My Phantom movie review

[ashley0139]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 8:19pm

So I know this has been done 17 1/2 million times but I thought I would post mine just in case someone wanted to read it. FYI, this is coming from someone who has seen the stage show, but was lukewarm about it (excpet Hugh Panaro- AMAZING!). So here goes...

First of all, my quick over-all review. I have seen this movie 3 times, all with different people who invited me to go. Although there are tons of things I thought could be improved, I loved this movie. I just can't quite put my finger on why.

The music- I love this music and always have. When I was little and on long car rides, my parents would play this along with Miss Saigon and Les Miz so I grew up with this. I thought the orchestrations were good and very full, but sometimes too loud. I don't know if that was the movie or the theater though. I also love ALW so what can you do?

Gerard Butler (Phantom)- AHHHH. I didn't like him at all! I thought that his singing was horrific. And I seem to be the only one that noticed this but I hated his lips. He looked like a duck. But maybe that's just me. I thought his acting was fine, if unforgettable. I think they could have cast someone so much better. It definetly showed that he was not a trained singer.

Emmy Rossum (Christine)- Thought she was GORGEOUS and perfect for the role of Christine physically and acting wise. I thought she acted it very well except for sometimes she had a dazed look on her face and her expression didn't change too much. Maybe this is the whole "entranced" thing. I don't know. I thought her singing was mediocre. She was just, fine... Her highs were a little questionable also.

Patrick Wilson (Raoul)- LOVED HIM! I thought he was perfect for Raoul! His acting was great and his singing even better. Loved everything about him save the wig. Could they not have found a better one? Just me maybe.

Minnie Driver (Carlotta)- Did not love her. I thought her acting was way over the top and she was trying too hard to be funny. The accent was a little weird too.

Others- Loved Miranda Richardson (Madame Giry). I think she is a great actress even if she didn't show a wide range with this particular role. Her accent was great I just found it odd that she was the only one that had one. She was probably the only one good enough to pull it off. I also liked Jennifer Ellison (Meg Giry) but her part is so small it's hard to tell. Though she did bug me in the Masquerade scene. She looked really old and her costume and hair were bad. But I think that's just me being nit-picky. I thought all the others were fine. No one else necessarily stood out to me.

Other thoughts- I thought the entire movie was GORGEOUS!!! It was very visually pleasing and there was so much to look at. The first scene where the camera sweeps over everything and it goes from old to new and the chandelier gives me the chilld. Beautifully done. I thought the sword fight scene was kinda cheesy... but then again so is fireballs, right? Also, the mouthed "I love you" at the end. Totally ruins the whole love triangle!! She is supposed to love him too not just kiss the phantom to save Raoul. Other friends of mine that saw it thought that all of the "sexual tension" parts between Christine and the Phantom were weird. They just didn't understand that it's supposed to be a love traingle.

So that's my review of the movie. Overall, loved it. Individual pieces, liked it. I definetly recommend it. Wow, that took a really long time. Well, I hope you like it. I will update it if I think of anything else.

Ashley

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 8:20pm

So glad you loved my Patrick. I adore this movie...

Updated On: 1/7/05 at 08:20 PM

[rclocalz]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 11:18pm

HAHAHHAHA!!! I also thought Butler's lips looked funny! It distracted me the whole time!

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 11:21pm

awww my poor Gerard, no one but me and my friend likes him
but oh well, more for me!

Updated On: 1/7/05 at 11:21 PM

[kangaroo]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 11:22pm

You're review seems pretty fair ... thanks

[rclocalz]

Posted: 1/8/05 at 12:07am

Oh no SallyBrown, you got me all wrong. I though Gerad Butler did a fine job as the phantom, really. It's just that when he sang his lips kind of stuck out and stuff and it was distracting at times, like he was kissing oxygen or something.

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 1/8/05 at 12:10am

oh ok
Im sorry, i didnt mean only you, but in general ive noticed that not many ppl are as into Gerard as i am..hehe

[Mamie]

Posted: 1/8/05 at 12:37am

I went back to see it tonight (second time) and saw some interesting changes in the audience's reactions to the film.

First of all there were a whole lot more people there. Probably because I went in the middle of the week before and this was Friday. Still it was nice to see so many there.

Included in this group were several high schoolers who were wearing Phantom half-masks. Also quite a few couples.

The interesting thing came at the end. The credits rolled and NOBODY GOT UP. A few applauded but most sat there, not speaking, and crying. The sounds of sniffing and stifled crying were quite audible. As the lights came up I looked around and quite a few were comforting each other.

It's funny because a man I work with told me he had the same reaction. He said he had to sit there for a few minutes and compose himself after the movie ended. He said he had gotten very weepy.

He has never seen the play and he loved the film. I'm thinking that perhaps that might be the case for most folks. The more familiar you are with the play, the more you find to criticize in the movie.

