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The Official what you thought of the "Phantom of the Opera" Movie

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#1

The Official what you thought of the "Phantom of the Opera" Movie

Posted: 12/26/04 at 1:13am

So by now a few of you have seen the movie, and it is time to discuss. So what'd you think of the interpretation, voices, costumes, casting, everything?

Updated On: 12/26/04 at 01:13 AM

#4

re: The Official what you thought of the 'Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom Mov

Posted: 12/26/04 at 1:18am

I drink too much coffee and smoke too many cigarettes.

"The last train out of any station will not be full of nice guys." - Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

"I wash my face, then drink beer, then I weep. Say a prayer and induce insincere self-abuse, till I'm fast asleep"- In Trousers

#7

re: The Official what you thought of the 'Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom Mov

Posted: 12/26/04 at 1:31am

ChicagoBwayFan, try a few espresso shots and a pack of Marlboro Reds. It'll get ya nice and open-minded to the varying levels of dreck that are unavoidable these days. Then, by the time the dreck becomes unbearable (as it has for me), you'll be nice and busy hacking up black stuff and shivering from caffeine. It sounds bad, but not as bad as sitting thru half the stuff on Broadway. On that note, the POTO film really is pretty good if you can get past a few major flaws. I liked it MUCH more than that CHICAGO abomination.

"The last train out of any station will not be full of nice guys." - Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

"I wash my face, then drink beer, then I weep. Say a prayer and induce insincere self-abuse, till I'm fast asleep"- In Trousers

#9

re: The Official what you thought of the 'Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom Mov

Posted: 12/26/04 at 2:34am

Overall, I was ok with this film. It was very pretty to look at. I enjoyed Patrick and Emmy (though her singing was oddly not flawless). There were times when Emmy was clearly perfection. I LOVED "The Point of No Return" except for the first shot of the gay dancers. I LOVED Minnie and Miranda. There were a few spectacular moments--the chandelier was once such.

There were times when I was *ok* with Gerard's voice. And at other times, I just needed to hear a pretty voice. I agree that if someone else has been cast in this role (Patrick himself would have been a nice choice), the film would be pretty phenominal. I thought that the film lacked a little energy and needed more vision than it had--much the way Chicago succeeded in standing out from its stage productions. But, overall I like what Schumacher did.

The only thing that made me wretch was the voguing in "Masquerade". That was ABSOLUTELY HORRID! Whoever thought that anachronism would be clever was out of their mind. And, it just made the scene lame and cheap--like the video for "The First Man You Remember" (from Aspects of Love).

I am very curious what one who has never seen the stage show thinks. And even more--what a non-theatre person would think of this film.
johnraymondbarker.com
#11

re: The Official what you thought of the 'Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom Mov

Posted: 12/26/04 at 12:38pm

I agree about the point of no return.....about the dancers...people(inclduing me) were giggling during it because of them and it's a great song..one of the best in the show..there isn't an oscar for choeroregraphy, so why is there un-needed dancing?
#13

re: The Official what you thought of the 'Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom Mov

Posted: 12/26/04 at 1:11pm

the movie was dull and lame. . .

"Masquerade" was a joke.
it looked like a bad imitation of Madonna's 1989 perfromance of "Vogue" on the MTV Video Music Awards.

but i have to disagree with what ChicagoBwayFan wrote, which was:

"I just have in my mind that movies ruin a good broadway production just like they ruin a good book."

this is not true. there have been many great, even Academy Award winning film versions of Broadway musicals. for instance:

WEST SIDE STORY
OLIVER! (which originated in London)
MY FAIR LADY
THE SOUND OF MUSIC
CHICAGO
CABARET
THE KING AND I
THE MUSIC MAN
FUNNY GIRL
#16

re: The Official what you thought of the 'Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom Mov

Posted: 12/26/04 at 4:27pm

The Phantom of the Opera is one of the best film adaptations of a stage musical in many years. Far, far better than Chicago, which I disliked immensely eventhough the basis of the later is overall a better musical.

Phantom believes in itself and presents itself for what it is, and overly ornate, unapologetic opulent melodrama with music. It works because it doesn't try to be anything else. It creates it's own world and the film viewer is quickly, easily, and for me, willingly, taken on a trip, something a good film does without the viewer even being aware until he/she is emotionally invovled without self-awareness.

Casting someone as good-looking as Butler as the Phantom only heightens the emotional intensity and drama. Christine really has a problem now, doesn't she, boys and girls?

