The Phantom of the Opera

Andrew Lloyd Webber's music has given me much pleasure over the years. I live in Manhattan, and although I don't usually go to Broadway musicals unless I hear rave reviews, I saw "Phantom of the Opera," and loved it. Director Joel Schumacher's film production is simply terrific, although somewhat flawed! I admit it is a bit bombastic at times, but the music is spectacular, as are the sets, cast and acting. I don't want to compare screen versus stage versions.They are totally different mediums and each lends unique and special moments. I have heard some call the film vulgar, and I say "Boo" on their snobbishness! As most know, this is a bizarre beauty and the beast kind of love story. Set in 1870's Paris, a talented, mysterious genius with a terribly scarred face lives in secret beneath the opera house, haunting the building, and those who spend much time there, with his spectral presence. Frequently heard from but never seen, he composes brilliant music, writes operas, designs sets, etc.. His life of solitude and bitterness have driven him mad. Unbeknownst to any, he has been lovely, young soprano Christine Daae's mentor and voice teacher since her childhood. The young woman believes that he is her beloved deceased father's spirit and calls him her "angel of music." He has grown to love the innocent ingenue with the exquisite voice. When the two appear together the ambiance is shadowed and otherworldly, and Christine always seems hypnotized - which is quite credible given the Phantom's sheer force of personality. One night the Prima Donna walks out on a performance and Christine takes her place. When Raoul, a wealthy young nobleman, (Patrick Wilson), sees the extraordinary young singer, he falls in love. The Phantom does not take competition lightly. Schumacher's production is fantastically gothic, as is Gaston Leroux's novel, upon which all opera phantoms are based. Gerard Butler, as the deformed anti-hero, is the epitome of the dominant Gothic Hero. He would be superb as Mr. Rochester or Heathcliff.....but I digress. Let it suffice to say he makes a superior "Phantom of the Opera." Although I very much like his voice, some say it does not measure up to the rest of the casts'. Mr. Butler, however, more than makes-up for any lack of vocal power with his charisma, virility and powerful stage presence. He uses eroticism and sensuality to seduce, perfectly, especially when he brings Christine to his lair, deep in the watery depths beneath the opera house, and sings "Music of the Night." "Touch me, trust me / savour each sensation!" And, "Open up your mind / let your fantasies unwind / in this darkness which you know you cannot fight." He smolders in "Point of No Return," which is one very steamy number. There are times when I see Butler's Phantom as a vampire-like figure - a dark, deeply handsome, all powerful vampire - not a ghoulish one. With his slicked back dark wig, tux, sensual lips and mask, he looks a forceful figure from the underworld - (which he is) - beckoning Christine to leave the "garish light of day," and come, "Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before! / Let your soul take you where you long to be! / Only then can you belong to me." In the scene where he spies on Christine and Raoul on the opera roof, hiding amidst the gargoyles, he picks up the rose she has dropped in the snow and holds it to his lips. Almost everything in the shot is black and white except for the red rose at his mouth...like drops of blood. That's vampire-like!! (reminiscent of Frank Langella's 1970's Dracula, not Bela Lugosi's). Eighteen year-old Emmy Rossum is absolutely luminous as Christine. The sound of her spectacular, opera-trained voice is alone worth the price of the DVD. Ms. Rossum is a talented actress, and her innocent fresh look is a perfect compliment to Butler's dark, menacing specter, and Patrick Wilson's handsome swashbuckling viscount. Wilson's romantic handsomeness and fabulous tenor voice make him an exceptional choice for the hero part. The real taut passion, however, is between Butler and Rossum. This magnetic force between them is one aspect of the movie I prefer over the play. The phantom is cast as a much older man in the stage production, and when he is unmasked one feels totally repulsed, and not very sympathetic. He becomes merely one more aging man lusting after a young woman. Also, Christine knows him so well that perhaps she doesn't see him as quite the monster the audience does. There are qualities she has been drawn to, before she saw his whole face. Her empathy is not totally destroyed by the grotesque image. The younger, handsomer version of the Phantom permits a certain believable ambivalence in her feelings, which makes for more tension in the storyline. Andrew Lloyd Weber collaborated closely with Schumacher throughout the making of the movie. The supporting cast is excellent with Miranda Richardson as Mme. Giry, Ciaran Hinds as Fermin, Simon Callow as Andre, and Minnie Driver as Carlotta, the spoiled diva. Although Ms. Driver is hilarious in her role, she spends too much time, with too many lines, onstage. The campiness works well as comic relief. However, the effect is lost with an overabundance of this and becomes kitsch. Finally, buy the 2-Disc Special, when purchasing the DVD. The second disc, approximately 45 minutes, is entitled "Behind the Mask: The Story of The Phantom of the Opera," and documents the journey from Gaston Leroux's novel to the silent film, to Andrew Lloyd Webber's stage version, and finally to Joel Schumacher's feature film. Included in this documentary are interviews with the principals. There are also several wonderful clips from early performances that took place at Andrew Lloyd Webber's estate before the musical was completed. Also included is an excised scene which features Gerard Butler as the Phantom, singing his part in "No One Would Listen." JANA

