Oh. To answer your question. Um....I have both good and bad things to say about this recording.
GOOD:
1) The orchestra is GORGEOUS. I was in my car listening to it on the way home from the store and when the overature started, my body trembled (literally, along with everything in my car) because it was just so POWERFUL.
2.) The leads are AWESOME. I love Gerard as the Phantom. When he actually does his "Scary Phantom" moments it is actually SCARY!!!!!! And while Emmy tends to crack every now and then, I really do prefer her voice over Sarah Brightman. And Patrick is great. You actually care for this guy and feel that he actually loves this woman and will fight for her (in the OLCR, you do not really feel any of that).
3.) There are some word changes that I really like. In "Why Have you Brought Me Here/Raoul I've Been There" they change the words from
RAOUL: "Why Have you brought us here"
CHRISTINE: "Well, take me back then"
TO
RAOUL: "Why have you brought us here?"
CHRISTINE: "I can't go back there."
It just makes a lot more sense that way and I love how they sing it.
4.) Minnie Driver is HILLARIOUS (they place some of the diagloue from the movie). I was cracking up.
5.) They lowered the singing of the Phantom in some parts which I think is really effective because it is more heartbreaking.
6.) The new song, "Learn to Be Lonely" is gorgeous and I love how Minnie Driver sings it. It will definetly be up for an Oscar for best original song.
7.) The feelings of all the characters are more obvious here. In the OLCR. For example, Sarah Brightman always sounds whiny and heartless. And the Phantom is whiney too. Here, you have the Phantom, Christine, and Raoul ANGRY and SAD and HAPPY, etc. I mean, it is a rush of emotions with the characters, and for that I applaud the actors.
8.) If you buy the 2-Disk soundtrack, it comes in a little booklet with a qoute from both ALW and Schumacher and gives you a little inside into the movie and the recordings session. You also get great looking photos.
9.) "Masquerade" has never been better. You can hear every single word and I love how they spoke the part between Christine and Raoul. I think it is more personal that way. I REALLY love how they mixed "Notes II" into "Masquerade." The Phantom actually sings the "Notes II" part when he enters into the "Masquerade" scene. It is actually really freaky and Gerard's performance is WOW!!!!
10.) NEVER, NEVER, NEVER has "Point of No Return" sounded so GREAT!!!!! I think that is my favorite part of the soundtrack (besides the overature).
BAD:
1.) **After a second listen, this wasn't that bad....so I deleted it**
2.) The managers of the Opera CAN NOT sing. It is annoying when everyone else can sing and those two just start singing and sound off. But, they are only in a few scenes so it is not that bad.
FINAL VERDICT:
I love it. Everything is bigger and more glorious than the OLCR (Which I will still cherish and listen to, by the way). Like, I said already there are some things that I really don't like about it, but the good outways the bad by a lot so I would STRONGLY suggest you buying it because overall it is SUPERB. If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask.
"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2
Updated On: 11/23/04 at 12:27 PM
