POTO Movie Review

[Derek]

Posted: 12/23/04 at 11:03am

I saw the POTO movie last night. I was expecting it to be so-so. I was blown away!!! I don't know how anyone can say that this was a "bad" movie. It was original and yet it also retained many images from the original show. Gerards voice was not nearly as bad as what I've heard. I actually liked him as the Phantom very much. He gave the role much feeling. The Music of the Night number must have been re-recorded, because it sounds so much different from the sountrack. That song (in my opinion) was one of the highlights of the movie. Some other highlights were as follows: The Overture, All I Ask of You, Masquerade, Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again and The Point of No Return. I was hoping I wouldnt, but I almost started crying in Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again....ALMOST! The cinematography was also amazing! The true highlight of the movie (I thought) was Emmy Rossums performance. She was great! She is so innocent in the start of the movie, but when The Point of No Return begins, she becomes very mature and in one word "sexy" lol. The chandelier crash was also amazing. I think having it near the end of the movie was a better choice. The costumes and scenery were unbelievable, very similar to Moulin Rouge. I wouldnt be surprised if they won the oscars for them! Please disregard your newspaper reviews. I got SO many chills in this movie. Its amazing!

[Matt_G]

Posted: 12/23/04 at 11:05am

Derek, I honestly couldn't have said it better myself. That was EXACTLY how I felt about the film.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 12/23/04 at 11:07am

Was it REALLY, Matt?

[Matt_G]

Posted: 12/23/04 at 11:09am

Yes. Derek pretty much spelled out my thoughts on the film perfectly.

Posted: 12/23/04 at 11:29am

that's exactly how I felt too! One thing that was awkward was in Angel Of Music when they were walking down that hallway together. Updated On: 12/23/04 at 11:29 AM

[mule]

Posted: 12/23/04 at 1:16pm

I truly believe Emmy Rossum is the next big female star. She just has it, whatever it is.

The movie just rocked.

I cannot believe the critics have been around 50/50 on it. If you like the show at all you will like the movie.

It has differences but retains the core of the show. Cinema allows expansion however, and it is well done.

Go see it.

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 12/23/04 at 1:28pm

I can imaging this movie being recieved 50/50 though because were a little bias because all know the music and already appreciate it but for a regular moviegor who doesnt know everything baout it already it can bee different. Anyoone have any reviews from non theatre people?

[mirandajrs]

Posted: 12/23/04 at 1:28pm

After reading all the reviews I was so surprised by how much I loved it. What was even more surprising was the fact that the 4 musical haters I brought with me loved it just as much.

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 12/23/04 at 1:44pm

That's a good sign.

[TGIF]

Posted: 12/23/04 at 2:14pm

I was reading a review in a local paper of it. The writer gave it one and a half stars. He basically dismissed everything and panned it. He also had no concept of musicals or Broadway or theatre in general. I hate small town papers.

[Derek]

Posted: 12/23/04 at 4:36pm

I also forgot to say, I thought Miranda Richardson was amazing as Mme Giry!

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 12/23/04 at 4:40pm

Which reminds me, why is Miranda the only one with a French accent in the film? Shouldn't everyone else (save for Carlotta) have an accent that's not contemporary American or similar? Very inconsistent.

Anyway, here's to hoping "Phantom in Manhattan" doesn't get made into a movie!

[Derek]

Posted: 12/23/04 at 4:47pm

I think Mme Giry is french, Christine is English...I know they're all not from France though. I can't get over what a beautiful movie it was! I cant wait to see it again!

[wickedfan]

Posted: 12/23/04 at 4:48pm

I saw the movie last night and liked it very much. My grandmother, lover of musical theatre but ultimate hater of Andrew Llyod Webber (honestly, if she had enough energy and the right connections she probably would have planned an assasination for, in her words, "ruining musical theatre") thought it was very good. Not great, the material wasn't tweaked enough to be great. I thought it was a tad long. But in all a very good movie. If you read Variety's review on it then that would pretty much be my review summed up. I thought many of the papers were extremely harsh towards it, a lot of them I noticed hated the stage show to begin with. Why do they send people who hate the original source to review the movie? Doesn't make sense!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/23/04 at 4:49pm

I've posted my review on other threads, but i LVOE LOVE LOVE this movie.

[Derek]

Posted: 12/23/04 at 4:51pm

Yes my grandmother came with me also. she too hates Webber, but ended up loving the movie!

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 12/23/04 at 4:51pm

I agree, Derek, it was a very beautiful movie. There were a few flaws - some that could be overlooked and some that were harder - but over all, I really liked it and I'm hoping to see it again soon. (And can't WAIT for the DVD!)

[Derek]

Posted: 12/23/04 at 4:54pm

I kind of thought Prima Donna was a little too jumpy, but it was ok. I loved Minnie Driver in this, she was so funny!

[Derek]

Posted: 12/23/04 at 4:58pm

As much as I liked Gerard, I just watched a clip of Antonio Banderas singing the title song with Sarah Brightman, he was great!

[misterchoi]

Posted: 12/23/04 at 5:05pm

what a stupid movie.

sorry.

[Derek]

Posted: 12/23/04 at 5:14pm

Did you like the musical/show??

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/23/04 at 7:46pm

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/review/movie/0,6115,1011985_1_0_,00.html

A review from Entertainment Weekly...it got a C+

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 12/23/04 at 7:46pm

"Shouldn't everyone else (save for Carlotta) have an accent that's not contemporary American or similar?"

Shouldn't they all actually be speaking French?

[broadway geek]

Posted: 12/23/04 at 10:21pm

I like all the accents. I think the French accent for Mme. Giry adds an air of mystery.

[maybethistime]

Posted: 12/24/04 at 1:04am

EXACTLY- i loved it