Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera (DVD, 2005, 2-Disc Set, Collector's Edition)

Many people will look at this film version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's classic musical spectacular, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA with mixed emotions. There are people who will be upset that Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford, who played the original Christine and Phantom respectively, were not allowed to recreate their signature roles. There will also be people who'll be disappointed that this version is not a literal translation of the stage musical. Finally, we have the critics of both Webber and director Joel Schumacher, who have both been accused of wretched excess in previous projects in their individual careers. Taken as a film version however, this PHANTOM stands the test of time, not only as a wonderful musical film, but as one of the more faithful versions of Gaston Laroux's romance/horror novel.

Starting with a black and white prologue, the film tells the story of budding opera star Christine Daae and the two men who fight for her heart: the noble Viscount who she knew in childhood, and the mysterious Phantom of the Paris Opera House who hides his ugliness behind a half-mask while sponsoring Christine's career. Like the stage production, this film is awash in glorious colors and sets that would put many epics to shame. It's well balanced by solid performances that help propel the romantic, if melodramatic, story along.

Gerard Butler makes for a wonderfully dark and obsessive Phantom, while allowing the character to retain the audience's sympathy. Miranda Richardson is solid as the dour Madame Giry, who knows the Phantom's secret. Minnie Driver easily gets the most laughs as the over-bearing diva, Carlotta. (It's interesting to note that Ms. Driver's singing is dubbed in the film proper, while she actually sings the new closing credits melody "Learn to be Lonely.") Patrick Wilson makes for a stalwart, if somewhat bland, Viscount. But the strongest impression is made by the lovely Emmy Rossum. Only in her late teens when filming, she turns in a fantastic performance with a crystal clear voice that does justice to Webber's score. Joel Schumacher does a strong enough job in directing this film, allowing the music and the screenplay that he co-wrote with Webber to shine.

In the end, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is a delightful spectacle that does justice in its own way to both the stage original and Laroux's book. As such, this is a film I highly recommend.

Ok, maybe I was biased, cause I already loved the Phantom of the Opera, but I was actually very skeptical about this movie. I have been a fan of the Phantom of the Opera since 1989, and I LOVE Michael Crawford as the Phantom. When they were making this movie I remember thinking "Who can ever compare to Michael Crawford?"

Then I saw the movie. And I fell in love with the Phantom all over again. Gerard Butler was perfect for this role in the movie. I don't think he would work so well in this role in the stage show, but for the movie he was FANTASTIC.

Come on now, we all know Michael Crawford is the ultimate Phantom, but we also all know that he was too old to play the Phantom in the movie. A 65 yr old Phantom wooing a 17 yr old Christine? GROSS! In order for it not to be gross Christine would have to be much much older, and that just would not have worked.

So I don't see what the big deal is about having a younger cast. I think it worked extremely well. The chemistry between Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum was amazing. You can feel the love, the passion, the desire.

As for Gerard's singing. I don't know why everyone wants to tear his singing apart. No, he is not a tenor. No, he is not professionally trained. But his singing is powerful and moving. He inflects such raw emotion into the songs, we feel the Phantom's pain and insecurities. He makes us realize that the Phantom is not perfect, in face or in voice, and that makes him more human. His acting is superb, in this movie as in all of his other movies. A heavily dramatic acting performance, such as is required for the Phantom to work in the theater, would have seemed overdone in the movie. Movies and theater are two different mediums, and what works in the theater looks tacky on screen.

Emmy Rossum was spectacular. Her voice is beautiful, she is beautiful, and she was the perfect Christine. Young, naive, impressionable, breathless, all the things young girls are when first exposed to love and desire. She made us see Christine's conflict...in love with Raoul, in love (and lust!) with the Phantom, torn between the two.

Patrick Wilson is the only Raoul I didn't hate. He gave Raoul a quality that the character doesn't have in the stage show...some small bit of courage. Patrick Wilson's singing was superb as well.

The supporting cast was fantastic. The costumes and sets were beautiful. The music, as always, haunts you long after the movie is over.

I have seen the stage show and will be going to see it again, but this movie, although different, to me is just as spectacular and moving as the musical on stage.

Joel Schumacher's film of Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit theatrical production "The Phantom of the Opera" is gorgeously filmed and well-cast overall. Gerard Butler is no Michael Crawford but he's certainly dashing enough and his voice isn't bad. The one drawback of the film is that despite how beautiful it is, without the ingenious stagecraft of the show as a distraction some of the weaknesses of the story are much more apparent and some of the scenes added to flesh out the story (especially the sword fight between Raoul and the Phantom in the cemetary) end up hurting rather than helping the narrative. Overall, though, it is a very good transfer of the show to the film medium.

The bonus features on the DVD are very nice. Although there is no commentary track there is a fairly comprehensive documentary about the making of the film. More interesting, however, is a separate documentary about the origins of the stage production that features some nice footage of Crawford and Sarah Brightman (among others) and lots of behind-the-scenes footage as well.

I bought this movie two weeks after I saw Phantom live on Broadway - It was as good as it was live. Andrew Lloyd Webber is a producing genius as he gives you a little something extra that you would not normally see during his live production! Emmy Rossum as Christine and Gerard Butler as the Phantom are a joy to watch and listen to as they wrap you up in their dramatic relationship. I cried long after the movie ended because the characters make you believe in them. As always, The Phantom of the Opera lives up to it's name and makes you want to watch over and over again.

Although I feel very strongly about this movie, I do feel it is probably not appropriate for young children. It does have dramatic elements that might scare a young child. As an adult though, Broadway entertainment doesn't get any better than this - and you can watch from the comfort of your own bed...just make sure the tissue is handy!

I like this movie better than the stage play because the play stops with the Phantom just disappearing, esentially not really having an ending, which makes one wonder what else? This movie, on the other hand, is GREAT because it shows us that the Phantom was redeemed by his love for Christine and that he loved Christine til she died - a much more satisfactory ending since most people hate to think that anyone is beyond redemption, especially someone they've gotten to know as well as we get to understand Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera.
The music, sets, and costumes are fabulous. Just ignore all the technical goofs (worst was bubbles going down in water and candle flames jumping from candle to candle for each take during a scene) and you will enjoy a highly entertaining story that is emotionally satisfying.
I highly recommend this movie for its story.