We Loved Breathtaking PHANTOM OF THE OPERA film

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 2:29pm

Me and my other half still cannot get over the riveting brilliance of the film. The first two minutes of the film are simply amazing and seems to have the audience enraptured and in a trance through the rest of the film.

Larry King on CNN the other night said that he thinks Phantom may be the singular best film he has ever seen. I hope everyone gets to see the magical experience of this film. What a masterpiece! When we saw the film the audience burst into applause three different times and 80 percent of the audience remained seated, rather transfixed as the closing credits rolled.

This movie just blew me and my family away. I hope you love it as much as we did:)

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 2:31pm

Well, if Larry King's on board you can count me in, too!

[IMsooHyprToday]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 2:40pm

hmmmm... i liked POTO, but apparently not as much as Larry. It was good but there were sooo many other movies that were better....

[Jwei123]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 2:57pm

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?thread=699119&dt=011105022606

^ we all love it too! :)

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 3:56pm

I went in not expecting the Broadway staged musical, the vocally wonderful Hugh Panero or Brad Little, whom I would have loved to have seen cast in this. No one likes this show and some of its cast members more than I do.

The negativity had me convinced it had to be awful!

I came out overall impressed with the authenticity and creative work that went into this film. The opening scenes, the flasbacks the cemetery, the roof top, the special affects, the phantom's private "lagoon" and behind the scenes goings on of a 19th century opera house were all very realistic and well done!

I wanted to dislike Butler...and did at first..but his character kept building and little by little he captured me with his acting. I was able to rise above his less than perfect vocal abilities, but hey, he's the tormented teacher, not the leading vocalist and he pulled off the part very well. I can see why he was chosen.

Emmy, in my opinion, was cast perfectly for the role of the vulnerable Christine. I've seen Christines' onstage that were never convining me of their young innocense and were way too polished in the role. Though she had a few odd moments of staring like a doe in headlights...overall, she was breathtaking and believable. Patrick Wilson was one of the best Raoul's I've seen. It's tough to pull off this so-so role because they're either too pompus or too wimpy. Wilson was sexy, determined and sweet and by far had the best voice of the trio.

Minne Driver made the role of Carlotta a bitch diva but really added some fireworks to a role that sometimes whines and howls.

I felt the score was too slow though, and they could have done without the Cabaret dancers in PONR. The dubbing was a bit off, but not to an annoying extent.

Other than that, both myself and the 6 other friends both guys and gals were pretty engrossed and not as bored as they thought they'd be. This film added some exciting twists. Sure it was a bit bombastic, but there were a lot of good opportunities for it and they ran with it.

Hey, its not the staged musical. Don't compare it! They did a fine job recreating the story indepth and pretty close to both the stage and the book.

In the end I had a tough time choosing which guy I would haved stayed with,,,but I was leaning toward the "better looking" side of the Phantom. It will definetly end up in my collection.

Updated On: 1/11/05 at 03:56 PM

[kec]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 4:34pm

PB.ENT, I agree with you about those dancers in Point of No Return. Every time they cut to them, it was like a shock -- probably because I was somewhat mesmerized by the singers on their platform...