Phantom of the Opera (B+ or 3/4 stars)
'The Phantom of the Opera' is a wonderful Andrew Lloyd Webber musical directed by Joel Schumacher. This film adaptation tells/sings the story of a French opera house that is terrorized by a mortal ghost, or phantom, if you will. Adapted from novel, to a 1925 film, to a stage musical, & now back to film, this movie musical version dazzles as a singing, costume & production design spectacle. The movie isn't perfect, but it's still HIGHLY enjoyable. Paris, 1870: The Opera Populaire has just been purchased by 2 investors, Andre & Fermin (Simon Callow, Ciaran Hinds). The change in ownership enrages the Opera's star soprano, Carlotta (an oddly entertaining Minnie Driver), so much so that she refuses to sing for an upcoming performance.
Because of this, a beautiful chorus girl, Christine Daae (Emmy Rossum) is asked to step-in as the Lead when she auditions well with a beautiful song, Think of Me {movie magic, people -- chills}. Her soprano is heavenly & angelic in voice quality, whereas Carlotta's is bold, brash, & intense, to say the least. Deformed since birth, the mythical Phantom (Gerard Butler) who haunts the Opera House has been tutoring Christine to sing. He's proud of her recent accomplishment & subsequent fame, but is also jealous & scared to lose her. He is her Angel of Music. There's mutual love, though she's not IN love with him. Because his emotions are all over the place, he takes out his anxieties on the House by asserting some rules to be followed: 1) he wants a salary. 2) He needs Box 5 to stay vacant. 3) Christine is to retain the Lead & Carlotta is never to have it back.
Scared, yet furious … the owners, cast & crew ignore him. But this only turns the Phantom into more of a madman. He is already bereft that Christine is in love with handsome childhood sweetheart, Raoul (Patrick Wilson) & vice-versa. So, outraged at their love, the Phantom kidnaps Christine & takes her to his catacomb lair. Hers, Raoul's, & the Phantom's fate hang in the air. Dramatic, gorgeously stirring music tells the remainder of this story.
Sumptuous is a word I’d use to describe 'The Phantom of the Opera'. The true star(s) are the camerawork, the 19th c. costumes & the magnificent set designs (including the crashing chandelier scene!). Throughout the proceedings, I found my mouth agape just watching this film. I was able to go to a movie & escape to this beautifully depicted world. Also stellar is the music. How could it not be? It makes or breaks the movie (the storyline is a bit bizarre; it's the music that grabs us when the characters do not). Numbers such as The Phantom of the Opera, Music of the Night, All I Ask of You, & Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again are sung with as much boisterousness, raw emotion & finesse as required of them. They're wonderful.
Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson & Miranda Richardson are very good in their roles. Though Gerard Butler is not 'bad', I'm sure there would have been more suitable choices to play the Phantom. The Phantom sings a lot, yet Butler is not the best of singers. And seeing as he's a rather good looking chap, I scratch my head at how he could be picked to play an ugly, disfigured man, shunned away from a vicious world of strangers. Also, the play is long; as is this film. Parts of it are over-the-top, but that's the nature of the play, as well. And finally, there's no way the film could ever top the magnitude & excellence of the Broadway production. Given all that, with my unabashed love for 'The Phantom of the Opera', I still give this a radiant thumbs up.
Because of this, a beautiful chorus girl, Christine Daae (Emmy Rossum) is asked to step-in as the Lead when she auditions well with a beautiful song, Think of Me {movie magic, people -- chills}. Her soprano is heavenly & angelic in voice quality, whereas Carlotta's is bold, brash, & intense, to say the least. Deformed since birth, the mythical Phantom (Gerard Butler) who haunts the Opera House has been tutoring Christine to sing. He's proud of her recent accomplishment & subsequent fame, but is also jealous & scared to lose her. He is her Angel of Music. There's mutual love, though she's not IN love with him. Because his emotions are all over the place, he takes out his anxieties on the House by asserting some rules to be followed: 1) he wants a salary. 2) He needs Box 5 to stay vacant. 3) Christine is to retain the Lead & Carlotta is never to have it back.
Scared, yet furious … the owners, cast & crew ignore him. But this only turns the Phantom into more of a madman. He is already bereft that Christine is in love with handsome childhood sweetheart, Raoul (Patrick Wilson) & vice-versa. So, outraged at their love, the Phantom kidnaps Christine & takes her to his catacomb lair. Hers, Raoul's, & the Phantom's fate hang in the air. Dramatic, gorgeously stirring music tells the remainder of this story.
Sumptuous is a word I’d use to describe 'The Phantom of the Opera'. The true star(s) are the camerawork, the 19th c. costumes & the magnificent set designs (including the crashing chandelier scene!). Throughout the proceedings, I found my mouth agape just watching this film. I was able to go to a movie & escape to this beautifully depicted world. Also stellar is the music. How could it not be? It makes or breaks the movie (the storyline is a bit bizarre; it's the music that grabs us when the characters do not). Numbers such as The Phantom of the Opera, Music of the Night, All I Ask of You, & Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again are sung with as much boisterousness, raw emotion & finesse as required of them. They're wonderful.
Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson & Miranda Richardson are very good in their roles. Though Gerard Butler is not 'bad', I'm sure there would have been more suitable choices to play the Phantom. The Phantom sings a lot, yet Butler is not the best of singers. And seeing as he's a rather good looking chap, I scratch my head at how he could be picked to play an ugly, disfigured man, shunned away from a vicious world of strangers. Also, the play is long; as is this film. Parts of it are over-the-top, but that's the nature of the play, as well. And finally, there's no way the film could ever top the magnitude & excellence of the Broadway production. Given all that, with my unabashed love for 'The Phantom of the Opera', I still give this a radiant thumbs up.