Phantom toward the end of the movie. It's a beautiful song that, along with Madame Giry's story, makes him a more sympathetic character. But because that bit of backstory already slowed down the ending, it was probably a good move to cut the song. --David Horiuchi
More on The Phantom of the Opera
 The Phantom of the Opera (Special Extended Edition Soundtrack) (CD) |  The Phantom of the Opera (2004 Movie Soundtrack) (CD) |  The Phantom of the Opera (Original 1986 London Cast) (CD) |
 Evita (DVD) |  Andrew Lloyd Weber: The Royal Albert Hall Celebration (DVD) |  More Broadway DVDs |
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A very, very pretty shell of a film... - Andrew Ellington - Mulholland Drive
I am a gigantic fan of the stage play `The Phantom of the Opera'. I've seen it ten times and I'm actually planning on seeing it again in March. I've seen it in Boston twice and once in New York. I've seen nearly every adaptation of it. I mean, I LOVE this story! A few months ago I wrote a review for the 1925 film adaptation, which in my opinion is the best film adaptation of this story. In that review I mentioned that I was a fan of this 04 version. Truth of the matter is that I saw this twice in the theaters and I do own it, but as I've pondered this film (and recently rewatched it) I've come to realize that I'm not as much a fan as I thought.
Here is why.
As I thought about this version two things really stuck out for me. Visually it was sublime. I remember the first time I saw it, I was just literally spellbound. It was seriously like my eyes were seeing heaven for the first time. The clouds parted, the beams of light shone through, and there was Christine, singing her glorious little heart out. The second thing that was ingrained in my head was that Gerard Butler was horribly bad in the title role. While he carried with him a believable angst, his vocal power is just horrible. He was off key, sloppy and lacked any grace and beauty (vocally) that is needed to carry this role.
I have said numerous times that vocal strength is the most important thing when casting a musical, but throwing a vocally retarded actor like Pierce Brosnan a role in `Mama Mia!' is no where near as offensive as handing the coveted and prominent role of THE PHANTOM to an actor who cannot do it justice.
So, as I settled in the other night to give this another whirl I started to realize that the film, while visually captivating (don't let anyone tell you otherwise), this film adaptation is missing something special...heart.
While Emmy Rossum is stellar as Christine, she cannot carry this film on her own. The main emotional focal point here is The Phantom, and Butler is not capable of making him a truly transcendent human being. Because we are restricted from really seeing his face, it is his voice that needs to reach us, and Gerard is not able to do that. While the story is still presented to us in whole form, it doesn't capture the emotional impact of previous adaptations (and of the stage play), even if this version is the most theatrical. Of all the film adaptations, this is the most lavish and visually appealing, and it is the one that most resembles (visually) the stage play. But, visuals are not everything, and sadly that is ALL that this film really provides.
Aside from Rossum, who is, as I mentioned, stellar.
As far as the supporting cast is concerned, the only standout for me was Minnie Driver, whose comedic performance is shrieky but memorably so. She is funny and spunky and adds a nice touch to the film. Patrick Wilson may be pretty (and his voice is immaculate) but he is awfully wooden here and totally forgettable. I like him as an actor (especially his 06 work), but here he is just another set piece; something to look at but never truly `feel'.
So, I recommend this because it is a captivating film, but it is not one that you will really take anything away from. As the years have gone by I wondered why this film really escaped my memory where others have lingered so vividly. Watching this again helped me understand why.
I Guess I Wasn't Comfortable With A Single Two-Hour Long Song - Scott - Texas
I really thought I'd enjoy this movie way more than I did, but by the end I was simply worn out. I'm used to musicals like Mary Poppins that have some song parts and some prose parts, but this Phantom movie is almost entirely song. In many places I cannot distinguish where one song ends and another one begins.
Still, there's no way to ruin the "Think of Me" song at the beginning. It's a masterpiece. I'm glad it isn't near the end, because if it was someone like me would be too tired of the constant music at that point to appreciate it.
I think the casting is good, especially the guy who plays the Phantom, but for goodness sakes, if someone in the movie accounced that he had to go to the bathroom, he would have found a way to sing his predicament instead of say it.
Very Good Movie for low price - Big Jim - NEWINGTON, CONNECTICUT United States
Have always enjoyed the music and have seen the musical both on Broadway and locally. Saw the movie when first out and wanted to see again. Checked Amazon and there it was for a low price. Added it to another purchase so I could get free shipping. Watched the DVD with a friend last wekk and enjoyed both the music and the movie all over again.
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