Phantom of the Opera brings to the screen all the beauty, music, breath-taking sets, and colors that you would expect from such an epic musical that came from the talent of Andrew Lloyd Webber.
I never had the opportunity to see the musical on the stage, but was caught in the spell that Webber’s music and the cast's talent weave from the second the movie begins. The film is simply magic and hypnotizing to watch.
The movie’s cast includes Gerald Butler (Timeline) as the Phantom, Emmy Rossum (Mystic River) as Christine, Patrick Wilson (The Alamo) as Raoul, Miranda Richardson (The Hours) as Madame Giry, and Minnie Driver (Ella Enchanted) as Carlotta. Joel Schumacher (Phone Booth) directed it and wrote the screenplay for the movie with Webber.
I had my doubts about Butler’s ability to play the Phantom, but the actor quickly won me over through his portrayal of the character’s sadness and darkness. Butler does an amazing job in the movie and seems haunting from his first moment on screen. You can’t help but feel sorry for him, but be repulsed by his lack of emotion for human life.
The actor is excellent in the way he brings out the Phantom’s obsession with Christine and we clearly see that there is more than love driving him over the edge towards the end of the movie.
Butler’s intensity in the scenes where Christine removes his mask at the beginning or when he duels with Raoul is great. You find yourself hanging on every word and waiting to see what he will do next. He never lets you forget that this man is tormented but also demented. The Phantom will kill for what he feels belongs to him and doesn’t give murder a second thought.
Rossum also does a good job in her portrayal of Christine and the innocence of the character. This innocence is what makes her fall so easily under the spell of Butler and helps us understand why it seems she is incapable of fending off his advances. Her voice is also breathtaking and makes you want to fall in love with the character.
The film’s stars deliver the same passion and romance that was on the stage.
The movie also has some great comedic moments thanks to Minnie Driver’s diva Carlotta. I wish she could have been in it more, but honestly I don’t think I could have handled her voice (which was dubbed and not Driver’s own). She really hams up the part - which works great since she is playing such a spoiled actress.
The music continues to be the driving force of the film and can literally make you feel as though you are in some kind of trance as the movie plays. Songs like “Music of the Night” makes the film’s mood seem gothic and even after all these years can still grab you. The Phantom of the Opera score is one that sends chills down the spine and helps to set the mood for the entire movie.
Schumacher, who I also doubted when I heard he was going to direct, handles the musical with great vision. The film’s setting and pace keep the spell like feeling throughout the entire film, and transcends from stage to screen nicely.<!--page-->
Butler is haunting and tragic as the Phantom.
The lush sets, costumes and colors help add to the mystery and gothic elements of the story. Butler’s cape, at times, makes him seem almost like a ghost. The use of dark colors, especially during the Don Juan Triumphant scenes, and shadows keep the film tied to some of its early horror roots.I have been a fan of the Phantom of the Opera story since I first saw the Lon Chaney version as a kid. When the musical came out, I was instantly taken by Michael Crawford’s voice and the way it all seemed so gothic. Although I never got to experience the musical on stage, the movie gave me a taste of what that magic must have been like. It is truly a beautiful movie to watch with great performances from everyone in the cast and music that will stay with you for days after you watch it.
The move comes in a two-disc version with the second disc consisting of special features that include a look at the overall story of Phantom of the Opera and the making of the movie adaptation.
The second disc also has an additional scene featuring the Phantom singing “No One Would Listen.”
The Phantom of the Opera's main menu
During the Behind The Mask: The Story of “Phantom of the Opera,” Webber talks about how the idea came to him to turn the story into a romance musical and how it grew from idea to the phenomenon that it became. It goes into how the book and other stage and screen versions differed from the musical. It is really interesting to watch and see how this musical took shape, and the struggles it went through.
The making of feature consists of the origins and casting of the movie, the designing of the picture, the movie’s supporting cast, and recording the album of “Phantom of the Opera.”
The origins and casting of the movie talks about how it took 18 years to get to the screen, and the pressures that the actors, especially Butler, felt when taking the roles. Webber discusses how the film gives the musical a chance to reach a younger audience that couldn’t afford to or wouldn’t see it at a stage theater, but will at a movie theater.
The Phantom of the Opera's features screen
The designing feature takes a look at the work that went into bringing the musical to the screen in a way that could meet the expectations of those who had seen it on stage. The movie was the most expensive independent film ever made. It occupied eight sound stages and an exterior lot at Pinewood Studios in England. Phantom of the Opera is a musical that brings the passion and gothic romance that was alive on the stage to the screen. Its cast lives up to the story’s characters and brings them to life in a way that captures your attention from the beginning. Butler’s performance as the Phantom is haunting and tragic. He is the heartbeat of the entire film. I highly recommend the DVD to any fan of the musical. It met all my expectations and was truly enjoyable.
The film is available at Amazon and AmazonUK . For more information about the DVD see our database .
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