At any rate, most folks I've talked with feel it will really appeal to folks outside of the larger city areas once the film gets a full distribution. These are the same people who have kept that play running for all these years and the movie will probably be just as popular with them.

(For myself, the film is definitely growing on me. I'm already looking forward to the DVD).

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 1/8/05 at 12:39am

aww you got lucky, i always feel weird becase im the only one crying and ive seen that movie 5 times

[kec]

Posted: 1/8/05 at 2:17am

"aww you got lucky, i always feel weird becase im the only one crying and ive seen that movie 5 times"

I've seen the film four times, and except for the last viewing, I think I was the only one in the theatre crying at the end. The fourth time there were a couple of others who seemed teary, but not to the extent I was. I embarrassed my 15 year old niece!

[broadway86]

Posted: 1/8/05 at 2:18am

I am one of the few who feel that Gerard Butler was excellent. The movie, itself, is the most underrated of the year. At least, that's what I think. Updated On: 1/8/05 at 02:18 AM

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 1/8/05 at 2:19am

haha!
you know what the really sad thing about me crying is though? I cry just listening to the CD....

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 1/8/05 at 4:15am

When I went and saw it both times a lot of people stayed in their seats and lots of sniffles were heard (including that of my fiancee and I during our first showing). Amazing reaction from the audience. I think it was the first time in my life that NO ONE talked during the movie (and this happened both times)

[paradox_error]

Posted: 1/8/05 at 7:00am

It's amazing Mamie. I'm in Australia, and the situation was exactly the same.

The first time I saw it was on a Sunday, and their were about 15 people in the cinema. Tonight the cinema was over half-full (which at my local cinema is quite rare).

At the end of both screenings, there was dead silence. No one moved, they just sat there until the credits were nearly over.

I am not a fan of the stage show, but I am a fan of the film. This is definately the most underrated film of the year.


And Gerard Butler has really grown on me. I half-liked/half-hated him to start off with, but now I find him to be quite good (and extremely hot). But yes, that lip thing annoyed me too...

[kec]

Posted: 1/8/05 at 10:56am

"And Gerard Butler has really grown on me. I half-liked/half-hated him to start off with, but now I find him to be quite good (and extremely hot). "

LOL... I've seen this comment more and more. I guess for some, Gerard Butler is an "aquired taste."

[Glebb]

Posted: 1/8/05 at 11:00am

The film was gorgeous. Can't wait to see it again!

[idinaroxmysox2]

Posted: 1/8/05 at 11:01am

I'm seeing it again in about an hour...i thought it was good 4 a movie.. but in all cases..the show IS BETTER!

[ButtonstheClown]

Posted: 1/8/05 at 11:04am

I didn't like the Phantom that much either...

[ashley0139]

Posted: 1/8/05 at 12:53pm

thanks for all the replies! any more thoughts?

[Michelleruth2]

Posted: 1/9/05 at 4:05pm

Not to be controversial, but I loved Gerard as the Phantom. I thought Patrick was a wimpy Raoul. I've never seen either of them perform before.

I've seen the movie twice. It is phenominal!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/9/05 at 4:12pm

LOVED it! I've seen it 3 times so far.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 1/9/05 at 4:37pm

Sorry to ruin this love-fest, but opinions were solicited, so here's mine:

Hated it, in a what-were-they-thinking kind of way. I experienced three things while watching the movie:
1) cringing embarassment for those who made the film
2) hysterical giggling at the unintentionally-campy or ludicrous moments
2) immense, neverending boredom.

I could go into a litany of why I thought the film was terrible, but it would take up too much valuable time, and many on the board have already expressed my sentiments (robbiej in particular).

Updated On: 1/9/05 at 04:37 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/9/05 at 4:47pm

I went this afternoon to see it a second time.

I liked it even more than the first.

This film musical is finely done. And it ranks with one of the best film musicals.

You'll see.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 1/9/05 at 4:59pm

I hate it when people jump right into a love fest for a show or a movie. even if there are others who back that person's beliefs. YEs, BlueWizard we know you hated the movie. You've said so on numerous posts. I also know many others hated the film. They've also said so on numerous posts. I thoroughly enjoyed the film, wouldn't go so far as to say LOVED it but then again, not a fan of the show. It's been an excuse many times for other people but it's a good reason. The film is a faithful adaptatio nof the show. It had some flaws, as did the show, but overall I'm glad I saw it and would be glad to see it again. Enough said. I'm no longer going to post my opinions on this topic because so many people just keep on repeating themselves over and over and OVER.

[kec]

Posted: 1/9/05 at 5:08pm

"I went this afternoon to see it a second time.

I liked it even more than the first.

This film musical is finely done. And it ranks with one of the best film musicals."

I saw it for the fifth time today... and liked it even more than the first four times .

Jose, I agree with you that it's finely done. It certainly met my expectations of what the film version would be like.
Updated On: 1/9/05 at 05:08 PM