The casting is fine, with a good comic turn by Driver, a playing-striaght-because-I-believe-it turn by Richardson (she of the only, and honest sounding, French accent; the singing good, the score lushly presented, the sets and costumes wonderfully inventive; the screenplay fleshened up the story and make more believeable than the stage version. The creative flaws exist in the show itself-a score that offers not much variety, but this was easier to absorb on film because there is much to treat the eye.

An overly filled, sumptuous holiday fruit cake, and a damned good film musical.

They rarely make 'em like this anymore.

Yes, I'm going again. Yes, I'm buying the DVD.

Yes, I'm recommending it!

PSMD be damned!!

Updated On: 12/26/04 at 04:27 PM

#18

re: The Official what you thought of the 'Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom Mov

Posted: 12/26/04 at 10:24pm

this seems like its turning into a love/hate movie. personally, i think we set our expectations too high so we wouldn't accept anything but what would be absolutely perfect. i see its flaws, but i still think it was a great movie and i can't wait to see it again. i had a great time watching it.
::bust a move::
#19

re: The Official what you thought of the 'Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom Mov

Posted: 12/26/04 at 11:16pm

I thought that the film was good, but not great. I was not taken with Ms. Driver, as many here have been. I found her serviceable, but not exceptional. I enjoyed Emmy as Christine, but near the beginning when she sang "Think of Me" and all of the opera crowd was wowed, I didn't believe it. I don't believe that her voice (in that number) was strong, or exciting, enough to warrant such praise. I thought she grew as the film progrssed. There were some slow moments in the early half hour to 45 minutes, but it picked up from there.

I thought that Patrick came off best. He was a well-sung, well-acted Raoul - not the easiest role to find the acting moments, I especially liked the moments when he was playing the older Raoul. Even the hair worked (ha).

I liked Gerard more when seeing the film, as opposed to listening to the cast recording. He was convincing as the tortured soul and the singing actually did work at times, however I will concede that there were moments where I longed for more beautiful singing.

I did like the straightforward approach to the storytelling. The show is strong and you can easily see why it has been such a success around the world. I look forward to a reapeated viewing to further assess the film.
Laughter is much more important than applause. Applause is almost a duty. Laughter is a reward. Carol Channing
#20

re: The Official what you thought of the 'Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom Mov

Posted: 12/26/04 at 11:16pm

Overall: It reveals how weak the material really is. I hated the show and I wasn't thrilled with the movie either.

The Good:

Costumes
Scenery
Choreography
Patrick Wilson
Minnie Driver

The Bad:

Score
Script
Emmy Rossum (Very pretty but not a great actress or singer)
Gerard Butler (Acting was good and he did his best with the music but you can tell that he's not a singer. He did a good job but he was completely miscast.)
#22

re: The Official what you thought of the 'Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom Mov

Posted: 12/27/04 at 2:58am

seems most people here (1) really liked it (which i can understand, because we're all so starved for movie musicals) or (2) thought it was really weak (which is also understandable because it was poorly sung, poorly acted, and poorly directed). i find myself in the 2nd category.
RIP glebby <3
#23

re: The Official what you thought of the 'Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom Mov

Posted: 12/27/04 at 3:03am

Am I the only person who finds Patrick Wilson to be kind of "Meh"?
"It's not always about you!!!" (But if you think I'm referring to you anyway, then I probably am.)

"Good luck returning my ass!" - Wilhemina Slater

"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell
#24

re: The Official what you thought of the 'Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom Mov

Posted: 12/27/04 at 3:03am

Well... I am truly shocked after seeing this movie that so many people are praising it and especially Emmy. She is BEAUTIFUL, no one will deny that. And her acting was above average. But, her voice? Are you kidding me?! Yes, she has a pretty voice for a 17 year old, but she sounded so amature and weak, I had a really hard time dealing with the fact that she had even been cast. When she started singing "Think Of Me," I said, "Wow, she sounds weak..." Then she is supossed to get good ... NOTHING CHANGED! Suddenly she was onstage singing the entire aria and she still sounded like the little weakling from the first few lines of the song. Honestly, I would expect the people on this board of all people to be able to differentiate a pretty, underdeveloped voice with a few high notes from a professional singer/actress of Broadway caliber. Every single soprano I know/have worked with (OR I) could sing that role better than her. I am still in shock.
Gerard... HOT! But a singer, he is NOT!
I found myself clapping whenever Patrick came on the screen to sing something. It was like being fed filet minon after being force fed pork rinds.
And Minnie Driver was fabulous! So funny and just a great relief throughout the movie.
The "Point of No Return" scene was way hot... But other than that I found myself in awe of how bad it all turned out. re: The Official what you thought of the 'Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom Mov

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