This film is named Phantom of the Opera, and it was released in December 2004. This movie is available on Amazon Video,Microsoft store,Google play movies,Fandango,Spectrum and Apple TV to rent/buy. The movie runs for One hundred and forty-three minutes. This movie tells the story of the orphan Christine Daae who is raised in a Theatre and taken under the mysterious wing of the “Phantom” of the opera. Christine finally takes the spotlight after many years for her talent and is noticed by someone who knew from her childhood and falls in love with her again. The mysterious “Phantom” discovers her secret love and tries everything he can to steal her away. The Phantom releases Christine from his heart as she fulfills her future with her true love. A couple of performances that stood out to me in a very good way were Gerard Butler as the Phantom,Emmy Rossum as Christine and Patrick Wilson as Raoul. Gerard gave a very good and emotional performance as his character. Gerard Butler was not a classically trained singer but what caught the attention of the director was his performance in the 2000’s Dracula. This performance of a brooding vengeful monster made him a good option for the Phantom. Emmy Rossum has an interesting story for the movie. During the year of filming, she was only seventeen years old. The story of the movie must have been very awkward for her considering Gerard and Patrick were twice her age. Patrick Wilson was a good fit for the role of Raoul as he put on a stellar performance in The Full Monty in 2000-2001 and Oklahoma in 2002. Joel Schumacher the director did a phenomenal job at staging. Schumacher is known for directing movies such as both George Clooney Batman movies and had actually worked with Andrew Lloyd Webber who adapted the original novel of Phantom of the Opera to film/broadway. The set was very well thought out and creative. The visuals were quite lavish and gothic which fit the theme and time period. The masquerade and the phantom's lair are great examples of the staging. The masquerade was vibrant and very colorful. The ballroom and choreography were very well put together. All of the dancers knew their parts and emphasized themes of joy and freedom. Another great visual and staging scene was the Phantom’s lair. This particular scene embodied the gothic visual with a candlelit lake. The story and narrative were quite clear for me to follow considering this was my fourth viewing of the movie. The movie follows an almost chronological order with the whole film being a flashback from the beginning auction scene in the movie many years later. The characters also follow very consistent patterns and actions. The production design was absolutely stellar. The recreation of the Paris Opera House at Pinewood Studios in the UK was spot on. A great example of set design for this movie is the Phantom’s lair. I restate that this set radiated a gothic aura with vast amounts of candles,a gondola on a large lake and lots of mysterious mist. The centerpiece of this whole movie is the chandelier above the main stage of the opera house set. The movie choices suited the film since this was a film adaptation of the broadway masterpiece. This film takes all the main and most important songs such as Think of Me,The Phantom of the Opera,Music of the Night,The Point of no return and wishing you were somehow here again. These songs were all beautifully sung by the cast. Gerard giving his somber and very tender songs and Emmy giving her sorrowful and elegant songs. The time period the movie takes place in Paris 1870 but the flashforward in 1919 which is 50 years later. Joel Schumaker and Andrew Lloyd Webber, I have already mentioned, were big parts of this movie's design. Other people who were on the production team were John Mathieson the cinematographer who also worked on Gladiator and X men First Class. The Production designer Anthony Pratt is known for his work in The Man in the Iron Mask and Excalibur. The costume designer Alexandra Byrne is credited for her work in Elizabeth,Hamlet,Thor and Avengers: Endgame. Finally, the editor of this movie Terry Rawlings is known for working on Alien,Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner. I give this movie a big thumbs up because I love both the musical and theatrical versions of Phantom of the Opera. I love the music and all the elaborate and fun costumes this movie offers. This movie really resonates and sinks into lots of different emotions which makes you appreciate the creation and delivery of everything. This movie is about as long as its broadway counterpart and it’s just as good. I can understand this movie quite well as I know the entire story and songs by heart and have read the original novel "Le Fantôme de l'Opéra". Overall, I really enjoyed this watchthrough of this movie.

ミュージカルの方よりこっちの方が話しは分かりやすいです。音楽と歌はミュージカル（２５周年）の方が上の様に感じました。（映画も良いけど） セットが凄いです。まだＣＧがそんなに使われていない頃だからかな？字幕が有るので英語が分からなくても楽しめました。

Les images et les couleurs du blu ray sont très belles. L’opéra et les costumes sont superbes. Je l’ai pris en anglais car je trouve la version française ratée.

I love it so much.. but my credit card damage.. thank you soooooo much for the move .. my dream come true 🥰

What you see is NOT what you get. The cover is completely different. I received a DVD meant for Thailand and the primary language set was in Thai. Nevertheless the language can be changed on the menu.

Excelente película, un clásico , El Fantasma de la Opera en Blu Ray luce absolutamente espectacular y se escucha celestial... Lo mejor