Just in from seeing so here goes:
Overall it is a great movie. It may drag here and there a little but, for the most part, it stays intact. The lip synching is a little off but, not being a huge ALW fan, I enjoyed myself.
If you see this movie for any reason, see it for Emmy Rossum. She absolutely wowed me! She is gorgeous throughout this entire film and her voice, although pre recorded, was amazing. She sings like an angel. Her performance is absolutely superb and this will me the movie that's going to put her on the map. (I still can't believe that Katie Holmes was supposed to play this part.)
Gerard Butler's voice may get a little rough here and there, but his acting is filled to the brim with PASSION. He lives and breathes the character and can hold a tune pretty well. I can tell that the director was going for a very sexy and rough Phantom, and he achieves it without compromising the validity of the work. It was an excellent casting choice.
Patrick Wilson is Patrick Wilson. His voice is as sweet as honey and he truly does Raoul justice. In fact, I could not see Alan Cumming playing this part. There's really nothing more to say about him. He does an excellent part and you can tell he has the most stage experience. He feels right at home in this movie and does a great job in the part.
Sadly, I was dissapointed in Minnie Driver. I really wanted to see her do well. But, I found myself searching for a reason to like her in this movie. Her Italian accent was awful unfortunately and it's so obvious that it's not her voice singing. She does, however play the part off decently. She has a very pompous air to her and she really embodies Carlotta in her body language...but not much else.
The set is amazing...truly amazing. And so are the effects. The music is wonderful. Some of the dancing seemes a bit too choreographed. The "Masquerade" scene, I feel, should have been done a little differently. It seems it was directed to be for the audience. I don't know how to put it into words...it just seems that, at that moment, they knew that they were performing in a movie rather than being at a party. If that makes any sense at all. The costumes are absolutely gorgeous.
I am not the best reviewer in the world but I tried to give my honest opinion without sounding biased. Overall it is a very enjoyable night at the movies. Just make sure you go to the bathroom before you take your seat...I didn't...nuff said.
"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde